Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

EVENTSRousseau Edited by SCott '0 (Above) Steve Lucero treated Glen Helen Speedway spectators a flawless points performance that earned him the main victory and his third California State Speedway Championship title. (Left) Rich Hansen notched the Old Timer Amateur victory at round one of the CUC Dealer's MX Series at Sunrise Valley Raceway. Lucero cops state ~peedway title By Michael Maher DEVORE, CA, AUG. 5 harlie "The Edge" Venegas was expected by many to capture 1995 California State Speedway Championship title, but while Venegas had a near-perfect night, Steve Lucero had a perfect one. The first heat featured a quartet of riders with excellent records at Glen Helen, as John Aden, Jerry Black, Jim Estes and Walt Farnum rolled up to the starting line. Estes got a great start, but Aden found himself at the rear of the pack, forced to play catch-up. Aden dispatched Black, then reeled in Farnum am! was closing 'on Estes when the checkered flag fell. Estes captured the night's first three points over Aden, Farnam and Black, respectively. Bobby Schwartz returned to the track for the first time' since breaking his collarbone several weeks ago, and declared that he would not take any unnecessary risks. "I'm just going to have fun," said Schwartz. Schwartz definitely appeared' to be having fun in his first-round heat race as he blasted off the line in classic Schwartz style and held off Greg Ayers, Jake Zemke and Rick Pearce for the heat victory. Venegas opened his campaign by C easily defeating Paul Colston, Jesse Finch and Craig Furman. Lucero capped off round one by giving the same kind of treatment to Steve F~man, Randy Difrancesco and Angela Hale. Round two opened with first-round winner Es'tes falling to Lucero. Black took command of the next heat when an early charge by Schwartz fizzled and the two-time state champ dropped off the pace with apparent bike or shoulder problems. Aden pulled himself back into the game with a win over Hale, Craig Furman and Pearce, while Venegas matched Lucero by beating Farnum, Steve Furman and Zemke, making himself and Lucero the only remaining riders with perfect scores. Schwartz dropped out of contention in the first heat of round three when he finished fourth behind Steve Furman, Venegas blowing off Ayers, Hale and Black. Aden did the same to Difrancesco, Zemke and Finch, while Lucero rounded things out by defeating Pearce, Colston and Farnum. Lucero and Venegas were then tied with perfect nine-point scores, but Aden lurked behind with eight points, waiting for either of the leaders to make a mistake. Estes was still in firing-range with seven points, but his shot at the title suffered a fatal blow when he, Pearce and DiFrancesco were defeated by Venegas in the opener of round four. Lucero and Aden buoyed their chances by defeating Black, Zemke, and Furven. Schwartz came back to win his round-four ride over Finch, Farnum and Hale. The stage was set for a dramatic finish as Venegas and Lucero stood on perfect 12-point platforms, Aden just barely in their shadow with 11 points. All would meet in the final round ride, with Schwartz thrown in for good measure. Zemke took the win in the opener of roune! five over Colston and Hale. Black took the next heat over Finch, Steve Furman and Pearce. As Schwartz, Aden, Venegas and Lucero rolled to the line, the possible outcomes of the race were intriguing. A win by Venegas or Lucero would give them the title, but an Aden win over Venegas or Lucero (or a second behind Schwartz) would force a runoff for the title, opening the possibility of an Aden win in front of Schwartz, which would give Aden the championship. At the start it was Venegas with the holeshot, but Lucero and Aden closed the gap by turn two. Schwartz seemed content to hang back and politely let the contenders duke it out. Lucero pulled even with Venegas going down the back straight and the two rode handlebar-to-handlebar for two electrifying laps that had the crowd on its feet. Entering the second turn of lap three, Venegas slid wide allowing Lucero to .get underneath and open a slight gap between them. Venegas closed the gap by the end of the straight but then slid wide again coming out of turn four. He hung off the bike in an effort to get traction, but Lucero was gone and completed the final lap unchallenged to win over Venegas and