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/126033
Winter-AMA Round 5 DiStefano & Who's in sec what's i thi By J im Gianatsis COCOA BEACH, FLA ., FE B. 29 Both classes of the fin al Florida Winter-AMA Series race went right down to the final moto,, " at Diamondback Recreational " Park in Cocoa Beach to deci de th e overall Series winn ers. In the 250cc class, Suzuki's Ton y Di Stefano to ok the day's win on his Keith McCarty prepared bike to ace out Can-Am 's Jimmy Ellis for th e class cham pionship. Bob Hannah took his Bill Buchka-tuned works Yamaha to his fifth straight win in the series to clinch the Open class ahead of Su zuki's Steve Stackable, In add iti on, Tony D.'s effort, combined with the other members of Team Suzuki, Danny LaPorte, Steve Stackable, plus mechanics .Brian Lunnis and Bernie ll'o mpson, helped Suzuki to once again win the Bel-Ray Manufacturer's Cup . Sin ce this was Team Suzuki 's third straight year of winning the Bel-Ray Cup , the trophy has been permanently retired. 250cc The Flo rida Winter-AMA is developing a reputation as one of the most competitive and exciting series in professional motocross, (Abo ve ) America's best ride rs get in size place. (Left) NoCa I pr ivateer Jim Turner enjoys the winter sun and racing fun with (below left) t hree time .National Champion Gary Jones and J im my Ellis. A nu mber of new National riders joined the ser ies at Cocoa Beach to prepare themselves for the upcoming Daytona MX and other Super Series events. Gayton Mosier, Wayne Boyer, Marty Tripes and others we re on ha nd to sort their bikes out, but never scored well in the day 's racing. With only five points separating them in the Series standings going into th is last race, the battle would be between J immy Ellis and Tony DiStefano. Tony pulled the holeshot on th e first 30 minute moto only to be passed by Jimmy Weinert on his new wo rks Kawasaki in the first lap. Ellis was back holding on to th ird, foll ow ed by Har ley's Rex Staten , then Rick O'Brien, J im Turner an d Mick ey Kessler. Can -Am's Mike Run yard put on a fa ntas tic drive to move up after a slow start, ca tc hing Staten in fo urth before the race ended. Everyone 's attention was on the battle for second place, though, as Tony D. and Ellis tangled handlebars for half th e moto. Jimmy Ellis even tually began to tire in the rough sand and dropped offw the pace. Tony tried to catch back up with Weinert, bu t "The J ammer" had built up a 20 second lead. After his Su zu ki tri ed to get awa y from him a few times, T ony decided to ease off and finish safely. After having been sic k wi th the flu all ' week, Jimmy Weinert. made a valian t effort to repeat in the second moto, but found himself just too burned-out to race competitively. Danny LaPorte put his works Suzuki into the lead ahead of Tony D. and Ellis for the last moto. The two Suzuki teammates raced side by side for almost half the moto as Ellis ran about 10 seconds be hind. Th en Laf'orte: highsided in a tum and was struck by Ellis who also fell. Both remounted with Ellis in con trol of second, but Laf'orte p assed him ba c k to finish the mo to in second place behind Tony D. who picked up th e da y 's win and the Series championship. Jimmy Ellis finished the moto in seventh place behind Kent Howerton, Rex Staten, Gary Semics, an d Run yard . SOOCC Th e Open class had all the makings of Kawasaki teammates Gary 5emics (15) and Jimmy Weinert (4) st reak down motorhome road. 6