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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126942
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Carrol Richardson (8731 leads Fred Andrews (44), Don Hudson (157) and Scott Chesser (141) into tum one of the
125cc Pro class; Honda-mounted Andrews took the win.
Bob Hannah rallied to take the second moto win in the 250cc class;
Hannah finished second overall behind Keith Bowen.
norida Winter AM MX series:
Round 1
Bowen, Stanton,
Andrews tame
the Gator
By Mike and Anne Adair
GAINESVILLE, FL, DEC. 27-28
Team Yamaha's Keith Bowen and Jeff Stanton, and Honda privateer Fred Andrews
earned Pro class wins in the opening round
of the Yamaha-sponsored Florida Winter
8
AM MX Series at Gatorback
Park. There were 739 riders
I
from 20 states, Canada, Peru,
England and South Africa,
competing- in the 17th running- of the
oldest mOLOcross eries in the nation.
Due to the 1987 Supercross schedule starting after the Winter AM's
cond usion, factory riders are able to
compete in all five of the series races
this year, making-the caliber of competition in the Florida sands keener
than usual. Keith Bowen, 250cc winner, commel1led, "Jeff StanLOn and I
will both be able LO SlaY down here
and train for the '87 season.lLshould
really help."
uzuki Racing-'s Pal Alex"ndersaid,
"We are really g-Iad LO be back at the
Winter AM Series. Bob H"nnah
will race for the250ccChampionship
and our hopes "re on our new riders
Keith Turpin, Ronnie Tichenor and
Vince DeV"ne in the I25cc division.
We hope that all this effon adds up LO
number one."
Yamaha. Kawasaki, Suzuki and
Hand" have posted individual ash
and merchandise conting-ency "wards
which, combined with the purse for
the series, LOt"ls over 200,000. Suzuki's offer of $2,000 for a first place
125cc or 250cc win prompted 125cc
Pro winner Andrews to elaborate. "I
wish my Hand" w"s yellow."
Former series Amateur Ch"mpion,
Stan LOn, in his first year" a pro,
tallied an impressive showing: first
in the 500cc class and third in 250cc
aClion. "The whole ide" of this series
is to dial in your bike and get in
shape," explained Stanton. "I plan
to ride both classes ag-"in at Cocoa."
In theCirst J 25cc maLO Turpin took
the first lap from Carroll Rich"rdson
with Andrews, Tichenor, SCOll Cheser "nd defend; ng cha m p Guy Cooper
on the gas. Andrew's Wiseco/Pro
Circuit/Hombre tnt. Honda stalked
Turpin and picked him off on lap
three. "I had a beller line in the
sand," said Andrews. Turpin, who
kept the pressure on, crashed hard
and was forced to withdraw, adding,
"11 's the first time in my life that I got
a good stan, but then I ate the big
one." Andrews rode LO a solid win
with Cooper and Tichenor close at
the finish.
Yamaha/Hallman Racing-supponed Kenny Bollmeier led the second
mota with Tichenor eager and Andrews, DeVane and Mark Melton on
The Florida sun brought out the
shorts.
the prowl. Andrews flipped in a sandy
seelion and, trail ing- five feet of errant
"roll offs." bcrserked the track. Tichenor's Alan Barker-prepped RM passed Bollmeier and hung-on for the win
with Andrews closing- at the end. "I
was very plC