Aden. The top three in the race became the top three championship winners, respectively. Lucero was naturally happy with his third state title, but he used the victory podium to announce that his task was not yet completed. "I want to win the national!" Lucero proclaimed. "It's time we had a national champion here!" (referring to the fact that two-time and defending champion Sam Ermolenko has taken the numberone plate back to Europe for the past two years). Venegas took his second straight lastminute defeat like a gentleman, congratulating Lucero on his performance but adding, "We'll be back next year." Randy Beddow took the Support-elass title by winning three of his four heat races and finishing second in the fourth. Jimmy Fishback dominated the first-division Junior class, winning aU four of his heats, and Patrick Donovan grabbed the second-division Junior crown as Jesse Little took third-division honors. CN Results STATE SPEEDWAY CSHlP, 1. Steve Lucero (15); 2. CharHe Venegas (14); 3. John Aden (3); 4. (TIE) Creg AyerslJim Estes (9); 6. (tie) Jerry Black/Paul Colston (8); 8. (TTE) Walt Farnum/Steve Furman/Bobby Schwartz (7); 11. Jake Zemke (6); 12. Jessee Fmch (5); 13. Angela Hale (4); 14. (TIE) Randy DiFrancesco/Craig Furman/Ride Pean:e (3). SUP C'SHJP: 1. Randy Beddow (11); 2. Brian Pappalardo (9); 3. Joe Earhard. (7); 4. Rodney Sherman Donovan (6); 6. Brandon Mitchell (4); 7. Craig DePhillippi (3); 8. Chris Harrington (0). JUNIOR CSHIP: 1. JUnmY FIShback (12); 2. Michael (7); 5. Sle\'e Hull (7); 3. Jeremy Smunons (3); 4. Ryan FISher (2). 0-2 C'SHIP: 1. Patrick Donovan (8); 2. Joey Draper (6); 3. Josh O'Neal (5). 0-3, 1. J...., Uttle (9); 2. GaIina MilJer (6:, 3. Jt...... Boyle (3). Hansen Hammers SVR Dealer Series Motocross By Scott Hoffman ADELANTO, CA, JULY 16 Rich Hansen, one of the oldest men still able to ride a motorcycle, rode to victory with two convincing back-to-back mota wins,in the Old Timer AmateuY class during round one of CMC Dealer Series at Sunrise Valley Raceway. In the first mota, Hansen was clearly Jhe" favorite; he jumped into the early lead and left the field of Mark Moore, Jim Bowers and Pete Staton to follow. Hansen slowly started to extend his lead as the laps progressed. Moore held second while the field stabilized and. little passing occurred. When the checkered flag flew orr the final lap, Hansen was the undisputed winner as Moore and Bowers followed. [n mota two, it was another Hansen moto. Hansen quickly shot into the lead and never looked back. Moore, the runner-'up in mota one, ran in second for the first part of the moto but experienced troubles and briefly fell back to fifth. Bowers inherited second and was able to hold on until the end. Moore wa able to recover and work his way to third by the finish. At the finish it was Hansen with the win and the overall, while Bowers took second but had to settle for third overall with Moore's 2-3 finishes. In other race action, Eric Hanks was the big winner in the 12Sec Beginner class. Hanks battled with the likes of Ron Welt and Scott Priputen. Welt won the first moto with a wire-towire victory while Hanks and Jeff Taylor finished in the ~unner-up spots. In the second moto, Welt was the early leader, but Hanks dogged his every move, and with two laps remainin~ took the lead and crossed the line first for the overall win. Results P!W I Scott M.utm (Yam): 2. Adam Miller (Yam); 3. Tyln Bogart (Yam). 6O(~12): I. Cody Sandefer (Kaw). 80 (14-16) D.J. Pnputen (Yam), 125 BEC: I. Eric Hanks (Yam); 2. Ron Wefl (Hon); 3. Scott Pli· puterl (Yam); '" RIchard Mequla (Suz); S. JenTaylof (Hon). 125 JR: t. MIke-Gibson (Han); 2. Cory Gibbons (Hon). 125 PRO: I. ScottTnkacs (Yam); 2. Travis Preton lSuz). 250 BEG: 1. Jason lAWteY (Yam); 2. Damon Podolry (Hon); 3. Todd Sa~e18 (Yam); 4. MlIrk Eckmann (Ynm); 5. Adam LflFolU (Yam). 250 JR: 1. Bryan Lamborn (Yam); 2. Chuck Kober (Suz.) 250 INT: 1 La~ ]OhMOn (Yam); 2. Shl'lwn Fortier (Yam); 3. Jimmy Deaver (Hon). 250 PRO: 1. Larry Brooks (Yam); 2. Man: Pete.rs (Yam). 500 AM: 1. Todd Usconbe (KThl). lITH AM; l. Chuck K~ (Suz); 2. Cory Whitalc.er (Yam); 3Damn Swaffword (Hon); 4. Scott Hoffman (Hon). l1Ili MSTR.: 1. Lancr johMan (Yam); 2. John Zahrt (Yam); 3. LArry Brooks (yam); 4. Kevin Allman (Yam). VET BEG: 1. Majot- Allorcl (Yam); 2. Danny Lowen (Hon); 3. Ros!; Demon (Hon);

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