Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127173
posted by Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, KT M , Ho nda and Gear Ra cewea r. Warm, sunny weather dominated the opener and Gatorback was in tiptop shape. Maintenance head Jerry West explained, "We dug the entire track up after the Mini Olympics and let it sit for a month before grading it. The dirt holds the moisture better now. " Damon Bradshaw used a 1-1 mota tally to top Mike laRocco for the 250Cc Pro class overall w in . Eventual winner Jay Mann (1 6) leads Ty Wallace (11) atthe start of the 125cc A class. 19th Annual Florida Winter AMA Motocross Series Bradshaw, Andrews & Kitsch take openers By Mike and Anne Adair GAINESVILLE, FL, DEC 31-JAN I Damon Bradshaw, Fred Andrews and John Kitsch earned Pro-Am class wins to top 839 riders from 25 states, Canada, South Africa, Au stria and Belgiu m in the opening round 12 of the Florida Winter AMA Series, held at Gatorback Raceway Park. "This will be my only appearance in the seri es," T eam Yamaha 's newest recruit, Bradshaw, said after his sweep of both 250cc rnotos. "I head for California tomorrow. It's going to be really different this year. When you sign a factory contract, you ride where they want you to ride." Brads haw 's convincing sweep came at the expense of a strong field that included Bob Hannah, Mark Barnett, Keith Bowen, Guy Cooper, JoJo Keller and Mike LaRocco. Hannah was overheard telling Bradshaw after the race, "You look like the new champ." The 19th running of the series was AMA sanctioned, WorldSports promoted a nd sponsored by Scott USA, Gear Ra cewea r , Boyeson Reeds, Dunlop, TUF Ra cing, Wiseco, Ipone and Power Mist Racing Fuels. A record $200,000 in contingency cash and m er chandise has been In the opening 125cc Pro-Am mota, Jay Mann's VPE/Boyesonequipped Kawasaki buzzed off the gate ahead of LaRocco , Mike Morris, Kits ch, Robbie Hanson, Mark Crozier, Barry Carsten and Chris Co leman. LaRocco cra shed ou t of the race early while Kitsch moved into second on lap two before moving past Mann . . for good on "la p three. Coleman hustled in for third with Sean Dukes and Todd Neal rounding out th e top five. "TUF's ra cing team manager, Larry Owens, gave me a big hand with the bike today, " Kitsch said later. . Moto two featured Hanson, Du kes, Mann and Justin Jackson dicing for the lead with Kitsch moving quickly through traffic. Man n led for a single lap until Kitsch came on to make a race of it. TUF/ Scot tlPJ-I /Bell-sponsored Kitsch took the lea d, but Mann challenged throughout, taking the lead again . with seven laps to go. . "It was a wild race ," Kitsch explained later. "On the f1al$ jump . we crashed together in midair." He regained his composure, however, to reel in Mann for the win. Georgia's Todd Neal wrapped up third in an impressive Pro debut. Bradshaw's MX Fox/Scott USA! Rockys-sponsored Yamaha roosted the start of the first 250cc rnoto with Cooper, LaRocco, Jason Bu ttle, Dennis Hawthorne and Kevin Foley "all in the hunt. Hannah worked his way from a mid-pack start while Barnell crashed on a double jump and started a la p down . At the midway flag, Team Yamaha's LaRocco displaced Cooper's Honda . for second with Haw thorne, Fo ley, Bowen and Hannah chasing from behind. . "Bradshaw was long gone," Hannah said la ter. "IL loo ked like he was riding a different race than the rest of us. " Cooper, who had recently returned from a hectic schedule of European Supercrosses, said later: " I' m a lillie tired. I wasn't able to come down here early to practice this year." " I had a good race with Guy '(Coope r) in the 250s, but the 125class was a disaster for me," LaRocco, who finished second to Bradshaw, said. In the second moto, Bradshaw diced with Ernie Millan, Cooper and Mike Pascarella in turn one before opening up a large lead on the field. At the midway point, it was Bradshaw, Cooper, LaRocco, Bowen, Pascarella, Hannah and Barnett, Cooper's Honda closed on Bradshaw jamming inside the leader on the tower jump only to lose the lead on the drop-off. "Guy rea lly augered in hard out there this afternoon," Fred Andrews said later. " He seems a little confused and I am goi ng to drive h im to the a irport." LaRocco ended up a solid second overall ahead of Bowe n and Cooper. Hannah a nd Barnell h ad the crowd on their feet during their thrilli ng eight-lap duel, with Hannah taking fifth overall. "I be t that I have put more time on a bike today than I have in the past two months," Hannah said. Former National Champion Barnell added : " I haven 't raced in three