Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

~ LOCAL EVENTS e Roe, Whitsett take Washougal Gold Star wins By Brian Barnes W ASHOUGAL,WA. M AYU The 1990 CMC Gold Sta r Series mad e its a n n ua l sto p at w ash ougal Mot ocross Pa rk wit h some 130 riders bra vin g less th an ideal ra in y conditions to accu m u late series po in ts. Su zuki pi lot J efl Roe took the measure 01 the 125cc Ju ni or class in the rain sho rte ned o ne mo to affai r, wh ile Herm isto n -Ya ma ha rider Dan n y wh itsett scored a big wi n o ver the 2 1-rider 250cc Beg inners and Elias Alvor d po wered h is Ka wa saki 10 th e win in 80cc ( 1216) Begin ner c -la ss. In th e I25cc Junior clas s the fir sI a nd o n ly mot o for the day began wit h H o nd a-mo unted Jason Su m merh ill tak ing th e early lead o ver Ch uck Walter. Fred Cescbwill. Bot a nd Rick Wa lsh. Su m merh ill loo ked lik e the rider to bear for the first fo u r la ps wh ile C eschw ill. Roc a nd Walter joc kied for pos ition two , th ree a nd fo ur . On lap five Wa ller ma de h is move int o th e lead as th e last la p lIag [lew , a nd a ll the Suzuki rider had lO do was hol d o ff th e rest o f the pack for one more lap. Boe had other id eas a nd was deter m ined to ge t by Walter no ma tt er wha t. Boe th en moved . by Waller with o n ly a quarter n l the lap rem ain in g, a nd conti nued o n for the win a nd o vera ll. ·Wa lter . Wal sh . Su m merhi ll and Geschwi H rounded o u t th e top five. T h e bigg est class of the day was defini tel y the 250cc Beginners as 2 1 riders took o n the Wash ougal m ud . Whi tsell had th e l ield co vered from the o nset as he took h is Yama ha to th e ea rly lead a t the start lo llowed by Robert Bu rti s, Keith Macri. Brei Arsen a lh . Mark Atch ley a nd George Clausen . By th e seco nd la p Whi tsell was wa y o u t fr o n t bUI th e ligh t for seco nd spo t was just heatin g up. with Bu rti s h a vin g p ro blems after ru n ni ng close lO \ Vh itsen on la p o ne. he left the door o pe n lor Macr i. C lasen, Chris Wood and Mik e Loustru m to duel for secon d. Macri looked good lo r a co u p le 01 la p s. but it was Wood who ca me sto rm ing th ro ug h the pack from a 121h p lace sta rt to beg in challenging Macr i. The two bau led lor most 01 la p th ree with w ood movi ng by to ta ke seco nd for good be hind a long go ne Wh itsett. Macri took a we ll ea rned t hird wh il e Arse na l h, Eric Trel sgar, Clase n a nd Lo ustrurn roun ded out the top seven . T he 80cc (12- 16) Beginner class also had som e tight racing in its one an d o nly moto. Mike Thorsen sho t to a n ea rly lead over Gordo n McDonald. but it was Elias Alvo rd who tor e up th e track, first pas sing McDo na ld a n d th en Thor sen to move-i nto th e lead on lap three. Alvo rd never loo ked back enroute to the overa ll wi n. Da n Durren t fini shed second while McDonald held o n for th ird . Results PP: I. Caro l Willi a m) (Hon]: 2. Shanno n Srarba rd (HUll); Juli~ Swee ten (Kaw). PIW 50: l. Krith Fnrd (SUI); 2. Travis T aylnr (Y.un): 3, Jo !