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/127395
Overall. this year 's U.S. Trophy team is a solid one. Its strong point will be its ability to survive. None of the T rophy team riders are quitters just true. hard core enduro riders . The rougher the trial. the better the chances are of the U.S. Trophy team landing a top finish. If the trai l is easy. the team won't stand a chance in the special tests against the li kes of Peterhansel, Lalay, Tiainen, Wicksell . Italians Tullio Pellegrinelli and Giorio Grasso. Frenchman Marc Morales. Swedes Svenerik Jonsson and Kent Karlsson . Czech Bohu mil Posledn i and many other extremely Iasr Europeans. Some of these riders could quite possibly finish in the top 10 in a GP motocross I In the J unior World division, the U.S. is burning with young talent. Made up of Jimmy Lewis, Steve Hatch, Chris Smith and David Rhod es. the U.S. J unior World team has a definite shot at the win. Not on ly do these four riders smo ke through the woods. they also click o££ co mpetitive times in the spec ial tests. Throughout the U.S. Qualifier Series. Lewis, Hatch, Smith and Rhod es often matched or surpassed some of th e Trophy riders ' best times in the special tests. . Lewis, who found gold last year in Sweden . grew up racing in the California desert and definitely knows the mea ni ng of speed. He's not only one of the country's best desert racers. he also knows how to weave his way through the trees with the best of 'em. Lewis will again compete in the 125cc class aboard a KTM. New York 's Hatch is perhaps the hottest up-and-coming off-road rider in the U.S. An ISDE rookie last year. Hatch scored overall wins twice during this year's Qualifier Series. as well as landing th ree top five finishes in the National Enduro Series. Hatch, who earned a silver medal in Sweden, will again challenge the 250cc class on a Suzuki RMX. The AMA is usually hesitant about selectinga rookie on either the Trophy or Junior World teams. but when it does, you know it has a good reason. This year's good reaso n is Chris Smi th , younger brother of Trop hy rider Drew Smith. Ch ris. 19, is another speedster and p roved that wit h top finishes throughout the Qual ifier Series. H e will also campaign the 250cc class. riding a KTM. On e of the country's best off-road fou r-stroke riders is without a dou bt Wash in gton 's David Rhodes. Rhodes made him seI£ famous in 1989 when he showed up for the Six Days in West Gennany with a two-year-old. beat up a nd thoroughly used air-cooled 5IOcc four-s troke Husky. No one thought he would last six miles, let alone six days. But he did and took home a silver medal. Not only did he earn a medal. but he earned a lot of respect. as well. Since then . Rhodes has fully matured into a first-rate' enduro rider. and a fast one at that, Last year. Rhodes walked away with a hard-earned silver medal (only a few points o££ go ld). riding a Suzuki DR350. This year, R hodes will pilot a Husaberg 350. most likely to a gold medal. Wit ho ut beating around the bush and p utting it bluntly. the U .S. T rophy team has a slim chance of winning the Czecho Six Days. But each and everyone of the U.S. Trophy riders are red-blooded competitors and they all know deep down inside. that with a lot of hard work and determination. maybe. just maybe. with a little bit of luck . .. Stranger things have happened. Or have they? at Keep up with the diverse world of motorcycle racing. From the high power of the 500CC World Grand Prix Road Race series which hugs the pavement from Britain to Brazil, to the grit and grind of the AMA National Championship Motocross Series, Thursdays on Prime Network. . Check 'fO'oJr locaIllstingo • AvaIIaIlIe on """I Primo Network affiliates: PSN • HSE • Sunshine ' HTS • PASS · POrre T1c:koI. MSO • NESN • Paclflc Spo rta N""""k' Prlmo Sporta Northwest HONDA Cnme ride with us. --- .--- . H D R A Nevada 500 Pahrump, NV August 9-1 1 1st OveraII . 1st Open (Class2 2) GARTH SWEETLAND/ PAUL KRAU SE (Kaw) MAXIMA RACING LUBRICANTS 1st Pro 250cc ATV (Class 24) KARLA STURCKOW (Hon) 10969-A Wheatlands Ave .• Santee. CA 92071 (619) 449-5000 19