Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126951
Kurt Sofka (14) leads Brian Myerscough (15), Craig Adams (3) Randy Morales (13) and the rest of the front row of Sunday afternoon's race. Don Griewe piloted his Husky four-stroke to the overall victory at the VieWfinders GP. Griewe beat Brian Myerscough by three minutes. Jay Stranger (far outside) got the jump on the pack in Saturday'rfirst race, but finished out of the top five. 19th Annual AMA/Disfricf-37 Viewfinders M.C. GP More than· 1500 race; Griewe wins By Mike Larson Photos By Larson and Nate Rauba RIVERSIDE, CA., FEB. 28 - MAR. I Don Griewe piloted his Husky {our-stroke to the overall win in Sunday's Open Expert race at the 19th Annual Viewfinders Grand Prix at Riverside International Raceway.. Griewe took over the lead when early front-runner Brian Myers- I cough ran out of gas on lap three. Griewe had no trouble stretching out a substantial lead after MyersCQugh dropped back and led the rest of the 100-mile contest. In Saturday's Open Sportsman race Dan Ashcraft took over the lead on lap two and held off 1986 Baja 1000 co-winner Bruce Ogilvie and Randy Morales for the rest of the race for the victory.. This year's Viewfinders race; sponsored by Malcolm Smith, Answer Products, Gold Belt, Smith Goggles, Pirelli tires, On Dirt magazine and Torco Oil, was the largest ever held with more than 1500 entrants for the two day event. This year's race is most likely the last Viewfinders GP to be held at Riverside due to the impending closure of th~ raceway. Viewfinders officials say, however, that they hope to find another location for the popular annual event. Viewfinders M.C. referee Bill McInnis said, "Next year we'd like to dust off a race that hasn't been run in years, we're in negotiations for the site right now. We invited the people involved with that to the race and they were impressed. I have to thank the riders and the spectators for their great support and their behavior." This year's course was I0.5 miles in length and consisted of 61 turns. Riders had a variety of track conditions to race on, incl uding cross-country style terrain, a motocross section, pa vement and, of course, the cu tomary Viewfinders mudhole. Official results and class standings were unavailable at press time, so all standings remain unofficial. . Fifteen riders lined up on the front row for the start of the Sunday afternoon race, which included the Open, 250cc and Vet Experts along with Amateurs. Kurt SoIka led the pack around the first turn of the course, which is turn nine of the Riverside auto track, followed closely by Myerscough, Danny Sanchez, Craig Adams and Morales. When the riders entered the first dirt section of the course Myerscough was glued to Sofka's rear fender, and they remained that close for most of the lap. By the time the lead duo came through the end of the lap, Myerscough had taleen the lead and had put some distance on Sofka. Lap two saw Myerscough continue to hold the lead, as he was setting a blistering pace out front. Myerscough turned the fastest lap of the weekend, completing a circuit on the 10.5 mile track in 17:56 seconds. Sofka was still close though, as he came through the scoring lane about five seconds behind Myerscough_ Myerscough disappeared from the lead on the third lap as Griewe sped through the scoring lane with the lead with last yeflr's overall winner Mike Baker in second and Morales in third. Baker's second place gave him the overall lead on time, as he started in the fifth row with the 250s. Myerscough finally made it back to the pits many minutes behind the leaders. After the race Myerscough said, "I planned to pit at the end of lap three, but I ran out of gas. I had to push my