>huw Olin (SUI). 609-11: 1. Jnrdon Sumpter ( Kaw ); 2. j ason IkmpM"x (Kaw). 80 JR; I. Dick Glen (Kaw); 2. Brian Du wn inK (Kaw); 3. SIeve R id Kt' (Kaw), 80 BEG 9· 11: 1. Co ry Bander ( xa w) : 2. J a !WJI1 Dt-m p!tt"y 3. ( Ka w) . 80 BEG 12·16: I. Ellafo Alvor d { Ka w ): 2. Dan Dunt" (Hon ); ru 3, Gordon McDoll.illd (Yam). 125 BEG : I. Stacy Kat yrynuiuk (Yam ); 2. Jeff Micone (Ka w ); 3. .lor Amon [Honl, 125 JR.: 1. Jeff Bot" (5 w ); 2. ~ uck Wa lte r (SUI ); 3. Rick Willsh (H o n l. 125 INT : 1. Rob flaKier (SUI); 2. Mile IUx'hn (SUI). 125 P RO: l. Rod Tapi,;"(SU ). I 250 BEG : 1. [)- nny Whilst'11 (Yam); 2. O u i!> Wood (H o n); d 3. Krilh Macri (S uz). 250 JR: I. Donny R uMot"II ( Kaw); 2. Robert Wibon (H o n ); 3. C rt"R Nebon ( Ka w). 250 (NT: L Mike Mo hrbacher (KT M); 2. J oe Crl"C'n woud ( H on); 3. Mik e Prouman (H o n ). 250 PRO ; I. Will y M u~o... (ATK). e O PEN BEG : l. Kirk Rea no (Ka w); 2. SIt"W' f\.bd!W)n (Hon ); 3. D~n An!>lell (Ha n). O PEN J R; I. £Zic K.nudJ.on (AT K):2 . R u~ 1I Bro w n (L w); 3. Briotn P ercy (H a n ). O PE N Il\": I. w a r ne Nyblo m (Hon); 2. Jay Col t" (Ho n ). O PEN PRO : L Wi I} M u!o~ow (ATK). UTH JR: l. Eric Knudson (AT K); 2. J on T ankosley ( Ka w) ; 3. OLar les Downing (SUI). UTH Il\" ; 1. Dmni!o SW~lm ( Ka w); 2. Mike Mohrbal:hrr ( KTM ). VET JR: 1. 3. Slevr G~ ne bon ( K.aw); 2. Jo hn Pa llrn,on ( Kaw); S~ia (Y am ). VETINT : 1. Lan T ru l!loOn (H o n); 2. Jay Lou nda~n (Yam ). aT JR: I. Dave :\'ybJom CH o n): 2. Sk ip Waddell (SUl ). Damron doubles at Cycleland MX By Michael and Michelle Rich 38 CHICO. CA. ~IA Y18 Todd Da m ron made hi s first visit o f lh e yea r to Cycle land Spe edw ay a p ro litab le one by co llec ting win s in bOlh mo to s to ea rn the overa ll victory in th e Ex ~rt/ ln termedi ate class. T he wi n. how ever. dld no t co me easy. as Dam ro n was forced to ba tLie Lowell Mo u ral Sr. a nd Da ri n Kitzm ill er in bo th motos. T he first moto saw Fa tor s Suzu ki/ Da ma t Inc.-sponso red Todd Da m ron tak e lhe lead o ff the start with Kit zm iHer clos e behi nd . Lo well Mo u ral Sr. was a b le to ' mov e int o second pl ace when Kill m iller ~Ha lled his eng ine in a (Urn and dropped to lase \\' hi le Mo ur a l p ressurffi Dam ron. Ki u m iller started a dr ive ,ha t would see him cat ch Mo u ral by la p fou r. T he two rider s ba ttled side- by-side j ust in ches behi nd D.a m run·s r.ear fender. Kiumill er was a b le [ 0 fm d a fast 11m' th rough th e roc kers a nd pa ssed Moura l for seco nd. T he three rid ers cha lle nged each o the r III every tu rn. First o ne wo uld have the adv a ntage then a no ther. The str ugg le ca me to a n e n d . h ow ever , o n th e white flag la p whe n Ki ~l mi ller clip ped Da m ron 's rea r whee l while a ue mp ri ng a pass a nd went dow n ha.rd . Mo u ra! too k up the chase. h ut c-ould not fm d a way ar ou nd Da m ron befor e th e checkered lIa!';. . In t h e seco n d mo to . Dam ro n . o nce agam. took rhe lead lro m the "art lollowed b y M o u r a ) and Kitzm ill e r. These th ree ri ders