Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

.MOTOCROSS . . . Round 10: Washougal MX Park . AlIA ·~NaIlonaI Qlamplonshljt IIOtoctOss Series' (Left) Yalllllha's Jeff Emlgwas undoubtedly the fastest 250cc rlder In the first moto. He led McGrath home by over 20 seconds. Unfortunately, a crash early In moto two held him to second overall. (Be!ow) Ryan Hughes (9) led Robbie Reynard (22) and Mlckael PIchon (101) early In the opening 125cc-class moto. Reynard worked Into first and ran away with ease. Hughestook control of the series point leed. II i~""': factory riders behind him, but would drop to seventh by the moto's end. Craig, Hughes, Reynard, Huffman and Brown followed Pichon past McCormick, and the seven riders waged a heated battle over every position. Reynard was the smoothest of the bunch, and in spite of his troubled knee, was able to work into the lead and pull away at the finish. Hughes, Brown and Huffman swapped second repeatedly, and in the end it was Brown who gained control of the spot. Hughes was third with Huffman breathing down his jersey, while Pichon followed at a distance in fifth. Craig was sixth, despite a pair of crash2S and a big scar" in the whoops. "j gOt a little bit of arm pump, but.it was mf)~tjy my knee that war, l-, ., ~rin~ >tie," said Reynard. "1 just tI '- .~ stay smooth and get away from those guys." Lamson had a terrible moto, and lost several important championship points by finishing 12th. "I started about fifth or so, but that Ryan Huffman kid went crazy on the first lap and took both of us out over the top of the uphill," said Lamson. "I was so pissed! The right side of my bars was bent up and my brake lever was bent straight down, and it took me a long time to get used to riding like that." McCormick on the 13th lap and set his sights on Brown, who was cruising out front. "I started to take it easy becaus.e 1 had a big lead," said Brown. "I didn't know that Lamson was going to come up so quick. I could've gone faster through the whole race if I had known." Once into second, Lamson made quick work of the seven seconds that separated him from and Brown and closed to the leader's rear fender within two laps. It was not to be, however, as Brown held on for the win with only inches to spare. McCormick came home a popular third, barely fending off a late-race charge from Hughes. "The crowd was really cheering for me," said an elated McCormick. "They kept me going. 1 knew Hughes was coming fast, but 1 dug deep for that one." fN 125cc NATIONAL Bradshaw took control of third early on and rode a relatively lonely race, comfortably ahead of fourth-placed Lewis. Former KTM factory rider Anthony Amaradio started 15th, but set a blistering pace aboard his borrowed Honda that carried him to fifth a t the checkered flag. Once again, Ward gave up a position late in the race, this time to 'the hard-charging Amaradio. Dobb started poorly, but worked up to seventh by the race's end. _Mc.Ca Suzuki support rider Scott Sheak snared the holeshot in moto two and led the first lap before succumbing to a hard-charging Brown. Once into the lead, Brown clicked into overdrive and pulled away with ease, while Sheak fought tooth-and-nail for every position he lost. Sheak would finish fifth in the' moto, sixth overall. Reynard and Pichon pulled off on the second lap - both with sore knees. Pichon had fallen in a tight switchback section on the opening lap and injured his right knee, while Reynard's pain was from an old injury. Huffman was unable to miss Pichon's downed bike and crashed back to 31st, but made an impressive. charge back up to seventh at the finish. "I was wondering why the two guys in front of me ve~red left and right," said Huffman. "I gassed it up through the middle of them and then as 1 crested the comer there was Pichon's bike." After starting in the top five, Lamson began to methodically pick his way ~ough the other front-runners, including Sheak, Chad Pederson and Hughes. Lamson took over second from Mike Craig was the fastest off the line in the first moto, but the Honda of Troy rider slipped a bit in the first tum and was passed by McCormick and Eastern Regional 125cc Supercross Champion Mickael Pichon. McCormick drove the crowd into a frenzy as he led the way around bis home track, but Pichon drove past and into the lead on the first lap. McCormick was impressive as he did his best to fend off the flock of ,Maar__ B I • 'ent 0I.....,. V. . . . . . . . . tIlis,--s W..... Mil 125« ~htf_ A MI:.ConIIIick 'bowI:..esy irIch til "~"We'!Ww ':tt.S~1nIr:k ~. . .-:~~:: .....c:r-m ot iii! I' ! . . . . racid tID 1-3 moto IiIIiIlIe& 1i1ioall. pdi.... ~!'14* -.:t ICIQIel.t die belt NIItiIS 111I fiais1l 01 bill alNII'. ecf&IaI oat . . . .. . , . "11::1: :tit...__ led £or thIee . " IBid McCormick. A'J was lIkIW oat there. bat then I lItarkd tID pI8Ilp lip aM make mistakes I d«:ided 80 to dmf oat ad ended ':IP &e'ftIdb,. but that was good for me and I was happy. ~ IIlDlo tile crowd Q!8By kept me goiDg, got me moving. AU the :J ellz" and ~was a big . . . . . for DIe to Ita}' up lmntwbele I was. I did all I <.'OUId to hold off La-. bat be was a little too madL I knew Hughes was omliIlg in the end, but my ad1'ena1iDe was pumping 80 much that I didn't even feel two....... tiRd.'" Mc.CO""'rirVs dream weekend was a profitable one. In addition to his $680 share of the 125cc class purse, McCormick was awarded the $500 Camel ~/Skoal~ Privatee!' Award for being the highest-placing priva~ U\ the 125cc class. His biggl!8t financial rewards, however, came from the OregonIWashington Top Privateer Fund, started by event prol2\Olions manager and track aJIJlOWlCe!' Brian Barnes. '"I started the fund for the best finishing Or<' SImes, who donated. $200 hiJmeIf. "Local dealt the entire amount going to the best local guy. I dI did, but I was tickled to see what a real cool deal it tlmwu. ~. Shortly after the second moto, when it was apnounced that McComuck would be the winner of the fund, spectator after spectator rushed to the announcers tower to contn"bute. In the end, the fund grew to a whopping $3667, all of which was awarded to a very appreciative McConnick. '"It feels great to know that all my friends and fans helped out," said McCormick. "This will really help out with expenses. I have a sponsor, Dewayne Winjwn, who bought me bikes this year. Both of them were stolen a few weeks ago and he bought me another bike just for this race. This is good, maybe now I can help repay him." In addition to Winjmn, McCOI'IIlick wished to thank his sponsors: Hillsboro Honda/Suzuki/Kawasaki, Ilill's Pipes, Nelson's At:bIetic, Enzo Racing, PowerBar, uro, Bell, Smith. DeVoJ. Dunlop, Washougal MX Park and his IIIOD\ and dad. Washougal MX Park Washougal, WashIngton Results: August 6,1995 125 MOTO 1: 1. Robbie Reynard (Kaw); 2. Mike Brown (HOn)i 3. Ryan Hughes ~w); 4. Damon Hufb:n..-m (Suz); 5. Mickae! Pichon (!

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