Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Gorda family takes two at Riverfront Motocross n otched the w in w ith a hea lthy lead ov er second-place Fritch. Third place went to an impressive Mowery on his 60cc Kawasaki. By John Silva Results MARYSVILLE, CA,jUtY24 The Gorda famil y ea rned two first ove rall finishes, with Mike Go rd a, Sr. topp ing the Ve t class a nd his son Mike Gorda , Jr. notchin g th e SOcc dasswin. The stage was se t early o n in the Veteran class, with Gorda taking charge rig h t off the start ga te. Go rda, Sr. raced the first moto unchal lenged, and easi ly wo n ove r Jimmy Pilgrim and Rob Koso vilka. Mo ta two was a re play of the firs t, w it h Go rda, Sr.'s Kawasa ki lead ing the pa ck from sta rt to finish. The competition wa s a little tougher for the you nger Gorda. As the ga te fell for the first BOcc moto, Lonny Fritch gra bbed a big holeshot, with Gorda, Jr. giving chase through the first tum Iollowed by Nick Tatu m and hot !ilJcc ride r David Mowery. The race quickly developed in to a duel between Fritch and Gorda , Jr. Fritch capitalized o n an appare nt horsepower adva n tage by pulling awa y slightly on the many stra ight sections only to see the gain d isappear thro ugh the rougher obstacles. Each time these two wo u ld charge aro und the fin ish-line hairpin, Go rda, Jr. w ould tr y to m a ke a pass by d iv in g und er Fritch. Go rda , Jr. perhaps wa s tryin g too ha rd , as this move was often counterproductive, actua lly co st ing th e Su zuki r ide r ti me. At bes t, Gorda, Jr. wou ld pu ll alongsid e Fritch, but cou ld never make the p ass st ick. A frustrated Gorda, Jr. tri ed repea tedl y in sim ilar fash ion, each time w ith the sa me ne gative re sult. Frit ch, meanwh ile, rod e error-free and stayed cool dis pite the pressure. The first mota ended with Fritch first, followed by Gorda, Jr. and Ta tum. In m o to t w o , Fri tc h agai n g ra b bed the holeshot on his Kaw asa ki, but Gorda, Jr. powered aroun d the first tum an d took the lead in the following section of track. Fritch stayed close and was chased through the west-side whoops by Mowery, TahJm and th e rest of th e pack. Gorda, Jr. had been saving the best for last, however, and raced a flaw less moto. Gorda, Jr . PRO: 1. Jed Green (Su z); 2. Lance 8ur~ (Hus ); 3. Andy Medin (Suz). 125INT : 1. Chris Jlacno (K.aw). lli 125 JR: 1. Kn'in SrNth (yMn); 2. Danie l Hod ges (K.Iw);3. ra t Win lft!! (Suz ). 125 BEG: 1. Mick Slr.aggs (Suz ); 2. Kevin Wilson (K.aw ); 3. DreTekWh itr he ad (Suz). 250 INT; 1. o.n Barnett (Yam). 250 EXHI8 : 1. e-ry Johnson (Ka w ). 2SO'''' I. Brian Hanoon(H oo); 2. _ rringl< (Suz); 3. _ Morgoln (Suz) . 2SO BEG; 1. John Morgan (Hon); 2. TlD\ Stroup (Suz); J. Mario Andrrini (Yam); 4. MiJr.co MosicT (Hon ); S. Robert HC'n!IOrt (Hon). 500: 1. Ch ris top her Rogers (Hon); 2. John Trab ucco (Hon ); 3. JimCopt-Iand (Hon). • VET lNT : 1. To m Murphy (Hon) ; 2. Steve I'ar k.er (Suz) . VET JR: 1. MiJr.co Gorda (Kaw); 2. ]1mmy rilgrim (H on); 3. Bob lCosov ilka (H on ). 