Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Robert Naughton (69) steals the inside line from Russ Wageman (71) at the start of the main event. Naughton went on to finish second. Naughton (59) leads Wageman (71). Tyson Vohland and Ultracross seri.. winner Jeff Matiasevich (32) in the main event. Tommy Watts won the heat race. but was third in the main. Matiasevich at 38.342. Tyson Vohland qualified fourth with a 39.249 and the younger Vohland, Tallon rounding out .the top five, who were all Kawasaki riders, with a 39.537 clocking. Heats Jeff Matiasevich (32) clinched the series'. title at Las Vegas. but Vohland (12) scored the main. event win.- Mickey Thompson Off·Road Championship ,Grand Prix Series: Round 8 Vohland fabulous at Las Vegas Ultra cross By Jimmie O'Dell Photos by Beverly Gossman and Trick Photo. LAS VEGAS, NV, SEPT. 26 Tyson Vohland launched his Kawasaki into the lead on the final lap to score his second Mickey Thompson Off-Road Championship Grand Prix Ultracross main event vic- 16 tory before a crowd of 24,167 I Silverbowl. Vohland moved at the fabulous Las Vegas through the pack from the fifth row to battle with Robert Naughton who started from the front row. Naughton led the main event until Vohland out-jumped the Honda rider over the double jumps on the fi':lal lap and continued on for the win. Tonight's event was the MTGP season grand finale, which brought to conclusion the Series Points Championship. JeU Matiasevich from La Habra Heights, California clinched the Ultracross Championship title with a sixth place finish in the main evenL Qualifying A qualifying session was held earlier in the day, with' the riders taking two timed qualifying laps and keeping the better of the two lap times. The heat race starting lineup was determined with the fastest riders placed at the rear of the grid. Tommy Watts bested the 14 rider field with a time of 37.767, followed by mike Kiedrowski at 38.138 and Watts, the .fastest qualifier, and ' Kiedrowski, second fastest, were placed at the rear of the field in the inverted starting lineup, with orange ribbons attached to their helmets. The ribbons aided the spectators in spotting them as they carved their way through the pack. When the' rubberbands on the seven rows, snapped simultaneously, Naughton jumped into the lead followed by Tallon Vohland, Ken Arnold, Frankie Brundage, Scott Underwood. and Watts. Tallon Vohland inherited the lead from Naught.on on the second lap while hard-charging Watts had already moved into the runner-up position. A very aggressive Watts tried unsuccessfully to pa,ss the younger Vohland on the third lap. Mote experience prevailed as Watts slipped past Vohland before the double jump to take over the lead. The Kentucky native Watts COIltinued to increase his lead over the field, while Tallon Vohland remained in second. Kiedrowski moyed through the pack to take over fourth, and apply pressure on third place Brundage. The elder Vohland, Tyson moved into fifth. They finished with Watts taking the win. Tallon Vohland second. Kiedrowski moving past Brundage for third, and Tyson Vohl

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