Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Jeff Frisz (38) jumps out in front of Bob Hannah (26), Jeff Beckington (456) and Kenny Keylon (30) at the start of the first 250cc Pro moto at Dade City Motorcycle Raceway. Todd DeHoop's first ride aboard the factory Suzuki was a successful one as he won the 125cc Pro class . Florida Winter AMA Motocross Series: Round 3 Hurricane Hannah wrecks Dade City By Mike and Anne Adair DADE CITY, FL, JAN. 9-10 Bob " H urrican e" Hannah wrecked the 250cc Pro ranks in the third round ,of the Suzuki/Scott USA FLorida Winter AMA Motocross Series at Dade City Motorcycle 8 Raceway. While Hannah wa s I ranks, wi th the only class th e dominant force in the p ro , sweep, his Su zuki team mate Todd DeHoop took 125cc honors and Kawasaki-mounted Keith Johnson topped the 500cc Pro class. The only thing faster than Hannah's RM Suzuki was the Cessna P210 that he pilots. Del-loop's debut race for Suzuki also featured the first production test of th e new React rider radio communication eq u ip ment. DeHoop said, "My mechanic Mark Johnson co nstant ly updated me with good information. I never had to wonder who was behind me and he fed me tips on better lines. That radio kept me pumped." Massachusetts rider Johnson, who shared 500cc mo to wins with JoJo Keller, said, "T h is is my first series to race against the pros. They are a lo t more aggressive, but my biggest problem is getting used to the 30-mi nute motos." . , On the 250cc start gate Hannah's mechanic Ra n d y Bruininga and Bevo Forte joked as they massaged Hannah's arms. "He's kind of an old guy," said Fo rte. "We have to check to see if he has feeling everywhere. " Bru ininga added, "Yeah, and we have to make sure tha t he's 'awake for -the start." The gate dropped and Jeff Frisz, Hannah , John R ei n h o lt, Ala n Andrews, and David Paquette led the charge to th e first turn. At the end of lap one Frisz 's Suzuki held the point with Hannah on the gas and the crowd on its feet. Seri es leader Fred Andrew didn 't appear for the green flag , reportedly injured and unable to co nt in ue. Hannah played cat and mouse until lap six when he jumped alongside and passed Frisz in a sweeper for the win. Hannah said later, " I feel like I am playing with kids. Give 'ern a little tim e and th ey'll be smacking me aro und." Frisz said, " We just got the 250 and Woody Kyle spent the whole day helping me set it up..I'm delighted with it." Rein holt , who was bumped from the third spot by Mike LaRocco, said, " La Rocco was breathing on me hard, th en a lapper chopped me down." In the rnoto two start Hannah played the inside line like a musician and owned every lap of the race. Frisz held second for most of the race until LaRocco completed his move from sixth lo pass Frisz on lap 12. Priva teer 'Kenny Keylon , in his firs t appearance of the season, passed Frisz for the third spot. Answer/Scott USA/Kawasaki of Lake Wales assisted Keylon said, " Frisz had better drive and momentum, so I stayed on him and waited for a mistake. I have been doing hare scrambles and not training much for motocross, yet I feel stronger now then when I trained hard." Hannah, who visited injured rider Dawson Ransome in the local hospital after the race, said, " I' ve broken my share of bones out there too, but I've had a lot of fun in this sport. I'm a lmost through, but I would like to experience a Daytona win one more time." Answer / W KR /Si Ikolene/Bell_sponsored Frisz returned lo action in the 125cc class and led Keith Turpin, Dale Spangler, Todd DeH oop , Keith Bowen and Billy Graef in the early 'go in g . Pre-race favorite Ro n n ie Tichenor was used for traction in the first tu rn , sustai ned injuries and loaded up for the day. After taking the rnoto win Frisz said, " I don 't know if I want lo ride two classes again. It's a strain." Keith Bowen coaxed his Kawasaki back from a seizure to finish fift h and explai ned, "It stuck, but after I finally got it going I had forgotten my goggles were off. I had lo stop again to put them back on." ' Amateur J oh n Kitsch pulled the holeshot in the second Pro moto with DeHoop, Jay Mann, James McllIvaine and Bowen on the gas. Frisz 's silencer was mangled in a first turn crash and he was wrapped for the day, as was Turpin. Bowen's TUF/ Answer/Ohlins Kawasaki rolled on, clipped DeHoop on lap four and began an assault on Kitsch. Kitsch handled the pressure well , but Bowen was doubling from the upper lo lower sections of track and the crowd was wi th him. Bowen too k the lead on lap seven and continued lo style for the crowd on his way to the mo to victory. Bowen admitted that his mechanic Bill West and Brian Mayer threatened to paint his bike orange to protest the lack of Kawasaki support. Bowen said, " My boss at TU F and Kawasaki got together with a better incentive; so the bike stays green." Indiana rider Derrick Roe mad e an impressive debut in the series wi th a third overa ll. DeHoop said, after winning the

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