Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127652
;:M T Ctionals 'S.'· Round 3'• Sarona Oaks Raceway O O aR Si' ,:" O :Golden State N - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ehis asfer By Scott Hoffman RAMONA, CA, JAN. 23 ader Manneh was the ove rall victor in the 250cc Pro class; he posted 2-1 mo to finishes while competing in the third round of CMC's FMF Golden State Nationals at Barona Oaks Raceway. B Racers bea t th e forecasted p oor wea ther as they traveled south to one of California's old est motocross facilities, and the jump-filled, hilIside track was pra ised by man y of the riders as the da y progressed. At the start of the first 250cc Pro race, it was Jeff Til ton, Dennis Dahlin and Craig Canoy haggling over the top spot. Canoy took the position on his Kawasa ki, while Tilton held second and Dahl in was in third. Series points leader Terry Pa rso ns moved up quickly fro m a mediocre getaway, fi rs t relega ti ng Dahlin to fourth, and on the second lap dropped Tilton one position to take over . the runner-up spot. Parsons maintained h is br isk pace as he closed in on the leader, and soon motor ed past Canoy for the lead. "I haven' t been riding much lately, because 1 had the flu," said Canoy. "I just tried to ride consistently." Back in the pack and charging hard were Manneh and Jimmy Lavorci. Both ri ders suffered fro m poor sta rts, but we re working their way throu gh the field qu ickly. Manneh had the jump on Lavorci as he moved into the third spo t by the halfwa y point, w hile Lav o rci worked his way into fourth by the end of the race. Up fro nt, Par son s had pulled out a com fortab le lea d, which soon beca me less comfortable when he went down. . "I went into the turn and my fron t tire was in one ru t and my rear was in ano ther. 1fell on my bu tt," said Parsons. Can oy's consiste nt ridin g sty le paid off as he regained the top position . As th e final laps wo und down, Manneh tried to reel in Canoy, but it was too little, too la te, and Ca noy took the wi n. Pa rsons ma naged to salvage the third spot in front of Lavorci, In the seco nd rno to, Dam on Kemp found himself lead in g a frei gh t tr a in cons isting of Parsons, Lavorci, Manneh and Tony Sulek. Kem p rap idly felt the hea t as the field quickly moved past. Parsons took over the lead, while Man neh sna tched second and moved in on Parsons' rea r wheel. Lap after lap, the two ride rs rode close together, wi th Ma n neh finally breaking free at the halfway point and moving into the lead . "He (Parsons) took a bad line up the hill and 1 had a smoo th one," said the Pro Circuit/ UFO-backed Manneh. "I got him on the inside at the top of the hili." Pa rsons tried to s tay close, b u t couldn't pull in to make a move. At the finish, Man neh took the win and the overall. Pa rsons and Lavorci finis he d second and third, while Canoy worked his way up fro m a poor start to finish fourth. In the 125cc Pro race it was all Parsons, as he took his JT / Varne r / Rocket Rex/ FMF-sponsored Kawasaki to backto-back moto wins. In the first moto, former 12Scc Nation al Champion Ron Lechien bo rrow ed a bike and took the earlylead, followed by Lavorci a nd Manneh. 'T his is the first time I' ve rid den a 125 in I can't even remember how long." said Lechien, who held his lead for half the moto before Pa rso ns worked his wa y to the front. Lavorci tangl ed with (Above) The CMC Golden State series headed down so uth , where Bader Manneh put togeth er 2·1 fi nishes to take the 250cc Pro class. (Left) J imm y Lavorclleads the pros in early-mota action. Chasing him are 125cc Pro class winner Terry Parsons (1), Ron Lec hlen (3), Eric Wic ker (206), Jeff Tlhon (74) and Bade r Manne h (3). (Below) Trav is Presto n (191) dices with Dustin Nelson on his way to a 125cc Interm ediate class win.