Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Hicks doubles; Ryan triples at 8aylands MX By Mike Vancil VET INT: 1. Geoffrey Fox (V.m). VET MSTR: 1. Larry B.ker (Han I; 2. Duane Hughes (Han I. Ridings wins at CalhounMX FREMONT, CA, MAY 28 By Keith Jacobsen The mighty mite, dynamic Todd Hicks, rode a pair of welltuned Yamahas to victory in the 80cc Exp.ert class and the CALHOUN, CA; MAY.25 packed I25cc Intermediate class. In his first class victory - the 80cc Experts - he was looking at the agony of defeat when his chief competitor, Chris Neal, had engine failure and handed the victory to Hicks. In the 125cc Intermediate class, Hicks had to fight off seven other riders, all of them more experienced in 125cc class racing and all much bigger physically. At the start of the first moto, it was Jesse Britain on a Kawasaki into the corner side by side with Hicks. At the 1800 , turn three, Hicks pulled out a short lead. By lap three Britain faded to fourth; he was having serious trouble with the stutter jumps. Making a first Baylands appearance in 1986, young Wade Cobern, on another Kawasaki, took up the challenge of Hicks. Cobern's try was unsuccessful and the effort must have tired him for he was passed late in the moto by Steven Hunter on a Honda. Steven hung on for second in the moto but couldn't shorten the 10-bikelength lead held by Hicks. The second moto start saw Cobern put his KX into the lead followed by Britain and then Hicks. Midway through the moto Britain stepped off hard in the stutter jumps. Hicks found .pressure from Hunter again but was able to pull away and put a pass on Cobern. Cobern seemed to have found a second wind and held on for second in the moto to earn a second overall behind Hicks. Champion caliber professional Rick Ryan put t()gether anQther s.ix perfect rides in the 125, 250cc and Open Pro classes. It has become a regular feature at Baylands for Ryan to take top money in these three classes. The battle which has become the most fierce is the one for second place. Ryan seems to disappear out of the scene and everyone settles down to watch second place develop. In the 250cc class the early contender was the man in red, Ben Avery, on a well-prepped Honda. At about the midmolO point Tony Richards (Kawasaki) got by Avery to capture second. This formula worked in both the 250cc motos. In the Open Pro class motos Dennis Stapleton seemed to play the same role that Avery had in the 250cc class. Tony Richards powered h.is way by Stapleton to gain a pair of secondplace finishes and the second-place overall. Stapleton ended up third on his Santa Cruz-based Yamaha. Results eo MINleEG: 1. John Pe.vler (V.m); 2. Dwavne Newma'n (Yam). 80 MINI JR: 1. Jon Nicolas (Kaw); 2. Trevor Meagher (Vam); 3. Paul laFargue (Y.m). 80 MINIINT: 1. Jason W.rren (Kawl. 80 MINI EX: 1. Todd Hiel

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