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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126946
Jeff Matiasevich came back from a sixth-place start to win the thrilling 125cc main. Dean Matson led most of the race but finished second. Ron Lechien made it a 1-2 Kawasaki sweep in the main after reeling-in and passing Broc Glover four laps from the finish. Keith Bowen taking the win after working his way up from a fourthplace start. Yamaha rider Jim HoUey finished second aftcr leading the first half of the race. Honda-mounted Rodney Smith took third. Brian Manley (Honda) and Hal· land fought tooth 'n' nail in the second semi. Manley led after the first lap with Holland only inches behind. Six laps later, Holland stuffed his way into the lead only to be stuffed back a turn before the finish. HoIland lost the front end after the two collided off a double jump leading into a turn and Manley took the win. Holland had enough time to remount and capture second. Last Chance Qualifier Honda rider Jo Jo Keller wound up taking the LCQ'win after passing Coen and Smith. Aft r charging past Coen early in the race, it took Keller four laps to reel in and lip by mith to take the final transfer spot of the night. Main The start of the 21-rider main initio ally saw Ward blast into the lead. But during the first lap, Ward dropped back to third behind Johnson and Glover. During that same lap, though, Ward blew by Glover then triple jumped by Johnson for the lead. [n fourth after the first lap was Dymond followed by Stan LOn, Fisher, Warren and Cooper. Meanwhile, Lechien had bai led over the sand pitdoublejump, breaking off his rear fender, a side panel and bending the bike's silencer. Once into the lead, Ward began pulling away from Johnson before the Honda rider crashed over the tripie jump. Johnson laid on the track for two laps before the race was finaJly red £lagged with Ward lead· ing. "When [ first saw the red flag I G lover did manage LO stay close to Lechien for the remainder of the race but couldn't make a pass. When the checkered [Jag came out, Ward had a 20-second cushion on Lechien, who finished just ahead of Glover. Dymond landed a comfortable fourth, followed by Leisk, Cooper, Warren,. Bowen, Frank and Vohland. "It was unfortunate what happened to Johnson," said Ward. "So many th ings are happening these days, and [ think the tracks have to be made a Ii llle easier than they are. Some of the jumps here were okay, but there were a couple where if you mi s, you were just going to get hun like this one set of triples. That's why [never did 'em. IL just wasn't worth risking that one time. I ca ed it in practi e one time and bent my bars, so I didn't take any unnecessary chances out there." 125cc Main After pUlling on an incredible show in his heat race by nipping Michael Craig on the final lap, Matiasevich managed LO LOp that incredible ride in the 12Scc main. hall began when Honda rider Dean MalSOn stole the holeshot ahead of Honda-mounted Craig Canoy and Timothy Buchli. Back in sixth was Matia evich. As the race progressed, it was Matiasevich making all the moves. The Kawasaki rider was charging through the pack until he had control of second place by the third lap. [n third was Canoy, followed by Suzuki's Paul Winn, Buchli, Craig and Ray ammo. A few seconds separated Matson from Matiasevich, but that margin quickly dwindled as Matiasevich reeled-in the Honda rider. During the fifth lap, Matiasevich made his move and dove to the inside of Ma LSon and grabbed the lead, making the top five was kind of upset," Ward said. "Anybody would be. But it was the right thing LO do because he was on the track, and it would've been stupid to keep going. I know if I were Rick I would've wanted it that way." On the restart it was, once again, Ward out in front ahead of Glover, Warren and Leisk. After the first·lap