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/127556
eM orDeROSS La Playa Grand Prix Masters of Motocross Series: Final round ~ Jim Loh captured the win in the 250cc Pro class, and greeted the checkered flag in front of a crowd of both American and Mexican spectators on the shores of Cantamar. Multi-time Supercross and National MX Champion Rick Johnson (right) and Too Much Fun Promotions' Armando Carrasco (left) laid out the sandy racetrack: Dave Galland posted consistent 2-3 finishes to earn third in the 250cc Novice class. The day's top finishers and series class winners were awarded plaques and trophies that were provided by Tecate Beer, one of the the series' main sponsors. Loh levels 'em at Cantamar Dunes By Scott Cox Photos by Cox and Eileen Paredes CANTAMAR, B.c., MEXICO, DEC. 13 im Loh headed south of the border to Baja and powered through the sand of the Cantamar Dunes to earn the 250cc Pro class victory at the Too Much Fun Promotions La Playa Grand Prix Masters of Motocross Series finale. Loh J 14 motored to both moto wins aboard his Yamaha YZ250, and in the process topped the entire 500cc Pro class field as well. Multi-time Supercross and National MX Champion Rick Johnson was on hand at the event, not as a competitor, but as a track designer. Johnson, a longtime friend of Too Much Fun Promotions' Armando Carrasco and Scott Cox, designed the course that wound through the Mexican sand dunes. "I'm planning on doing some offroad car racing in the future," said Johnson, who competed in stadium car races in '92. "So I thought it would be good to start coming down here and getting to know the people. This is the first time that I have designed a track for people to race on, and it was a lot of fun. I tried to make it challenging with plenty of room to pass." All of the competitors on hand agreed that the track was by far the best of the series, and though many hoped that he would, Johnson opted not to compete but instead led the field in a parade lap. "I have a hard time bending my right wrist to twist the throttle," said Johnson, who suffered a seriously broken wrist in 1989. "Even the small amount of riding that I did today is killing me. Yamaha is building me a motorcycle with a lefthanded throttle." Racers started each of the 20-minuteplus-two-lap motos with their clutch hand atop their helmets. In the first combined Pro moto, Loh grabbed the holeshot, but Kawasaki KX500 mounted John Flores was right on his tail. William McClintock and Marc Burnett chased after the two leaders aboard their 250s and eventually caught Flores, and at the finish the order was Loh, McClintock, Flores and Burnett. John Wachlalec and Frenchman Christian Berriere rounded out the top three in the 500 Pro class. In the second moto, .Loh again stole the holeshot and assumed an early lead. But this time, Flores was on the gas and slowly but surely reeled in Loh. The two riders battled it out for a few turns, but tangled and both went down in a soft tum. Loh was the first to remount, as Flores struggled to t:estart his 500. Burnett and McClintock snuck past Flores, but not for long. Flores restarted his bike and blasted past both of them. Though he mounted an impressive charge back towards the front, Flores couldn't catch the fleeing Loh, who enjoyed a sizable lead at the finish. At the moto's end, Loh scored the win ahead of Flores, who was first in the 500 Pro class. Burnett was third overall and second in the 250cc Pro class ahead of McClintock. Loh won the overall ahead of Burnett and McClintock, while Larry Gross and