Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

00 00 0') ...... Winner JoJo Keller (43) leads Mike Stahlman (2 2 ), Keith Johnson (9), Earl May (171) and Jon McCabe (1 6 3 ) in the f irst 500cc Pro moto. Keith Johnson (9) and McCabe (168) battle for second place during the 500cc Pro bout. McCabe got the upper hand. Kawasaki-mounted John Kitsch (2 19 ) leads Suzuki's Ronnie Tichenor (23) in the first 1 25cc Pro moto; Kitsch took the w in and overall . 12 all to Hannah. said. "I bumped the transmission into third coming off the line and blew the start. Bob was . getting up when I came along." The 500cc class should hav e been a close battle between Keller, J on McCabe and Keit h J o hnson. Keller, however, didn 't like th e script, tore it up, and his Bettencou rt's/Honda East CR roosted the field in bo th mote s. Keller explai ned, " In the first moto I knew that Johnson and McCa be would be coming so I put in th ree hard laps to break away fro m the field. It gave me brea thing roo m lat er." Mik e Sta h lman an d Earl May separated J ohnson and McCab e from Keller u ntil lap five. J ohnson said, " La st week I dislocited my sho ulder and if it was n 't for Doc Mesker I wouldn't be riding here today, but Keller was too fast for us today." Mo to two saw Keller unchar acteristically clean at the front, taking another win. J ohnson ga ve it a good effort for two la ps, then lost a -duel wi th McCab e for second. " When have you ever seen me get two holeshots?" asked Keller. "T h is Turbo Bleu Fuel works !" Stahlman pu t in a good ride to pass Sha ne Drew, Ch uck Weinberg and Mike Spear fo r th ird. . Ama teur speedster McCabe said, as he collected th e series championship lat er, " I have enjoyed racing with the pros this winte r. I' ve learned a lo t." Amateur VPE / Boyesen / O 'NeaIITF backed McCabe earned the on ly seri es double championship wi th a seco nd crown in the 250cc A divisio n. Sen ior /125 Plus rider Fred Vertucci, who opera tes th e VPE Boyesen Racing test center in Florida, had not lost an overall in ei ther class this winter. But Vertucci cra shed in the first turn and broke hi s arm at the fin al ro und. His Seni or lead , however, pr evailed but Cahi ll's Yam aha mounted Kevin Seidel's stro ng performance earned th e Plu s 25 cha m'pionsh ip , Somerset County Suzu ki! KT M assisted Bob Sore nso n scored th e 25 Pl us win. Super Seni or T om Bragg lost hi s lead in th e first mo to to Kenny Brown , but reclaimed the ti tle in a close last mot o. Beckin g ton , Ki tsch , McCab e , Mann, Mike Sta h ma n ' and J ohnson all excelled in Expert competition. H onda /Gear/La Ro cco Cycle' bac ked Beckington , wh o earned the 125cc A titl e, said, " I wa nte d 10 win toda y, bu t ra n out of gas o n the final la p." Mann rod e to the overa ll win. Kitsch , who shared 125cc rnoto wins with Beckington , earned thi rd in the 125cc series a nd second in the 250cc poi nt chas e; McCabe said, after edg ing Mann in a 250cc tie breaker, "Jay was j ust go ne in the