Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

GSUPERCROSS 1993 Predictions m • By Chris Jonnum ast year we predicted that Damon Bradshaw would be the 1992 Camel Supercross Champion, and the Team Yamaha rider came close, very close, to proving us right for the second year in a row. Jeff Stanton turned out to be the spoiler in a series that saw the points chase go down to the final race at the Los Angeles Coliseum. We've pasted the crystal ball that Stanton shattered back together, but as always it will be a tough chore to bounce back and choose who will be the top rider at the finish of this season. While top riders such as Jeff Ward and Jean-Michel Bayle haved moved on to pursue other interests, up-and-coming racers such as Jeremy McGrath, Steve Lamson and Brian Swink have come up to take their place. Stanton has proven yet again that he cannot be discounted, especially when an entire series is at stake, but Bradshaw will undoubtedly be hungrier than ever to finally win a title. In addition, riders like Mike Kiedrowski and Jeff Emig came on strong at the end of last season, and they are sure to be a threat. As we learned last year, attempting to foresee what a new season will bring is a risky business, but that hasn't stopped us from making our predictions for this season. Once again, we've started with the rider who finished in 20th place in the point standings last year, and worked our way down to Stanton, the defending champ. Here's what we think lies in store for the '93 Camel Supercross Series. L 20 for the new Honda of Troy (Ohio) effort. Shaun Kalos U he stays healthy, Kehoe should again #47 be able to make the top 20 in '93, but don't expect him to have many top-10 finishes. Residence: Litchfield Park, Arizona ast year, Shaun Kalos chose not to contest the entire Supercross Series, instead concentrating primarily on the MTEG Ultracross circuit. Still, by riding consistently and finishihg inside the top 10 on two occasions, he just managed to make the top 20 at the end of the season. Kalos is an experienced and wellrounded rider, having spent the 1990 season contesting the MX GP circuit in Europe. He shows moments of brilliance, but his consistency needs work. For '93, Kalos will again be riding Yamahas for Noleen Racing and campaigning the Ultracross rounds, and he will likely finish in approximately the same position that he did last season. L 19 Erik Kehoe #22 Residence: Saugus, California t 28 of A age, years of Erik Kehoe is one 12 the older riders in supercross series, but he is still one of the most respected privateers. Kehoe suffered a dislocated hip in 1992, causing him to sit out much of the season, but he showed that he had recovered when he put in several strong showings at the end of the 12Scc National MX Series. This year, he again plans to contest most of the Supercross circuit. Once a top factory rider for Suzuki, Kehoe has spent the past few years as a privateer. This season he will be riding 18 Brian Swink #19 Residence: Linden, Michigan hough he hails from the same state as Jeff Stanton, 20-yearold Brian Swink has a more exciting riding s'tyle and disposition than the champ. Whether this will work for him or against him still remains to be seen. Swink has been the 12Scc Eastern Regional Champion for the past two years, but this will be his first season competing full-time in the 250cc division. Swink is Suzuki's best hope at a Supercross title and though it is doubtful that he will pull off that feat in 1993, he stands a good chance at winning a main event. A t the very least, expect Swink to keep things interesting near the front of the pack. He is not afraid to mix it up with the big boys, and h.e should improve rapidly as he gains experience. T 17 Keith Johnson #34 Residence: Pembroke, Massachusetts W shlle he has how n respectable'speed on SOOcc MXers, Keith Johnson seems to struggle in supercross events. He was a Kawasaki Team Green rider before picking up a factory KTM ride in 1990, but has since been overshadowed by teammate Mike Fisher. With Fisher gone to Kawasaki, Johnson remains with the Austrian marque this season, but new teammate C!iff Palmer will likely occupy most of KTM's limelight in '93. Johnson managed to qualify for enough main events last year to move up one spot in the final point standings, but he lacked the speed to make it inside the top 10 in a main event. The 21-yearold will not likely advance again in '93. 16 Jeremy McGrath #15 Residence: Murrieta, California including M any people, teaDlInate Jeff Stanton, are predicting Jeremy McGrath to be the next big star in the world of supercross and motocross. The 1991 and '92 Western Regional 12Scc Supercross Champion has moved from the highly succesful Team Peak to Team Honda, and like Swink, this will be his first full season competing in the 250cc class. With the full support of Honda and the guidance of Stanton, McGrath should quickly adapt to the premier class. In the six 250cc rounds that he attended last year, McGrath routinely made the top 10, finishing fifth at Tampa. During the off-season, he notched his first major supercross win at the Paris Supercross du Parco Now 21 years old, McGrath should win more than one main event this season, and he stands a good chance at making the top five in the final point standings. 15 Mike Fisher #33 Residence: Santee, California fter twoA year a KTM, stint with Team Mike Fisher has made the switch back to Kawasaki machinery for 1993. The 26-year-old is known for his talent as a test rider, and his deal with Kawasaki will have him involved in both competition and bike development. Last year, a shoulder injury c!!used "The Fish" to slip back one spot in the final point standings, but he is once again healthy. it is also possible that his new ride will give him a shot of adrenaline. Fisher will have to find some additional speed if he wants to make it inside the top 10 in a main or in the final standings, however. 14 Larry Brooks #17 Residence: El Cajon, California Brooks L arrywhothose one of riders just is refuses to disappear. !'Ie has never had the benefit of a full factory ride but he continues to stay in the hunt at supercross and National MX events. Like teammate Shaun Kalos, the 25-year~ld Brooks stays busy splitting his time between the Camel Supercross Series and the MTEG Ultracross Series, and this keeps him from finishing higher in the point standings. For 1993, Brooks will again be riding a Yamaha YZ2S0 for Noleen Racing and focusing on the Ultracross Series. While his finish in last year's point standings is commendable, he would have to devote his attention to the Camel Supercross Series in order to improve his position. Still, he will be one of the season's top privateers. 13 Michael Craig #24 Residence: El Cajon, California et another Y "Cajon Zone/' rider from the Michael Craig has picked up a semi-factory ride with Kawasaki after several years as a support rider on Team Green. Commitments to the MTEG Ultracross Series hurt his performance last year, but Craig will contest the entire Camel Supercross Series in 1993. The Ultracross Champion for the last three years, Craig has shown surprising speed on occasion, but he will need to adapt to the lengthy and demanding supercross schedule. Craig should utilize the improved machinery that comes along with his new ride to put together several top-lO rides this season, and will likely move into the top 10 at the end of the year. At 24 years of age, he will be anxious to prove himself in hopes of picking up a full-factory sponsorship. 12 Jeff Ward #11 Residence: Sanjuan Capistrano, California upercross will S not seem the same without Jeff Ward around in 1993. One of the sport's biggest heroes,

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