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/126960
Jeff Ward (3) gets the jump at the start of the 250cc main. Ron Lechien (9), Rick Johnson (1) and Johnny C'Mara (4) chase. additional five points over defending Supercross Champion Rick johnson, who rode the Tampa Stadium, Coors-sponsored event with a broken fin!?er on his right hand. The finger, whIch he broke two weeks ago at the Pontiac upercross, was heavily taped and immobile. Riding in pain and having the finger set to where he could hold on LO the throttle, johnson said he was performing at only 80% of his ability. "Dean Miller (Johnson's trainer) told me I'll be nding in a lot of pain but I won't really actually be hUrling anything," said johnson. "Knowing that gave me a real boost. " In the 125cc class, Suzuki riders Keith Turpin, Ron Tichenor and Vince DeVane supplied mo t of the action during the main event, and when it was all over Turpin captured the win over local favorite Tichenor. Fellow Floridian DeVane was running a close third late in the moLO before crashing out and giving Yamaha rider Todd DeHoop third. Johnson (1) and Lechien (9) spent the early half of the 250cc main this close. The two rivals put on a spectacular show. A.A/Coors Supercross Series: Round 11 Ward, Lechien take 1-2 in Tampa By Kit Palmer TAMPA, FL, APR. 26 Team Kawasaki's Jeff Ward made it look almost too easy, The current supercross point leader ran away and hid from the rest of the 20-rider pack to capture his fourth 6 victory of the series. Ward led . . th~ 250c~ rna.m event WIre-toWIre whIle hIS teammate Ron Lechien finished second. Hon- da's Rick johnson, and Su~uki's Donny Schmit and johnny 0 Mara rounded out the top five. Ward's second victory in the last three outings has given him an Heats A very enthusiastic and vocal crowd of 45,000 packed the Tampa Stadium when the first of three heat races lined the starting gate. Because of a light turnout of 250cc riders, only three heat races were run compared LO the standard four, and the top four finishers in the heats and the two semis aULOmatically transfered to the main. O'Mara blasted hi facLOry uzuki into the lead at the start of the first heat race, but went wide in the first turn letting by Honda rider Fred Andrews and Yamaha's Keith Bowen and jeff Stanton. The first rider LO make a move was StanLOn who dove by Bowen to take over second place and he started taking a closer look at Andrews. By the next lap, StanLOn was leading the way, while O'Mara began his drive to the front. Eventually, the Suzuki rider snuck inside of Bowen then motored by Andrews in a section of whoops. Once into second, O'Mara set his sights on Stanton and slowly reeled him in. With two laps LO go, O'Mara forced his way around Stanton, but the Yamaha rider quickly retaliated. just before taking the white flag, O'Mara made hi second bid for the lead stick. Crossing the checkered flag, it was O'Mara out front followed by StanLOn, Bowen and Andrew. The second heat ra e was uneventful, with Lechien coa ring LO a startto-finish win. Yamaha' jeff Leisk cruised in second the entire distance, finishing comfortably ahead of Canadian Ross Peder on. Honda rider Larry Brooks, Kawasaki's Eddie Warren and Schmit spent the whole race in a heated dogfight over fourth. It wasn't until late in the maLO when Warren edged his way around Brooks for an early trip LO the main. Ward stole the hole hot in the final heat race ahead of Suzuki's George Holland, johnson and 16-year-old Yamaha rider Shaun Kalos, who was competing in his first AMA Pro event. Ward quickly extended his lead while Holland and johnson battled over second. It took johnson four laps before finding a clear line around Holland, and by that rime Ward was lon~ ~one. Another hot shoot-out was brewing over fourth ' place between Kalos, Suzuki riders Alan King and Erik Kehoe, and. Honda-mounted Guy Cooper. When the smoke had cleared, it was King getting the upper hand over Keho.e, Kalas and Cooper. Ward's win was the fastest of the night, and with that he nabbed the Coors Cup 1000 check and four more points LOwards the Coors Cup Championship rie. Semis Brooks nailed the holeshot in the first semi, inches ahead of Suzukimounted Willie Surrall and Hondaarmed Ricky Ryan. A few turns later, Ryan slipped by Surrall and set after Brooks in what looked to be a Brooks/Ryan dice to the finish. But during the second lap, Ryan landed hard, clipping the end of a table-LOp jump with his back tire and collapsing his Honda's rear suspension. Ryan had to pullout of the race and into the pits to fi.x his mount and get it ready for the last chance qualifier. With Ryan out, Brooks had it easy, taking the win ahead of Surratt and Honda riders jason Upshaw and Dean Matson.