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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127132
Kelly Bethards (428) took second overall on his HondaCR125. fin ish ing behind his brother and overall winner. Kevin Bethards. • Rick Bozarth pilo ted his Husqvarna to fourth overall and second in the Open class. More than 650 riders participated in the Ch ina Hat 100. B.ethards top China Hat 100 Enduro By Brian Barnes BEND, OR, APR. 24 Kevin Bethards aboard an RM250 Su zu ki sponsored by Highline Honda/Suzuki an d h is parents. ioutlasted a stellar field of some 648 riders in cludin g 130 Experts to take the 8th Annual China H at 100 ISDE-style high desert race . f near the resort community 0 Ben d and Mt. Bachelor. Bethards who took third overall behind h is brother Kell y and Eric Hall put in a stron~ performance during the third and final special test which also was the toughest section to assure hi m self of the overall victory. Put on by the Lobos Motorcycle Club of Orego n , th e race took place m the bea ut iful Deschut es National Forest some 25 rniles east of Bend. Promoter Bill Toman was excited a bo u t the way th e race turn ed out especially after powder dust conditions that exist ed earlier in th e week were put to rest after a giant rainstorm and the n two inches of snow tha t fell o n the Wednesday and T hursday preceding the race. Dan Harte and his Kawasaki KX250 cruised to sixth overall and third in the 250cc class at the IS DE-type event. Descri bed as " Berm Ci ty" by th e majority of entrants ma ny ' riders' were brimming with confidence after the race believi ng they had a chance ai the overall. The event which tested the end ura nce of ma ny a rider over the four -hours-of checks and special tests was a dream-come-true for mos t competitors who said th e event was the best ever. The firs t wave of fou r riders left the starting lin e p romptl y at 8:00 a.m. a nd set off o n th eir first check section wh ich would be 16 miles lon g and take around 40 m inutes. Most of the Experts were to find ou t that the checks were to be made easily, it wou ld be the special tests that "would separa te the men from the boys" as Mark Gregson rema rked. The first special test featured a tight tree sectio n th at would ta ke just under 10 minutes to com plete. The Bethards brothers served not ice righ t away th at th ey would be a force to be reckoned with du ring th e day as Kevin po sted the best time at nine minutes 33 seconds, while brother Kelly aboard a CRI25 also sponsored by Highline Honda/Suzuki and his parents sn uck in behind hi s brother some five seconds behind at nine minutes 38 seconds to lead the 200cc Expert class over Barrett Brown (YamahalT.B. Maico) and Eric Hall (Pro-Ca libe r/ Hon da) . The Open Expe rt class found th e Northwest 's top desert racer Ri cky Bozarth o n a Gresham Husky 430WR taking a fast lin e through th e trees but he was seco nd beh ind another Husky rider David Rhodes at nine minutes 43 seconds. Lo cal favorite Dal e Demaris brought his Husky across in 9:56, for third. The second special test was to favor the desert racers as a rock section followed by a high speed section that only lasted som e foura n d -a -h a lf minut es sa w Kelly Bethards wick th e throttle to take the top tim e at four minutes and 42 seconds oddly eno ugh on a 125. Beh ind him many riders were within seconds of each other. The 250cc Experts found Kevin Bethards at 4:48, Team Taylor's Mark Gregson 4:54, Dan Harte five minutes and Keith Cayton owning the first four spots. The Opens saw Demaris post th e top time as the desert specialist came through at four minutes 44 secon ds, while Bozarth, Guy Williamson, R hodes and Vu lcan McCleI· Ian on a H onda took the nex t fastest tim es throu gh the sectio n. The halfway gas stop followed test number two and th en rid ers sped away o n .their fourth chec k section wh ich was the longest a t 65 minutes. This is where th e ra ce would be decided as a gnarly rock section was used for special test number three. Many riders had mixed emotions on th e third test but th e maj or ity agreed th at it definitely was th e toughest, although some riders comp lained that it was too tough , mainl y the Ama teurs. It was during th e th ird and final test wh ere Kevin Bethards won the race as he put in a great performance through th e roc ks to take an eight minute 51 second ride whic h was so me 15 seconds ahead of hi s closest co mpetitor, over 30 Expert rid er Ron Gray a t 9:08. Foll owing Kevin in the 250cc class wer e Gregson, Hart Cayton and Yamaha-mounted T ra vis Ewart with Fetterly, Maah s, Humbard, Perry and Ron Gustin all keeping astride of Gray in the Over ' 30 Experts. The 200cc Expert class had Kelly Bethards taking the top time via a nine minute 30 second ride while Dan Knight at 9:51 and tria ls Expert Brown at 9:55 followed. . All that was left now was to make sure that Kevin Bethards could fini sh th e last and final check of 22 miles and lasting around 50 minutes. As th e first of the Experts started coming in around noon it was soon clear that th e Bethards brothers would take the overall first and second spot. Following th em in third overall was Demans while Bozarth, Gregson , Harte, Brown and Ron Gray rounded out the top eight. • Results 0 1 A: 1. Kelly Betherds (Suz); 2. Kelly Bether ds (Hon ~ 3. Dale Demaris (Hus); 4. Rick Bozan h (Hus); 5. Mark Gregson (Kaw); 6. Dan Hane (Kaw); 7. Barr ett Brow n (Yam); S. Ron Ray (ATK); 9. AI Fetterl y (Han); 10. (TIE) Keith Cayton (Kaw)/ Oavid Monon (Hus); 12 . Dan Richards on (Han); 13. David Rhodes (Hus ); 14 . Ken Maahs (Kaw); 15 . Clif! Humba rd ( KTM~ 16. Trevis Ewan (Yam). 200 EX; 1. Kelly Sethards(H on); 2. Barr ett Brown (Vam); 3. Dan Knight (Yam); 4. Terry Bannett (Kaw~ 5. Daren Bun (Yam). 250 EX; 1. Kevin Betherds (Suz); 2. Mar k Gregson (Kaw ); 3. Dan Hene (Kaw ); 4. (TIE) Keith Clayton (Kaw)/ Oevid Mo n on (Hus); 6. Dan Richardson (Han). OPEN EX: 1. Dale Demar is (Hus); 2. Rick Bozanh (Hus); 3. David Rhodes (Hus); 4. Bred Char les (Hus); 5. Travis Bamford (M ai). OVER 30 EX: 1. Ron Gray (ATK); 2. AI Fett erl y (Han); 3. Ken Maahs (Kaw ); 4. Clill Humbard(KTM~ 5. Ron Gustin (Vam). . 4-STRK EX: 1. Brad Sears (Han); 2. Vern Huber (Han); 3. Tom Coy (Han); 4 . Thad Kohler (Han); 5. David Lett (Han). •