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/126671
l-< (1) ..0 8 (1) u (1) o Lowell Thoma. and Ronnie Tichenor were friends off the track, competitors on it. Tichenor topped the 12-13 age group. Larry Ward (323), Tichenor (214), Sean Duke (421 and Derrick Roe blast off the line during the TT segment of the event. move on '82. Mini Olympics Champion, Junior Jackson, in the Modified class to make it two overall wins in as many days. "I've worn these white Trim pants both days," said Bradshaw. "I told Mom not to wash 'em 'cause they're good luck." The defending Mini (12-1~) class Champion, Ronnie Tichenor, rode his Cycle Springs/Hi-Point-sponsO£ed Yamaha to an overall TT win after intense competition from Lowell Thomson, Larry Ward, John Kitsch and Glen Somerville. Thomson said later, "We raced so close that it scared me." Tichenor responded, "We just got our new YZs and the Kawasakis give us a fit on the top end." Californian Eddie Hicks, in his first Olympics appearance, squeezed Bobby Moore and Mark Melton out of the first turn and led the 85cc (14'15)event nag-to-nag. "Yamaha's Mike Chavez set up this bike and it nies," said Hicks. Melton took on TT specialist Vince Devane in the Modified final until Hicks wedged in on the final lap for second and the overall. Melton said later, "Both my bikes came from Honda in the same crate. I picked the fastest one and entered it in the Modified class." Andy Michner left his Michigan hocky team to ride in his first Florida event and in the lOOcc Novice final. stalked Shawn oland before wrapping up the win. "Everything was wrong in the heats," said Michner, "but Dad and john Hunter sorted out the gearing and jelling for the main." In ",n actfun packed I25cc Novice class, Illinois' Ken Ballmeier swept by Rod Marshall and Billy Whitley only to find Mark Crozier on his fender. Crozier said, "My Honda was just as fast, but he had clean air. I had to work to get inside him." Kawasaki Team Green's Tommy Wails and Eddie Warren alternated wins in the Expert division. Watts' Billy Williard-tuned Hallman/Jones/ Maxima-sponsored Kawasaki romped at will in the .125cc class ahead of Carroll Richardson, but Warren spoiled a Watts sweep by coing from behind to win the 250cc main. "Today's overall win was easier than shorl track," said Watts. "There we only had one set of tires for both bikes, and it kept us busy." Hare Scrambles Dave Coombs, the originator ofthe AMA National Hare Scrambles Series, laid out the best circuit ever used for a Mini Olympics event. "WI' had a wide selection of terrain near Gatorback." began Coombs. "We u ed ob tacle that would challenge the older riders but at the same time not frustrate the younger Mini riders. Hare scrambles interest should grow - we don't want 10 discourage anyone.'> Chris Marlin overcame a massive 85cc (.7-11- stackup 10 persevere and become the eventual Modified winer. "junior jackson went down in the first turn. and 1 was lucky to avoid the pile," said the Cycle Springs Yamaha rider. Bradshaw extended his (7-11) point lead with a first in the Stock class but he "had to wrestle out of a briar patch" to do it. In the 65cc (7-11) ballles, Moree made up valuable ground that he lost in the short track, and a Modified win kept him ahead of Marty Vaughn in the Olympics quest. Vaughn lOpped the SlOck class to stay in the running. Defending Olympics champion, Larry Ward. couldn't hold on to Lowell Thomson and took econd in the 85cc (12-1~) Stock class. "The course was much improved this year," said Ward, "but after I crashed it was too hard to make up the time." Thomson said, "I was having a great race trying to be first to finish with Tichenor. The Yamaha guys gave us super pit stops." Tichenor was all alone in the Modified class. Washington's Rick Simmet tried to start in neutral, and then scampered back to second. past previolls champion. john Kitsch. 011 the last lap. Californi'lIIs Eddit:' Hicks and Bobby Moore crossed .he continent 10 mix i I lip ill the (I ~-14) division. "I must have passed him five times." said Hicks. "bllt he led every time that we came by the ~irls at the scoring point." Hicks took the Modified class win and Moore the Stock win. Moore held a six-point lead over Hicks and Mark Melton going into the final evenl. Michigan's Andy Michner rode a Yamaha to victory in the IOOcc division. Davey Coombs led the I 25cc Experts past the pit area, but Kawasaki Team Green/jones/Maxima- pon ored Bader Manneh dialed it on in the brush and emerged the eventual winner. Manneh explained, "Carroll Richardson was ahead of me, but my pit SlOp was quicker." Manneh has just made the jump from 80cc machinery but seemed right at home on a one-two-five. Motocross Gatorback Park was trimmed with banners, accented by the large tents of the major manufacturers, and from the Stat Flight medical helicopter. resembled a giant carnival. Tight contests for the gold prevailed in all classes and the expanded schedule ran like a Swiss watch. The most suspense developed in the Yamaha pit with close friends Tichenor and Bradshaw almost tied in the quest for the Bronze Boot Award. Randy Bradshaw said, "The kids trained and went to school IOgether last winter. This is the first time they have raced in the same class." Joel Barrow lost the Pee Wee class lead in the first molO to Ross Dhayer, with Lenny Sauer closing in on second in the points race with the molO win. For the first time the Pee Wee class rider rode the same track as their older counterparts. Dhayer passed Sauer on the first lap to add the Olympics award to his AMA championship. "The MX event is my favorite," said the tiny Yamaha rider. "Hammering Hank" Moree erased holeshot by Brian wink and Brett Melton in the 65cc Stock and Modified events to take an Olympic divi ion championship back 10 South Carolina. "My ponsors. Kawa aki. JT. Bell and jones Goggles. are very generous." said the ('as\, going 1oree. 9