first rnoto. I couldn't get my front end working." Mann said, " I expected th ird or fourth and was surp rised when no on e came after me." J o hnson's Kawasaki ru led bo th 500cc A rnotos , bu t Sta hl ma n overcame sand in hi s eyes to take both seco nds a nd en su re th e cl ass championship. Wes Keenum and Grayso n Goodma n won hard foug h t 125cc B more s over C ene Na umec and event ual series winner Eric McLear. Yam aha/ Answe r Smi th-endorsed McLea r said, " T h is is a good series. The competitio n is wo rt h com ing do wn from Michi gan for. " Texa n Goodman shared 250cc rnoto wins with J eff La mpe en ro u te to th e overall wi n, bu t T eam Green Kawasaki 's Gene Nau mec had a lock on th e poi nts for th e cha mp ionship. Cahi ll's Ya m aha -assisted R ick Perry fought off his 500cc Novice adversary Keith Yarnell one fina l tim e to wra p his second class cha m pionship. Perry sai d, "T his is better than going over the bar s last week." Brian Swink, 85cc (12-15) class dominator, received a co mpliment from racer Sasha Cu lp. Cu lp said, " I fell o n a jump and Bria n landed o n me. H e- stopped, got off his bike, pulled my bike off of me and still won th e race." Beckington edged ou t Mike Brown for the 125cc and said, " Mv brother J eff taugh t me everythi ng I kn ow abo ut raci ng ." . H annah , who represented Su zuki at the awards sho w, said, "T hese kids th at are riding so well make everyone sm ile but me." Each winner received a Pirelli tir e and series trophies were awarded to the top IO in each class. Su persports' erry West th anked rid ers and their am ilies for making th e ser ies a success. • l Results 125 PRO: 1. Jo hn Kitsc h (Kaw ); 2. Mike laRocco (Yam); 3. Ronni e Tichenor {Suz}; 4. Patrick Barton : (Han); 5. Barry Carsten (Vam): 6. Derrick Roe (Kaw); 7. Brian Carroll (Kaw); 8. Keith Bow en (Kaw ); 9. Dale Spangler (Kaw); 10. W illiam Dzielak (Han). 250 PRO: 1. John Rainholt (Suz); 2. Bob Hann ah (Suz); 3. Mike laRocco (Vam); 4. Clay Hoenshell (Suz); 5. Carl Vaill ancoun (Han); 6. Jeff Frisz (Suzl; 7. David Paquene (Kaw); B. Ted Van Nest (Suzl; 9. JoJo Kell er (Han); 1D. Mark Crozier (Han). OPEN PRO: 1. JoJo Kelier( Hon); 2. John McCabe (Honr, 3. M ike Sta hlm an (Vam); 4. Shan e Drew (Han); 5. Ji m Kapitan (Han); 6. Chuck Wein berg (Kaw); 7 . Mi ke Spear (Kaw); B. James Man enM (Han); 9. Keit h Jo hnson (Kaw); 10. Earl May (H on~ 125 A : 1". Jay Mann (Kaw); 2. Jeff Beckington (Honr, 3. Joh n Kitsch (Kaw ). 250 A: 1. Jon McCabe (Han); 2. Jay Mann (Kaw t 3 . Jeff Beckington (Han). OPEN A : 1. Keit h Johnson (Kawr. 2. Mik. Stahlman (Yamr, 3. Earl Mav (Han). 125 B: 1. Wes Keenum (Yam); 2. Gene Naumec (Kaw); 3. Chad Mo nt ero (Yam). 250 B: 1. Grayson Goodman (Vam); 2. Br ian Broussard (Vam); 3. Mark Peterson (Yam). OPEN NOV: 1. Rick Perry (Yam); 2. Keith Var nell (Kaw); 3. Bill Wat kins (Han). 657· 11: 1. Kenn y Voho (Kaw): 2. Scon Julien (Kew); 3. J ason Syben (Han). 85 7· 11: 1". Kenny Voho (y am); 2. J ason Syben (Han); 3. Kim Syben (Han). 