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/126294
-"-_... ,., ~ _-~.- .__... ....-._ . ~stern .n.. ~ ._._. hotline E Rudy Dickinson (3) passed Larry Brooks (lx) to w in the 9-1 1 Intermediates at USMRA's Elsinore motocross. . (A bove) Former Honda factory ri der Mark Eggar t ook second in t he ATAlITA trials on a Bultaco. (Below) The bike that got away. 16 (Continuedfrom page 14) to Rope r (21 cleans). Gil Smith (350 Bul) took third place with 44 points. The Senior B class first place went to Wayne Emge (250 Hon), who had a 63-point ride. Bob Saltys (350 Bul) was right behind him with 64 poi nts . Gary Dudley (250 Bu l) captured first place in the Begi nner class wit h a nice six-point ride. Gene Farrell (350 Bul) was second with 20 points and T om Beesley (302 Kaw) was third with 14. ITA's unique First -Time Begin ner class was won by Christopher McKee (250 Mon), with 29 points. Bob Benigar (125 Hon) was a solid second with 41 points. First place in the Kids' class went to Mike Lauxen (70 Hon), who turned in a 10-point ride. Mike Daden (80 Yam) was a close second with 14 points. This competition marked the first of three rou nds of ATA 's 1978 Kids' Championship . These young riders are really in there tryingl As a note of interest, " Kid" Mike Lauxen and his family were filmed by the UHF Ch annel 50 television program , "Studio See," both at home and at ATA's December lIth , 1977 " El Trial de Espana ," for a short documentary on family involvem ent in trials to be aired sometime next fa ll. Traction was unexpectedly quick in many areas in spite of the rains and several riders found themselves fighting to keep front ends down while riding the secions . The "H a ngover" consisted of 13 sect ions and four loops ; riders rode 10 sections (design a ted according to class) per loop. Section three challenged Kids and Beginne rs by having them enter straight, then make a slow 180· tum down a small bank with an offcamber, then a gradual uphill with a large pesky loose rock that created a change in line each time the section was ridden. At the top of the incline, riders bu m ped over a large rock and exited. Section five was true to its name. stea ling fives from many riders throughout the day. Novices a nd Ama teurs entered m oving u p a rocky trai l, the n took a slight left tum followed by a rig ht turn combined with a hoist of the front en d over a large rock. followed by a ride up a rocky staircase. At this po int. Novices turned left over more rocks , made a right turn , and exited; while Amateurs turned right , made a 180· turn on a rocky slope, then back down over rocks and out the exit . 'Sec tion eight was a real dabber for several Experts and Seniors l All shared the same entrance with Sen iors next hopping ove~ a 1 ~ -foot rock , then turning up and over more rocks . followed by a right turn and the exit. Experts. on the other hand , entered, then made a righ t turn up a rock y cliff. followed by a long 180· turn down. and a right turn up the Sen ior exit. The next ATA -san ct ioned trial will be held by member club the Southern California T rials Rid ers (SCTR). on January 29th , at Reche Canyon. Riverside, CA. Lechien storms USMRA Elsinore MX By Carol Campbell ELSINO RE , CA,JAN . 8 Blue skies . puffy white clouds and a whole lot of sunshine made for .a n exceptional day of racing with the U.S. Minicyc1e Ra cing Association. Although the racers and spectators alike thought the weather conditions were perfect. little did they know that a storm was brewing in the 11 pits : Otherwise known to his friends as Ron nie Lechien , Ron nie, who just turned 11, can ride with the best of the Experts. In the 105cc Open class, it was Scott Burnwort h (Suz) who finished first. Ted Brady (Yam) , Chris Morey (Su z) third and Lechie n (Yam) fourth overall. It was the 9-11 Intermediate Stock a nd Modified race whe re Lechien really did some super riding. La rry Brooks (Ya m) got the holeshot with Lechien right behind , Ru dy Dickinson (Suz) third and Paul Den is (Su z) ba ck in the fourth place spot. Brooks was able to hold onto first place for the first two or three laps because Lechien and Dickinson were having thei r own battl e. Lechien lost control long enough for Dickinson to go into second but not for long. Handlebar to handlebar. Lechien an d Dickinson started up the uphill. Lechien took Dickinson on the outside and started looking for Brooks and before they reached the bottom of the downhill , it was Lechien in front and heading for the checkered flag . The 100cc Novice class was out in full force . With almost every rider atop a brand new 100. it proved to be anyone 's ra ce. The first moto found Ken Warne out in front with Chris Easterling in second and Tim Hale (Suz) in third , but right behind was Jon Bla ke (Yam) and Kenny Camp bell (Yam) wa iting to make their move. bu t to, no avail. It was Warne (Yam). Eas terli ng (Yam) and H a le (Su z) finishing in the top three. The second mo to was a complete tu rn a round. It was Easte rling who got off the line firs t with Campbell brea thing down his nec k. T im Hale had a solid third. Warne, who had a first pla ce in the first mot o was back in th e rear of th e pack, una ble to m ove up . Meanwhile. Easterling and Ca m pbell were ha rd at it , as th ey started down the steep d own hill Cam pbell saw his chance and took