80: 1. MiJuo Go rd.., Jr. (Suz); 2. Lonny Fritch (lC.1w).l3 . Nick T..tum (Ka w) . 60: 1. David Mowery, Jr. (JC.lw). Roberts reigns at Roebling Road Race By Bob Applegate FAULKVlLLE, GA, jUtY31·AUG 1 With over $8500 in contingency money a n d pu rse available, AMA /CCS racers from all over enj oyed g rea t weather an d hot raci ng, tes ting their skills on this 2.2 mile course which still rem ains a fav ori te am ong East Coast racers . Florida's Dan ny Robe rts took the win and top prize money from Honda o f $75 0 in the Unlimited Supersport /CBR 900 Chall enge qualifier against toug h competition . "I've qu it my job to do these Hond a races and I believe I am top mon ey ea rner to da te " said a happy Roberts a fter h is 900 win. The w in did n ' t come ea sy with fast g uys Billy Eisenacher, Kevin Hunt and Gene Church mak ing Roberts work every inch of the 2.2 miJe course. The four front-runners kept it d ose the en tire race until Hunt pitched it away in tum one, narrowing the battle d own on the whiteflag lap. Eisenacher set his sigh ts on Roberts who tried every trick in the book to lose the Geo rgia rider, but at the flag Roberts won by a wheel in one of closest races of the weekend . Eisenacher picked up $500 while Church took $300 for his third place finish. The second Honda paying race was no less exciting with only one non -Honda entry on the gr id. Rookie expert David Estok wasted no time blitzin g around Roberts, determined to rob him o f a second win. O n lap fou r Eisen ache r fo llowed suit relegating Roberts to third at the finish . Estok also walked away from the fie ld in Satu rday's Expert Solo GTU race for the win. Per ry Melneci uc had a big day on a Honda 250 b urn ing the field w ith conv incing wins in bo th Ligh tweight and Midd leweight GP. Dav id McG ra th sho wed th at local s some- AM M / W S/ BK: 1. ' oh n BIes!led (Hon); 2. Scott 8ri:olror CH on); 3. William Orand v okt (lion); 4. Steve Reker (Han); S. Robert Verini (Yam~ EX MfW 5/0K: 1. Richard veederwerken Om); 2. Midwel Lehning (Hon); 3. lth Abbott (Hon ). C!1St.-d 0-1 1 ); 3. 01' AM M/ W GP: 1. Kent Well!! (Hon); 2. John B1 Sco tt Bn.'iCO(' (Hon); 4. Williol Hra nd vuld (Hon); 5. Eric Moccat el m (Due). U / L GP; 1. Hill y F.i mMh("f (Hon); 2. s Resul ts EX SOLO GTO : 1. Da vid McGrath (Suz); 2. Gene Church O-lon); 3. K.e...in Hunt (Ho n); 4, P.atrick Ludwig (H on); 5. l)olvid Mol y (Suz ). l EX SOLO GTIJ: 1. D.lVtd Estok (Hon); 2. Malt Aut ry (Hon ); 3. Prrry Me lrwciuc (Hon); 4. Ra lph Rimro lt (H on); 5. Mark Nolen (H oo). AM SOlD 1. John B1es!IedO-lon); 2. raul S1oa~ (tim); 3. lhornas Hu tdUn!l (Hun); 4. David Olin (Suz ); 5. Willi.un Lee , Jr. (H on) . AM SOLO GTIJ: 1. John Blessed (Hoo ); 2. 5t..-vt" Rekn (Hon ); 3. Dale Veitch (Han); 4. ChrisS&et>le (Hoo); S. r..ulSloine Ulan). AM L/W SI Ble; 1. Pau l ~trom (yam ); 2. G~ TICIrJr (Yam ); 3. Joe Wootton (Y.am);" o.