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/127192
Jeff Ward. (1) led Jeff Stanton (7) and Danny Storbeck (44) at the first 250cc moto start. Stanton swept both motos for the overall victory. AMA National. Championship 125/ 250cc MX Series: Round 4/4 Ward, Stanton stir up Southw'ick wins By Ken Faught ?OUTHWICK, MA, MAY. 21 Honda teammates Larry Ward and Jeff Stanton survived a wild day at the famed Motocross 338 track, which is more com- monly known as Southwick. Ward captured the 125cc class overall victory via 1-3 moto finishes while ' S tanton swept b ot h mOlDS for the 250cc class laureTs. 8 shaw ran up front in both motos but suffere.d ~rom cras~es and w~s s!owed by an Injury sustamed earlIer In the week. Bradshaw's misfortune helped las~ year's number one plate holder, For Ward it was his first National George' Holland, to ree.l in the win, and one that he ,will probably Yamaha rider in the points standnever forget. ings, where he currently has 137 "I can't believe it," said Ward who. points to Bradshaw's 138. hails from Washington State. In t1)e 250cc class, Suzuki's Bob Hannah rode his final race at the "Finally. I can't wait until my mom hears about this one. She's not here, Southwick facility. Hannah chased Stanton and Kawasaki's', Ron and, boy, did she miss out. Normally she comes to the races, but this time Lechien across the finish line in she couldn't get away from home." moto one, but Hannah crashed hard Honda-mounted privateer. Donny in the final moto when he tangled Schmit combined 2-6 finishes to grab with Jeff Ward as he tried to take the second place spot away from the second overall in the l25cc division, while defending champ George Kawasaki rider. The crash put HanHolland carded 10-1 finishes for nah out of the race. Up front, Stanton stayed in comthird overall. Honda's Guy Cooper _ plete control and collected the win was fourth and Yamaha's Mi-k LaRocco rounded out' the top five 32 seconds ahead of Ward. "It feels great to win again," said overall. Ward's win also moved him from Stanton. "Everyone has been saying eighth in the 125cc Series point _ how I keep lucking into everything standings to seventh. However, because Ricky's (Johnson) hurt. Ward's climb up the ladder wasn't Now every time I race I just want the only change among the top '0. to go Ollt there and kick some butt." Honda's Mi~e Kiedrowski more than Ward collected second overall with quadrupled his series point lead to his 6-2 moto finishes, with local rider 14 points with 4-8 moto finishes John Dowd, who lives only 20 miles which earned him sixth overall, and from the track, taking home a wellCooper stole second away from earned third overall with 4-5 placings. Lechien picked up fourth Yamaha's Damon Bradshaw. Btad- overall and Suzuki's Ron Tichenor fifth. Larry Ward picked up $880 for his l25cc c1a'ss win, while Stanton earned $1000 in each 250cc moto win for a $2000 plus contingencies payday. Jeff Ward pocketed $860 and Dowd earned $650 plus a whopping $1500 contingency payout from Suzuki, plus other contingencies. The Southwick track was at its prime for the riders who competed in a pair of 30-minute plus two-lap motos. Many said the hilly, highspeed loamy course was smoother than in previous years. 125cc In the first moto, Schmit blasted out of the gate to lead Larry Ward, Michael Craig, Bradshaw and Denny Stephenson at the start. As the riders exited the first turn area, Cooper and Holland both crashed in separate incidents. Ward began to chase down leader Schmit as Bradshaw shot past Craig for third. Less than half a lap after dropping to fourth, Craig pulled off the track with mechanical problems. "My mechanic did something to the carburetor before the moto, and a piece of rubber from the intake manifold fell down inside," said Craig. "The bike just wouldn't go, so I had to pull off." "Mike (Craig) borrowed a bike from someone out here on the East Coast," said Yamaha Team Manager Keith McCarty, "It was one of those last, minute deals he decided to do to save money." Bradshaw pounded his way toward Schmit and Ward, who were two seconds ahead of the Yamaha rider. On the fourth lap Bradshaw managed to catch up with Ward, but -couldn't seem to find aT1i1e that would put him in second. While Ward held off charges from Bradshaw, Schmit managed to open up a three-second lead and stayed in control for the first half of the moto. Back in the pack, Suzuki's Erik Kehoe was trying to make up for a less-than-desirable start. Kehoe gated in the middle of the pack, but soon worked his way into the top five. Mike LaRocco was sixth ahead of Kiedrowski and Stephenson. Near the halfway' point things really started to pick up. Bradshaw and Ward reeled in Schmit, and Bradshaw shot past both of the riders for ,the lead as Schmit was dropped to seconq with Ward holding down third. Ten seconds behind the leaders, LaRocco moved into fourth in front of KiedrQwski and Kehoe, as Cooper moved into seventh. On the 12th lap disaster struck Bradshaw. Earlier in the week the Yamaha rider bad injured his hip while practicing, and he again banged that area of his body with less than 10 minutes to go. As Bradshaw slowly faded, Schmit regained the lead ahead of Ward, LaRocco, Kiedrowski and Cooper. With only ·a few laps remaining Ward quickened his pace and began pressuring Schmit for the lead. The two riders went at it for the remainder of the race with Ward edging out Schmit for the· mota victory. LaRocco, Kiedrowski and Cooper rounded out the top five. Before the start of the final moto a' sudden downpour of rain sent everyone searching for dry clothing. In an effort to give the riders a chance to gather the proper attire, officials elected to sitout the rain which lasted less than half an hour. -In the second rounaa wei"course didn't seem to faze Ty Davis. The Suzuki rider rebounf;ied from a ninth in the firit-mototo holeshot Craig, Holland, Schmit and Jimmy Gaddis. However, Craig quickly overpowered Davis, as did Holland and Schmit, and the trio proceeded to open up a small lead. Davis fell back to fourth ahead of Gaddis and Ward. On. the fifth lap Schmit temporarily snuck around Holland, but soon was forced to return to third. Back in fourth American Honda/ AXO/Smith/Bell/Showa/Dunlop/ Ohleen/Harry Thornton/Renthall D.l. D/Pro Circuit/AFAM/Twin Air-sponsored Ward dropped Davis to fourth and proceeded to catch the leaders. Ward was riding. one of his best races of .the season and it appeared that he didn't want any-