Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

:O F;R'O O, Flat River Grand Prix ; F. A iven 'em flat (Left) Steve Lelven used smart pit strategy to take the lead, then earned the overall victory at the Flat River Grand Prix. (Above) Chad Busenbark handled the Ughtwoods and sand, finishing third. By Chris Jonnum Photos by Pat Hanes FLAT RIVER, MO, OCT, 9 hat 's the first time in quite a few years that the trophy di d n' t leave on an ai rp lane, " a co u rse w orke r was overheard saying, as " local ace Steve Leiven accepted the coveted Governor's Cup during the trophy presentation, After years of trying, the diminutive 23-year-old had finally won the infamous Flat River Grand Prix, The popular event served as round 12 o f th e Missou r i Hare Scrambles Series, and while a competing National Hare Scrambles round on the same weekend kept some of the bigger nam es a wa y, th e competition was fie rce nonetheless. "That's my biggest win for sure ," said the Surdyke Yamaha of Marionville /Sprocket Specialists /ProAction of Missouri /Scott/Camelbak/ Endura / An swer/Bell/ Acerbis/Mike's Machine/Fredette RaCing/Pro Circuit/RK-backed Leiven. "I've been riding the Nationals since about '90, and the best I've done is sixth. This one feels good." Though Leiven - third in '92 behind Jimmy Eriksson and Larry Roeseler was expected to do well, most pointed to former National Champion Scott Plessinger as a sure winner. Plessinger was trying out a brand-new '95 KTM at the Flat River, but dropped out after , crashing hard on the fourth of five laps. "I was riding an SX (rnotocrosser) , and the suspension was set up a little stiffer than what I like, " e xplained Plessinger, who was also struck in the hand by a rock right off the start. " I got T ~ 0\ 0\ r-t -.D N I-< OJ "B u o 34 off the trail and into some leaves, and a rock threw me over the handlebars and into some trees . I fi g u re d it wa sn 't worth getting hurt and ruining m y chances for the GNCC round next week. I'm glad I came ou t thou gh, ins tead of getting used to the bike at a National." Still, Leiven was approximately 15 seconds ahea d of Plessinger at the time of the cras h, add ing to the legitimacy of h is overall victory . "I was con cerned ..about Scott, for sure," said Leiven. "My plan was just to go out there and try to be in contention on the final lap , the n see w ha t happened. After he di d n' t catch me on the thi rd lap, I thought I might have a chance." "I've got to hand it to Ste ve," said Plessinger . " He wa s riding great - the best I' v e ev er seen him gOo. He was hanging right with me. I wasn ' t going all-out, but I can usually pull away from hi " lID. Afte r following the ATV "pace car" down the main street of Flat River, the expert wa ve do ve into the crowd-pleasing stream "crossing with Leiven in the lead. "I got the holeshot, but with all the virgin trails, it was hard to keep from missing turns," said Leiven. "I'd miss an arrow, then somebod y else would take the lead until they did the same thing. I think I was fifth when we came through the barrels at the end of the first lap." Leiven chose to pit at the end of the first circuit, putting him even further behind. The Yamaha rider's shrewd bit of pit strategy would payoff later, however. With five go-arounds to complete Terry Gilliland moved through the pack late in the race, capturing the runner-up spoL _ onthe 2D-milecourse, most riders opted to pit after laps two and four. Leiven finished lap two in fourth place, but passed the three riders ahead of him when they stopped to pit. He was still in front after pitting at the end of lap three, and stayed there during his final twolap sprin t to the finish . Leiven' s job had been made easier when Plessinger dropped out on lap four, but Leiven was unaware of that fact until a few miles from the finish. "My pit board said 'Pless. - out' at the end of lap four, but I thought it said 'Press - out/" said Leiven. "I was going, 'What does that mean?' for almost the • whole last lap. Finally I figured it out and realized I didn't have to worry about Scott anymore."

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