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
Scott Rebuck jumped his Suzuki to finish second 125cc Expert at Sand Hill Ranch's motocross behind Phil Crane. Crane, Schlag and Duval steal SHR MXwlns By Mel White BRENTWOOD. CA. JUNE 15 The surprise appearance of nineteen 125cc Experts at Sand Hill Ranch today amongst an otherwisemodest rider turnout insured 44 a tone of seriousness about the racing that riders here do well to cultivate. As the summer sun hardens the already challenging Sand Hill track. bent rims and broken spokes become commonplace. Judicious use of the throttle and catching less air over the jumps is the key to keeping the wheels in ridable condition, but how can a race be won with the throttle off? The trade-off that must be made is one of the lessons Sand Hill teaches best . The staning chute was straightened out which improved the number of riders who made it through the stan and some of the roughest whoops were absent from the top of the hill . Overall it was by no means an easy track. but it provided for some very good racing today. In the first moto of the 125cc Experts. Joey Schlag (KTM) appeared to have it in the bag from the moment the gate dropped, pulling a lead with 12 seconds to spare by the third lap. But by the sixth lap. he was slowing and Phil Crane (Yam), who had struggled for those six laps to get past Pete Langley (Suz) . was closing the gap. By the end of the moto Crane. Langley and Scott Rebuck (Suz) had all gotten past Schlag's ailing motorcycle. Mike Beier (Yam) slid out on the first lap which put him dead last at the beginning. By dint of impressive lap times , Beier was up into sixth for the checkered flag . Dave Coupe (Suz) broke his rear hub and DNF. The second moto was swept first to last by Beier who holeshot and took it all the way, putting many seconds between himself and his pursuers along the way. Bradley Harrison (Yam) and Scott Yarbrough (Suz) followed Beier at the stan. but by the finish it was Rebuck, Crane and Schlag who were in tow . The results of the Mini races were fairly predictable - the 100s got in front of the 80s and the Juniors beat the Novices. Troy Joyce was notable, however, keeping his Suzuki 80 right up there with the bigger bikes and rather out of sight of the other 80s following them. The Open Novices showed some spacing changes but their order remained the same throughout most of the first moto. Matt Arena (Yam) had been pressing to get by Damond Lee (Kaw), the leader, for most of the race. With less than a lap to go. Lee killed his engine momentarily in a hairpin tum which allowed Arena to move up to his side. A slight collision put Lee on the ground and Arena into a clear first place. Lee was able to defend second from Ronnie Johnson (Suz) in third. Mark Jones (Yam) holeshot the second moto with Arena and Lee right behind him. Lee fell and finished fourth , but Arena got past for a perfect I -I score. Jones was in second at the finish line and Johnson in third. Joey Schlag's dominance of the 250cc Expert class at Sand Hill remained intact despite a serious threat from Dave Coupe (Mai) in the first mota and Phil Crane (Mai) in the second. In mote one, Schlag and Coupe drew a little away from the others, but not from each other, and it was serious business right down to the drop of the flag . Schlag had the holeshot in moto two but Coupe was back in fourth so Schlag took off without him. Crane wouldn't let him off easy. though. and kept in Schlag's dust the whole way around. ' Jeff Lind (Suz) holeshot both motes of the Open Juniors but dropped out before finishing . Robert Stone (Mai) took over the lead about halfway out in the first moto and kept it across the finish line . Stone was into the lead by the third lap in moto two. He stretched out a long lead, all of which he gave up by crashing near the end of the race and finished second behind Allen Augenne (Yam) in first. When Robert Congdon (Mai) and Scott Briard (Mai) tangled with a hay bale at the stan and Brad Emery (Yam) broke his chain. moto one of the Open Experts turned into a twoman race between Mark Duval (Yam ) and Bob Davis (Yam). Duval finished in front. The second time out Emery kept it together with the gas on to grab the holeshot and finish first . Congdon was back in it also to finish second, leaving Duval and Davis to bring up the rear. Results 125 NOV: 1. Andy Tr_ ISuzl ; 2. Scott Rohrs ISuzl ; 3. Raymond Flow ISull. 