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/126476
(Top) Marty Moates got the holeshot in both motos. Here he leads Rex Staten 1201. Gary Semics 1181. Marty Smith 1301. Gaylon MC'sier1211. Jim Gibson 1241. Hakan Carlqvistl31 and Brad Lackey 111. (Above leftl Lackey was fifth in the first moto.IAbove rightl Danny LaPorte's 3-3 finishes got him second. but he y'anted it all. Bel-Ray USGP of Motocross Moates first American to win By Mark Kariya Photos by Charles Morey and Kariya CARLSBAD, CA ,]UNE 22 Pre- race hype for the 10th running of the BelRay USGP of Motocross at Carlsbad Raceway had the public primed for an American victor. An American had never won a 500cc Grand Prix held on American soil, and it seemed this would indeed be the year. At the day's end, it was a 10 young American lion standing atop the victory podium. Though considered a dark horse, Marty Moates from nearby San Diego stunned all present by winning both rnotos, effectively snapping the long spell of European domi nance here. "T his was the first (USGP) race I ever came to, " he said beaming. "I just thought I can't believe it was happen ing; it was great! I've dreamed about this race every year and now it's happened ." Brad Lackey, the prime American contender and favorite of many , had a disappointing day. He finished sixth in the first moto , off the pace of those in front of him. And in the second mota , he had his bot shot at overtaking And re Malherbe in the series point standings as Malherbe was uanble to start when his racrory Honda broke its gearbox just seconds before the start. Lackey led the second moto for a couple of laps , but went down and didn't get go ing again for several laps. The day belonged almost entirely to Moates. He grabbed the holeshot on his LOP Yamaha in the first moto fol lowed by Yamaha's "Rocket Rex" Staten and U.S. Norstar/Kawasaki rider Goat Breker. Honda's Roger DeCoster crashed dramatically on the opening lap , his Carlsbad curse apparently unchanged, when someone cut in front of him on the downhill. He endoed, bending the bike and suffering a minor injury to his left leg , He did not ride the second rnoto. As they came around at the end of two laps, Moates had seven seconds over Breker, who was now runnerup. In third and charging was the first European. Yamaha factory rider Hakan Carlqvist with Suzuki's Danny LaPorte behind him . Andre Vromans on another factory Yamaha moved up to fifth behind La Porte the next time around. Moates continued to lead. but Carl qvist was on the gas . too , and advancing. Breker's bike broke its shock. and he was forced to fade to an eventual fifth place finish . Carlqvist continued hunting the leader down and by the midway point, had bagged him when Moates went down. LaPorte also got by. It seemed then that . as in the past, the Americans had given it their best shot , but the Europeans were still on top. However, Carlqvist didn't pull away once into the lead, and in a few laps LaPorte and Moates both were reeling him in . LaPorte set up Carlqvist and bounced by on the downhill on lap 15. Moates waited until after the dropoff and jammed underneath the Swede. LaPorte had some problems with dirt in the shifter, though, and dropped back to third behind Moates and Carlqvist. With the crowd screaming encouragement to Moates, Carlqvist went to work to try and get the lead back once more. Moates was pumped by the fans. "T hey did great! They were waving me on the whole time," he said later. . _