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/126622
(Above) Winner David Bailey (11) leads Mike Shoemaker (619). Kenny Keylon (19) and Tom Benolkin (39) in the 250s. (Right) Karl Jordan. Honda Florida Wlnter-AMA MX Series: Round J Jordan" Bailey 8& Finkeldey score 'in St. Pete . , By Mike & Anne Adair ST. PETERSBURG. FL, JAN. 2 Yamaha/Hi-Point sponsored Karl Jordan, Honda's David Bailey, and KTM's John Finkeldey won overall in the 125cc, 250cc and Open classes, respectively, in the opening round of the l Sth Annual Florida Winter-AMA MX Series at Sunshine Speedway. The Honda sponsored. AMA sanctioned, (Above) Open Pro winner John Finkeldey. (Below) Steve Martin (21). JoJo Keller (23) and Kris Bigelow (49) launch in the 250cc Pros. 8 Super Sports promoted series is alive and well with a record total of amateur and Pro riders competing under cloudy but warm Florida skies. The Eas tern Regiona l points seri es is introducing the new Pro/Am license and 20 a m ateu rs competed with the Pros. In add itio n to th e cash purse, boosted , by Scott/USA, the series boasts a $50,000 KTM contingency. program. Open class winner Fin kelde y said, ''I' m reall y happy for today 's win. 1 ge t $1,500 from KTM, in addition to th e purse. Hi -Point Racing Products is also offering a handsome cont in gency for Pro,co m p etito rs." . The opening round featured strong factory team s from Honda, Kaw asa ki, Yamah a, KTM, Maico a n d Husk y. The red Honda bann er was fav ored with' rid er s David Bail ey, Kenny Keylon . Ste ve Martin. Tom Benolkin, john Reinhol t, Aaron Pitts and newl y turned Pro, j ohn Colli ns, co nside red a threa t. Yamaha had th e 1982 125cc Winter AMA Champi on , Ka rl j ordan a n d - ru n ner-u p Steve Burdette a lo ng with Denny Bentley, Keith Oelerich , Mark Murph y an d Doug jackson o n hand: Kawasaki fielded Billy Liles and Eddie Warren: Absent was series hopeful Todd Harrell, who underwent ha':!dsurgery and will miss the entire series. Husqvarna's umpteen-time enduro champion, Dick Burleson was on hand to support Husky's 1983 team. " Wa tch for us in the 500cc class,"said Burleson, " Andy Stacy will have full factory support and Ken Briggs and Eddie Wilborn will be assisted through dealers." KTM put all their eggs in john . Finkeldey's basket, while Maico had Mickey Kessler and jo jo Keller. Two European riders spiced the roster; Yamaha 's Dave Watson (England's number four in 250cc GP competition) and Maico's Lawrence Spence (10th in 500cc GP action). Watson said, "I'm over on sort of a workin g vacation for four weeks. Barney's Yamaha is helping with the bikes. So far this track looks 'a lot better than it rides." Spence picked up points in the.first moto for 13th overall. 125cc Pro jord an a nd Keylon eac h vaporized the co m pe titio n in th eir respe ctive qualifiers a n d the ir firs t moto meeting was billed as the "match of the da y." The pair battled throughout