Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Soather. Cailfor.la·Arlzo.a-SOather. Nev..... Soather. Cailfor.I.Arlzo.....ather. Nev.d.· So~thern Cailfornl.·Arlzon: Western hotline 250 INT:: 1. Andy R_d lYoml; 2. Fronl< Coo1onzo lYom); 3. Chris Monon IHooI. 500 INT: 1.. Frod Hudgono IHUIl; 2. Ron Wilds ISuzl; 3. Lynn Den"",IMoil. 125 JR: 1. Chris Jockoon (Voml; 2. Richie Jo",. lSuzl; 3. Bill S,* (Voml. 250 JR: 1. Rondy _ IVoml; 2. Honry Wilker lYom); 3. Don Simington lHanI. 500 JR: 1. Notmon Ludwig IVoml; 2. Dow Welty lYom); 3. Ruben FlIlcon lYoml. VET EX: 1. Jim O'NooIIMoi); 2. Bob .Millner lYoml' 3. Gerold Hutchinson IMoi). ' VET JR: 1. Milt Muller !Yom). 100 INT: 1. Merk McDonald (Sud. 100 JR: 1. G"'ll Gat ISuzl; 2. Kenny Schwortt ISuzl; 3. Bruco OeIgodo ISuzl. 125 BEG: 1. Mort< Ruton IHanI; 2. Chris St. Morie IVoml; 3. John Co. (Voml. B3cc MINIINT: 1. JooloZllno IVoml. B3cc MINI JR: 1. Chris Loro ISuzl; 2. Gilbert VlIIdez IVoml; 3. Dovid Couch IKewI. 61 cc JR CVC INT: 1. Jeff Reynolds !Yoml' 2. John EtheiIISuzl. ' 61 cc JR CVC JR: 1. Mork McDonold (Vom); 2. Kovin Peoples lYom); 3. Dullin EVllno lYom). ..... 00 ..... Q') BenavIdez, MaeCraeken duel at Corona MX By Ron Lawson CORONA, CA, APR, 24 Juan Benavidez made his return to Corona Raceway with his Can· Am to face current R.A.C.E. king Eric MacCracken (Yam). (Top) h'a body engIIah time for Troy fitch lit the MRAN motoerou. (Above) ErIc MecCrecken . . . . winner Juen Benevldez At Corone. Richard, Hudgens, Alexander shine at AMEMX By Laura Richard VALENCIA, CA, APR. 26 Everyone was treated to another great day of racing put on by American Motocross Enterprises on the International course at Indian Dunes. One of the best rac~ of the day was the U5cc Intermediate class as Yamaha rider John Alexander took the overall win. As the gate dropped for the first round it was Alexander taking the holeshot with Yamaha-mounted Mike Wolfe close behind in second and Suzuki-mounted Andy Nelinger making his bid for the lead from third. Nelinger dropped out due to bike problems, leaving it open for Suzuki Spon Cycle·sponsored Mark Maynor to take over third. Alexander was able to hold on for the win. Round two saw Nelinger back with the holeshot and the lead followed by Alexander and Yamaha·mounted John Peters. At the checkered flag it was Nelinger with the win. Alexander took the overall win with second going to Maynor and third being filled by GVI Suzuki rider Rod Robenson with a 5·4 finish. In the 250cc Intermediate race Barnett Tool and ~/Castrol sponaored Andy Richard rode his Yamaha to back to back willa. In moto cae. it _ Yamaha-mo"nted BiB Harry . 0 ..... the ho!eehn« foil wed by Air· .:01140·_" Cw ,- and Crossroads Suzuki·sponsored Eric Silgero in third. Harry led until he fell going into one of the tight corners giving the lead to Castanzo. In the back of the pack Richard was working his way up to take over the lead and the first moto win with Castanzo in second and Silgero in third. Round two again' saw Harry taking the lead followed by Castanzo and Richard. Richard was able to take over the lead, moving Castanzo to second and Honda rider Chris Monon into third. The overall win went to Richard, with Castanzo taking second and third going to Monon. In the Open Intermediate race it was Husky rider Fred Hudgens taking back to back wins with Ventura Suzuki's Ron Wade taking second over Maico rider Lynn Dennis. In the 250cc and Open Pro races it was Advanced Cycle-sponsored Yamaha rider Greg