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/126755
~ 0") C\l ... ~ ~ 2 ..0 Keith Oelerich took the 500cc starts, but clutch troubles put him out. Mike Knupp (81) wound up second overall. V ~ John Reinholt had a bit of trouble with his goggles, but still went 3·1 for yet another win in the 250cc Pro class. 1983 Florida phenom Karl Jordan finally had a winning day in 125cc action. Jordan had a pair of runner-up finishes. Florida WInter AliA 11K Series: Round 3 Jordan, Reinholt & Murphy strut at West Palm Beach By Mike 8t Anne Adair WEST PALM BEACH, FL, FEB. 12 Karl Jordan, John Reinholt and Mark Murphy headlined 490 riders by winning the Pro classes in the third round of the Skoal Bandit/Miller High Life-sponsored series at Wheelsport MX Park. "Someone help me," pleaded 125cc winner Jordan as he slruggled wilh his boule of 8 champagne. "It's been so long I've forgouen how to get the cork out." The 250cc class winner, Reinholt, said, "Who needs the Michigan Mafia? We are the Florida Force." Mark Murphy, who has had plenty of "cork practice" this winter, topped the 500cc ranks and owns a 28 point lead in the class. Sunday's field of racers were greeted with rain and a soggy track. Rodney Barr, aboard a Kawasaki, led for 10 laps in the first 125cc event as Carroll Richardson guarded second spot with Mike Crane, Karl jordan and jim Veugeler mixing it up forthird. Series leader Tom Rice found himself in trouble after a bad start and worked up through the pack. Barr disappeared from the lead and later said, "I t happened in the back section where a root, or something, knocked my front wheel out and I crashed." Richardson, on a jack Brown/jT/ Oakley/Klemm Research-sponsored Kawasaki, took over and held off jordan for the win. Richardson, from Ft. Worth, Texas, said, "Greg Quador and the Kawasaki Support Team were a big help to me. The bike was perfect. " Rice, on a Team Tamm/Dell Racing Kawasaki, grabbed the second moto lead from a determined jeff Frisz, with Clay Hoenshell, jordan and Steve Burdette in the hunt. Richardson and Barr crawled outof a pileup and chased the pack. Frisz stuck with Rice and found the key to go ahead for the lead on lap six. Jordan stalked Rice. knowing that a pass would put him in the series point lead. "My goggles were useless and Rice fouled me up before I could pass him," said jordan. "I have been trying to be consistent. and it's beginning LO pay ofr." Jordan made his move and passed Rice to finish second behind Frisz. and now holds a four point margin going into the final race. A smiling jordan picked up Yamaha contingency money for the overall win. Rice said. "We need to work on the low end power. It doesn't come out of a turn like it used to." The holeshot king, Tom Carson, lived lip to his reputation in the opening 250cc moto, but Wheels of Oxford/Hi-Poi nt-sponsored Dave Hollis erased Carson's start and won the moLO. "I have had the speed -before," said Hollis, "but I usually get jammed in the first turn." Reinholt and Kevin Foley moved up,.and bumpedCarsonoutofsecond. Foley, riding a Greg Cecil-sponsored/tuned Yamaha, earned the second place bucks over Reinholt. "I slipped up on Reinholt and caught him sleeping on ajump," said Foley. Keller moved from mid-pack to finish fourth. Moto two was a virtual free-for-all. Carson took off in the lead again but was soon caught by Serge Gregoire. Keller and Foley were banging bars for third and Carson's pit person, Barbara Carson, warned him of their threat. Keller soon reeled in Carson, Gregoire suffered a DNF and Bettencourt's Honda-sponsored Keller took the point. Keller failed to appear on the next lap and Reinholt took over the lead. Keeping an eye out for Foley, Reinholt scored the moto and overall win. Husqvarna's, Andy Stacy paced himself well and caught Foley to take second for good and finish fourth overall. Keller had engine problems and pushed his bike back to the pits. "The mud wasn't that bad, but we didn't clean the radiators on my bike well enough and the engine overheated. That ended my race," said Keller. "It's better it happened here than at a National. I've got to shake this bad luck." Reinholt said, "After all that has happened to me today, I can't believe I won." Hollis, who got a late start and finished third, said, "I feU and got up quickly, but something jammed my . chain and the bike wouldn't roll." Team Instinct/T and D-sponsored Keith Oelerich rolled to the front of thefirst 500cc moto with Mike Knupp, Reinholt, Murphy and john Collins strung out behind. Oelerich's yearold Yamaha opened a big lead, while Murphy dealt with the riders ahead of him. Oelerich and Murphy paced the moto until the 14th lap, when Oelerich suddenly pulled off. Later in his pit, as the stench of burned c1utc'h hung he~vy in the moist air, he said, "This bike is just worn out. I 'wish I. had a new one." Murphy col-' lected the win with Knupp topping Reinholt and Collins for second. In the final 500cc contest, Chuck Partridge led Oelerich for part of a lap' before losing the privilege. Keller, Murphy, Knupp and Tim Dohm were on the gas and moving up. Keller kept his act together and romped by Oelerich for the lead on lap six, making it stick this time. Murphy passed Oelerich a lap later. Oelerich's clutch problem surfaced again. Keller had the momentum and took his first moto win this season. Reinholt's Honda had died, ending his hopes for two series champion-ships. "It sounds like it needs a top end job," explained Reinholt. For Murphy the overall victory was earned the hard way. "I couldn't get a good start today," said Hi-Pointsponsored Murphy. "Reinholt was a mile ahead of me in the first moto. I've got a good class points lead, so [ plan to ride two classes at the final round in jacksonville." • Results 125cc PRO: 1. Kerl Jorden (VemI2-2: 2. Tom Rice (Kaw) 4·3; 3. Carroll Richlrdson (Kaw); 4. Steve Burdene (Yam) 5-4; 5. Jeff Frisz (Hon); 6. Michael Crone (Kew)6· 5; 7. Rodney Be" (KewI3-1 0; 8. Cley Hoonshell (Vem) 8-6; 9. Ed Wo"en (Kow) 10-7; 10. Cerlo Coon (Hon) 1 1-15. 2500c PRO: 1. John Reinholt(Hon) 3· 1; 2. De.e Mollis (Vem) 1-3: 3. Ke.in Foley (VemI2-4; 4. Andy Stecy (Hus) 8-2: 5. Tom Corson (Hon) 7-7; 6. Douglas Longwell (SUI) 12·5; 7. Wendell Simmons (Vem) 11-6; 8. Torry Tinney (Vem) 14-8; 9. Ed SlUlecki (Han) 10-14; 10. Jo Jo Keller (Hon)4-DNF. OPEN PRO; 1. Merk Murphy (Veml 1-2; 2. Jemes Knupp (Vem) 2·4; 3. Jo Jo Keller (Hon) 9·1; 4. John Collins fHon) 4-5; 5. Tim Dohm (Yam) 5-6; 6. Pierre Coutur. (Hon) 6·8; 7. Chuck Panridge (Hon) 7-9; 8. AlenAndreeu(Hon)8-12; 9. Rusty Ott(Vem) 10-10: 10. Keith Oelerich (Vem) DNF·3.