Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

.MOTOCROSS·" Round1: PerrisRacew ay GR Winter.Series : , t By Tony Alessi PERRIS, CA, JAN. 9 eam Splitfire/Hot Wheels/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Ryan Hughes won three out of four mo tos that he competed in en route to the overall wins in the highly competitive 125 and 250cc Pro classes a t the opening round of the GFI Winter Series, held at Perris Racewa y. In ad d ition to H ughes, several of the Nation's other top p ros were in attendance, including Honda's Steve Lamson and 125c,c National MX Ch am p io n Doug Henry. "This is our last chance to race test our bikes before the Supercross Series opener in Orlando," sa id Lamson. The Pros competed on a different course than the over 600 ama teur racers who showed up to compete. The "Pros only" course featured numerous supercross-style ob stacles that challenged even the best riders. Ama teurs raced on a so me w ha t tamer version that was rider friend ly, ye t equally asthriIling. When the gate dropped for the first 250cc Pro moto, it was local rid er Larry Linkogle who na iled d own the holeshot ahead of Jeff Matiasev ich, Lamson, Tony Amaradio a nd H ughes. H enry g ated poorly and was mired at the back of the pack. Matiasevich was ted little time with Linkogle and roos te d in to th e lead, while Lamso n followed suit a few tu rns later. Lamso n go t o n the gas and insta n tly reeled in Matiasevich, w ho began to make several mistakes. "Chicken" cased it over a mid-sized d ouble, but managed to save it. Lamson continued to brea th down Matiasevich's neck, but by this time both Henry and Hughes were closing in on the leaders. On the next lap, Matiasevich faltered over the same jump and parted company With his pri vateer Yamaha. Lamson inherited the lead, bu t Henry was on the T move. "It takes a little whi le for my shoulder 10 (Ab ove) Ryan Hughes seemed unstoppable, w inn ing three out of fo ur motos and co llecting two class wins. (Right) Don Upton (59) led the way in the seco nd 250cc Pro clas s mot o, while first-moto winner Steve Lamson parted company with his Honda. to warm up, " said Henry of his shoulder tha t he'd separated two weeks prior. With in one more lap , Henry had closed in on Lamson and began to p ressure him for the lead . Henry was ridi ng super-aggressively and began to let it hang out over the m a n y jumps t hat filled the course. Near the ha lfway po int of the mo ta, Henry attempted an 80-foot double that none of the other riders had tried. The resu lt was d isastrous, and Henry was sp it from his machine. ' " I came off the b ike and got dragged," said Henry. "It looked bad ' an d th e bike is all s mashed up, but I actually didn't feel a thing." With Henry off of his back, Lamson found himself with a bit of brea thi ng room. But not for long, as Hughes quickly closed in and began to ho und the Honda rider. Time ran out, however, and Lamson r ode home the winner ahead of Hughes, Honda of Troy 's Craig Decker, forme r 125 and 250cc World Champion Donny Schmit, and Brian Deegan. The second mota saw North County Yamaha's Don Upto nand Deegan share the holeshot w hile fi rs t-mota winner Lamson fell off his motorcycle in the second turn. Deegan led for two laps before H ughes bullied his way into the lead. Once into the lead , H ugh es broke away and rod e on unchallenged for the mota and overall wins. Ma tiasevich worked on Deegan for several laps befo re passi ng him on lap seven for the runner-up posi tion . Lamson pushed hard all-mota long after his first-lap crash and passed over 20 riders e n route to a fift h-place fi n is h , jus t behind Schmit's Chesterfield Yamaha. "I almost didn't race today," said a happy Hughes. "My dad is sick so we almost stayed home. I'm glad that I got to go out and race with those gu ys, now I know that m y speed is up for the supercross series." Hughes returned in th e 125c c Pro class and sho wed little mercy as he d ecimated the field in both motos. Decker

• Cover