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/127564
eMorDeROSS AMA National Champsionship 125/250cc MX Series: Rounds 111 e Mike Kiedrowski (3) leads John Dowd (27), Guy Cooper (7) and Larry Brooks (17) into the fust turn in the opening 250ce class moto. Kiedrowski won both motos. Kiedrowski, McGrath drop the gauntlet at Gatorback By Donn Maeda GAINFSVlLLE, FL, FEB. 28 rior to the National Championship 125 and 250ce MX Series openers at Gatorback Cycle Park, there were many questions hanging in the air. At the end of the day, at least two of those questions were answered by two-time 12See and defending SOOee National Champion Mike Kiedrowski and 21year-old hotshoe Jeremy McGrath. After ending 1992 on a high note by winning the SOOee National Championship title, Kawasaki's Kiedrowski had gotten off to a slow start in 1993, and had yet to savor the sweet taste of victory. Would Kiedrowski continue to play second fiddle to the more established stars? As it turns out, the answer would be definitely no. The Canyon Country, California, resident took to the track aboard his Shane Nalley-tuned KX2S0 and proceeded to trounce the competition with a convincing double-moto sweep in the 250cc class. "In supercross 1 can't even buy a good start," said Kiedrowski. "But 1 started well in both motos today and did what it took to get into the lead. From there it was easy. I just rode my own race and didn't worry about what anyone else was doing." Completing the 1-2 California punch P 6 and answering another question was Murietta, California's McGrath of Team Honda, who nabbed his first-ever National win by posting 1-2 moto finishes in the 12Sec class aboard his Skip Norfolk-tuned works CR12S. By winning four of the first seven rounds of the Camel Supercross Series, McGrath has established himself as one of the top contenders inside the stadiums. What remained to be answered, though, was the two-time 125cc Western Regional SX Champion's ability on the "outdoor" tracks. "This win is really important to me, because a lot of people were doubting my speed at the Nationals," said McGrath. "Last year my conditioning hurt me, but racing the 250 indoors this year has made me strong." Three-time 2S0cc National and defending Camel Supercross Champion Jeff Stanton finished second in the opening 250cc moto and raged up to fourth in the second go-round after a nasty crash in the early going to earn runnerup honors, while Kawasaki Team Green's John Dowd chalked up an impressive season-opening performance with a 4-3 tally for third overall. Dowd is a beneficiary of Kawasaki's support program, receiving a bike and parts. In the 12Scc division, Honda of Troy's Erik Kehoe scored a point for the privateers by garnering second overall via 5-1 moto finishes. Kawasaki's Michael Ray Craig rounded out the top three with strong 3-3 showings. A record turnout in rider entries got the series off with a bang, as 96 125cc and 98 250cc racers filled the entry lists at the World Sports-promoted event. World Sports reported a record Gatorback crowd of 7774. The spectators filled the area surrounding the track that winds around and drops down into an abandoned rock quarry. For his win in the 2S0cc class, Kiedrowski pocketed $2000 of the $15,000 class purse, while Stanton and Dowd earned $950 and $850, respectively. McGrath bagged $1600 of the $12,500 12Scc class purse, and Kehoe and Craig each earned $900. Luckily for nonsalaried riders Dowd, Kehoe and Craig, substantial manufacturers' contingencies were offered. 250ee Kiedrowski timed the drop of the gate perfectly at the start of the first of two 3O-minute plus-two-Iap motos and led Suzuki's Guy Cooper, Noleen's Larry Brooks and Dowd through the first two turns and down into the quarry. Yamaha superstar Damon Bradshaw and Stanton were mired at the start and began lap one in seventh and 11th, respectively. Bradshaw's luck ran out early, as he parted company with his machine before one lap was in the record books. "I was pinning it down a fast straight and I hit a big hole," said Bradshaw, who would eventually work his way back into 10th at the finish. "My butt got kicked up in the air and both of my legs landed on the left side of the bike. I ran with it for a while before I just tipped over." Meanwhile, Kiedrowski thwarted Cooper's every pass attempt and steadily began to open a lead on the Kawasaki rider. By the fourth lap, Kiedrowski had opened a seven-second gap between himseU and Cooper, while Brooks held third another five seconds back. 5tanton worked through the field and he and teammate Steve Lamson motored into fourth and fifth, just behind Brooks. It didn't take long for the Honda teamsters to find their way past Brooks, who soon after began to drop off the pace. "My arms pumped up so bad, 1 couldn't believe it," said Brooks, who