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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126966
EI C.jon. C.liforni.·s Rick Johnson took his fourth 250cc N.tion.' win of the ye.r.t the Secession MX with his 2-1 tally. Suzuki's Johnny O·M.... (4) battles with Mike Fisher (140) in moto one; Fisher beet O·M.... in this one. but the O'Show finished third ove...lI. was the first time National MX racing has come to South Carolina, and as usual this time of year, it was hot. Temperatures in the 90s made top physical conditioning a must for those who stayed on a winning pace. Despite efforts to keep the course watered, dust became a problem. Combined with the heat, the 30minute plus two laps motos were tough duty for aLI riders. An AMA purse of $22,000 was posted for the event. Johnson netted $950 for his win, with Schmit taking home $359 for the l25cc overalL With one round remaining in the 250cc National Series, Johnson needs only a top 10 finish to take the title. Honda's Micky Dymond retained his poin t lead in the l25cc standings over George Holland, with seven rounds remaining in the small bore championship. A healthy crowd estimated at 3000 attended the first running of the South Carolina National. Fans were treated to a good show, complete with sky divers and great racing action. 250cc National Johnson (1) le.ds W.rd (3) in moto two; the Te.m Hond. pilot held on to t.ke the win with W.rd finishing second in the moto .nd over.n. AltA 125/250ec National Championship MX Series: Rounds .5/5 Johnson, Schmit scorch Secession MX By Tom Mueller ANDERSON, sc, MAY 31 Honda's Rick Johnson and Suzuki's Donny Schmit took the 250 and 125cc wins, respectively, at the inaugural running of the PoFolks National at Secession MX. Johnson made it four for five in the series so far this season by posting a 2-1 moto tally, besting Jeff Ward's 1-2 on the factory Kawasaki. A 7-1 tally carried Schmit to the winner's circle, his first National career victory. . Promoter Howard Burton joined forces with MX star Bob Hannah in designing the course at Secession. It Ward led Honda riders Jim Kapitan and Jeff Hicks through the left/ right S-tum off the start of moto one, but within a lap Johnson cut his way to second. A great battle set up between Johnson, Kawasaki's Ron Lechien, Yamaha rider Jeff Stanton, Suzuki rider Jeff Risz and Suzuki's Johnny O'Mara. The group was jockeying for the number two slot, with Lechien getting it first by going underneath Johnson. The move didn't stick, and Johnson gained ground on Lechien to retain second by the finish line jump. By lap four Ward had a safe lead on Johnson and Lechien. Stanton was alone in fourth, and Mike Fisher was on O'Mara's silencer for fifth. It looked to be Fisher's day; the Kawasaki privateer worked past O'Mara, and then nabbed Stanton for fourth. At the halfway point, Ward had a five-second lead on Johnson, with Lechien a bit off the pace in third. Fisher was fourth, followed by Stanton and O'Mara, who were deciding who was going to claim fif!h. Yamaha's Keith Bowen, SI,lZUki's Hannah and Frisz were 7-8-9. Ward expanded his gap over Johnson to 14 seconds. 0' Mara settled into a strong pace and passed Stanton, and' in yet another race Hannah fOUI:ld some fire. The 30year-old self-professed "old man" worked by Bowen for seventh, and then gained ground until he had his sights on Stanton. The "Hurricane" set up on the inside, then passed Stanton and a lapped rider in the same clean move, all in timing with the cheers from his many fans along the fences. It was Ward showing the number one sign at the checkered flag, followed by Johnson, Lechien, Fisher, O'Mara, Hannah, Bowen and Suzuki's Willie Surratt. Stanton . finished the race in ninth. It was Ward, Johnson and Stanton 1-2-3 off the start of moto two. Joh~son set up on a double jump and passed to lead on lap two, followed by Ward, Stanton, Yamaha rider Brian Manley, Kawasaki-. mounted Tommy Watts, o 'Mara, Frisz and Bowen. O'Mara began drilling away on Watts, and got by on the back section of the course for fifth. Lechien looked a bit more drained than in moto one, and almost went down on an inside grooved line. Johnson, Ward and Stanton were running in the top three just after the halfway mark, with O'Mara closing on Manley for fourth. Lechien, Watts, Surran and Fisher were next, with Hannah closing on Bowen for lOth. O'Mara took one more lap and Iound a line by Manley, and Hannah made a move stick on Bowen. Johnson and Ward ran away from the field to finish 1-2. O'Mara used everything he had to pass Stanton for third late in the race. Johnny 0' even shouted his famous "hoot" to let his competitors know he's coming by. Stanton claimed fourth followed by Lechien, Surratt, Fisher and Hannah. As they were coasting off the track, Watts and Hannah exchanged some heated words. "If he'd been a lap down there'd been a scrap," said Hannah, "but he wasn't. I'm the ignorant one in that argument. " "I had my suspension set too soft in moto one and had trouble off the jumps," said Johnson. ''I'm not taking anything away from Jeff, because he rode well. We reset the suspension for moto two and it was