Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

eOFF·R0AD AMA National Chameionshie Reliabili!y Enduro Series: Round 1 tests being scored only on the second go-around. Many were surprised to notice supercross and motocross hero Guy Cooper, who hails from Stillwater, Oklahoma, riding parts of the course and trying out the special tests aboard a DR350. The Team Suzuki factory rider plans to qualify for the American team next year, and was using the opportunity to familiarize himself with the trails and rules before heading to Indianapolis for round 13 of the Camel Supercross Series. "They should put a few more jumps out there," joked Cooper after completing the grass track. "That's a lot of saddle time for one day. Some of it's boring, but they need to do that to get enough miles in. It can't all be fun!" Team Green ace Larry Roeseler took an early lead by setting the fast time on the first run through the grass track, but Czechoslovakian Jan Hrehor took over soon after, completing the day's three remaining tests faster than any other rider. Smith had slid out the first time around the grass track, but his remaining scores were respectable enough that he held down third overall at day's end. Kawasaki's Ty Davis, competing in his first-ever qualifier, sat in fourth, though he was one of many who were experiencing problems with leaking fork seals. The fine Tulsa sand, which has been known in past years to wear out brake pads in as little as 30 miles, was working its way under the forks' dust caps and wreaking havoc. '1t was leaking a little, but it didn't get to the point where it was messing me up, and I switched it at the end of the day," said Davis, a former 125cc Western Regional Supercross Champion. "Luckily it was the left side, which is easier to replace. I thought the trail pace would be a little faster out there, but I'm glad it wasn't, because it could have gotten dangerous with the m rocks." Winner Rodney Smith showed at the John Zink Ranch 4-0ay ISOE Qualifier that hell be the rider to beat during the six-round series. Smith storms to win at Tulsa 4-Day By Chris Jonnum SAND SPRINGS, OK, APR 22-25 odney Smith didn't have to look far to find inspiration for earning a win at the season's innaugural National Reliability Enduro at John Zink Ranch. After all, not only did the event mark the first chance (and with four days of competition, the biggest chance as well) for competitors to earn points towards qualifying for the American ISOE team, but it also represented the final opportunity for riders to familiarize themselves with the area's rocky trails before the International Six Day Enduro is held there in September of 1994. In addition, the Team Suzuki rider felt the pressure to prove that his impressive fourth-overall, top American performance in his first-ever ISDE in Australia last year wasn't a fluke. Smith proved up to the task, attacking the special tests with a force equal to that of the deadly tornado that ravaged the Tulsa area on day three. After four grueling days of rocks and mud, Smith went home with the overall troJ?hy. "This is the first time I've ridden R 22 here, so it feels really good to get the win," said Smith, who is also at the top of the point standings in the National Hare Scrambles Series. '11's good to get the season started with a win and the points lead." The pressure was also on the eventpromoting Tulsa Trail Riders, as the club was using the event as a mock run for the '94 International Six Day Enduro that they will also promote. Everyone present, including several AMA officials, was monitoring the efficiency and organization of the Trail Riders, curious to see if they were yet worthy of hosting the "Olympics" of off-road motorcycle competition. While nearly everyone agreed that there were areas that could stand improvement, it was also the general consensus that the club had the potential to put on a great Six Days. "Overall, I think they've done very well," said the AMA's Hugh Fleming. "They've pretty much got most of the actual course wired, but there are a few things they will have to improve back here in the pits, like enlarging the parc ferme area and speeding up the scoring. There will be some changes, but they've got the desire to do a good job and that's the most important thing." While rain has turned several past events at the facility into survival runs, weather was close to perfect for all four days at this year's event. Even the rain, hail and wind that were brought on by the nearby tornado on Saturday, waited until all the riders were off the course before letting loose. Nonetheless, most were happy when the final moto had finally been completed on day four. A little over 100 riders signed up to -attempt the full four days, and since Saturday and Sunday paid points for the Black Jack Enduro Circuit, those days experienced a subsequent growth in rider entries. Thurday's course for Day 1 consisted of a 58.6-mile loop that was completed two times on the fairly lax B schedule. Two terrain tests and a grass track were included on the circuit, with the terrain Team Suzuki's Steve Hatch, who sat in sixth behind ,teammate Randy Hawkins, was another rider thinking about the rocks. "1 was tap-dancing through the mine fields on those terrain tests," said Hatch. "I tried to go fast, but I hit one of those rocks and it kicked my back end all the way around. That's okay, though. If you go fast and make a few mistakes, you're probably still better off than if you go slow." One rider to see a premature end to the event was Team Husqvarna's Kevin Hines, who was battling a nasty virus. "I've been sick all week," explained the former National Enduro Champion. "I've got a sore throat and I'm congested, so I figured it would be best to rest up and be ready for the National (Enduro) next weekend." The top six riders at the end of the day were all in the ~ghly competitive 250cc division, while leaders in the other classes included Patrick Garrahan in the 125cc division, Steve Silvestri in the 500cc ranks, 350cc Four-Stroke rider David Rhodes, Dirt Rider magazine editor Tom Webb in the Open Four-Stroke class and Senior competitor Dick Burleson. Day 2 featured the same course and schedule as Thursday, though new, more technical terrain tests were used. Apparently unsatisfied with his previous day's performance, Smith kicked it up a notch on Friday, setting fast times in all but the second terrain test, which was topped by Hrehor. "I thought it was easy to <;rash in that second terrain test, so I tried to ride smooth," said Smith. "I was hoping that the other guys would go banzai and crash, but I think a lot of them had the same idea." Still, Smith's time in the test was sec-

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