quic kl y pu lled away .from t he rest o f ~h e field . Just as in th e firs t moto. t h e ra cing was fierce. O n t he seco nd la p , Mo ura l CU I u nder nea th Dam ro n lO take th e lea d go i n g into t he rock ers . Dam ron refused to givl" in a nd used a fast er line lO th e n e xt turn 10 ret ak e th e lead . Ki tz m if ler soo n too k h is tu rn a t th e p o in t. a s h e o u t jum pe d both D amr o n a nd Mou ra! to tak e th e lead ov e r ihe j u m p o n t he bac k str a ig ht. Kitzrn il ler's lea d wa s sho rt liv ed . h o wever. Co m ing o ff t h e fro n t s t ra igh t dou b l es ,. Kit zm i ll e r sta ll ed h is engi ne rnome n rari ly b loc k ing Da m ron 's lin e. Mo u ral shot un d er th e lWO s t ra nd ed rid ers l o o k i n g for t h e lea d . Damr o n was a b le to q u ic k ly pu sh Kitzm ill er asi de a n d rep a ssed Mou ral going i n to th e n e xt t ur n . M o u r a l foll o we d Da mr on cl o sel y fo r th e n ext lew laps un t i l he fell in t h e swee p ing turn ap proac hi n g th e d oub les . Mou ra l' s fall gave Dam ron so me b rea t hin g ro om a nd mo ved Za ch Sco tt in to sec o n d . At t h e c heckered flag it was Damron Io l lo wed by Za ch SCOll a n d R ic k N ye. Nei th e r Moura l n or Kitzm ill e r were ab le to finish rhe race. Da m ro n took t he o vera ll win w it h a lWO rac e tall y o f I -I . Seco nd ov er all went to Zac h Scou wi t h a c o ns ist e n t 3-2 pe rforman ce. Steve Rice piloted his Kawa saki Hot Lines turbocharged OHC Funnybike to top honors during Dragbike! USA 's Desertnationals at Los Angeles County Raceway. Veteran Bill y Gray lead s Brent Werner a.n d Tony ~ienert during Fin:t Di~ision speed way action at the Orange County Fairgrounds m Co sta Mesa , California. Resul ts liO: I. J' II' ''•.1 Juul"' lHulI l. \ 1(:'10 1: I. Curti.. h 'HI ( t.;, I\.;J: ~. R.. '1' 11.·.. (1-10 ): 3. li m ; . 11 R•• -..th l.uIL j K.dw I. · ITI :,\0 \ ' : I. I ..J II \ H ili.. .. d \OI"' I: :!. 1\.·lI h \\'''I xl l ~ u/ ) : .'I. \Ii l' Ih .. dj H. ln l: I. ~lit h ' H '1 Ri t h C' tl/ l. I:!:" J R; I. R it L. :-': ~ t · , H. IIII: :!. J lIllII K.II..,·I (:"tIll): 3. :-'h.JIlI' I ()ht'lldIIIJ ( :"til l ). T)() :'\O \' : I. R ieL. Ra·Il.. 1I (1\..1"' ;: 2. Ruh. ·11 \t.u .\lill.1II " (:"tIll): 3. Rill R"d~t"h [ H ... . ). 2."10J R: I. \\';111 W.""I ( !-l Oll ): 2. ( ;..Iill \I" oI L.t·h 1' " /) ; Ril Ii R"lt·lI1i1Il (:"tU/ I. ()I't".:-.::'\0" , JR: I. ~ ','II ( ;'.",1.... (11" 11 1 2. R.llltl , : Jt'lI l1 jll~ " ( H u lll : $. R id l \\';IU.. h l \';.u lIl. t".X 1:-':1': I. T lxld 1l.11I1I " 1I (SuI); 2. Z.lth \c Ull " ul)::t ' " 1111 R\I"~lI lK.Iv.' ). Ermolenko, Schwartz cruise to Costa Mesa Speedway wins By SCOll Daloisio COSTA M ESA. CA. M AY18 Ch arl es "Duk i" Er molen ko surv ived a wild ea r ly race tan ~le a nd wo n th e eig h t-la p Handi cap m a in at th e Ora ng e Co u nty Fairgrou nds on Friday ni ght. T he spectacular cra sh occu rred as th e field head ed into turn o ne o n la p two. Ermolen ko tagged Andy Northrup a n d sent h im into former National Cham