Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

AMA Amateur Supercross Series: Round 9 SUPERCROSS ~ ! Adam Bechdel (39) holeshot the 125cc B class main event, but Richie Horton (20) took over soon after. Horton scored the win. Bechdel was second and Mitchell Hodges (26) finished third. Rand rips at Charlotte By Barbara and Loren Williams CHARLOTTE, NC, APR. 4 uzuki's Greg Rand won both the 125 and 250cc A classes in Charlotte Memorial Stadium on a spring afternoon that was perfect for supercross. For his winning efforts in both the 125 and 250cc A classes at Memorial Stadium. The only rider who came close to challenging Rand was Todd Bennick, who finished second to Rand in both main events. "I should have done better," said Bennick, "But I just didn't have it today. Yesterday morning (before competing in the Camel Supercross round) I was sick, and this morning I probably would have been sick again if I'd had any breakfast." The event is held on a circuit that is nearly identical to the extremely tight and technical Super Track Builders course that the Camel Supercross Series pros used the night before, except that a couple of jumps were lowered. The supercross format of heats (for main event gate position) and mains (for the marbles) was utilized. Over 200 riders from 18 states gathered to soak in the spring sunshine especially welcome since the East has been gripped in the throes of winter's parting tantrums, suffering record snowfalls and constant rain for the past month. In fact, dust was a factor late in the program. Though Rand's wins were probably the most decisive, the bulk of the action took place in other classes. Two divisions of 125cc 5, 125cc C and 250cc C class riders had to be run, with appropriate consolation races. Richie Horton had no. trouble with the 125cc B rna"" after reminding Adam Bechtel who was boss in their qualifier. S Upstart Bechtel grabbed the main-event holeshot, but was quickly dropped to second by Team Green's Horton, leaving third for Mitchell Hodges. Shawn Schultz and Chuck Shirley engaged in a tussle that lasted until the last lap, when Shirley got ou t of shape in the big whoops and he hit the clay. Craig Billingsley took advantage of Shirley's misfortune to claim fourth place. Horton also showed his strength in the combined 250cc A/B main, running up front with 'A-class winner Rand and slowing only for lapped traffic. Honda-mounted Brian Ward used the difficult rocker section to his advantage in the 125cc C category, turning the tables on holeshot-artist Chris Ferrell early in the main. Ferrell's hopes of a comeback move were dashed, however, when Marc Woods moved up to try to get in on the fun. In an effort to get away from Woods, Ferrell took a bad hop in the rockers and went down. While Ward steamed on to the win, Woods jumped into second and Davis Cranford assumed third, leaving Ferrell to recover in sixth. Ward also appeared in the 250cc C class, inheriting the early lead when Steve Schryver crashed on the big doubles. However, Ward's supremacy was also short-lived, as half a lap hiter his Honda stalled in the rockers, allowing Philip Wilkerson to take over the front spot. Marc Woods decided his Yamaha would look better in front, and on the next lap that's where he put it. The front trio - Woods, Wilkerson and Ward - was joined by Danny Belch, Chris Mooney, Scott Redford and Dale Woody for a wild tussle. In quick suc- cession, two crashes reduced the seven to five, when Ward landed wrong coming off a big hill and Redford crashed his Honda in the whoops. Ward remounted, but Redford suffered an .injured right leg. "Careful - I get motion sickness easy!" cracked Redford as the EMTs carried him off the track on a stretcher. Woods scored the win ahead of Wilkerson, Ward, Belch and Woody. Both the 85cc (12-13) and the 85cc (14-15) Senior Mini divisions ran together, but were scored separately. Rookie Marcus Hedrick nailed down the (14-15) class win and Team Green's Robbie Horton aced the (12-13) division, but like Jeremy McGrath's Saturday-night victory, Horton's win was a come-frombehind triumph. Horton grabbed the holeshot and escaped the first-turn tangle, but his advantage evaporated when he went down later on the first lap. Hedrick assumed the lead, followed by Johnny Holba (12-13), Todd Houser (14-15), Richard Hiers Jr. (14-15), Nick Citron (12-13), Jason Vanhorn (12-13) and Horton. While Hedrick cruised around the track to the (14-15) win, Horton quickly dispensed with the (12-13) competition. By the end of lap two of the five-lap main, Horton was fifth behind class leader Citron, and after another lap Horton ducked inside in a corner to regain the lead. Horton finished as the (12-13) class winner, followed by Amber Hughes and Citron. Hedrick's victory was all the sweeter, considering he had just recovered from a broken femur. 0\' Results PfW STJ(, 1. Jeffrey Fields' (Yam); 2. Stephen Martin (Yam); 3. Zack Rutledge (Kaw); 4. Aaron Willi, (Yam): 5. Du'tin SnUth (Yam). 65 (7-11): 1. Joshua Summey (Kaw); 2. Scott Smith (Kaw): 3. Chris Willis (Kaw): 4. Jeffrey Field, (Kaw); 5. Brandon Bradshaw (Kaw). 85 (7-11): 1. Travis Pastrana (Suz); 2. Camron Dubose (Kaw): 3. Jered Black (Suz): 4. Casey Bam.. (Suz); S. Shaun Kuehl.. (Yam). 85 (12-13): l.Robbie Horton (Kaw); 2.Amber Hughes (Suz); 3. Nick Citron (Yam): 4. Johnny Holba (Kaw): 5. Jason Vanhorn (Hon). 85 (14-151: 1. Marcus Hedrick (Suz): 2. Todd Houser Greg Rand flew to decisive wins in both the 125 and 250cc A class main events at Charlotte. (!

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