85 12· 15: 1. Brian Sw ink (Kaw); 2. Jason Fowler (Kaw); 3. J eff Cur ry (Suz). . YTH: 1. David Beck,; ngton (Hont; 2. Mike Brown (Kaw); 3. Gene Naum ec (Kaw). +25: 1. Bob Sorenseon (KTM); 2. Kevin Seidl (Vam); 3. Alan Crum (Kaw). S/SR : 1. Kenneth Brow n (Vam); 2. Tom Bragg (Han); 3. Erv Braun (Kaw). SR: 1. Don Mathiesen (Vaml; 2. Donald Leddy (Vam); 3. David Joh nson (Han). 125 C: 1. Doug Conrad (Kaw); 2. Jeff Warrington (Honl; 3. J.J . Slagle (Han). 250 C: 1. M ike Taylor (Vam): 2. Donald Leddy (Vam); 3. Doanld Mathiesen (Vam). OVERALL SERIES . 125 PRO: 1. Keith Bow en (Kaw ); 2. 8arry Carsten (Vam); 3. Jo hn Kitsch (Kaw ); 4. Keith Turpin (Suz); 5. J av Ma nn (Kaw); 6. Dale Spangler (Kaw); 7. Mika laRocco (Yam); 8 . Ronn ie Tiche nor (Suz); 9 . Derrick Roe (Kaw); 10. Todd OeHoop (Suz). 250 PRO: 1. Bob Hann ah (Suz); 2. Joh n Reinholl (Suz); 3. M ike laRocco (Vam); 4. Fred Andrews (Suz); 5. Al an Andrew (Cag); 6. Kevin Foley (Cag); 7. Clay Hoenshell (Suz); 8. Randy McCann (Kawr, 9. Ted Van Nest (Suz): 10. David Paquene (Kaw). OPEN PRO: 1. John McCabe (Han); 2. Mik e Spear (Kaw ); 3. J im Kapitan (Honl; 4. JoJo Keller (Honr, 5. M ike Stahlman (Vam); 6. Chuck Weinberg (Kawt 7. Keit h Johnson (Kawr, 8. David McClean (Hont 9. Dane Hill ery (Han): 10. Richard Sirios (Han). YTH: 1. David Beckingt on (Han); 2. M ike Brown (Kaw); 3 . Gene Naumec (Kaw). +25: 1. Kevin Seidl (Yam); 2. Bob Sorenson (KTM); 3. John Am erman (Han). SR: 1. Fred Ven ucci (Kaw); 2. Don Mathie... (Yam); 3. George Small (Yam). S/ SR: 1". Tom Bragg (Han); 2. Kenneth Brown (Vam); 3. Erv Braws n (Vam). 65 (7·1 1): 1". Kenn y Voho (Vam); 2. Scan Julien (Kaw); 3. Ricky Carm ichael (Kaw); 4. J esse Sel llln (Kaw); 5. Shawn Hansen (Kaw) . 85 (7·11): 1". Tony Haynes (Varni; 2. Kenny Voho (Yam); 3. Jason Syben (Han); 4. Kimber ly Sybeft (Han); 5. Scoggins Berg (Kaw). B5 (12 ·15): 1". Brian Sw ink (Kaw); 2. D.rtt Voungb lood (Kaw); 3. Ryan Dean (Kaw ); 4 . EmI Lusk (Kaw ); 5. Joseph Falia (Han). 125 A : 1. J eff Beckington (Han); 2. J ay Mom (Kaw); 3. Joh n Kitsch (Kaw); 4 . Kunis Barron (Honj; 5. Chr is Marlin (Kaw) . 12 5 B: 1". Eric McLea r (Vam ); 2. Gr ay.... Goodman (Vam); 3. Wes Keenum (Vam): 4 . Todd Neal (Kaw ); 5. M ike Brow n (Kaw ). 125 C: 1. JJ Slagle (Han); 2. Jeff W arr ington (Honl; 3. Sandra Gh ezzi (Han); 5. Andy Davis (Suz~ 250 A: 1. Jon McCabe (Han); 2. John Kitsch (Kaw); 3. Jeff Beckington (Han); 4 . Chri s Lacko (Han); 5. Kurtis Barron (Han). 250 B: 1. Gene Naumec (Kaw ); 2. Mark Peterson (Vam); 3. Jeff Fin khousen (Vam); 4. J effrey Lampo (Han); 5. Todd Gardner (Han). 250 C: 1. Jon Grant (Han); 2. Don Mathi e... (Yam ); 3. J eff Warrington (Hon); 4 . M ike Wil shaw (Kaw ): 5. Mark Cassels (Vam) OPEN A: 1. M ike Stahl man (Vam); 2 . Bob Soren son (KTM ); 3. Lance Norick (Kaw ); 4 . Earl May (Hont 5. J im Mon tgome ry (Han). OPEN NOV: 1. Rick Perry (Vam); 2. Keit h Varnell (Kawt 3. Dan Crawford (Vamt 4 . Chris Nelson (Han); 5. M ichael M im s (Yam).

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