Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Jeff Emig (12, above) grabs the holeshot during Sunday's run-off 105cc 12-plus moto. He is chased by Rick Simmet (23), Dame Bradshaw (68), Jason Langford (12), Hank Moree (37) and 15 others. (Below) Donny Schmit won the 125cc Stock and Modified, and 250cc Modifed Pro classes. NMA Grand National Championship of Motocross . Schmittriples Ponca CityGNC By Kit Palmer PONCA CITY, OK, AUG. 4-10 Kawasaki rider Donny Schmit had to make a tough decision either race round nine of the AMA 125cc National Motocross Series in his home state of Michigan this weekend, or try J his luck racing four Pro classes at the Yamaha-sponsored NMA · .. G ran d Nat1o~al ChampIOnship . In Ponca City. Schmit made his decision payoff - the Team Green rider coasled to lhree class wins at Ponca City, which included lhe 125cc Stock and Modified, and 250cc Modified Pro classes against a strong field of competitors. A firstlap langle in the 250cc Stock Pro class COSt Schmit a chan e for a four class • SWllqp. • " , •• , • , , ••• , • Yamaha ~ider from Charlolle. North Carolma, Damon Bradshaw claimed the overall NMA Mlnlcycle Grand National Championshipafler finishing fourth in the 83cc Stock Expert 12-plus class and winning the Modified division. Bradshaw was leading the final 105cc 12-plus moto before crashing and finishing 11th. Nobody could malch S hmit's three-class victory, but a few riders won two classes, including former NMA Minicycle Grand National Champion I.QweIJ ThQlT\psol1, ~bo topped both the 125cc Stock and Modified Intermediate classes on Kawasakis. Yamaha riders Robbie Reynard and Chad Pederson also went home with double wins; Reynard the Pee Wee Modified and Junior Cycle Stock (6-8) classes; Pederson the 83cc Stock and Modified Intermediate 12-plus classes. Weather played an important factor this year with severe thunder and lightning storms drenching the track and, at times, putting a hold on the races. Friday had the worst conditions of the weekend. A thunderstorm dropped nearly two inches of rain Thursday night, turning the track into a huge mud bog. In the early stages Friday, the Minicycle classes had to be changed and run late in the day, after it took orie of the 83cc classes about 10 minutes lO complete one lap. Late Saturday afternoon, the races were temporarily stopped when another wall off black clouds blew in and a severe weather and wind warning went into' affect throughout the Ponca City area. The races were stopped for about 45 minutes then resumed. Over 1500 riders were on hand al the AMBUCS motocross facility, which saw many former AMA National Motocross Champions make an appearance one Lime or another, including Bob Hannah, Jeff Ward., Ron Lechien, Broc Glover, Donnie Hansen, Mike Bell and Tony Di tefano. uzuki's George Holland and Erik Kehoe also topped by. The riders that qualified for the mains accumulated points on Saturday's main, and the rider with lhe. least amount of points after Sunday's run-off moto, would be class champion. In case of a tie, the rider wilh the be l moto finish in the run-oCf moto would win the tie-breaker. After picking up three points in the 250cc Pro Stock class Saturday, Schmit's first outing on Sunday wasn't a good one for him. chmit got off lhe line poorly and tangled handlebars with a couple of riders. Afler the firsllap, Schmit was midpack while Kawa aki rider Jeff Matiasevich led. Honda riders Mark Melton and Ty Davis, Kawasaki-mounted Tommy Wans and another Honda rider Shaun Kalos rounded,QUl the tQP ,five.. ,. By lap two, Melton had taken over the lead, while Davis motored into second. Watts soon moved into the third spot, dropping Matiasevich to fourth. Out in front, Melton extended his lead over Davis to a somewhat comfortable advantage. Late in the race, Watts dropped back behind Matiasevich and Kalos, who began pressuring Matiasevich. Kalos eventually found his way into third, making the top five Melton, Davis, Kalos, Matiasevich and Watts, who felt pressure by Kawasaki rider Mike Kiedrowski. Melton held on to his number one position, taking the win over Davis. Schmit had problems working his way up through traffic and, at one time, dropped his Kawasaki over a section of jumps. Schmit began his three-motosweep in the I 25cc Pro Stock class, when he took the holeshot in the final race ahead of Kalos, Matiasevich, John Grewe, Kyle Lewis, Vince DeVane and Melton. Schmit quickly pulled away from Kalos, who held on to second for three laps before crashing and dropping to fourth. By this time, Lewis had worked up to second; Melton third. Matiasevich dropped back to fifth. A lap later, Melton continued to work his way up after passing the second place rider Lewis. At the halfway point, chmit held a commanding 13.60-second lead over Melton, who gained a few bike lenglhs over Lewis. Schmit went on for the win ahead of Melton, Lewis, Kalos, Maliasevich, DeVane and his Yamaha, and Kawasaki rider Michael Jones. chmit continued to roll to victory in the I 25cc Modified Pro clas . He made the win look easy as he quickly motored into the lead on his Team Green Kawasaki and was never pushed. Lewis was second after the first lap ahead of Kiedrowski, Kalos, Jones and Kenny Bollmeier. While Schmit sailed out in front, Kiedrowski reeled in Lewis and slid into second by the halfway point. Soon after, Kalos crashed over a double jump and dropped out of contention. Al the checkered flag, it was Schmit way out in front again, followed by Kiedrowski, who held a huge advantageover Lewis. After Lewis followed Melton, Jones, DeVane, Mark Crozj~r, allqMi~ L.i1~~j:(jl.l"· ,. J 1 r I :

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