Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

eMOTOCROSS el GFI Wmter Series South: Round 1 (1")10'\ 0'\ ~ Jeff Emig collected the $5000 prize for his win in the 250cc supercross, while teammate and runner-up Damon Bradshaw looked on. Emig, Kehoe bag the big bucks at Perris Raceway By Tony Alessi PERRIS, CA, JAN. 2-3 eam Yamaha's Jeff Emig and PrpCircuit-backed Erik Kehoe were the big winners at the third Annual GFI Invitational Supercross, which was run in conjunction with the opening round of the GF1 Winter Series, while Splitfire/Mattel/Pro-Circuit-backed Mike Chamberlain, Team Green's Craig Decker and KIM's Greg Zitterkopf were the high rollers in the event's Pro classes, and Mike Young won the inaugural event in the new Sound of Thunder Series for four-stroke riders. A $13,500 purse was up for grabs in the Supercross event, $10,000 in the 250cc class and $3500 in the 125cc division. The annual event lured many of the country's top racers to Perris Raceway. More than 800 riders turned out for the Winter MX Series portion of the program, while an estimated 5000 spectators looked on. What was perhaps the premier race of the entire weekend, the 250cc Supercross race got underway Saturday afternoon, and it was Bader Manneh getting the nod off the gate but he crashed in the first turn, causing a small pile-up. Emig, the National 125cc MX Champion, emerged from the first turn in the lead. "1 lined up way outside away from everyone," said Emig. "When we started I saw Bader drift wide in the first tum and hit a patch of soft dirt; he swapped in front of the whole pack before he crashed. I was happy to be out front, because 1can flow and ride my own race." While Emig pulled away from the pack, all eyes focused on his Yamaha teammate, Damon Bradshaw, who was cautiously working through the field from a midpack start. The typical g~for broke Bradshaw style was not in evidence r 16 today, as he carefully and methodically moved towards the leaders. Once into third, Bradshaw reeled-in Suzuki rider Larry Ward, who surprisingly moved over and let Bradshaw by. "1 saw him coming," said Ward. "My arms were completely pumped and I had to let him by". After passing Ward, Bradshaw seemed to pick up his pace a bit in hopes of catching Emig, who enjoyed a comfortable 3D-plus-second lead. Despite that gap, Bradshaw chose not to quit and set his sights on Emig and started getting closer and closer to his teammate. But just when it appeared that Bradshaw would catch Emig, Bradshaw bailed. "1 got cross--rutted on the top of one of the jumps and fell," said Bradshaw, who remounted still well ahead of the thirdplace rider, Ward. Emig went on to score the win, approximately 40 seconds ahead of cunner-up Bradshaw. "It doesn't matter who's the fastest rider, what matters is who gets to the finish line first," said Emig. "And today 1 got there first." Bradshaw was content with second. "1 have been riding constantly for about a month and 1 feel good," said Bradshaw, who was competing for the first time since the final round of the Camel SupeFcross Series at the'Los Angeles Coliseum last July. Shortly after the L.A. Supercross, Bradshaw underwent surgery to repair an injured knee. Ward finished third, while Kehoe, and Suzuki teammates Damon Huffman and Jeff Matiasevich, and Kawasaki Team Green's Robbie Reynard rounded out the top five. It was Huffman who stole the spot- light early in the 125cc feature. He led for the first half of the race before eventually dropping back to third. "1 hyper-extendt'd my hand when I crashed in practice," said Huffman. "1 couldn't even pull in the clutch." Making up for midpack starts, both Reynard and Kehoe turned heads by motoring by the likes of former 125cc National MX Champion Johnny O'Mara, Chamberlain and Jimmy Gaddis. Still in pursuit of leader Huffman, Kehoe was hammering on Reynard for secOIld. Kehoe made his move over a double jump that Reynard singled, and then charged after Huffman. With two laps remaining, Kehoe seemed to overshoot a high-banked berm tum after clearing a triple jump and forced Huffman over the berm and off the track. "1 switched lines when 1 landed from the jump then pinned it!" said Kehoe. "Damon saw that 1 had passed him and he grabbed a handful and tried to rail the berm. Our shoulders connected and he went off the track." Reynard inherited second and was quick to put pressure on Kehoe for the lead and almost made a pass on the last lap. "He (Reynard) came wide open on the inside, and 1 just stopped and he went right past the tum and off the track," said Kehoe. "If 1 hadn't stopped, we would've collided." Kehoe went on to score the win over Reynard. "It's a little scary riding with more experienced riders, bu t it will get me ready for future big races," said 15-yearold Reynard. Huffman finished third, well ahead of Gaddis, Suzuki's Phil Lawrence and Chamberlain. Defending Four-Stroke World Champion Young picked up where he left off in 1992 as he scored the win in the opening round of the five-round XR's Only /Maxxis Racing Tires-sponsored Sound of Thunder Series. The event offered a $2000 purse. Although the ante was high, participation was minimal with only seven riders lining the starting gate. La Habra Husqvarna-supported Terry Fowler passed early leader Willie Musgrave in the first moto and went on to win despite pressure from Young, who fell during the battle but recovered in time to finish second. Musgrave was third. The second moto saw Young, also aboard a La Habra Husqvarna, roost away for the moto win and the overall victory. Musgrave came across the finjsh line in second, followed closely by White Bros.-backed, Husqvarna-mounted Gordon Ward. Craig Decker used a cool calculated approach in winning the 250cc Pro class on the Winter Series MX side of the pr~ gram. The Kawasaki Team Green rider posted a pair of consistent finishes to score the overall win. In the first moto, Decker grabbed the early lead but longtime nemesis Robbie Reynard was breathing down his neck. Reynard pursued Decker for half the race before passing him and taking over the lead. Reynard went on to win, while Decker settled for second place. Mike Young took the checkers in third, while Buddy Antunez grabbed fourth. Kehoe, the 125cc class supercross winner, powered to the front of the class at the start of the second moto and was never headed. First-moto winner Reynard was involved in a second-tum collision with Scott Sheak. Reynard remounted in 27th place and would climb as high as 10th before taking the checkered flag. His 1-10 moto finishes dropped him back to fifth overall in the final standings. Chamberlain was the second rider to cross the finjsh line, but it was Decker's race. The Kawasaki rider's 2-3 moto finishes were enough to score the overall victory, with Kehoe grabbing second overall. Fourth in the moto went to Young, and Donald Upton rounded out the top five. Kehoe returned later in the day to win the first 125cc moto, while Chamberlain, Decker and David Pingree battled back and forth for the duration of the race. When the smoke had cleared, it was Chamberlain prevailing ahead of Decker and Pingree. Chamberlain, on his Peak/ProCircuit/MatteI Hot Wheels team Kawasaki, led from starCto finish to score the overall victory with a 2-1 tally, edging Kehoe's 1-2 effort. Decker wound up third overall ahead of Reynard and Pingree. Justin Buckelew, a former and very successful Pee Wee racer, made the transition to the bigger 80cc Novice class a triumphant one, as he easily won both motos on his NCY-backed Yamaha. Billy Payne, who recently moved up from the 60cc class, also rode well. He was the cunner-up in both motos, which earned the Kawasaki rider second overall. Jacob Machowsky finished a distant third, followed by Trent Bragg, Mike Young and Jimmy Viris. Thirteen-year-old Kristy Shealy made the trip from Texas to Califo'rnia a rewarding one by scoring the overall win in the Women's class. Perennial champ Mercedes Gonzalez was second. Shealy and Gonzalez battled during much of the first moto with Gonzalez taking advantage of a slip by Shealy to post the moto win. Shealy regrouped for second just ahead ofTami Rice.

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