Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Rick Johnson wrapped up his second straight 250cc National Championship at Lakewood. Rick Ryan (12) got the holeshot in the first 125cc mota and despite a crash. was able to hold off Dymond (1) for the moto win. AMA 125/250cc National Championshi~ MX Series: Rounds 61-6 Johnson wraps up third title in Denver By Mike Larson DENVER, CO, JUNE 14 '''Being conservative IS not my.style," said Rick Johnson after the factory Honda rider wrapped up his third and second-in-a-row 250cc National Championship at Lakewood Cycle Park just west 6 of Denver. Despite having to I only finish in the top 10 in either motos to clinch the 1987 250c National Championship title, johson wanted lO wrap up the Championship in style, and he did that by winning both molOS. johnson led the fir t molO from lap three on and then fought his way past rival Ron Lechien's Kawasaki lO claim the second molO victory. johnson's win earned him 1000 of the 22,000 purse. johnson also earned an extra 110,000 in bonus money from Honda; 10,000 for winning the race and 100,000 for taking the series title. In the 125 ranks john on's Honda teammate Micky Dymond returned to the winner's circle with a 2-1 score. Dymond was the runner· up to Honda privateer rider Rick Ryan in molO one and then came on strong to dominate the second molO. Dymond picked up 408 for his I25cc class win. In spite of a lot oE attention and watering, the Lakewood hillside track turned into a virtual dustbowl, creating a lot of vision problems for the riders. In the second set of motos the dust was whipped up by high winds. 250cc National Kawasaki's jeff Ward led the 250cc ational pack into tum one in the fir t molO Eollowed closely by Yamaha's Keith Bowen, johnson, jeff tanlOn and Lechien. On the second lap johnson gassed it around Bowen and zeroed in on Ward. johnson was right on Ward's rear fender and slid past near the halfway pan of the lap near the five-minute mark oE the molO. Ward bobbled and lost a lillie ground lO john on, but remained within striking distance of the leader. johnson led Ward, Bowen, Lechien and Yamaha's Stanton through the next two laps, but Lechien stuffed his way by Bowen on lap six. Ward began to fade slightly on lap eight and Lechien saw his chance to slip by his teammate on lap tline. He then jelled off in pursuit of johnson. Lechien tried to catch johnson, but lO no avail. The Kawasaki pilot got close, but never found an open- ing. The top five at the end of the moto were johnson, Lechien, Ward. Bowen and Stanton. johnson's first molO victory gave him the 250cc National title. "I just went out and rode my own race," said johnson. The three-time 250cc National Champion said he LTied to stay out of LTouble but did have some problems with lappers late in the race. "I was going up to lap a guy and it was real dusty," he said, "all oE a sudden there he was on the ground. Right there it could have been a three-bike pile up and I could have lost it all." In the second molO Yamahamounted Doug Dubach rocketed off the line and led the 41-rider field into the tight Eirst turn with johnson right behind. The EI Cajon, Califor· nia residentdii:ln't wait long to sneak by Dubach, as he snaked lO the inside in the hairpin turn at the top of the Eirst uphill. At the end oE the first lap johnson was leading Lechien, tanton, Billy Frank, Ward and Dubach. On lap two, johnson 'and Lechien had pulled out lO a small lead on third· place Stanton, who was working lO hold oCE Ward. Lechien was staning to put the pressure on johnson, and Eor the next two laps they fought it out for the lead with the Honda rider maintaining the upp'cr hand. just into the sixth lap, Lechien grabbed a hot line through the turn at the baseofthe first downhill and worked his way past johnson. johnson stayed right on Lechien's rear tire for the next lap and, as the lead duo ran up the first uphill·on lap seven, Johnson made a bid to get past. Lechten and johnson ailed up the hill side-by-side, but Lechien pushed johnson to the inside of the track and held onto the lead. johnson Stayed with Lecl)ien Eor the next two laps then blew by Lechien' with no problem on lap nine, near the I 7-minute point of the race. From that point on johnson was in control and led the rest oE the molO. Ward put in a great charge and pulled to within a few bike· lengths of johnson at the finish. Lechien faded and Stanton and Dubach both moved by dropping Lechien to EiEth. "It feels great LO win the Championship," said johnson "Those guys think that they can beat me, but they didn't beat me today." 125cc National Ryan was the fastest gun in the Eirst I 25cc moLO with Dymond, Larry . Brooks and Suzuki's Donny Schmit in hot pursuit. Ryan used the dusto free conditions running out front to begin to build a small cushion on Dymond 00 the next lap. Ryan and Dymond held the East pace out froOl, holding Brooks to third for the next three laps. Ryan looked smooth and in conLTol, maintaining a cushion of about four seconds on Dymond until lap 10. Ryan went down on lap I I, but bounced right back up and held the first place spot. Dymond tried to reel in Ryan for the remainder of the race, but only made it to within a Eew bike lengths at the checkered flag. Behind the . leaders Brooks held oEf a charging jeEf Leisk, while Honda privateer Guy Cooper rounded out the top five positions. "The front end just got away from me and I tried gassing it and I just slid out," Ryan said of his crash. "That cost me about five seconds, and I had five-second lead at the time so Micky got right in behind me." Dymond didQ't want a repeal of the first moto as he jammed off the

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