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/126489
............ Dakota ·S.alb D
~ on the tiny town of Kanab,
Utah for the first Sid Tarbett
Memorial MX. Tarbett, a well·
known desert and Baja racer, lost his
life this summer in a non-cycle-related
incident. Sid was a friend to all and a
great competitor and we all will miss
him.
The town of Kanab, located in ex·
treme southern Utah, is nicknamed
"little Hollywood" because of the
numerous westerns filmed in the area.
The location offered spectacular scenery
for spectators and endless sand for the
riders. The challenging track, coupled
with a 4000' plus altitude and a three
20·minute race format. left everyone
with no doubt that they had put in a
full day's racing.
The I25cc Expert race saw Honda
rider Paul Emerson back in old form
with easy wins in the first two motos
with Kevin Steele, Daryl Folks and
David Saxton in hot pursuit. All Emer·
son needed to do in the third moto was
show up and finish which was exactly
what he couldn't do. A broken shock
ended his day, giving Steele the overall
win followed by Folks and Benny
Brown.
The Open Expert class meant many
things to many riders. For Husky rider
Scot Hard.en and factory Yamaha ace
Jack Johnson, it offered an excellent
opportunity to tune up for the ISDT
later this year. For Maico hot shoe
Kevin Davis. it was a chance to pull a
relatively easy win in a rare. MRAN
motocross race. For most of those on
the starting line. it was the dismal
prospect of a desert racer spending the
day out of his element on a motocross
track.
Davis won the first moto, Johnson
won the second and then another one
of the minor mechanicals that have
plagued Jack all year resulted in a
DNF. Harden. despite chronic silencer
problems. rode consistently and
managed second overall followed by
Can·Am rider Kevin Welch.
In the 250cc Expert class. Chris
Howard added another notch to a very
successful year. Chris went nearly un·
cKallenged except for a hard charging
Jack Johnson who kept Howard close
and managed a win in the first moto
when Chris bailed on the last lap. Only
a~ air box full of Utah clay dust kept
Ja k from putting real pressure on
Howard. Troy Fitch rod.e hard. if a
little wild, and the DNF by Johnson
gave Troy second followed by Mike
Kelley.
Also of interest was the 250cc
Novice class where regular Cycle News
contributor Chuck "Dr. Gonzo"
Harper pulled off an overall victory.
ext year. the sponsoring club.
Las Vegas Groundshakers, hopes to
expand the motocross format into a
full·fledged grand prix through the
streets of Kanab.
Results
50 EX: 1. R_d Saxton; 2. Chad TIChnor.
500 AM: 1. Dustin While.
50 NOV: 1. Kenl l(elIov; 2. Mart< "'ehner; 3. SMwn
"'ehner.
POWDER PUFF: 1. Lisa Gallo; 2. Tammie Tarbell; 3.
Lindo Lanier.
80 EX: 1. Johnen Kight; 2. O.nny Encinias; 3. Seen
Sleete.
80 AM: 1. Petrick Owen; 2. Jeff Torrezsen; 3. Chris
NorthrlJl).
80 NOV: 1. Healh Hill; 2. R. Fullef; 3. Krisli Carter.
100 EX: l.;>con Robertson; 2. Kevin Kelly.
100 AM: 1. Bill Bradley.
100 NOV: ,. Chat DvsI8rt; 2. P.ul Kline.
125 EX: 1. Kevin Steele; 2. Daryl Folks; 3. Bennv
Brown.
125 AM: 1. leonard Beuer; 2. Billy Hili; 3. Gery
Smith.
125 NOV: ,. Warren lewis; 2. Kerl Fong