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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126950
Although Suzuki's George Holland didn't win either 125cc matos, he did take two consistent second place finishes for the overaD. Team Yamaha's Jeff Leisk went 5-4 in the 125cc class for fifth overall. Privateers Larry Brooks and Ricky Ryan were moto winners. rider Jeff Frisz. A short distance back another pack was forming, including Kessler, Manley, Kawasaki rider Mike' Fisher and Hannah. Johnson managed to put some distance on Bowen, while Lechien and Ward diced competitively for third. Glover, Frisz and Hannah were clustered in the 5-6-7 positions. Ward got the best of Lechien for third, and within a few circuits, Lechien had Hannah to worry about. The "Hurricane" was cutting two anda half seconds a lap off Lechien's time, but that seemed to be enough to kick in I_echien's afterburners. He got back on the gas and held off Hannah for fourth. Johnson maintained his constant speed to win easily, and punched a victory fist into the air off the final jump. Bowen held second for second overall followed by Ward, Lechien and Hannah.. Kawasaki-mounted JoJo Keller, Canadian Yamaha rider Ross Pederson and Frisz rounded out the top eight. "The only problem I had was that my grip almost came ofC" said Johnson. "I was holding on pretty carefully and it held together. "I really think Keith will be a contender this year. Some of the older guys aren't here (competitive) right now, and the younger guys are coming a ted pace on the high, back section of the course and passed Dymond for third. Holland also nipped his teammate, Schmit, before the checkered £lag. Ryan won the motb with a 12-second lead. Holland, Schmit, Dymond, Leisk, Honda rider Larry Brooks, Cagiva's Mike Healey and Honda support· rider Guy Cooper claimed second through eighth place slots. It was Brooks all the way with a fantastic ride in moto two. He worked into the lead early in the race followed by Cooper, Schmit, Holland, Honda rider Dean Matson and Leisk. Holland moved quickly this time out. He stuffed inside of Schmit through a left-hand turn and both riders lost momentum. HoJiand got back on the gas first for third. By the midway point in the race Brooks had a four second lead over Cooper, Holland, Schmit and Leisk. Byran took sixth away from Matson, but Dean 'climbed back on top of Ricky through the series of jumps in the front spectator area_ Brooks was ecstatic when he took' the checkers to win the moto. HoIland found a way around Cooper for second with Schmit taking fourth. Leisk was fifth, and Kehoe moved up in the late stages of the moto for up to take their place." "I've been working with Gary Bailey the past two weeks and it really helped," said Bowen. "I never got good starts before, and today I holeshot my qualifier and the first moto. I've been riding down in Florida this winter, and it's a lot rougher than the California tracks are. I'm ready to go for it the rest of the season." 125cc National Rick Ryan launched his Honda into the lead with an inside line in moto one. Suzuki's Donnie Schmit 'and Honda's Micky Dymond, the reigning champ, were 2-3. Suzuki's Erik Kehoe and Ronnie Tichenor were victims of first lap crashes. Both had to start their charge from the back. On lap two their teammate, Keith Turpin, also tumbled and had to work up from the rear. By the halfway point, Ryan had a four second lead on Schmit. Dymond maintained third with Yamllha's Jeff Leisk in fourth. Then the battle between Schmit and Dymond pushed them within range of Ryan. The three ran in a cluster, while Holland worked up into the field to fifth. A circuit later Holland got under Leisk for fourth. With five minutes remainin!\" HoIland took advantage of his acceler- sixth. Kawasaki's Eddie Warren took seventh over Ryan, and Dymond posted ninth. "I need to work on my starts, but I think I'm ready to win a bunch of motos this year," said overall winner HoJiand. ''I'll take the win today and count it towards the '87 125cc Championship, because that's what I'm after." • Result 125: 1. George Holland (Suz) 2-2; 2. Larry Broaks (Hon) 6-1; 3. Rick Ryan (Hon) l-B; 4. Donny Schmit (Suz) l-B; 5. Jeff Laisk (Yam) 5-4; 6. Guy Cooper (Hon) B-3; 7. Micky Dymond (Hon) 4-9; B. Eddie Warren (Kaw) 12-7; 9. Mike Healey (Cog) 7-12; 10. Erik Kehoe (Suz) 22-6; 11. Billy Whitley (kaw) 1116; 12. A.J. Whiting (Cag) 9-35; 13. Keith Turpin (Suz) 25-10; 14. Bader Manneh (Kaw) 17-14; 15. Barry Karsten (Yam) 10-22; 16. Dean DeVane (Suz) 26-11; 17. Vine DeVane (Suz) 21-13; lB. Scott Brown (Yam) 13-25; 19. Fred Andrews (Hon) 14DNF; 20. Gerald Wood (Yam) 35-15. 250; 1. Rick Johnson (Hon) 1-1; 2. Keith Bowen (Yam) 3-2; 3. Ron Lechien (Kaw) 2-4; 4. Jeff Ward (Kaw) 5-3; 5. Bob Hannah (Suz) 6-5; 6. Ross Pederson (Yam) 7-7; 7. Jeff Frisz(Suz) B-B; B. Jeff Stanton (Yam) 4-14; 9. Mike Fisher (Kaw) 11-9; 10. Billy Frank (Yam) 9-11; 11. JoJo Keller (Kaw) 15-6; 12. Alan King (Suz) 10-12; 13. Mickey Kessler (Kaw); 12-13; 14. Broc Glover (Yam) 1B-1 0; 15. Kent Howerton (Hon) 13-1 B; 16. Scooter Stafford (Suz) 1430; 17. Danny Storbeck (Hon) 22-15; 1B. Jeff Hicks (Hon) DNF-16; 19. Mark Murphy (Hon) 16-DNF; 20. Brian Manley (Yam) 29-17. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS 125: 1. Holland (44); 2. Brooks (40); 3. Ryan (38); 4. Schmit (36); 5. Leisk (34); 6. Cooper (33); 7. Dymond (30): B. Warren (23); 9. Healey (23); 10. Kehoe (15). 250: 1. Johnson (SO); 2. Bowen (42); 3. Lechien (40); 4. Ward (36); 5. Hannah (31); 6. Pederson (2B); 7. Frisz (26); B. Stanton (25); 9. Mike Fisher (220: 10. Billy Frank (22).