Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125891
~ Yamaha California State .High Schoo ...:lI ~ By Bob Jackso n g IRVINE. CAL., NOV. 3 0 The Yamaha High School MX State Championships crowned 16 California State Champions h ere this afternoon on a specially -e- !" Cl ... :.J ~ E . :.J u \ :.J Cl Jim Welch. 358. t akes a bead o n Ro n Sh imaji in 250 Beg inner action. constructed one-mile course at Saddleback Park. The entry list of 325 riders represented the survivors of qualifyi ng events run by the Scholastic Association of Motcrsport at tracks such as O range Co unty Raceway , Corona. Ca rlsbad, a nd Ascot Park . In ad d ition th ere was a gro u p of abo ut 50 entries fro m Northern Cali forn ia filling out the list. These q ualifiers made it out of aro und 15,000 riders who co mpeted in the fall programs. Each class rode two five-lap motos, but because of the size of the entry list the 125 Beginners, 125 Juniors, 250 Beginners, and 250 Ju niors used the first two motos to qualify the top 20 riders to a third mota that would decide the State Champ. Practice was the usual shambles, resulting in a rash of pile-ups and a couple of injuries. Then they got their act together a nd the 35-race p ro gra m went along without a single hitch or serious injury. The racing was great. and the crowd , which appeared to su rp ass that of the Trans-AMA event on Sunday , enjoyed some sparkling performances. Scott Still blitzed the Open Juniors, as Bill Runyon did the Open Beginners by winning both trno to s. Runyon was o ne of the Northern co ntinge n t fro m Carmichael. California. Tommy Croft of Kearney High in th e San D iego area was a stick-out performer all day with two seconds in the 125 Senior for a solid second behind another sparkler, David Williams of Rubido ux Iligh. Tommy also copped the first 250 Senior race but his bike got the wheezes in th esccond moto. The top race of the day was the 125 Junior final for the State crown . Tony Wanket from Encinitas High was locked in a spirited battle with Jed Mendez of Laguna Beach all through the race. Twice in the final lap Mendez appeared to have an inside line, but Wanket managed to hold him off by sh utting the door on the final tum to take the WIn. But the biggest winner of the day was probably Steve Me Farland, who as winner of the 250 Expert race. was presented a new 250 Suzuki l\IX by one of the main prize sponsors of the event, Yamaha showed great Bu c o , sportsmanship by letting Buco give a Suzuki away at a Yamaha sponsored event. In addi tion to trophies, the win ning riders received Buco helmets, Norstar boots and J P-I lubricants. So now it 's o n t o the spring eve nts for the Scholastic Association, led by Vic Wilson and Jim Manning. And the major order of business will be qualifying 440 riders for the Superbowl of Motocross at the Los Angeles Coliseum. C Results MINI BEG : 1. Ray Currie (Han) . 2 . Mike Cra mm (Han) . 3. J eff T h r o o p (Ha n) . MIN I JR: 1. Pa u l B all o w (Han). 2 . T odd M ill er (Han). 3 . A n dy Bl o d y k (H a n ) . MIN I EX : 1. Doug N ic ol (Hon) . 2. Ro n Utaski ( H an ) . 3. Ken Morga n (H an ) . 100 BEG : 1. Steve Milgren. Torrance H igh (Hon) . 2. Mike Chase , Huntington Beach Hi gh (Suz). 3 . Mat McEvily, West lake High (SUZ). 100 JR : 1. Russ Eide (8M). 2. Greg Toyama, Gardena Hi!;lh (Hon). 3. H u ff Hadley. San Clemente HIgh (Han) . 100 EX : 1. Scott Clifton, La Palma High (OG) . 125 BEG: 1. David Bender, Santa Ana H.5. (Han). 2 . Steve Moore. San Diego H.5. (Han). 3. Pat Deligatta. Anaheim H.D. (Han). 125 JR: 1. Tony Wanket, Encinitas H.5. (Hon). 2. Jed Mendez. Laguna Beach H.5. (Kaw). 3 . Mike Cooper, Santiago H.5 . (Han). 250 BEG : 1. Ron Weems, Redwood City H.5. (Bul). 2. Shannon Barqsten, Anaheim H.5 . (MaO . 3. David Woodall, Sa n Fernando H.5. (Bul). 250 JR: 1. Scott Gillman (Yam). 2 . Mike Danettev, Katella H.5. (Mai) . 3 . Corey Bcqane, Santa Marla H .5 . (CZ ). OPEN BEG: 1. Bill R unyon. Carmic hael H.S . ( H us) . 2. Steve Costello ( S UZ) . 3 . Dan McNeil. OPEN JR : 1. Sc o tt Still rc zr. 2 . M ark Popel . 3. Chris Mattos, S~dd le back H .S . (Bu l ). 125 EX : 1. Warren R ei d , Bo lsa G r an de H .S . (Ho n). 2. J e ff B unn , Sa n d Pe dro H .S . (Han). 3. Broc Glover, Valencia H.S . (Hon). 125 SR : 1. Da vi d Williams, R u bido ux H.5. (Hon) . 2 . Tommy Croft. Kea rney H.S . (Fra). 3. Bill Glore, La Mirada H .S . (Hon). 250 SR: 1. Da ve Carlson. Katella H.5. (Mai) . 2. Garry Fau lks (Mai) . 3. Jeff Jenni ngs (Han) . 250 EX : 1. Steve McFarlan d. Harbor City H.5. 2. Rick AsCh, Canyon H.5 . 3. Pete Smith, Saddleback H.S . OPEN EX: 1. Scott Montgomery. 2. Dave Zahrt . 3. Paul Needles. Steve Newbourg. 172. gets an insid e a n gle o n Rory McRae in 100 Beginner action. Th ese 250 Juniors d isplay contrasting styles on the art of ju m pi ng. 6