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/127191
(Left to right) Archie Perez, Mark Hannah and Gary Hicks battle during
speedway action at Costa Mesa's Orange County Fairgrounds.
Scratch main winner Mike Faria leads Handicap main winner Jim
Sisemore at the Chris Agajanian Ascot South Bay Stadium Speedway.
OPEN: 1. J....;n Otto (Yom~ 2. Grog F...... (Hon~ 3.
Wayne Green fKaw); 4. Marti. Men... (Hon); 15. OlIn
Whitley, Hodes dice
at Skeeter IfX
McKinley (Yam).
125 PRO: 1. B;lly Whitley (Suz~ 2. T;m - . (Honl; 3.
Pedro Gonzoleo lHon); e. Cloy _n_1 (SIR); 5. Cloy
By Larry Hughes
HOUSTON, TX, APR. 23
Veteran Billy Whitley and rookie Tim Hodes
IIaded malo wins in the highly comJl<'titive
125cc Pro class during the second round of
action at the 17th Annual Texas Series at
Skeeter MX Park in Houston.
Track conditions were nearly perfecl during
early and midday motos, and then by the late
afternoon motos the IIack had dried oul
considerably because of high winds.
Whitley nabbed the start of the first 125cc
Pro moto ahead of Clay Hoenshell, Clay
81'3ch, Hodes and Roy Schellenberger. Most
of the top riders were racing on the technical
sUJl<'Tcross style IIack for the first time and
taking the same lines around the course.
Whitley, the most experienced supercross rider
of the group oJl<'"ed up a small lead on the
first lap over Hoenshell. with Hodes and
Schellenberger getting around Branch.
Over the next two laps, Whitley extended
his lead, but to everybody's surprise Hodes,
in one of his first Pro races moved pasl
Hoenshell for second Hodes, Hoenshell and
now Schellenberger were running a tight trio
for second a few seconds behind Whitley for
the next couple of laps. Pedro Gonzales, from
Mexico, had moved IOto fifth after a midpack
start.
On lap seven, Whitley went down but
remounted quickly letting only Hodes by.
Hodes, now In the lead, kepI his riding slyle
aggressive and smooth all the way to the fimsh
ahead of Whitley. Schellenberger and Hoenshell lollowed.
Hodes had a lot of fun at the start of the
second mOlO as he took the holeshot ahead
01 Gonzales, Hoenshell, Branch and Whitley.
Schellenberger went down and was slow
getting back up but rejoined the race in last.
Again, Hodes was on the gas and even
managed to open up a small lead over the
next couple of lapS. All eyes were on Whitley,
though, as he weaved through the pack until
he was finally in second By this time Hodes
was about six seconds ahead of Whitley, but
Whitley was on a mission. Whitley caught
Hodes with three laps to go and motored on
by. Whitley was able to stretch out his lead
at the finish.
Gonzales came across the finish line third
ahead of Hoenshell and Branch.
RMUIta
50: 1. Chriae.t_fY_m); 2. Tta¥iaeuioa(y_m);3. O'*¥
~ (Yom~ e. Brad HiM<(Yoml
eo:
1. Eridl Vollojo (Kow~ 2. C _ - . (~ 3.
ChotIo (~e. V _ AdonlKowl.
80 BEG: 1. M _ Kunz ISuzl; 2. Chrio Do...... (Yom~
3. Joe Hommono (Suzj; e, " " - G_ (~ 5. WIInl
Timmwman (Kaw).
8O.lA: 1. John _ _ 2. C _ - ' I ~
_
3. V_ Adonl~ e. _ _ Luc:Iw(Kowl.
80 NOV: 1. _
won. ISuzl; 2. Jell eo.;_ _
3. Chrlo Voung (~ e. Job 51_ I~ 5. IIri.n Frye
(Hanl.
10 INT: 1. Clint Lothom _
2. BradW_ (Honl
80 EX: 1. 5 _ 0 - . (Hanl
MINI 511(: ,. S_ 04_ (Hon~ 2. C1im lothom (Kow~
3. MiI