Zitterkopf taking t~e back to back wins for the day. Zitterkopf took the Open class with Yamaha rider Joe Root second aheadof Yamaha rider Ron Haase. In the 250cc class it was Zitterkopf over Dirt Bile Suzuki·mounted Ken Zahrt and Kolbe/NO Spark Plug Can·Am· mounted Steve Rawson. In the U5cc Pro race it was back to back wins for International Yamaha rider Steve Schmitz with second going to Zahn (Suz) and third going to Yamaha rider Doug Bowers. Results 125 PlIO: 1. S - SchmItz lYom!: 2. Ken bhrt lSuz)' • 3. Doug _lYom!. 2IiO PRO: 1. Greg ZlnortrapIlYom!; 2. Ken bhrt lSuII; 3. S-_tCAl. IlIO PRO: t. Greg ZIanoIlf lY..... 2. Joe _ lY. . 121 ....; 1..... _ . . , . 2. ..... ...,.. .......--.-... a_.-..l"t..... ' . - The two of them met in a no-holdsbarred 250cc Pro duel that took both riders to the edge of their abilities, and the limits of ethical racing. The start of the first moto saw SCOll Wilkinson (Hon) get the holeshot with Benavidez and MacCraeken close behind. When they came to Corona's infamous washboard section, which is reserved for Pro and Intermediate rac· ers only, both Benavidez and MacCraeken chose to take a questionable line that was considerably faster but took them through the banners and partially off the track, passing Wilkinson in the process. R.A.C.E. officials did not· consider this a major rule infraction, but frowned on the action and moved to replace the banners immediately. Benavidez and MacCracken however were locked in their o~ privat~ ballde and elected to use the line again on the next lap before the banners were totally replaced. After that, however, the riders remained within the confines of the race track, concentrating on their own racing. Benavidez held the lead all the way in, but MacCracken gained somewhat in the final laps. Wilkinson was third. The second time around, MacCraeken was on top right from the start. Benavidez was in a close second and the ~wo of them began where they left off m the first moto. They quickly p~lled. away ~rom the rest of the pack, thts I1me Wtthout any questionable moves. It was at the halfway mark that Benavidez found room on the imide of MacCracken and moved up to take the lead. MacCracken made several attemp15 at regaining the lead but was unable to do so before the checkered flag came out. Finishing third was Rock Temple (Yam) over John Mazzacane (Kaw) and Keith Williamson (Yam). In the Open Pro class, John Green· way (Yam) took the win. MacCracken had taken both motos, but in the early laps of moto one he had come off the track in the washboard section and the~ not re·entered in the same spot, passmg Don Griewe (Mai) in the process. He was dropped to fifth place for the action which put him in third overall. Results = MINI lEG: 1. Komy CoIior lY....; 2. S_ Kirk.......lYom!;3. ~~lHanl. . . lEG: ,. Jim lY_ 2. 0... KirIIpolridl lY. . a................ ' . . IIlJV: 1. . , a..lY_ 2. . . . . . . . . . a ; --_ •. --- MINIINT: 1. Jeff ~ (Vom!; 2. Denny ContIey IKew); 3. Jerry R_IKewl. MINI EX: 1. Jaon Rincon IKewI' 2. Scoll .Brown (Kew). ' 100 BEG: 1. Ron Chocon lYom); 2. Cliff W...... lYom!; 3. DonoId _ l Y o m l. 125 BEG: 1. Wylie Eng lYom)' 2. John Stroud lSuzl' 3. Jim Clork l S u z l . · • 125 BEG: 1. Don Folley lSuzl; 2. lMry Johneon lYom!: 3. Tony Rodrig_ lKew). 125 NOV: 1. Mork Decker !Yom); 2. Joel Johns lYom); 3. Ilruce Hororow (Suzl. 125INT: 1. Scoll GraM' 2. Gory Herris ISuzl' 3 Note _ISud. • , . 125 PRO: 1. Bront Blount ISOlI; 2. Rick Rodgers ISuzl; 3. Vorrwtr Holb

• Cover