Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

and Ferry . Curry would drop ou t on lap two, allowing Neese to build an eightsecond lead over Dow d before disaster struck. "I was knee-deep in lap pers, moved inside one and high-sided over a berm," Neese sai d. " Th e engine st a lled and Dowd passed me as I was kicking it." Nee se recovered in time to sal vage secondplace ahead of Ferry, Swink and Andrews, but Dowd took the first-mote win. In moto two, Dowd and Swink both got ou t of the first turn cl e a n w ith Curry, Vaillancourt, Brown , Keith Johnson, Ferry and Alan Andreu in the lead p a ck . Dowd le d the first three laps be fore Swink took the point away, but Swink wa s only able to control the race for another three lap s before Dowd roared back to reclaim the lead on lap seven. Shortly th erea fter, th e exhaust tone of Dowd's Yamaha changed d ramatically. " My silencer fell off," Dowd said . "The bike d idn't lose that much power, bu t 1was afraid that it would seize." "The n oi se w a s so loud that 1 couldn't hear my own motor. I was glad to finally ge t by him (Dowd )," Sw ink said. Swink we n t on to the se con d- mote win , but Dowd was able to hang on for second to claim the overall class win. Curry, Brown and Ferry rounded out the top five. A Winter/ AMA legend returned in the form of [ojo Keller, a former champion and one of the most remembered riders in the history of the series . Keller joined Andreu, Earl May and Jon Ortner at the front of the Vet Pro class, but it was Andreu w ho took th e first-mo to win after passing May . "I didn't take practice in the mud so it took me a while to set up Earl for the pass," Andreu said. Th e second moto produced a twoman battle between Andreu and Ma y, which culminated in a drag race to the finish. Andreu bagged the overall with the seco nd -mote win over May. Keller finished 3-4 on the day for fourth overall behind Ortner. "Everyo ne knows tha t 1 never arrive in Florida in shape," said Keller, who rarely arrives anywhere in shape. "Give me a week or two." Riders excelling in t h e open ing ro und w ith tw o class wi ns ea ch were Kevin Wi ndham, 125 and 250cc A; (Above) A rain storm the night before the event turned the race track into a s oupy mess. (Above right) Lusk (left) and Dowd enjoy the spoils of victory. (Middle right) Phillip Page (567) scored wins In the 30 and 35-Plus divisions. (Bottom right) Barry Mayo grabbed the early lead In the 4G-Plus A class; Woody Strickland scored the win. James Stewart, Pee Wee and 65cc (7-11); Ricky Carm ichael, 85cc (14 -1 5) a nd Super Mini; and J.D. Coll ins, 125cc B and 16-24. C\" Gatorback Cycle Park Gainesville, Florida Res ults: Ja nuary 1-2, 1994 12.5 PRO: 1. Ezra Lusk (Suz); 2. Mike Brow n (Hon); . 3. Scott Sheak (Kaw ); ol Pa ul Currie (Kaw); 5. Tim Ferry (Han). 250 PRO: 1. John Dow d (Ya m) ; 2. Br ia n Sw ink (Suz); 3. Tim Ferry (H on); 4. Ron Tiche nor (Suz); 5. Mi ke Brown (H on) , VET P RO : 1. Ala n An d reu (Yam); 2. Ea rl Ma y (Yam) ; 3. Jon Ortner (Kaw ); ol Iolo Keller (Yam) ; 5. Ross . Jo hnson (Han). 125 A: 1. Kev in Windham (Kaw); 2. Jim Neese (Ka w); 3. Jeff C urry (Kaw); ol. Pa ul Currie (Ka w) ; 5. Robbi e Skaggs (Ka w) . 250 A: 1. Kevin W indham (Kaw ); 2. Jim N ee se . (Kaw ); 3. Davi d Gay lord (Kaw ); ol Jean Roy (Suz); 5. Jeff Curry (Kaw) . PIW: 1. James Stewart (Yam ); 2. Jason Wood (Yam) ; 3. Barrett Sm it h (Ya m) ; 4. Robert Holstein (Ya m); 5. Micha el Morga n (Yam). 65 (7-1t) : 1. Jam e s S te w a r t (K aw); 2. Joshua S u m m ey (Kaw); 3 . Jeremy McDow (Ka w ); 4. C h a z No rt hey (Kaw ); 5. Joshua Fa us tino (Kaw) . 85 (7-1H: 1. Tra vis Pas trana (Suz); 2. Robert Famell (Ya m) ; 3. Aaron Lin d sa y (Kaw); 4 . Dillon Cl a y ton (Kaw); 5. Joshua Summey (Kaw) . 85 (12-)3) : 1. Justin Buckelew (Yam ); 2. Ma tt Wa lker (Kaw); 3. Josh Scott (H a n); ol Nick Norris (Yam); 5. Clint . She aly (Kaw) . 85 (14-15) : 1. Ricky C a r m ic h a el (Kaw); 2. Shae Bentl ey (Kaw) ; 3. Adam Rake (Kaw ); 4. Jason Th o ma s (Kaw); 5. Jake Morris (!

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