Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Rick Johnson (left) and Jeff Ward battle during the first 250cc Pro moto. Johnson was later disqualified from the race for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ward finished second overall with a 2-2 outing. 250cc class overall at Sunrise Cycle Park. Lechien's victory Ron Lechien captured the 250cc Pro class victory with a flawless 1-1 tally, making it a Kawasaki 1-2 class sweep. Third went to Suzuki's Erik Kehoe. CMC/Dodge Truck Golden State Nationals: Round 1 Lechien nips Ward at GSN opener By Kit Palmer Photos by Nate Rauba ADELANTO, CA, JAN. 4 On a cold, wet grey day in southern California's high desert, Kawasaki's Ron Lechien survived two hard get-offs in his 250cc Pro qualifier, a midrace brawl in the finals and strong challenges by teammate I Jeff Ward to nail down the wasn't a pretty one, but when it was all over he did collect a I-I tally, giving the Kawasaki rider the overall for the opening round of the eight-race Continental Motosports Club/Dodge Truck Golden State Nationals Series. Lechien wasn't the only winner of the day. In the 125cc Pro class, Canadian rider Allen Dyck took advantage of extremely muddy race conditions to nail the overall with a 3-1 tally, while Kawasaki-mounted Mike Fisher captured the 500cc Pro class victory, also via a 3-1 combination. In the Vet Pro class, ".Rocket" Rex Staten defeated Gary Semics for the overall, while Suzuki rider Butch Smith put a second-moto, first-turn pile-up to good use and went away with the Mini Expert win. A steady downpour of rain kept track conditions less than ideal throughout the day. By the time the second round of motos came around late in the afternoon, the normally dry and sandy track had turned into a soupy mess, making it extremely difficult for riders to just ride around the course without getting stuck in one of many bike-swallowing mud holes. By far, the most dramatic racing of the day took place in the 250cc Pro class, whiCh featured the talents of former National Champions Lechien and Ward, and current National champ Rick John on, who rides for Team Honda. When the gate dropped for the start of the first moto, though, it was Suzuki's George Holland who took the lead as the pack rounded the first turn. In close pursuit were Lechien, Ward, Kawasaki-mounted Mike Larson and Johnson. A few turns later, Lechien had slipped by Holland for the lead, and by the end of the first lap, Holland had dropped back to fourth after both Ward and Larson moved by. J ohnSOJ:l was fifth, followed by Billy Frank, Erik Kehoe and Tommy Watts. By the third lap, Johnson had passed Holland and set after Larson; two laps later, Johnson was third, bUt a long way behind Ward, who was falling back behind Lechien. At this point, all eyes were focused on Johnson, who obviously was the fastest rider on the track after quickly reeling in the leaders. Johnson made his move on Ward though a lakefilled turn and soaked Ward's goggles with mud. Ward immediately dropped off the pace and let Johnson go after Lechien. Just as he had done to Ward, Johnson quickly gained ground on Lechien, but time was running out. On the final lap, Johnson was a few bike lengths behind Lechien, and with a few turns remaining, Johnson said Lechien started to " ... brakecheck me." This fired up Johnson. Lechien crossed the finish line a few feet ahead of Johnson, but Johnson was made furious by Lechien's tactics. A short distance past the checkered flag, Johnson rode up along side of Lechien, jumped off his bike and landed a lip-splitting punch to Lechien's face. Then the two riders immediately rode back into the pits, where the feud continued. ''I'm tired of his (Lechien's) little games, and I'm not out there playing," said a very vocal Johnson. "Even though I was catching him, Lechien had the win in the bag, then he started to brake-check me and tried to take me out. It's not like this is the first time something like this has happened between us; it's been going on for four years. I'm just tired of it and 1 lost my temper. 1 guess it was the straw that broke the camel's back. 1 do want to formally apologize to Ronnie and to all the spectators that saw what 1did. 1shouldn't have done it. ., Afterward, Johnson walked over to the Kawasaki pits to personally apologize to Lechien, but Lechien wanted no part of it and locked himself inside the cab of his box van. Lechien' was quiet about the whole ordeal but did comment later. ''I'm really not sure why he (Johnson) got so upset," said Lechien. "I did get a little squirrely off the start and cut in front of him. After that 1 didn't see him the whole race and [dido 't have any idea where he was. 1 was out frOnt riding my own race_ But on the last lap, my pit board said he was getting close. Then 1started making a few mistakes. "I ~uess what made Rick mad was a few turns before the finish," said Lechien. "I was heading into this one-lined turned and I saw him coming up behind me real fast; 1 thought he was going to ram me. At that point, 1 had to slow down for the turn, and he almost hit me. Of course it wasn't anything intentional. After the race, he came up to me and grabbed my helmet and started yelling at me. 1 had no idea what it was about. Then he hit me and that really stunned me; 1 wasn't ready for that. It was a cold and cheap shot, and I didn't feel the need to talk to him after that. 1 didn't do anything that he or anybody else wouldn't have done. He just doesn't like getting beat, especially by me." Johnson was later disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct and was not allowed to ride the second moto. With Johnson's elimination, official scoring showed Lechien taking the win ahead of Larson, Ward, Hoiland, Frank, Kehoe, Jeff Leisk, Watts, Ty Davis and Russ Wageman. The second 250cc moto was a Lechien/Ward duel from start to finish. Ward took the holeshot but Lechien dove to the inside of him in a turn and took over the lead during the second lap. Following in third was Yamaha-mounted Wageman, then came Frank, Holland, Honda rider Ricky Ryan and Watts. Larson had crashed and was .trailing the pack.

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