-te furdy (Yam ); 5. Shlwn Rode! ern (lion). Go 'flt' Ch u rch (H on ); 3. Dann y Robe rts (Hon ); 4. Dav jd Estok (Hon) ; 5. M oIllAutry ( J Ilin). SEC A II CHAL: 1."Mark White hurst (Ya m); 2. Kelly Dre w (Ya m ); 3. Sco tt Mo use r (ya m); 4. O.l\'id Ol in (ya m); S. Rod Burr (Yam). EXSMSMN: 1. ROOm Ault (Hun ); 2. Strvr BOlJ."IK-x (K.1 3. w); x evtn Bro w n (Ya m) ; 4. ~ l ho n y Lin e be rge r (Ka w ); 5. J ame~ Murphy (Yolm). AM SI"TSfv(N 1. Dave furdy (Yam ); 2. Carl AndeBon (Yam) ; ; 3. J.B. Balko (Hon). . EX1W/ SPTS: 1. Ernie Kiclr.lighter (H-D); 2. Brian Gibbs CH- ); D 3. Richie Morri~ (H-D); 4. Jrlf Burck (H . D). AM L/W S /TW: l. Eric Mou c.atel (Due); 2. Ja mes Cu lo ra (Due~ 3. Billy c.m-g., (Due). EX L/W S /TW: l. Richie Morri !! (H- O); 2. Steve Hou sle y (Kaw ); 3. Anthony I..inebn'gt-r (Kaw); 4. jdf Burn (H-O); 5. Cc.-rald Young (Han). EX H / W S/TW: 1. Tom HiOl'!l(Due); 2. Sh:'Ve HOU!Ikoy (J(.aw); 3. Jeff Burck (H·O); .. Gerald Young III (Hon); S. DougJne Gmu _ (Due). EX L/W S / BK: 1. Todd ~ (Yam ); 2. Ron Pft1'y (Yam ); 3. ); m). Robert Aul t O·-Ion .. SIeve Hou5J,ey (K.aw); S.Gftr lUll (Y.a AM H /W S/TW: I. Eric Moue.tel (Du e); 2. (Due); 3. JamesCUD. (Duel; 4. Billy tAorge (Due ). A I~rt 50s. ~ • 1993 United States Motol'cycle G pand Ppix, Laguna Seca Raceway, Septembel' 10-12 ... Come see World Championship motorcycle racing at its best. C ome to the USGP in Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, on September 10·12. See Wayne Rainey, three·time World Champion and three-time USGP' winner, Kevin Schwantz, Doug Chandler and the other American GP stars battle with an international field of the best and bravest rid· ers in the world. Along with world class GP racing, this world class event will include an air show, live music, charity event, stadium trials demons tration and a huge vendor expo. Buy your ticket now, and save $10 off the gate price. Don', miss out ! ... USGP Illustrated A world class ev deserves a ent word class publication Andthat' USGP lfIust;ated. l s This beautiful, four'color, perfect·bound, 96-page magazine·style program features more than 170 pho allprinted onhigh·quality stOCk, showcasing tos. the work of the sport's best photographersand mosl knowledgeable authors. This special, limited-edition pre· vent program is available for 56. e Also available is an extremely limited-edition (200 copies only) hard ·bound version, signed by Kenny Roberts, for 550. To orderthese limited· ed ition programs: ~~~) CLttl) can toD-/PeB (800) 984-7494 For tickets, call ( I m·IRA or mail this ticket to: SCRAMP, P.D.1kIX SCRAMP, Man1EI'ey, CA. 93942. Gate tickets are cash only and are usually $10 higher. Price Quantlty TIdlet Total 3·Day Fr ilSatlSun $65 Inclu des3--day adm rssion. $-rese rvedparki g. reserved n $275 F lagroomTicket $-grarnis tandseat. bre.:JkfJS t, $45 1·Day Sunday $lunchand beveraoes. event ._"'*' posterimd pin. Ci cleone r : " T /I ". Ttrl/4 n / "') t, ) Handling Total Total Enclosed Ln ( I.J .. State_ City Day phone ( 1 Check me thod of pa yment: D Check D Money order Card number _ 52.00 $- - Z1p _ o Visa o Discovet _ D MasterCard Exp. date_. _ _ ' Allpurchilses arenon-refunda ble. Advance tiCket ordersmust be received by Sep tember 3. 1993 . ... • • • _ _ • • • • •_ _ • __..J 41

• Cover