Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Guy Cooper survived in the Florida mud to take the 125cc title. Bob HaAnah won the 250cc Pro class at Gatorback and with the win took the 250cc Winter AM championship. Jo Jo Keller (left). Bob Hannah (center) and Guy Cooper (right) celebrate their titles in the 17th Annual Florida Winter AM Series. 17th Annual Florida Winter AM MX Series: Round 5 Keller, Hannah, Cooper wrap titles at Gatorback By Mike and Anne Adair GAINESVILLE, FL, JAN. 24-25 JoJo Keller, Bob Hannah and Guy Cooper wrapped up series titles at the final round of the MX series at Gatorback Park. The Yamaha-sponsored, WorldSport-promoted event ended in a wild and desperate climax with riders ..' strugglIng agaInst a mud?y, rutted track that was more lIke an enduro than a motocross. Keller, who swept the 500cc class an.d f,i,nished second i.n 250cc action said, I do pretty well in the mud, but the price that must be paid is too high. I ruined two Kawasakis here today and I'll have to get a new 250 ready before the Anaheim Supercross." Keller picked up 800 from the Kawasaki Pro contingency program for his day's efforts. Team Suzuki's Bob Hannah had not won a Winter AM title in 10 years. The Hurricane last won here in 1977 and since then has either left the series due to other commitments or been injured. The 25Occchampion commented at the awards program, "I was really glad to be down here for the whole series th is year. I just wish Ronnie Tichenor could be up here with me for Suzuki. He rode well in the l25cc division, but Cooper is a good guy too." Tichenor's comfortable 125cc point lead evaporated on slimy "Heartbreak Hill" with a DNF in the second go, as the 90 footclimbout from the Gatorpit was strewn with defeated riders and motorcycles. The Honda-mounted duo of Cooper and Fred Andrews passed Tichenor's blown Suzuki, earning them the top two series positions. Cooper, who won the series in an equally dramatic finish last year, elaborated, "I stuck my head in a mud pond on the first lap and thought the championship was gone, but I just kept riding and my momentum on the hill is what won for me." Promoter Bill West praised the industry support for the series at the awards program. West said, "This is the first year that Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda and Yamaha have all offered contingency programs for the pros and amateurs." Hannah, acting as "trophy queen," pa sed out trophies and merchandise from Scott USA, Dunlop, Answer, Wiseco, Gear, Racewear, Acerbis and Hannah Racing. In the£irst 500cc start, Kirk McMillan out-splashed Keller and Dennis Hawthorne, heading the field for two laps before Keller secured his win. Kawasaki/Cycle Sport Center/AXOsponsored Keller said, "McMillan and Hawthorne are known for getting good starts. I tried to be patient, take my tim.e and pick a safe spot to pass them." Jim Kapitan and David McLean bumped McMillen for the third and fourth spot finishes. Kapitan elaborated later, "You have to really prepare yourself and your bike for water like this. I rigged a gutter over my roll-offs, waterproofed and rejetted my Honda." Before moto two, McLean, who was only four points down to Keller at the day's start, pointed to the rutted course and said, "The first moto was wet and wild, but this is going to be ridiculous." Hawthorne added, "They call 'em o£f in Texas when it's like this." Keller roosted the pack, th~ pressure now 0[£, and rode easily to a second moLO and class victory. "Kawasaki has been a big help to me," explained Keller. "I couldn't have done it without my mechanic Graham Barber and the help from Jeff Chambers on the Team Green truck." Trampass Parker, Joe Waddington and Keller spearheaded' the first 250cc moto, with Hannah, Bowen and Jeff Stanton muddin' it in the back of the pack. The order changed to Waddington, Kurt McMillen, Mike· Roth and Keller at the end of lap one, with Roth explaining later, "I love this slime. I just hope my bike does too." Keller moved into the lead on lap five to wrap the mow win but questioned the message on his pit board. "No way could I be first," commented a confused Keller, "I tried to ask the £Iagmen as I came by." Hannah explained his strategy after the race saying, "Look at my front plate. It's still clean, isn't it? I never raced with anyone. I just waited for them to fall or get stuck and then I'd pass 'em." Hannah moved all the way up to third behind Keller and Roth by the finish flag. Bowen, who did not finish, explained his demise, "My clutch fried and I tweaked my knee." Stanton also dropped out with unknown problems on lap three. Moto two was a Hannah benefit all the way, as his Randy Bruiningprepped Suzuki dazzled Keller and Ross Pederson right from the start gate, leading every lap for the overall day's win. Pederson followed Hannah for the runner-up SpoL He said, "I made the mistake of being in the same rut behind Bob in the first moto. He slowed for a moment and I ended up stuck." Keller lost his second overall on the third lap--when"' he picked a bad line. "I was mired in really well and a spectator ran out to help," Keller explained. "I told him to get the hell away so I wouldn't be disqualified. I guess he didn't know the rules." Waddington ended his day on the hill but salvaged third for the series. "I got stuck on the hill and

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