Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

.MOTOCROSS' '. . ..AMA 12S/25OccNafiGn~ Champiqnship Motocross Series' Round 9: Spring Creek MX Park less than a lap later, Ward bobbled in a tough whoop section, and Kiedrowski passed him right back and quickly got away from him. Shortly thereafter, Schmit moved in and passed the Yamaha rider for fourth, as did McGrath late in the race for fifth. But before passing Ward, McGrath crashed again. "I fell over," said McGrath, "and I had to catch him again. 1 was getting pretty tired my heart felt like it was coming out of my chest, it was P,Ounding so hard." At the checkers, the riders were again well spread out with Dowd leading the way over Emig, Kiedrowski, Schmit, McGrath, Kyle Lewis, Tony Amaradio, Lawrence and Palmer. "The key is getting the starts," said overall winner Kiedrowski. "Just look at what happened to Jeremy today. He's been getting the starts all year and I haven't. I have to change all that." 125ce NATIONAL Robbie Reynard was in a league of his own in both 125cc motos. In the first moto, he shot out of the gate and had the lead all to himself coming out of the first turn, and he had already developed a modest lead over Kawasaki rider Michael Brandes entering the second lap. Brandes ran with the leaders for much of the race before crashing and dropping to the middle of the pack. Moving into second by the third lap was Mike Brown, and he held on to that spot for three laps before Lamson got the best of him through the long whoop section. By this time, Reynard had already . built up an-eight-second cushion and Lamson had no chance of catching the high-flying Kawasaki rider. Instead, he The duel went on and on, while LaRocco silently slipped into third ahead of Ward. By the halfway point, Kiedrowski had finally freed himself of McGrath's grip and pulled out to a three-second lead over the series points leader. At this point, McGrath's attention had changed to another rider, and he was no longer concerned about Kiedrowski. Instead, he was more worried about LaRocco, who was now breathing down his back. Not long after taking the halfway flags, LaRocco motored by the three-time Supercross Champion who made no attempt to answer back. "I knew that Jeff (Emig) was way back and that was my main concern," said McGrath. "I guess 1 just didn't have the drive because 1 didn't need to." Once into second, LaRocco set out after Kiedrowski. He eventually reeled him in, passed him (three laps from the finish), pulled away and took the checkered flag with seven seconds to spare. McGrath finished a distant third ahead of Ward, Schmit, Kawasaki rider Phil Lawrence, DeHoop, Crine, Suzuki rider Cliff Palmer, and Schellenberger, all of whom crossed the finish line well spread out. Roles were reversed in the second moto with McGrath crashing on the first lap and Emig jumping out to an early advantage. "Through the first turn, my front end pushed out," said McGrath. "It was muddy and slippery, and someone railed me hard and hit me in my side - I couldn't breathe." McGrath re-entered the race in last place as he clutched his side with his hand. '1 just knew 1 had to keep going because of the points," said McGrath, who got back on the gas and quickly worked his way up through the field, where he would eventually finish fifth. '1 was hanging it out - it (the bike) was (Above) John Dowd (14) and teammate Jeff Emlg took each other ou1 In the tlrat· 250cc moto but Dowd redeemed hlmee" by winning the eecond moto. (Right) After coming trom behind to win the tlrat 250cc moto, Mike laRocco's day would end on the ou1slde ot the first tum In the eecond moto. laRocco was pushed to the ou1slde of the tum where he clipped s tire and tweaked his knee. so side-to-side, you don't even know," said McGrath. LaRocco didn't fare as well as McGrath, who LaRocco said was the rider who pushed him out wide and into the tires. The defending champ surrendered to the pits with what his father/tuner Mike LaRocco Sr. said was a hyperextension of the knee. .Meanwhile, up front, Emig set the pace for about half the race until Dowd decided to pick up the paCe even more. He eventually passed his teammate and quickly pulled away from him, stretching out his lead to more than 11 seconds before it was all over. All alone in third ran Kiedrowski, while Ward held down fourth for much of the race. At one point, though, Ward actually caught up to and passed Kiedrowski for third when the Kawasaki rider fell in a corner and - at that point - was in a position to score the overall win - had he stayed there. But, had a fast-closing Hughes to worry about. But there was nothing Lamson could do about it: . Hughes' come-through-the-pack momentum had carried him right up to the Honda rider's heels, and it was apparent that Lamson would be his next victim. Sure enough, through the whoops, Hughes blasted by the Honda rider and roosted away from him. Once into second, Hughes found a IS-second gap between himself and

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