Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

last loop - it was too easy!" Grant Palenske, who finished 11th overall to take second in the 250cc division, agreed that the last loop was too fast. "I bent my pipe earlier in the. race so I didn't have any top end and the guys were pulling me out on the fire roads, but overall it was an excellen t course. " Third 250 went to five-time lLalian enduro champion Angelo Signorelli (KTM), who al 0 de erved the bestdressed award for bis stylish hot-pink and white riding apparel that extended even to color-coordinated boots. Speaking through an interpreter, 27year-old Signorelli said that the race was "beautiful," but aid he could not believe how fast everyone left the start line. "And tbey went that fast all the way," he said. "I am not used to that speed." An elated Bryan Folks powered his Cagiva to victory in the 125cc class (20th overall). "I did it - I finally won," said Folks (Cagiva North America/Whiskey Pete's/EP Performs/Sportsman Cycle/Scott). ''This is my fourth year riding the event and before this the best I got was second 125. It took a long time to get here, but it was worth it. "The race was super tough, I seized the bike right off the start, but after that it was preLLy much a flawless race. The bike ran good and held up all the way no matter bow tough the cour e got." The second 125 home was the Coor Extra Gold-sponsored Kawasaki piloted by Jeff Miller. "Tbecourse was awesome - no du t and pure traction," said Miller, wbose ride included almost65 miles on a from flat. "There was another kid behind me and I thought he was too close to try chang- ing the flat, so I just kept going. "With a few more trees, the first loop would be really comparable to an IS DE qualifer," said Miller. "I think that's the pan I enjoyed the most." Cagiva's Summers, who wem imo the race as the only tbree-time winner of a class at the event, had to be contem with third in the I25cc division this year. "I think I'm depres ed," a disappoimed Summers said. "IL was mechanical problems that did it. I crashed once and 10 t about six places, but it was the two flats and the lost cl utch lever that did it. I 10 t the lever in a tight rocky part of the first loop and that's what set me back. I'd get caught in traffic on tbeuphilland stall, and then I'd have to go all the way to the boLLom and try again." In tbe Over 30 class, the win wem to Yamaha pilot Harden (21st overall), with Kern Park (Hus), last year's Over 30 winner, taking second in 27th overall. Harden said his stan left a lot to be desired. "I was quick enough off the line, but I hit a slick spot just pasLLhe bomb and wem down wide open. I slid about 100 feet on my back and bent the shift lever in. I had to go back to the truck to get a crescent wrench to fix it before I could start, so I lost a lot of time." Park, an ex-Baja 1000 class champion sponsored by Cycle Service/Bi) I Dehl/ D park Plugs/Grand port Tires/Pacific Racing and Malcolm mith Products, also had trouble getting going in the early stages of the race. "I got up imo about second in class in loop one, but then all of a sudden everyone passed me. I was just riding toO slow. I felt like an old lady up there in the snow - I wasjust Suzuki metal Steel, magnesium and aluminum. The things the newSuzuki RM's are made o£ Motocross bikes that Bob. "Hurricane" Hannah, the winningest rider in motocross "Don't forget to tell history; and a the computer I won." state-of-the-art computer helped shape. dogging it. But things started to come together a bi t beLLer later in the race.. ,. Third Over 30 finisher was Dan Lees of Idaho (Hi-Point/Omega Product) on a Yamaha. It was a wire-to-wire victory fOl Barry Higgins in tbe Over 38 class. Higgins finished in 51st overall and beat out second place finisher Dick Burleson by less than one minute. Higgins (H&H KTM/Husqvarna/KTM America) said: "Everybody talked about this race and said it's the best desert race around, so I came out to try it out last year. Everyone was right then, and this year it was even better! The course was great, and it wasn't nearly as dusty. I hate that damn dust." Winner of numerous National enduro championship titles, Husky's Dick Burleson had to becomem with second place behind Higgins. "He has more grey hair than me - I guess I need to get some more to be competitive," Burleson joked at the finish line. "I blew it in the beginning by wearing a heavy coat, that was a bit much and slowed medown, but I got rid of that when I piLLed and things were fi ne from tben on. I like tbe stuff up in the mountains - that's fun." Tbe tbird Over 38 rider home was Utah's Preston Gerber (KTM/Utah Sport Cycle/Competition Product). "That was great," Gerber said. "Casey Folks did the best job he's ever done." The win in the Women's class wem to last year's champ Joanna Brownell of Newhall, California (Kal-GardiVan Nuys Husky/AXO). Brownell, who works as a police officer for the Los Angele Police Departmen~ said ber race got off to a flying stan. "I started with the men We didn't just recycle an old design, or come up with anew name. We went from top to bottom, through the eye of the "Hurricane;' to forge an entirely new RM. A better RM. And we're already proving it on the track. "Hurricane" Hannah took Round 2 of the AMA Florida Wmter Series at Coco Beach on January 4 on his new RM25O. And some of our biggest ideas are small. Which was proved by Butch Smith. He took first and Buddy Antunez took S@€()nd in Round One of the CMC Golden State Series Mini Expert Class. They were and was in fourth going past the bomb. I kept saying to myself, 'What am I doing up here?' The course was excellem, but it was so bumpy that you couldn't sit down at all. But that was fine for me - I bit a rock, jumped off the bike and ended up sliding imo a cactus. I've got so much cactus in my backside I couldn't sit down anyway!" Other winners at the championship evem included the pit crew for Vancouver, Washington rider, Dan Harte. Harte's crew wrenched and sprimed its way to victory in the Duralube Pit Stop Challenge, and wem home $500 richer for their efforts, complimems of Duralube. Best in the Desert race organizers rounded out a perfect day's racing by serving a complimentary dinner to all of the race-goers after the event. "We call ourselves the Best in tbe Desert, and we really want to be the best," Casey Folks explained. "We want to have quality, professional world-class events that riders can look forward to and we won't seule£or any less. tI • Unofficial Results OVERALL: 1. Garth Sweetland (Hus); 2. Jeff Der· land (Han); 3. Kevin Steele (ATK); 4. Don Griewe (Hus); 5. Brad Mcleod (Han); 6. Terry Un Kyle (Hus); 7. Kurt sofkaIKaw); B. Shawn Gerber (Cag); g. Tom Kelly (Yam); 10. Paul Ostbo (Han); I 1. Grant Pal· enske (Hon); 12. John Nielsen (Hus); 13. Greg Sea· rle (Han); 14. Rick Bozarth (Hus); 15. Man Schweitzer (Hus); 16. Angelo Signorelli (KTM); 17. Mike Alex· ander (Yam); I B. Daryl Folks (Hus); I g. Bill Berroth (KTM); 20. Bryan Folks (Cag). OPEN; ,. Garth Sweetland (Hus):2. Jeff Darland (Han); 3. Kevin Steele (ATK). 250: 1. Tom Kelly(Yam); 2. Grant Palenske (Han); 3. Angelo Signorelli (KTM). 125: 1. Bryan Folks (Cag); 2. Jeff Miller (Kaw); 3. Duane Summers (eag). OVER 30: 1. Scot Harden (Yam); 2. Kern Park (Hus); 3. Dan Lees (Yam). OVER 3B; 1. Barry Higgins (KTM); 2. Dick Burle· son (Hus); 3. Preston Gerber (KTM). WOMEN; 1. Joanna Brownell (Hus); 2. Debbie Levy (Kaw). both on Suzuki RM80's. And we're ready to test your mettle with some gold. Our contingency program has been increased to over $1.25 million. Just for men of steel like you. So get on a new Suzuki RM80, 125 or 250 and get the lead out Right on, Suzuki $SUZUKle

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