p io n . " Ra d " Brad Oxley. O xley went straight befor e lIi ppin g ove r th e h igh-side 01 h is mot orcycle. Mu ch to everyone's su rprise. th e referee b la med Nort h ru p lor th e inci dent and sent him to th e penalty lin e for the restart. Dazed but undaunted. Oxley was read y lor the restart. Sixteen -year-old Bren t Wer ner led 0 11 th e sho rt ya rda ge. wh ile Shawn McCo n nell ca me o ff th e li ne in seco n d , but aggressive ridin g Ermolen ko dr op ped hi m to thi rd belore th e en d 01 lap o n e. Ermo lenko quick ly charged u p to the high school student lead er. Werner parked it 011 turn lo ur o n lap tw o. but h e go t ba ck o n th e th roll ie bef ore Ermolen ko co u ld ex p lo it h is m istak e. O n th e nexl la p . Wern er b lock ed Erm o lenko when he tri ed to ge t inside o f h im in turn th r~. Ermol enko' s pe rsiste nce lin all y paid 0 11 at the en d 01 the th ird circu it. H e too k h is Don R ussell Ra cing/Frame Shop /G&E/ Ca lilorni a Mini Trucks/Shoei· sponsored J a wa to the i n sid e a nd passed th e stu bborn Werner . Simu han eo us ly, a dizzy Oxley pu lled to the inlield. McConnell went ins ide Werner o n th e back ch u te for seco nd By th e time Wer ner got back to th e po le. h e had dro p ped to si xth. There wo ul d be no ca tch ing Ermolenko a nd he won h is fourth main o f th e year by a wid e ma rgi n . McCon n ell , speed way 's resid e n t h o ck ey p layer . fin ish ed seco nd wi th Ala n Ch ristia n third. T he S teve L ucero /Bo bby Schw artz wa r hea ted up as soo n as the Scra lch mai n left th e li ne. T hey ta ng led in th e lirst bend a nd Sch wa ru ended up pro ne on the track. The referee ea rned th e wr a th of the crowd whe n he 86'ed L ucer o . who was getting married lh e next da y. fo r ca us ing Schwanz' misfon une. ' ''' ith the crow d screaming a pa sture chant. theres taned main left the li ne without Lu cero . Schwartz took h is Budw eiser/ ST P/ Oakley/ Q uick silverlToys lor Pops-backed Weslak e to th e fro nt. Chris tia n stuck his J awa in to second. but lell to th ird when Oxley went by in tu rn two . Oxley kept hi s mom entum up and almo st raced by Sch wartz in th e next tu rn . bu t th e leader closed th e door. O xley sta lked Schwartz. a nd co n tin ua ll y got th e best drives 011 th e co rn ers . but Schwaru refu sed to bud ge 0 11 the pole. In the end . it was Schwartz ta ki ng his fihh Costa Mesa reg u lar seaso n win o f 1990. Fast-im proving Kent Benander a nd Cary Po lla rd posted th eir seco n d win in less than 24 hours in th e Sid eca r ma in even t. Seco nd spot wen t to th e Kiwi du o o f Steve H eibn er a nd Dean Steele. Steve H ardwick a nd J a n ine Cu m mi ngs lini sh ed th ird. R tian (jaw); 4. SIn'(" Lucno (Cdn). HDCP: I. Otar lt"!o Erm o l('f1ko (Wes); 2. Shawn McConnd l (G M ); 3. Alan Ch ristian (jaw); i . Stevt' LuctTO (Cdn ). D-2: I. o.ri) Man chottt (jaw): 2. JaMln Qli!om (jaw); 3. Gary Ackro)'d (Wt"!o); 4. JnTy Black (Wes). D-3: I. Bob Richa rd!o (Wn); 2. Robbie H Old man (j aw ): 3. Kevin Rub io (Wes); 