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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126946
In his first desert race, motocrosser Drey Dircks flew his Honda CR 125 to
the 250cc Expert class win.
Russell smokes to
Gila Bend GP win
By Daryl Drake
Photos by 3-D Photography
GILA BEND, AZ, JAN. 25
Bob Russell put his Honda CR500 out front
by check one at the Arizona Desert Racing
Association's 13th Annual Gila Bend Grand
Prix and never looked back as he blasted his
way to the overall and Open
Expert win.
Holding off competitors such
as Husky's Garth Sweetland and
Honda ace Jeff Darland, Russell was
never seriously threatened as he turned
in a time of 2:57:19 to average 47:37
mph aboard his Dirt Unlimited/USA
Sport!Apache Honda West-backed
CR.
Experts made four trips around a
fast 35 mile loop that featured choppy
cross-grain, endless sand washes, and
a couple of high speed asphalt sections. Many riders later described the
course as much rougher this year and
as dusty as ever.
Off the start, it was Jeff Darland's
Honda leading the way ahead of
Russell up the first long wash section. Then, about a mile before check
one, Darland's motor went away as
he tried to accelerate back up to
speed.
") guess) blew a hole in the piston," he said later. ") don't know
why it got so hot, I was running the
same jetting) did in Mexico."
The wash almost ended Russell's
day as well. ") was running second to
Darland and we were really charging
up that wash," said Russell. "Jeff
blew and) gOt by only to seize immediately after. My bike came to a dead
stop twice, but I was able to restan it
and then kind of cruised the rest of
the first lap and was amazed) was
still in the lead. After that I just
picked up. my pace a lillie bit and
kept it smooth."
Whiskey Pete's winner Sweetland
had problems before he got started.
On the parade lap, his bike had
engine trouble, so he had to switch to
his Baja pre-runner, a Husky 510 that
has seen a lot of miles. By the time he
got numbers and a spark arrestor on
it, the Experts and his start time were
long gone.
Sweetland started back among the
Amateurs but really flew on his first
lap and was running fourth after a
quick pit stop when he reached the
home check. His next three laps were
hampered by a head pipe coming
loose, finally resulting in a dropped
valve. But Sweetland still managed to
finish at eighth Open Expert, 17
minutes behind Russell.
Meanwhile, Russell was feeling
what it was like to be out in front for
the first time at a desert race. "When
you're in the lead, you don't know
who's catching you and how close
they are," said Russell. "I tried to ride
smoothly and not kill myself. It takes
a lot to win one of these things. A
million things could go wrong.
You've got to keep your concentration up and not let any thing bother
you.
Riding a 250cc KTM, Phoenix, Arizona's James Stott captured seventh
overall and second in class behind Dircks.
"This is a big accomplishment for
me," added the 26-year-old truck
driver. "I only get to ride on the weekends and it feels real good to win
this. I'd like to thank my tuner (and
teammate for Parker) Gary Wells, my
sponsors, my wife and son and all the
'lillIe people' that helped me do it."
Finishing second overall and Open
Expert was Pat Prosser (KTM), 4:26
behind Russell. "The race went
greatl" said Prosser, "no problems,
but I just couldn't catch him. Except
for stalling the motor once, I had a
perfect ride and a lot of fun."
John Thompson was third overall
and Open Expert almost a minute
back. "Prelly good race," he said. "I
loved the sand! I fell a couple rimes,
and my left footpeg was falling off. I
had a lot of fun though and really
enjoyed this one."
Coming back from a fifth gear
endo right off the start, Paul Bennell
finished fourth overall and Open
Expert. "I was right on Darland in
his dust and hit a big rock. I cruised
on the front wheel for what seemed
like 200 yards before it finally went
over," laughed Bennett. "By the time
I got back up, I was dead last so I
played catch up for the rest of the
race. "
Rounding out the top five was
250cc Expert class winner Drey Dircks
on his Sunnyslope Honda/Young
Cycle Supply/Hallman/Bell CRI25
at3:06: 19 to avcnlge 45.08 mph. Dircks
had entered as a 200, but with no
other entries in the class, was scored
with the 250s and won despite a flat
rear tire.
"This is my first ([at-out desert
race," said Dircks. "Dusty and fast
-a lillie too fast for a 125. The big
bikes would just blow by me in the
washes. Then I had to ride the last 32
miles on a f1