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eMOTOCROSS GFI Winter Series North: Round 1 ~ Scott Myers closed out 1992 on a high note, as he swept the 125 and 250cc Pro classes at Sandhill Ranch. ISDE gold-medalist Rodney Smith raced a Suzuki RMX250 and proved that he can still go fast on a motocross track. Myers sweeps Sandhill By Tom Pritchard Photos by Mark Hawkins . 10 BRENTWOOD, CA, DEC. 27. ver 700 entries were filed for the opening round of the 3rd Annual GFI Winter Series North at a Sandhill Ranch, and Kawasaki-mounted Scott Myers came away the big money wInner. Though he didn't dominate, Myers used consistent finishes to earn the overall wins in the 125 and 250cc Pro classes. A pair of four-lap qualifiers were run in both classes to narrow \he large fields - over 70 riders in both classes - down to 24 for the main events. In the opening 125cc Pro qualifier, Myers topped the field and secured a spot in the feature, and Kawasaki Team Green's Ray Crumb did the same in qualifier two. At the start of the first 12Scc Pro moto, Chris Neal and Greg Tierheimer had the quickest clutch hands and led through turn one. Myers gated well and displaced Neal for second on the opening lap. Tierheirner was next to fall prey to Myers, as the early leader was dropped to second on the following lap. Neal would eventually finish 20th. Once out front, Myers began to open up a lead that he would enjoy to the finish. The battle for second, meanwhile, was hot and heavy. Rick Ryan, Jefr Pestana, Pat Bennett, Crumb and Tierheirner all argued over the position, and it was Crumb who emerged on top. Bennett held on to third, just ahead of Pestana, who crashed a few times throughout the moto. Tierheimer finished fifth. Flat tires claimed Ryan and ISDE gold medalist Rodney Smith, who was also involved in the scrap for second. The start of moto two saw Pestana and Smith lead the way through turn one. Dan Paladino and Myers were close behind, and Myers quickly stormed past Paladino and Pestana and into second behind Smith. Pestana would have none of that, though, and with only a few laps to go forced his way past not only Myers, but past Smith as well and into the lead. Once into the point position, Pestana rode smoothly and aggressively and opened a lead that he would never relinquish. Smith held onto second, while Myers crossed the finish line third, knowing that the overall win was his. Crumb finished fourth and Craig Decker took fifth. "I got a really bad start and had to work hard for third," said the overall winner, CPE/Jet Force Kawasaki/ O'Neal/Noleen/Ohlins/Shoei/CTi/ Smith/Santa Cruz Concepts/Answer Pro- Taper /MXA/WOR-sponsored Myers. "The first moto was somewhat of a cakewalk, but the second moto was tough." Pestana's 4-1 finishes garnered him second overall, while Crumb finished fourth in the second moto and earned third with his 2-4 scorecard. In the 250cc Pro class, Ryan won the first qualifier, while Myers smoked the field in the second qualifier. Canadian Alan Dyck snagged the holeshot in the opening moto with Rusty Holland and Ryan in tow. Ryan displaced Holland and glued himself to Dyck's rear fender, and the lead duo began to pull away from the rest of the field. Meanwhile, Myers began to work through the pack after suffering a poor start and engaged in a heated battle for third with Holland, Terry Fowler and Tyler Hummel. Myers won that fight and held a strong grip on third by the time the checkered flag flew. Up front, Dyck had managed to break free of Ryan and enjoyed a lO-bike length lead at the finish. Myers was a comfortable third behind Ryan and ahead of Holland, Crumb and Pestana. Moto two saw Myers grab the holeshot and wave goodbye to the rest of the pack. Holland, Crumb and Paladino gave early chase, but could not match the torrid pace set by Mye.rs, who pulled out to a commanding lead by the finish. Holland, Ryan, Crumb and Dyck all argued over second place, but each rider encountered problems that thwarted their efforts. Ryan Carlisle, who was 17th in the first moto, was quick to capitalize on the crashes and flat tires that hampered the others, and muscled his way into second at the finish. Third went to Rudi Van Leeunen, ahead of Ryan and Paladino. Myers' 3-1 moto scores brought him his second victory of the day, while Ryan's 2-4 edged Dyck's 1-6 for second overall.