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/126934
tJ ·8 Q,) ;> o Z ,.0 Open class and 250Cc winner Craig Adams laps a slower rider during the 250CC action at the Rourio La Playa Grand Prix in Mexico. Brian Fountain rides through the high tide en route to second place in the 250Cc cia..; beach racing in Baja California. The Open class prepares to start while a lone surfer (background) contemplates the awaiting surf. Craig Adams (right) negotiates a jump in front of spectators during the Open class; over 400 riders participated in the Mexican event. 2nd Annual Rosarito La Plala Grand Prix Adams repeats at La Playa GP By Greg Neimann ROSARITO BEACH, Be, MEX., OCT. 19 Craig Adam,S successfully defended his stranglehold on the Rosarito La Playa Grand Prix today as he not only repeated his victory of a year ago in the Open class, ~ut also ~cored. a win in the 250cc race.. . Ada ms, a 17 -year racing ve~· eran from San Clemente, Calafomia, won the Open class on his CR500 Honda less than two hours . . . aIler wmnmg a gruehng 250cc class. Adams was only one of two to enter ;rnd race in both classes. and he dominated both. Randy ~orman sat dejected at the start line after a chain broke as the green flag was dropped. Randy Morales, winner of the last two Baja 1000 races, shared the lead with Adams for about half of the race until bad luck struck - a broken chain - forced' him out. Adams went on to win handily, compleung U seven-mile laps, taking the checkered £lag of the one and a half holir race over three minutes before numbertwofinisher Rick Lee, crossed. Danny S~ch~, al~ on ~ Honda 500, came 10 thud whIle Jim Hawkins Sr. placed fourth. Mark Nation was next in his first La Playa Grand Prix. "I loved it. I'll be back," Nation said. Adams survived high tide, a neckto-neck battle with Morales, running out of gas, a scorer's momentary confusion which forced him to lake an extra lap, spectators in the way, getting wrapped up in course markers, and a protest - to win the 250cc race on a Honda. Adams' distinctive "UPS·brown" riding gear became less and less dis· tinctive with each lap as mud generated by the high tide and water crossings rendered the most brilliant red, white and blues the same color. Morales on this first race also rotated the lead with Adams before running out of gas and out of the race. Adams ran out of gas himself, but right in front of the pits. With about a five-minute lead at the time, he refueled and got back moving without losing position. The incident generated an inquiry as someone unbeknownst to Adams picked up bis bike while he ran to get gas. The officials ruled the bystander did not have Adams' permission to touch the bike and his race position did not improve. . Spectators got in the way near the check point and Adams, along with a few other riders swerved, running into course markers. The markers, ironically, wrapped around Adams' girI£riend and mother, knocking them down. Despite the setbacks Adams, won the 250cc race handily, running 14 laps around the seven-mile course with jumps and water crossings, that winded through the roads and across the sandy beaches of Rosarito. Brian Fountain finished second on a Yam~ha with Greg Fountain third on his Yamaha. Keith Senn not only won the 125cccompetition but placed founh overall on his 125. Marty Moates, a nationally ranked motocross champion, also rdn well in his first La Playa race. Randy Lowell was the second 125cc finisher on his Yamaha. This year's course, laid out and or- ganized by the HiJltoppers MC, included more jumps, started farther south on the beach and had one long beach run broken into a couple of segments. "It was more fun," said Adams, referring to the higher jumps and de· manding sandy curves. "The first race (25Occ) had a much higher tide and there was a lot of water on the course. With the tide out, the Open race was easier... The double victory for Adams was not the first time he has won back to back, but "It's been a long time, at least 1984, more likely 198~," he said. Adams is currently spending more time in Mexico pre-running the Baja 1000. Last year he placed first in his class on ·the 250cc with teammates Bob Johnson and Steve Buckley. Over 400 riders participated in the event, sweLLing the population of Rosarito ~h by over 2000 people. "This race is good for Rosarito Beach," exclaimed Bernabe Hernandez Armas, President of the Tourism Committee and coordinator of sponing events for the seaside Mexican town. He added, "These riders and their groups stay here about 2-~ days and fill up the hotels and restaurants. It's good for all of us. "The Hill toppers also always make donations to our city, helping to equip our fire and police departments, as well as bring food and clothing." • Results OPEN: 1. CnIig AdII"'" (Hanl; 2. Rick l.M (Hant 3. 0 . _ S e _ CHon). 260: 1. Craig AdII... (Hont 2. Brien Founl8In (Vemt 3. Greg Faumain (Veml. 125: 1. Keith Senn (Veml; 2. Rendy ~I (veml; 3. John Rudder (e.g). -.