Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Ron Lechien (9) is chased by Team Yamaha's Jeff Leisk. Lechien finished close behind Johnson in the main, while Leisk took fourth. Rick Johnson celebrates after winning his first supercross this year. He's now fourth in the series; 21 points behind leader Jeff Ward. AMALCoor Supercross Series: Round 3 Ward's streak ends; Johnson wins By Kit Palmer Photos by Kinney Jones and Nate Rauba SAN DIEGO, CA, FEB. 14 Jack Murphy Stadium was the site, it was Valentine's Day, and Team Honda's Ricky Johnson emerged smelling like a rose. In front of his hometown San Diego crowd~ Johnson narrowly defeated another local favorite, Team " R h' Kawasa k 1. S . on. Lec len, .to capture hIS hrst supercross VIC- 6 tory of the year. "This is definitely a turning point for me," said Johnson, "just like San Diego was for me last year. I'll be right there at the end." In the main event, Johnson led from start to finish but was pressured by El Cajon's ~echien ~v~ry in,;h of the way; Lech~e':l ",:as ndmg with a broken hand. Fmtshmgm thenumber three position was Team Honda's Micky Dymond, followed by Yamaha's Jeff Leisk and Suzuki-mounted Erik Kehoe. Kawasaki's Jeff Ward, who won last week in Houston, Texas, and the week before at the series opener in Anaheim, California, wound up finishing seventh in the main after work- lng his way up from a last place start. He and Honda rider Larry Brooks collided and crashed on the first lap. Team Yamaha's Broc Glover was a no-show in San Diego. While practicing a few days earlier, Glover crashed and pinched a nerve in his back and couldn't compete, which pretty much puts him out of contention for the 1987 Supercross Championship. But Glover wasn't theonly rider to suffer a major setback. Team Suzuki's Johnny O'Mara scored no points Saturday night, which is the second time so far this season that O'Mara hasn't gained any points. During the main event, O'Mara was running eighth before tangling with Guy Cooper and breaking the radiator on his Suzuki. O'Mara tried to finish the race while coolant poured out of his radiator, but "the engine seized six laps from the finish. In the l25cc ranks, Honda rider Kyle Lewis tOok command as soon as the gate chopped and never relinquished his lead, despite heavy pressure from Kawasaki rider Eddie Hicks, Lowell Thomson, Jr. and Michael Craig. Lewis' victory, however, was marred by the tragic news that his father, Matthew, had suffered a heart attack during the 125cc main event. Before the race was over, the elder Lewis was taken to the field ambulance where he died shortly before being air lifted from the stadium. Heats The first heat race of the night saw Dymond take the win but not without opposition from Honda rider Rick Ryan and Kawasaki-moumed Mike Fisher. When the gate dropped, Ryan blasted into the lead ahead of Fisher, Dymond and O'Mara. But by the end of the first lap, Dymond had overtaken Fisher for second and started hounding Ryan. The duel for the lead lasted a couple of laps before Dymond doubled by Ryan and into the lead. From there, Dymond cruised in for the win. During the finalolap, and after passing Fisher, O'Mara set after and nipped Ryan by taking an inside line through a turn. The finishing order was Dymond, O'Mara, Ryan and Fisher. The second heat race was LOtally dominated by Johnson, who led from start to finish. Lechien, however, kept Johnson honest every lap, and the lead duo pulled away from Leisk and HousLOn's l25cc class winner, Suzuki's Keith Turpin. The race featured little passing as Johnson led the way. Lechien finished second ahead of Leisk and Turpin. Heat three featured another flagto-flag romp, but tlIis time it was. Kehoe doing the honors. Kehoe took the lead from the start, while Honda rider Danny Storbeck, Cooper and Rodnev Smith chased. Whiie Kehoe was busy keeping Storbeck at bay, all eyes were focused on Kehoe's teammate, George Holland, who was making up for an early moLO get off. On the white flag lap, Holland was one spot out of the transfer position (fifth) and was breathing heavily down Smith's back. With a few turns to go, Holland dove to the imide and stuffed Smith through a turn, making the finishing order Kehoe. Storbeck, Cooper and Holland. . After suffering a midpack start in the fourth heat, Ward began his drive to the from of the pack, while Jeff Stanton led the race. Bv the second lap, and after Stanton 'had crashed back to seventh, Ward was styling out in front with a comfortable margin over Brooks, Yamaha's Keith Bowen and Honda rider Michael Moore. Semis The first semi was won by Honda rider Jeff Hicks. Hicks jumped out LO an early lead but was pressured by Suzuki's Ronnie Tichenor the whole way, while Smith and Jo Jo Keller battled for third. When it was all over, Hicks had the win under his belt, while Tichenor, SmitlI and Keller rounded out the top four. . The second semi featured a StantonlTerry Fowler dogfight. Stanton had the early lead but was quickly passed by Kawasaki-mounted Fowler. Fowler led the next six laps before Stanton motored by Fowler on the outside of a turn. At the finish it was Stanion taking the win ahead of Fow IeI', Kell y Andris and Shane Drew.. Last Chance Qualifier Yamaha rider Brian Manley and Ross Pederson battled handlebar-tohandlebar for the final transfer spot of ~he nigh t. Manley led for most of the race until losing traction exiting a turn, which was slip enough to give Pederson the advantage. Pederson hooked up and motored by Manley, taking over the lead. Soon after, Man-

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