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/126753
(Above) Open riders Mike Knupp (B1), Mark Murphy (61) and John Reinholt (207) start. (Below) Reinholt and Kevin Foley (63) battle in the 250s. (Above) Steve Burdette joined the winner's ranks at Orlando. (Below) Mark Murphy made it two wins in a row in the Open class. Florida Winter AliA MX Series: Round 2 Burdette, Reinho/t & Murphy conquer Orlando By Mike & Anne Adair ORLANDO. FL, FEB. 4-5 Steve Burdette joined repeat winners John Reinholt and Mark Murphy in the Pro division victory cele1?ration at round two of the Skoal Bandit and Miller High Life-sponsored series at Orlando Sports Stadium. "I can use some of that Yamaha comingency money," said 125cc Pro class 16 ., winner Burdette. Reinholt and Murphy were equally convincing in their respective 250 and 500cc Pro class wins. Murphy said, ''I'm really happy to have won here, because I don't ride a 1000fsand tracks anymore." Reinholt, who also ~on the opening 250ccmoLO, said, "We got a break today between moLOS, but my rear shock won't last two full moLOS in this rough stuff." Track owner Pete Ashlock was at trackside for the first time since having heart surgery in December. His son, Alan Ashlock, said, "Dad feel great and appreciates everyone's concern for him." Over 500 Professional and Amateur riders took on the deep sand and .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. ........ .. . ..... ... .. whoops in the two day program. Amateur Gerald Wood, Pat Post and Rick Lindell led a Yamaha sweep of the A classes on Saturday. Post, who won the 250cc class, lost out in the 500cc division to Lindell. Jeff Fisher claimed the first four moLO sweep of the series in 125 and 250cc B action. Kawasaki Team Green's Tommy Watts looked comfortable in the lead of the first J 25cc A moLO, but soon crashed and looked up LO see Don Schmit, Brian Stanley and Billy Tuman go past. Schmit and Tuman swapped the lead until Tuman, on a Hi-Point/Bell/Team Green Kawasaki, made it stick LO win. Wood fought from dead last to finish second. Watts LOok another' holeshot in mota two before Mike Diaz, Stanley and Shannon Ivey each had a turn in front. Stanley hung on for the win. Wood won overall. "I've got to thank ~~~;;JJ~!~ ••••••••••••••••• ' my dad, Barr's Competition and Yamaba's Mike Chavez for helping me today," said Wood. Fred VanWagoner rode effortlessly LO a first moLO win in the 250cc A class. while Pat post struggled through the pack for second. In maLO two, VanWagoner was on the gas and looking for another moLO win when he crashed. Wood needed one lap LO pass Mike Roth and take the moLO win. Post, moving from 20th to finish second, took the overall win. Georgia's Lindell took a quick 500cc A class moLO lead. with Post scrambling behind Donnie Banks.. Post passed and built a large lead for the win. "I stalled it in the back," said Lindell, who finished second. "After that I was just hanging on. The track was incredibly rough." Lindell found new strength in mota two for the win as Jon McCabe, Jeff MacKenzie and Steve Pitts beat Post LO the finish. "I was tired,''' said Post, "but I can't believe I rode like that." Post retained the top spot in the series points battle while Lindell vaulted into second. Ronnie Tichenor took over the Mini A point lead from Vince Devane with a win in the class. Devane suffered a DNF in moto two. North Carolina's Damon Bradshaw continued his domination of the Mini B class aboard his Barry Black-tuned Support Yamaha YZ80 by leading every lap. Mini C leader Hank Moree passed up Orlando's race and Indiana's Brell Melton wasted little time in jumping over Brock Bu liard to take over the series lead. Senior class point leader Barry Higgins missed moLO one. Woody Strickland passed Georgia's Gene Bready to win the first moto. Strickland's wife, Nancy, had reason to cheer again in moto two as Strickland out-dueled South Carolina's Steve Lewis on the final lap LO win. Higgins LOok third, which gave Lewis a two-point lead over Strickland. Fisher started his four moLO sweep with a convincing 125cc B first moto win, passing lllinois' Jim Randa on the second lap. In moto two, Eddie Andry, Hondamounted Greg Wisek and Suzukimounted Edmund Swearingen paced the field while Fisher rode from last to first and took the win. "It sure is the hard way to win." said Fisher. In 250cc B action, Georgia's Tommy Martin had two laps of glory in molO one, then it was Fisher leading for wins in both motos. Pro Rodney Barr bounced out of the first turn in the opening 12:,('(' Il\OIO in the lead. Karl Jordan and Greg Randa separated serit's poilll It';ltkr Tom Rice from the.lt'adt'''' and Burdette was buried in Iht' pad... Barr looked unbeatablt,. as .Iordan hdd off . Rice for second wilh Randa and Burdette spaced OUI Ix·hind. On a dramatic final lap, Runlt'lI(' Il\o\"('d through tht, pad, ami lOok Iht' win. ." As I camt' h,', Rarr and .Iordan were standing by Illt,i., hik('S," said Bunlt,tte. Jordan said, "I was nn a high line trying to pass Barr and he bounced over me, and our bikes got tangled. Rice fen while 'he was trying to pass me." Michigan's Eddie Warren led the Kawasaki parade on lap one of the 1 ,~&Il\~1 " .. ""~I