125 JR: 1. Riel< Ryan (Yam); 2. Borkaloy Wh"a ISull; 3. Richard BO"88u IHonl. 125 EX: 1. Phil Crane IYam); 2 . Scott Rabuel< ISull; 3. Mike Boior(Yom l. 2SO NOV: 1. Kirk Wobs1er (Yam); 2. Jeff Holder IYaml; 3. MOll Arona (Yom). 2SO JR: 1. Rid< Ryan (Yam); 2. Mike Randal (Yam); 3. BorkeIoy Wh" alSull. 2SO EX: 1. Joey Schlog IKTM1; 2. Pha Crane IMail; 3. Dove Coupe IMai). OPEN NOV: t . MOll Arona IYam): 2. Mart< Jon(Yaml; 3. RonnieJohnoon lSuzl. OPEN JR: 1. Robert Slone IMBa; 2. AlIon AUZ8lno (Yam); 3. Chucl< l.anzuno (Mail. OPEN EX; 1. Mart< Duvol (Yam); 2 . Bob Davis (Yam); MINI NOV: 1. Scott Schubort lSull; 2. Mic:haoI Smith Jr . (KawJ; 3. Scott Saomans (Suzl. MINI JR: 1. Troy Joyce (S ull. 100 NOV: 1. TIm Copeland (S ull. l 00 J R: 1. Diotar K_ng ISull. VET NOV: 1. Chudt Watoon lSWMI; 2. era;g Ilootaod (Suzl : 3. George Roo;noon ISull. (Kawl: 2. Don S_ingon VET JR: 1. Niel< _ (Yaml; 3. Harv Dunham (Mai). VET EX:1. Donny Davis(Mal. Sullivan and Bettencourt score at Hanford Fair TT By Carol Hill HANFORD , CA, JUNE 14 Rodney Sullivan (Kings CycleryYam) took the 500cc Expert win and top money before a capacity crowd at the Kings County Fair TT races. Sullivan got a good stan off the line with Chad Bettencourt (Birkle Yam) right on his fender. Anthony Urias (Yam). Mike Hale (Hales Construction-Yam) and John Burnett (Yam) brought up the next three Joey Schlag bagged the 250cc Expert win. places. Hale made an outside move on lap three to get by Burnett and Urias. Urias fell hard in tum three of the fifth lap as Sullivan streched his lead to win followed by Bettencourt and Hale. Bettencourt came back in the 250cc Expen go over Mike Garrison (Garrison Roofing-Yam) and Mike Vital (Tula~ Muffler-Yam), Mike Langley (Guy Langley-Honda) was on the gas and seems to do well on big tracks as he took the 125cc Novice win over Darin Alexander (Yam) and Glenn Garlin (Yam). The 100cc Expert race was red flagged due to a first lap crash that left Steve Hill (Target Sales-Yam) down in tum one. Hill remounted to win with Craig Howard (Birkle-Yam) and Blayne Hollenbeck (Fosters FreezeSumners Suzuki) second and third. Howard took the honors in the 80cc Expen run ahead of Hollenbeck and Hill. Mike Price (Yam) was back on form as he blitzed the 80cc Junior class over Mike Jiminez and Alben Biscaglia (Yam). Jason Craven seems to be the Pee Wee to beat as he aced out Mike Lucio (Suz) and Craig Brandon (Yam). Results PEE WEE: 1. Jaoon era-, (Yam~ 2. Mike Lucio lSull; 3. era;g Brandon (Yam). SO NOV: 1. Todd Alberti (Sull; 2. Bun WoIoon (Yam); 3. 0aY0 Jon- (Yam). SO JR: 1. Mike Price (Yam); 2. Manual Jimenez (Yam); 3. Albert IIiocagIio (Yam), SO EX: 1. era;g _ d (Yom); 2. Blayne _ ISuzl; 3. S _ HiR(Yam). 100 NOV/JR: 1. John Hall-. (Yam); 2. Manual J i _ (Yaml; 3. Glom Fujioka (Yam). 100 EX: 1. S _ Hill (Yam): 2. era;g Howard (Yam); 3. Scott Price (Yam). 125 NOV: 1. Milte Langley lHon); 2. Darin Alexander (Yam); 3. Glom Gartin (Yaml. 125JR: 1. Mark Davis (Yam); 2. MikeJon-(Yorn); 3. David AvaIoo (Yam). 125 EX: 1. Robert I.Mld (Yam); 2. Ricky _ (Sull; 3. Todd Durham (Yam). 200 NOVIJR: 1. John Nu.- (Yom); 2. Ron Wlggino (Yam); 3. Bobbv BanuoIoo(Yam). 200 EX:1. Robert U1nd (Yam); 2. Jim T _ (Yam); 3. Dennis Rodriguoo (Yam). 250 NOV: 1. Ken Pimmontoll (Yam); 2. Chuck Salmon (Yaml; 3. W.Adamo IYam). 250 JR: 1. Ed Hunter (Yam); 2. Billy HarIman (Yam); 3 . Jim Footer (Sull. 2SO EX: 1. Chad Bottoncourt (Yam); 2. Mike Gamoon (Yom); 3. Mike VItOI (Yam). 500 NOV: 1. S _ McWll1iamo IHon~ 2. Dale _ _ (Yam); 3. George Bymo (Yam). 500 JR: 1. Duane _ (Yom); 2. Scott IYam); 3. D. C8mpboII (Yam). 500 EX: 1. Rodney SulIiVl1n (Yam); 2. Chad Bettor>court (Yam); 3. Milta'- (Yam). OPEN NOV: 1. R. Dunlap (rra; 2. Scott Rood (Yam~ 3. Scott_ _ (rra. OPEN EX:1. Tommy McKInnoy (Yam). e-