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/127188
Suzuki-mounted Lowell Thompson (51) gave winner Tyson Vohland a challenge for the lead midway through the race but settled for second. Tyson Vohland scored his second consecutive Ultracross win in Houston. Texas. after acing the last round in New Orleans. Louisiana. Brian Manley (29) and the defending Ultracross champ Jim Holley (1) battled in the main. Holley finished third while Manley took fourth. Mickey Thompson Championship Grand Prix Series: Round 5 Vohland takes Houston Ultracross victory By Larry Hughes Photos by Brian Barnes and Hughes HOUSTON, TX, APR. 15 Tyson Vohland captured his second Ultracross victory in as many weeks going almost wire to wire during the main event at the Houston Astrodome despite a mid-race 28 charge by Lowell Thompson. · h h k d fl By th e tIme t e c\aec ere ag flew Vohland had smoothly stretched out his lead over Tho~pson, wh.o .was ~ing chased by thud place fImsher Jim Holley. The back-Io-back wins really boosted Vohlaod's confidence. At the start of the year Vohland had a high speed get-o££ at the Anaheim Mickey Thompson Grand Prix, followed by a broken collarbone at the Houston Supercross and then injured his thumb in the Dallas Supercross. "It felt good to win in New Orleans but even better here in Houston, where the track was great and the competition was tou~h:' said Vohland. Timed quahfying was held in the afternoon to determine heat race starting positions. Times hovered around the 32-second range with Thompson leading the way with the fastest time of 31.64. Vohland was second fastest with a 31.75 and rounding out the top three with a lap time of 32.82 was Holley. Eight rows of two riders and a single rider in row nine lined up for the heat race, and Clint Jones pulled the holeshot from row one into the first tum followed by Matt Chapa, Darrel Wills, and Joe Benyak. Holley had moved up from a mid-row start to third behind Jones and Benyak on lap two. Benyak tried to sneak under Jones in a tight tum that had a small mound of dirt on the inside, around both riders on the outside to take the lead. Holley had a clear track in front of him and started to put distance on the rest of the group. Like Holley, Manley was making up from a mid-row start. Manley was out-jumping everyone on the course and passed most of the riders on jumps. By the third lap it was Holley out front, Jones secqnd followed by Benyak, Jamie Munson, Manley and Chapa. Manley was £lying and quickly moved past Munson, Benyak and Jones and set out after Holley. Munson tried to keep up. with Manley and was able to get around Benyak and Munson but Manley's pace WaS too much for the youngster. Holley was able to back o££ the throttle a bit and still take the win." I was on the gas early and I knew . that Manley was back in the ~ck at the start, so I wanted to build a lead early on," said Holley. 'Manley finished second a little way behind Holley. Munson came across third ahead of Jones, Benyak and Dave Shade Jr. Vohland had gone down on the first Lap' and broke the clutch lever on his bike and finished near the back of the pack. P.}. Sorg pulled the holeshot in the main alongside Jim Quaschnick with Vohland, Mike Quaschnick, Manley, Thompson and Scott Chesser bunched up behind them in turn one. Vohland quickly rocketed into the lead on lap one with other riders making advances. Behind Vohland now was Thompson, Holley, Manley, Chesser and Benyak. On lap three Vohland made a rough, nose-down landing off a jump, and Thompson moved to within striking distance. Vohland smoothed out over the next couple of laps to extend his lead over . Thompson. Holly settled into third with Manley fairly close. Manley was getting major air time over the jumps and gaining on Holley, but Holley was bliuing the turns and getting his time back. Chesser was in the hunt and waiting for a mistake by the front-runners. Vohland rode very smooth for the remainder of the race and was able to move out a little more over Thompson by the time the checkered £lag came out to take the victory. Holley locked up third place ahead of Manley. "I didn't ride New Orleans last week because I lturt my back the week before and it was really sore," said .Manley. "It fells a lot better now and I felt pretty comfortable out there tonight. " • Results MAIN: 1. Tvson Vohlend (Kewl; 2. Lowell Thompson ISuz); 3. Jim Holley (Yem); 4. Brilln Menley lkewt 5. Scon Ch....r (Klw); 6. Joe Benyek (Klwt 7. Jemie Munson IHon~ 8. Mike Queocllnick (Yemt 9. D... ~ ISuzl; 10. Mike Clingon (KIwI; 11. Clint Jon. (Hont 12. Darrly WiIIo(Yemt 13. P.J. Sorg (Hon~ 14. Men C , (Klwt 15. Johnetl1on Grent (Kewt 16. Ronnie Beinhert (Suzl; 17. Jim Quuc:hnick (Yoml·