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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127565
BM orDeROSS GFI Winter Series South: Final Round m ...-----------=-=--~ Dean Matson (01) led Craig Decker (141) and Cory Keeney (23) off the start in the second 125cc Pro moto. Decker used a consistent 2·1 moto tally to earn the overall win. • • • ec er Ia e .In a errIS By Tony Alessi PERRIS, CA, FEB. 28 t was business as usual for teenage sensation Craig Decker, as he put forth consistent rides for the overall 125cc Pro class victory and a close runner-up finish behind Rick Ryan in the 250cc Pro division at Perris Raceway. The day's racing determined several class champs for the southern portion of the series, and points earned at this race and previous rounds will also be carried with the riders into the two showdown rounds, where riders from the southern part of the state will face off against the champs from northern California. The southern CaliforlUa showdown round will be held at Perris, and northern rider Rick Ryan seemed interested' in getting in some track time at the facility, as he made the drive south and began his day by leading the first half of the first 125cc Pro moto. Kawasakimounted Decker was having trouble trying to figure out Spud Walters, who passed Decker early in the moto and proceeded to block the Tea~ Green rider for the next five laps. At the halfway point, Decker came to life and disposed of Walters to assume the runner-up spot. One lap later, Decker flew past the leading Ryan and immediately I 50 began to pull away from the Yamaha pilot. Decker built up an impressive lead, but fell during the final moments of the race, letting both Ryan and Walters slip by. Decker remounted in third and instantly caught and passed Walters for second. Decker then dogged Ryan throughout the final circuit, but was unable to make the pass. Ryan won, and Decker had to settle for second p~e in front of Walters, Dean Matson and Suzuki-mounted Chris Young. The second moto saw Minnesota State Champion Cory Keeney out front on his Varner-tuned Kawasaki, with Matson, Decker, Dana Wiggins, Donald Upton and Billy Joe Mercier in hot pursuit. First-moto winner Ryan suffered an early crash and was the last rider to complete the opening lap. Near the front of the pack, Matson hesitated over a step jump, and Decker landed on him. Matson was too sore to continue, and retired from the moto, but Decker continued the race in second, a safe distance behind Keeney. Decker seemed to watch Keeney for the next few laps before he powered past on his Tom Morgan-tuned Performance Engineering Kawasaki. Decker inched away with each lap until he held down a comfortable 12-second lead. Keeney remained in the runner-up position for the duration of the moto, where he was never seriously challenged. Wiggins, Upton and Young raced in a tight pack and completed the top five at the finish. Decker's 2-1 score earned him the overall win, with Young second and Wiggins third. Ryan had no intention of leaving empty-handed, especially after traveling such a great distance to the race. Ryan came back to lead the first 250cc Pro moto from the drop of the gate to the finish line. Matson raced smoothly and conservativley for the runn.er-up spot, while Aussie Peter Melton recorded his best finish of the series with a solid third. Decker fought through the field after starting outside of the top 10, and took the checkered flag in fifth place, right behind Young. The second moto could only be described as a Decker runaway, as the likable rider rode a seemingly effortless race and left the competition far behind. Young made short work of Ryan and moved into second, where he remained to the fmish. Melton continued to per· form well, and posted another strong third-place finish in front of a fading Ryan, who slipped to fourth at the finish, just ahead of the hard-charging Keeney. When the dust settled, Ryan was given the overall victory by virtue of his 1-4 tally, which topped Decker's 5-1 and Young's 4-2. Greg Schnell won three out of the four motos he entered in route to overall victories in both the 125 and 250cc Intermediate classes. Travis Cory and Ty Kady battled during the opening laps of the first 250cc Intermediate moto, while Schnell ran outside of the top five. Kady began to push Cory hard, but appeared to be riding more conservatively than normal. "I just got over a bad case of the measles, and 1 haven't ridden for close to two weeks," explained Kady. "I feel kind of weak." Schnell turned up the wick, first carving under Anderson for fourth and then finding a line around Lex Malan for third. Schnell wasted little time in catch-