5. Dmna Slepa nen lo (W o ). SDCAR: I. K.ml Bmanoo/Cary Po llar d (Ka w ); 2. Slrve Heibnt"r /Dean Steelt" (D ue ); 3. Sloe Har dwick/ J anine Cu m mi n~ (Kaw); 4. Ran dy Mclnl y~/Rober1 Fox ( Ra w) . Rice burns Desertnational Drags By Tom Loughlin Photo by Krazy Keith PALMDALE. CA. M 13 AY Ka wasa ki H ot Lines' Steve Rice. a boa rd his tu rbochar ged O H C Fu n n ybik e Ka wasak i a nd "TV Tommy " Bo llOn o n a Su zu ki took lOp ho nors a t Dragb ikel US A's Deser n a tiona ls. a t , L.A . Co u n ty Raceway. Bohon qua lif ied in the n u m ber o ne spot a nd dr ew the semi fi na l bye run. whi le Southwesl Di vision cha mp C la rk Sargis' Ka wasa ki downed P hoe n ix. ArLmna, rider Ed Bogedai n 's turbo Z. setting u p th e final betwt:t:n lhe Natio nal n u mber thrrt: Suzuki 01' Bohon and th e So ut hwe sl n u mber o ne Ka wasaki o f Sar g is. Bohon , running as was the ent ire field witho u t n it rous o xide due to a ra te in crease by th e fo rmer ins ur an ce carrier. clipped 0 11 a n 8.03-second ru n a t 164.65 mp h 1 bea t Sargi s' 8.39/ 157.87. (Use 01 n itro us 0 o xide has bee n a p p ro ved a t fut ure event s un der a new in surance ca rrier.) Dra gbi kel USA' s seco n d to p showdo wn is the Superfin al. in whi ch th e win ner o r Superluel P u sh rod (the Ha rl ey luel class ) runs against th e win n er 01 O HC Fun nybike (the top import class). The Su perfuel class won by Sundowner Ed Sp ro u ll 01 Lo ng Beach . Ca lilornia . spons ored by ,he Spin ni ng Wheel Mot orcycl e Shop. H igh G ear Speed and Rivera , ove r Steve R u ggerio 's priva teer H -D. O n th e O H C en d 01 Ihi ngs in Fun nybike. Steve Rice o f Costa Mesa. Ca lifor n ia, on the Kawa sak i H o t Line/Pa tr ick Racin g/ Wiseco / Oston-backed 1260cc turbocha rged a lcoholburnin g . Ka wasa ki defea ted Na tiona l number one Vinel" Testa . R ice th en received th e bye into the fin al to face T er ry Sto neci p her of P h oe n ix o n the Vin cent Engi nee ring en try . Ri ce kn oc ked o u t a li ne 8.26/ 143.27 lor the victory a nd tht~ rig h t to tt:St th e H arl ey in the . big go. In the Su per fina l, lh e mach ines are given . a handicap sta rt u sin g th e diff eren ce betw een the ir best tim es. Ri ce's was 7.90. Spro ull 's a n 8.69. A, ,h e flash ollhe gree n . Sp ro u ll brok e. whi le R ice stro mrd to victory. A grea t lield 01 P ro Drag/ Gas Harl eys graced Lhe Desert natio na ls. a nd fin al ro u nd act io n pa ire d th e J im Rodg in 's Fabrica tio nl P M Va lves H ·D ridden by Russ Ro mero 01 Pacifica . Ca li forn ia . a nd for mer Co m petitio n Elimi na tor cham p io n Bob Gag no n o f Performance H -D in T ucso n. Ari zona . Romero had down ed BUll :VicCoI' 01 Vent ura H -D a nd Atlas P recisio n after gell in g th e ro u nd aile bye. wh ile Gagnon ha d LOpped Don En.gl ish a nd recei\.·l"d th e fo u nd two bye to pau ,u p againsl Romoro. In the fina l, Ro mero. o n the Riverd-P rimo machine. gOl lh e nod. 10.04/ 126.28 to a tro ub led 2 l.H lor Gagno n.

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