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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127285
BSUPERCROSS Saaamenio 50,000 m Sacramento's Areo Arena was the site for the inaugural two-day Sacramento 50,000 Supercross, which featured a $50,000 purse. Suzuki's Guy Cooper (1) and Erik Kehoe (19) battled in the 125cc class. Cooper won both 125cc classes and Friday night's 250cc main events. • Cooper, C cash raig a oArena tArc By Brian Barnes SACRAMENTO, CA, ocr. 19-20 uzuki's new 125cc National MX Champion Guy Cooper and Kawasaki's MTGP Series champ Mike Craig scored huge overall victories this weekend . In the inaugural Sacramento 50,000 tight track supercross held at Arco Arena. Promoted by Spokes International's Phillip Christensen and former National MXer Jeff Hicks, the two day event offered a fresh new approach for both riders and spectators at an indoor supercross event. S 4 Besides an opening including fireworks and human noisemaker " N ick the Noise," the format was unlike anything used before in this country. Also offered was a giant $50,000 purse that paid $2000 to each night's 125cc . winner, while the 250cc champ picked up the handsome sum of $5000 on Friday and a whopping $10,000 in Saturday night's main. Along with many top Americans entered, the top six Australian riders made their way to the U.S., including Craig Dack, Peter Melton, Kim Ashkenazie, Steven Andrew, Ben Perese and transplanted Eddie Warren. Track builders John Savitski, Buzz Toppolo and Trevor Brooks were also presented with the unique challenge of designing a competitive race course inside the confines of basically a basketball arena. With the baseball World Series taking place in nearby Oakland Coliseum, spectator attendance perhaps suffered somewhat, finding 4200 people watching Friday night's event, while Saturday's 8300, fans witnessed some great action along with several former MX stars such as Bob Hannah, Darrell Schultz, Donnie Hansen, Goat Breker and Danny Chandler. A unique format seeded each of the 32 pre-entries in each class into one of four preliminary heats . The winner moved directly to the semi final round with the remaining riders going to a quarter final race. The first two heat races of the evening in the 250cc class served notice to the American fans that the Aussies would not be pushovers. Both Dack and Andrews followed former Suzuki factory rider Erik Kehoe and Suzuki's , Denny Stephenson across the finish line in their respective heats. Rodney Smith meanwhile, led Tallon Vohland to the line after factory Suzuki rider Jimmy Gaddis crashed in heat three with factory Yamaha rider Doug Dubach taking the measure of Ty Davis and Tyson Vohland in the fourth and final first round heat in the 250cc division. With the 125s slightly more suited to the tight track indoors, heat one would be a good one with newly crowned National champ Cooper on the line. Cooper was brought back down to earth quickly though, as he and Kyle Lewis tangled just beyond the first corner necessitating a restart. The restart found Rodney Smith taking another heat win followed by Mike Craig and Cooper. Heat two saw Warren bring home the win for Australia over Kehoe and Stephenson, while Ryan Hughes led Dean Matson and Chris Young to the checkered in heat three. Heat four found newly signed Honda rider Jeremy McGrath, in perhaps his last appearance aboard a Kawasaki, hold off old Australian sensation Kim Ashkenazi. The quarter finals would send four more riders into the semis, and as the gate dropped for the first 250cc quarter final, it was evident that this would be an excellent race. Jim Holley proved that he can still run wi th the big guns, leading Dack, Lewis and Larry Brooks home after a great race. Heat two once again found Cooper having his share of problems taking third behind McGrath and Andrew, while Craig secured the fourth and final transfer. Heat three found Hughes, Gaddis , Lamson and Peter Melton taking the top four spots, while Hughes embarrassed himself, crashing after taking the win. In the fourth and final heat, two Aussies strutted their stuff with Warren picking up another heat win leading Ashkenazi, Lowell Thompson and Young to the finish. The 125cc quarter finals saw riders getting braver and braver after learning the hot lines around the tight course. Stephenson, Kehoe , Matson and Chris Young scored wins in their respective races, while the next three riders would move along with the winners to the semis and the remainder of the riders would pack it in for the evening. The semi finals were a crucial step during the evening with the top four headed directly into the final and the rest of their way to the Last Chance. Semi number one of the 250s saw Lewis and Lamson wind up on the ground during the last lap with Hughes, Holley, Brooks and Melton going to the big money showdown, Semi number two found McGrath looking strong on his way to the win, while Cooper held off Dubach after an intense battle; Aussie Andrew took the last transfer position. The 125cc semis were both close battles with Smith taking semi number one after putting in a strong showing over Stevenson, Craig and Tallon Vohland. In the second 125cc semi, McGrath led Kehoe, Cooper and Lewis to the flag to nearly complete the entire field for the final, with the exception of two Last Chance riders in each class. Kehoe and Craig went wire to wire taking top honors in the 250cc Last Chance, while Hughes and Lamson were the top finishers in a tough 125cc LCQ with Stephenson being edged out of a spot in the main after finishing third. The 125cc main would be 15 laps and with a tough field on the line it was anyone's race. The first start saw a gnarly crash as Craig, Hughes and Stephenson all went down hard heading into turn one. At the referee's discretion, a restart was used and this time it was McGrath who got away cleanly with Lewis and Smith close behind. Cooper was running about fourth and wasted no time in getting to the front, moving into second behind McGrath. The race that followed was a good one, as Cooper first stalked McGrath then passed him on lap four taking the lead for good. McGrath dogged Cooper for the entire race to finish a close second at the checkered. Lewis, Craig, Kehoe and Lamson were not far behind in the third through sixth, while Hughes and Stephenson rounded out the top eight. Cooper was elated in victory circle after taking the $2000 check but couldn't dwell too m uch with the 250cc final immediately following. The 250cc start would be critical with the higher horsepower machines charging into turn one. Kehoe looked strong coming to the fina l and after a holeshot over McGrath, Dubach, Broo ks and Craig, it looked as if he might run away and hide in the 20 lap final.