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/127674
"'; 27thO O MountainS. Mammoth Lakes MMammoth R SMX: TCO I all of a sudden things weren't as fun any- more. We put his race engine in the bike ยท1 and he waxed 'em ." (Left) Kevin Windham romped away with the wins in the 125 and 250cc Pro classes. (Below) Dustin Nelson (61) ran down early leader Shaun Perolio (SO)for the win In the 125cc Intermediate final. . . ' Me Windham, youlose'em By Donn Maeda Photos by Scott Hoffman and Maeda MAMMOTH LAKES, CA, JUNE 23-26 t's only been eigh t short months since Kevin Windha m d ecimated the 125 and 250cc Intermedia te classes at last year's Mammoth Mountain MX, and for the flock of Pro class comp etitors on hand at this year's running of the popular race, it ha sn't been lon g enough. For Win dham, a feeling of deja vu emerged as the 125 and 250cc Pro class' finals unfolded . Just as he did in last year's Intermediate class finals, Windham worked into the point positions early on and wen t on largely unchallenged as he romped away with a pair of convincing wins. I 24 "It's pretty neat to come back and win the pro classes the same way that I won the Intermediate classes,' said the likable 16-year-old, who hails from Baton Ro uge, Louisiana . "I knew that my cha nces of winning were good coming in to the event, bu t I was having so me problems in my qualifiers and was a little worried . l owe a lo t of tha nks to the Team Green and Pro Circuit guys, who got my bikes running goo d before the finals." "Ke vin d id just like a lot of guys," said Pro Circuit's Mitch Payto n . "He came to Mammoth with the idea of just having fun, and brought up his pra ctice bike..After a few laps of practice, he realized that he was getting pulled, 'and then The Pro classes that Windh am didn't compe te in - the 500cc and Vet Pro - were top ped by Kawasaki Tea m Green's Ty Davi s and Beach Sportc ycl es Yam ah a rider Doug Dubach, respectively. Davis was the m ost consis te nt rac er o f t he weekend, backing up his 500cc class win with a runner-up finish in the 250cc class and a come-from-behind ride for fourth in the 125cc d ivision. "It's a good feeling to come back after racing off-road all year and be abl e to keep up with the newest up and comer," said Davis, "I thought I could run Windham down .if I started with him, but he just got awa y." Rounding out the top three behind Windham and Davis in the 250cc Pro class was none other than the Dogger, Ron Lechien. After leading the early part of the race, a low-speed crash dropped Lechien to third , where he stayed to the finish. The FMF-sponsored rider also finished second in the 500cc Pro class. "Man, I haven't been training at all,' said Lechien. "It's pretty bitchin' to run with these guys , considering." The 12SccPro class podium was filled out by former 250cc World Championship Series runner-up Mike Healey, who competed aboard an MMF-backed Yamaha, and FMF-sponsored Shaun Kalas, who piloted a Suzuki . Dubach used consistent 3-1 moto scores to nab the win the Vet Pro class. KTM's Greg Zitterkopf won the first moto going away aboard a big fourstro ke, but crashed and separated his shoulder at the start of moto two. This left the door wid e open for Dubach, and he went on to win the moto over overall runner-up Rex Staten. Over 1100 entrants showed up to do ba ttle at this year's even t, and although the Southwick 125/250cc MX National kept the factory riders away, pro-elass action was as spectacular as ever. Thurs. day saw the Vets and Seniors take to the track, w hile the Women, Mini, Four-