Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

~ MOTOCROSS GFI Winter Series South: Rounds 3/4 e (Left to right) Craig Decker, twa-time World Champion Donny Schmit and Mike Chamberlain topped the 250cc Pro class on Sunday, finishing 2-1-3, respectively. Ricky Oliver (75), Brody Bolling (7) and Mike Alessi (8) led the Pee Wee First Timer class. Schmit, Moore, Decker star at Perris By Tony Alessi PERRIS, CA, FEB. 13-14 wo-time World Champion Donny Schmit, Bobby Moore and Craig Decker were the big winners in the 250cc and 125cc Pro classes during rounds three and four of the GFl Winter South Series held at Perris Raceway. The two day event saw full starting gates in every class, while 125 and 250cc Pro qualifiers were required on both days to thin the field down to 36 riders per class. Over 1000 rider entries filled the two-day program, making it one of the biggest weekends of racing in Perris Raceway's history. The top 12 riders from each Pro qualiter transferred to the front row, while riders which did not make the cut would start on the second row. The twarow start was a first in GFl history. When the riders lined the gate for Saturday's first 250cc Pro moto, Schmit T 46 was not on the front line, but instead was on the second row. "I crashed in the qualifier, my front brake was sticking and I wasn't jumping the doubles," Schmit said. Rick Ryan timed the gate with precision for the holeshot at the start of the first 250cc Pro moto. Bobby Moore was quick to move into second, followed closely by Chris Young, Tony Amaradio and Brian Manley. Decker was laboring with a mid-pack start while Schmit was even worse off, way back in 26th place after the first lap. By the second lap, Ryan was bumped back to fourth as Moore, Young and Manley controlled the top three places. The order remained the same for the first four laps of the 10-lap race. Decker began to quicken the pace and was soon past Manley and into third. Shortley after, Manley fell off the pace while a three-way battle developed between Decker, Young and Moore. Two laps from the finish, Decker opened his reserve and blew past Young for second then closed to the back fender of the leader Moore. Decker tried to pass Moore on virtually every section of the track, but every time Decker seemed to have the pass made, Moore would come up with the block. When the checkered flag waved, Moore held on by inches for the victory while Decker collected second and Young third. Schmit finished 10th. The second moto saw Manley pull the holeshot after leaping over the gate before it dropped. Schmit sliced his way into second, while Moore, Young and Decker funneled in behind. Schmit wasted little time with Manley and shot to the lead by the start of the second lap. Schmit extended his lead on his Chesterfield-backed Yamaha until he enjoyed a comfortable lead. "I really couldn't slow down, those guys were going real fast and I had to keep pushing," said Schmit. Moore and Decker quickly dropped Manley to fourth and began a moto-long battle for the lead. Like the first moto, Moore defended his position up to the finish, with Decker glued to his rear fender in third. The moto winner was Schmit who enjoyed a IS-second lead at the finish line. "This is good for me, I need some good competition to get ready for Europe," said Schmit. The overall winner was Moore with 1-2 finishes, which topped runner-up Decker's 2-3 finishes and Young's 3-6 scores. Schmit finished fourth on the day by virtue of his 10-1 finishes. Schmit picked up where he left off on Saturday by leading the 250cc Pro race on Sunday with a start-ta-finish romp. Tony Amaradio gave chase early in the moto, but fell victim to mid-moto pressure from Tuf Racing's Mike Healey and Mike Chamberlain. Decker meanwhile, was methodically working up from a less-then-pleasing start and was in the hunt late in the moto. As the race wore down, it was obvious that Schmit would score a runaway victory. Chamberlain held his ground for second, while Healey, Decker and Young rounded the top five. Decker put his machine-like riding style to work during the opening laps of the second moto. Schmit led early on but was surprised by Decker, who slipped past by the start of the second lap. By the fourth lap, Decker began to pull away and opened up a five-second lead on his Enzo Racing/Bill's Pipes backed Kawasaki. At about the same time, Schmit began to lose ground to a rapidly closing Chamberlain. "North County Yamaha gave me this bike to ride, it's all stock, suspension and all," Schmidt said. Decker went on to win the moto with an impressive 15-second lead at the finish. "I have been working really hard and looks like things are starting to go my way," Decker said. Schmit held on for second, while Chamberlain was pleased finishing third. "It feels good to ride the same pace as a two-time World Champion," said Chamberlain. Rounding the top five were Young and Healey, who were never serious threats for the top spots. Though Decker played second-fiddle in the 250cc Pro race, he was truly the star of the 12Scc Pro class. Decker posted a double-moto sweep of the 125cc Pro class on Saturday. Jimmy Gaddis put forth a strong challenge in the open- ing moto, but gave up the lead in the closing moments of the race when Decker found the right moment to make the pass. The second moto saw Decker out front, but this time Gaddis was in over his head. "1 got splashed in a wet section and I had to take my goggles off," said Gaddis, who went on to crash and rip his pipe away from the cylinder head. Decker went on for a landslide victory followed by Chamberlain, Diana Wiggins, Tom Clowers and Erick Hilton. Gaddis was untouchable during Sunday's first 125cc Pro moto and scored the undisputed win. Clowers, Chamberlain, Decker and Wiggins raced closely all moto long. Decker chased down and passed early race leader Wiggins by the second lap of the second moto then dissapeared for the moto and overall wins. Ryan Hughes ran in the top five at different times during the moto, but had a number of crash related problems. "An the body parts are working fine, I just need to get the rhythm back," Hughes said. Chamberlain put forth a consistent ride for second in front of Clowers, Healey and first moto winner Gaddis. CN Results SATURDAY 50 FIRST TlMER: 1. Michael Beaver (Yam); 2. Andy Pierce (Yam); 3. Jason Markos (5uz); 4.. Ryan Piattoni (Suz); 5. Mike Alessi (Yam). 50 FIRST TIMER: I. Dustin Shropshire (Yam); 2. David Hooks (Yam); 3. Andrew Alcorn (yam); 4. Eric Mathews (Yam); 5. Mark Atkins (Yam). SO STK 0-1: 1. Nick Alvarez (Yam); 2. Jason Ciarletta (Pax); 3. Chad Gaumer (Yam); 4. Dave Freeman (Yam); 5. Scott Howe (Rep). SO STk 0-2: 1. Francisco Cabo (Yam); 2. Daniel Taft (Yam); 3. Tyson Talkington (Yam); 4. Andrew Renshaw (Yam); 5. Nathan Pamintuan (Yam). SO MOD 0·1: 1. Jason Ciarletta (Pax); 2. Cale Wallace (Yam); 3. Nick Alvarez (Yam); 4. Scott Howe (Rep); S. Bryan Matthews (Yam). 50 MOO D-Z, 1. Mkhael Hale (Axo); 2. Ryan Hays (Yam); 3. Daniel Taft (Yam); 4. Francisco Cobo (yam); S. Joel Nelson (Yam). 60 0-8: 1. Dylan Lord (Kaw); 2. Shane Bess (Kaw); 3. Jason Cialetta (Kaw); 4. Kyle Mace (Kaw); 5. David McFarland (Kaw). 60 9·11: 1. Bryan McC.wrnn (K..1W); 2. Nick Beaver (Kaw); 3. Christopher Tocro (Cel); 4. Michael Blose; 5. Jonathan Shimp (Kaw). 80 BEG 0-1: 1. Bobby Bonds (Kaw); 2. Damion Loudd (Kaw); 3. Nick Deaver (Yam); 4. lsaiah Canales (!

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