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/126943
Brian Myerscough (33) won the 500cc Pro class. via a 2-' tally. Jeff Ward sailed to victory in the first 260cc Pro class moto at Huron Cycle Park. then won the second moto after charging back from fourth place and passing Jeff Leisk on the final lap. CMCjDodge Trucks Golden State Nationals: Round 2 - Ward, Myerscough, Manneh top Huron GSN By Mike Larson Photos by Ron Gee and Larson HURON, CA., JAN. II Team Kawasaki's Jeff Ward scored a victory in the 250cc Pro class today at Huron Cycle Park for round two of the Continental Motosport Club/Dodge Trucks' Golden State Nationals. Ward beat teammate Ron Lechien in moto one then charged back to ass Yam'aha' . P s Jeff Lelsk on the last lap of the second moto to grab the overall win. The 500ec Pro class turned into a Brian Myerscough and Tommy Watts showdown. ~a!ts c1ai~ed the win by a small margm m the fust moto, but in the second moto Watts and Myerscough traded the lead several times. Myerscough took over the lead for good on lap six and held off Watts all the way to the checkers. Bader Manneh topped the field of 125cc Pros after first-moto winner Willie Surratt dropped out on the first lap of the second moto. Rex Staten snagged the Vet Pro division victory for the-second week in a row, and Jimmy Gaddis powered his Suzuki to the win in the 80cc Expert class. Today's racing started on a sour note as Team Honda's David Bailey crashed in the morning's first practice session when he cased-it over a double jump. He landed on his head and was struck in the back by his bike. Bailey suffereda severe back injury and had to be airlifted from the track by helicopter. The first 250cc Pro moto of the day saw Lechien get a jump on the field as they came out of the gate, but as they rounded turn two, Ward and Yamaha's Broc Glover were right on his fender. Lechien. Ward and Glover battled three abreast for the first part of the lap, but as the leaders came out of the back section of the course, it was Ward who held the lead with Glover in second and Lechien third. The leaders remained in tight formation until lap five when Lechien's heavy pressure on Glover finally paid of£. Lechien and Yamaha's Leisk both went by Glover and bounced him back lO.£ounh place. Leisk set his sights on Lechien on lap six and began lO pressure him for the second-place slot. As the battle entered the back half of the track, Leisk launched himself past Lechien and took over the runner-up spot. Ward had it on cruise control out froot, holding a 12-second advantage on Leisk, who had pulled away slightly from Lechien by the end of lap seven. On lap eight, Suzuki's George Holland assumed fourth place as Glover faded back to fifth. Leisk whittled down Ward's margin to IO seconds but couldn't put together a strong enough charge to get any closer. Ward scored the win followed by Leisk and Lechien. HoIland and Glover diced it out for fourth all through the last lap. Glover tried to make a pass on Holland but ended up crashing as Holland pushed him lO the outside of a turn. At the drop of the gate for molO two Holland blasted inlO the lead followed by teammate Erik Kehoe and Leisk. Ward was holding down fifth place and Lechien got a bad start and was midpack. Leisk was on tPe gas and quickly disposed of Kehoe and Holland, takiog over the lead 00 lap two. Leisk wasted no time powering away to a three-second lead on Holland by lap three. Ward was in fourth and challenging Tommy Watts for the thirdplace position as Holland tried desperately lo fight off both Kawasaki riders. At the midway mark, Leisk had a six-second advantage, while Watts and Ward moved past Holland and were trying lo narrow the gap on Leisk. Leisk maintained a fast pace out front, but Ward had jumped past Watts and was working hard lo reelin Leisk. Lap six saw a charging Lechien move up to fourth place and begin to challenge Watts for third. For the next twO laps Leisk tried to maintain his advantage over the fastclosing Ward. Ward closed the distance on Leisk each lap and by lap nine was within striking distance of the leader. Watts lost third to Lechien on lap eight On the white flag lap, Leisk's small lead was gone; Ward was right on the Yamaha rider's rear tire and looking for an opening. Leisk and Ward