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/127563
; MOTOCROSS GFI Winter Senes North: Final Round ! Dean Matson (01) bested ISDE gold medalist Rodney Smith (31) and Jeff Pestana (70) in the 12SCc Pro class. Matson hammers Hollister By Tom Prichard Photos by Mark Hawkins 44 HOLUSfER, CA, FEB., 14 atson Racing/Gran Prix Yamaha Kawasaki/Lindeman Engineering/Fox/Daves Auto Care-sponsored Dean Matson closed out the GFI M Winter Series North with impressive victories in the 125 and 250cc Pro classes at Hollister Hills SVRA, using both consistency and wild come-from-behind rides. Matson had a relatively easy time in the 12SCc Pro class, winning both motos without being seriously challenged. However, in the 250cc class, Matson found himself in last place after a miscue on the start of the second mota and had to put in a wild charge through the pack to secure the overall win. Well over 400 rider entries turned out to ride on the picturesque tree-lined track in the hills just outside of Hollister. The start of the first 125cc Pro mota saw Jeff Pestana grab the holeshot, but he soon dropped to third after being passed by Matson and Rodney Smith. Once into the lead, Matson set a pace that would grow to three seconds by the end of the first lap. Pestana made a run at Smith for second, and their battle moved them closer to Matson. In a fast off-camber turn, Pestana found the opening he needed to get by Smith and took over second. Smith tried to retake second from Pestana and went down, allowing Scott Myers to scoot into third. Up front, MalSOn lowly opened up a lead on Pestana, The checkered flag came out for Matson with Pestana four bike lengths back in second. Third went to Myers, with Smith and Rick Ryan rounding out the top five. The second moto start was led by Matson, who timed the gate perfectly and grabbed the holeshot. Second was argued over by Smith, Pestana and Ryan. Again, Matson started to open up a lead over the battle going on behind him. Lap after lap, Smith and Pestana hammered away at each other while MalSOn continued to hold a comfortable lead. With just a couple of laps to go, Pestana made a bobble, allowing Smith to pull away. Matson again took an unconte ted win, followed by Smith, Pestana and Ryan. Third place in the mota gave second overall to Pestana, with third going to Smith. Ryan was ready for the sta rt of the first 250cc Pro moto, and grabbed the lead in turn one. Second was Myers, followed by Pestana and Smith. Matson started fifth. Pestana swapped heading up the hill and quickly dropped to fifth, while MalSOn blew by Smith and Myers to take over second. Smith also bobbled, dropping him back to sixth, as Ryan and MalSOn pulled away. On lap three, Ryan laid it down in a fast uphill tum giving MalSOn the lead. MalSOn wasted no time in opening up his lead over Myers and Pestana, who had moved back into third. Myers and Pestana ba ttled for most of the race before Myers managed to pull out some breathing room as the laps wound down. The checkered flag waved for MalSOn about 10 seconds before Myers crossed the line in second. Pestana f1Oished third with Smith working back up to fmish fourth. The start of the second moto made for the most exciting race of the day. Ryan grabbed the holeshot followed by Myers and Spud Walters. Matson hit the backward falling starting gate and was stuck on the line. Also getting caught up in the gate were Smith and Pestana. Once free of the gate, MalSOn rode off slowly, then saw that there was not going to be a restart and charged onto the track in dead last. "I thought I saw the gate move," said Matson. "I hit it and it didn't go down. By the time I realized what was happening, Ricky was heading up the hill. I thought they were going to have a restart." Matson then put on a charge that was the show of the day. On lap one, Matson was 33 seconds behind the leader, Ryan. Riding the ragged edge, Matson was cutting about four seconds a lap off the lead, passing riders in bunches as he moved towards the front. At the halfway point, Matson moved into sixth, bringing Pestana and Smith with him. For the next four laps, Matson