confusion, it was still Ward in the lead while Glover, Leisk, Warren, Cooper, Lechien, Vohland, Brooks, Dymond and Pederson chased. By the second lap, Ward had gained a five-second lead on Glover, who held a few bike lengths on Leisk. But hot on Leisk's rear fender was the ballered Kawasaki of Lechien. Leisk held Lechien o(f for two laps before the Kawasaki pilot slipped into third. Glover, however, still had a good lead over the Lechien/Leisk tussle. By this time, the race had sellied down with Ward holding on to a commanding lead over Glover, Lcchien, Leisk, Dymond, Warren, Cooper and Vohland. As the mota progressed all eyes were focused on Lechien, who was slightly gaining on Glover, while Dymond had taken control of fifth. "[ saw that Ronnie wa gaining just a tiny bit," said Glover. "Then I got inLO some lappers, and he gained about three or four seconds on me." Beca use of the slower tra(fjc, Glover couldn't do some of the double and triple jumps he had been doing. "On this track," said Glover, "If you didn't do a couple of the triple jumps and stuff, you really lost a lot of time and he (Lechien) gained right on me." Four laps from the finish, Lechien made his move after a double jump heading into a righr-hand turn. "He snuck under me," said Glover. "And did a nice block pass. He was charging hard, but I tried LO get him back." Matiasevich, Matson, Canoy, Winn and Craig. Matiasevich beg-.m pulling away but with four laps to go, his Kawasaki developed a rear f1attirc. But he held on with Matson, Canoy, Winn and Craig breathing heavily down his back. On the final lap, Winn and Canoy bumped each other with Winn going off the track and losing two positions LO Craig and Sommo. When the checkered flag came out, it was Matiasevich barely holding on for the win with Matson, Canoy, Craig, Somma, Winn and Suzuki's Willie Surratt rounding out the top seven. Surrall had worked his way up from a nearly dead last start. • Results 125: 1. Jeff Matiasevich (Kaw); 2. Dean Matson (Han); 3. Craig Canoy (Kawl; 4. Michael Craig (Yam); 5. Ray Sommo(Hon); 6. Paul Winn (Suz); 7. William Surratt (Suz); 8. Eddie Hicks (Kaw); 9. Robert Naughton IHonl; 10. Ty Davis (Han); 11. Jon Nelson (Han); 12. 8ryan 8runer (Yam); 13. William Musgrave (Suzl; 14. Timothy Buc~li (Yam); 15. Lowell Thomson. Jr. (Kaw); 16. Drey Dircks (Hon); 17. Shaun Wooten (Suz); 18. Mike Kiedrowski (Kawl; 19. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 20. Larry Ward (Yaml. 250; 1. Jeff Ward IKaw); 2. Ron Lechien (Kawl; 3. Broc Glover (Yam); 4. Micky Dymond (Hon); 5. .Jeff leisk (Yam); 6. Guy Cooper (Hon); 7. Eddie Werren IKawl; 8..Keith Bovven (Yam); 9. Billy Frank (Yam); 10. Tyson Vohland (Kaw); 11. Larry Brooks (Hon); 12. Ross Pederson (Yam); 13. Jim Holley (Yam); 14. Brian Manley (Hon); 15. George Holland (Suz); 16. Rick Ryan (Hon); 17. Jo Jo Keller (Kawl; 18. .Jeff Hicks (Honl; 19. Michael Fisher IKawl; 20. .Jeff Stanton (Yam); 21. Rick Johnson (Honl. 125 POINT STANDINGS; 1. Jeff Maliasevich 125); 2. Dean Matson 122); 3. Craig Canoy 120); 4. Michael Craig (181; 5. Ray Sommo 116); 6. Paul • Winn (15); 7. William Surratt (141; 8. Eddie Hicks (13); 9. Robert Naughton (121; 10. Ty Davis (111; 11. Jon Nelson (10); 12. Bryan Bruner (9); 13. William Musgrave (8); 14. Timothy Buehl; (7); 15. Lowell Thomson. Jr. (6); 16. Drey Dircks (5); 17. Shaun Wooten (4); 18. Mike Kiedrowski(3); 19. Kyle Lewis (21; 20. Larry Ward (11. 250 POINT STANDINGS; 1. Jeff Ward (25); 2. Ron Lechien (22); 3. Broc Glover (201; 4. Micky Dymond (18); 5. Jeff Leisk (161; 6. Guy Cooper (15); 7. Eddie Warren (14); 8. Keith Bowen (13); 9. Billy Frenk (12); 10. Tyson Vohland (111; 11. Larry 8rooks (10); 12. Ross Pederson (9); 13. Jim Holley (8); 14. 8rian Manley 171; 15. George Hollend (61; 16. Rick Ryan (51; 17. Jo Jo Keller 14); 18. Jeff Hicks (3); 19. Michael Fisher (2); 20. Jeff Stanton 11).