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/127253
_ 9MmOC~SA~~_kO_o_W_~_M_~_~ _d_2 _:R_~ ~ o O"'l O"'l ,...., Barry Higgins (63) led the Vintage class riders to the finish line in both motos aboard his 1974 KTM. Michael Brilinger (318) leads Chris Brown (23) and winner Timmy Ferry in th e 125cc Youth class. Kawasaki rider Brian Swink topped the 125 and 250cc Expert classes. that old eq ui p me nt being ridden again." Swinkbackon topatGatorback By Mike Ie Anne Adair GAINESVILLE, FL, MAR. 3-4 rian Swink returned after a twoyear hiatus from racing due to a broken leg to earn 125cc and 250cc Expert class wins in the second round of th e Amateur Triple Crown of Motocross at Gat orback Park. T he Tea m Green Kawasaki/ HiPoin t/ Sco tt / PJ -I / Bell -sponsored rider said . " I began riding back in January. but skipped the Winter AMA Series to make sure my leg was strong. It felt good today to be out there racing again." The AMA-sanctioned, WoridSpon- B 42 repeated his 1989 overa ll win aboard a 1974 H&H Cycle 250cc KTM . edging New York 's Dennis Decker in both mOlOS. H iggins explained. "We raced here a t Gatorback during the 125/ 250cc National intermission. The track was pretty bumpy for antique suspensions so you couldn 't reall y push it all out. " pro moted. Honda/Scot t/Powermist/ Wi seco /Barrs Competition/Honda- ' lin e/lCal -G ard/B oyesen-spo ns ored event featured a champ ionsh ip caliber track . perfect weather and great competition . Series coordi nator Jerry West commented. " Riders have reall y supported this seri es well so far this year and we look forward to a good final round on th e Daytona Supercross track." The AH RMA joined the event for the second year with a vintage MX class. Venerable Barry Higgins Decker. who punished hi s 125cc Honda Elsi nore for the 125cc Sportsman Expert win , said. " I was reall y hammering my bike and my bod y trying to hang in there wi th Higgins. Both num ber p la tes fell off in the last mota. H iggins defin itely has an edge on me." AI G a rd ne r combated a 500 cc Yama ha YZ to fin ish second to Higgins in the Old Timers Expert class. saying, "T his is a lot of fun . You can just cruise out here or go for it. It doesn't matter. It's just fun seeing all AHRMA MX coo rdi na to r, Mark Brown. who competed aboard a 250cc Husky for second in the Open Amateur class said , " We enjoyed racing here and will hold our Na tional Awards Banqu et in Da yt on a Tuesda y night. Vintage racin g is really enjoya ble for everyone. It's easy to find a pre-1975 bike for a few hundred bu cks, restore it and then ha ve fun with it." Th ird overall went to T od d Gardner, the race's only tri ple winner. The Cycle Marine Cen ter backed rid er rolled to th e 250cc B. 500cc and the 250cc Sportsman Expert class win s. Gardner said , " I tried to get off my '90 Honda CR and ride the '74 Elsinore 250. I pushed it too hard and crash ed four times. It truly makes you appreciate the strides we mad e with the modern suspension." In the opening 125cc Exp ert moto Gary Paul battled Billy Silverol e for the first turn lead then led all the way for the victory. Swink said, " I fell back to eighth but passed Silverol e on the last lap for second ." Paul continued. " I put an Ohlins shock on my WKR Honda and it reall y smoo thed out the suspension." Swink 's Butch Peacock-wrenched Kawasaki scored the second moto win for the overall victory. Swiss National Champion David Serge topped th e first 250cc A moto. The Cycle Marine Center/Balestra Sports-backed rider said. " I like the track here. It is very fast, It has been fun riding in th e U.S. th is winter." Swink bumped his second moto finish up a not ch to clinch the final moto ahead of J im Neese, Paul and Silverole. Swink said , " Serge got a good start and had the lead. I closed in and passed him on lap one." Serge rebounded with a sweep in the Plus 25 class, sharing division wins with hi s Cycle Marine Center team mate, Kevin Foley. Foley sai d. "I was worried, we uncrated a brand new Honda to race here today and I missed practice. I'm glad it worked ou t." Keith Mann and Kevin Mathews alternated mot a win s in the Plus 30 class . Mathews, who promot es th e Hillbilly Hills MX track in Georgia. lost the tie-break er mota to Mann. Mathews said . "I can compete in the Plus 30 class and not train every week, but in the A class, forget it, Those guys are cookin'."