Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

·MOTOCROSS . 10th Annual White Bros. Vet WorIdMX Championships San Bernardino, CA Du at oes it aain (Left) Guy Cooper, Doug Dubach and Erik Kehoe finished 2-1-3 In the premier Vet Pro class. (Above) Doug Dubach (1) beeted Guy Cooper (56) In both motos. By Scott Hoffman SAl BER1 ARD 0, CA NOVEMBER 4-5 he stands were filled to see the fastest vets in the world bang bars for the right to be called the White Brothers Vet World Champion, and when the dust finally settled at the i!1ld of the premier 30+ Pro-class race, Yamaha's Doug Dubach was the victor for the third year in a row. Dubach battled with a slew of former champions and ex-factory superstars Like former 125cc National Champion Guy Cooper, USGP winner Erik Kehoe, two-time 125cc ational Champion Micky Dymond, 500cc GP contender Billy Liles, and a host of others. Close to 1000 racers from the ages of 25 to over 60 competed in two exciting days of close competition at the 10th annual running of the event. Racers were treated to a slightly toned-down version of Glen Helen's National track With a $5000 purse in the premier Pro dass, this marked the Largest payback in the history of the race. Dubach was the man to rob at the end of the day as he took home $1000 for his efforts, as weU as the bragging rights for yet another year. When the gate dropped for the first moto, 35 riders swarmed into the first tum and when the mayhem was over, Willy Musgrave erupted to the front of the pack. Hot on Musgrave's tail was Honda of Troy rider Kehoe, Pro-Circuit/Yamaha rider Dubach, and FMF-backed Dymond. The front runners were fighting for position as the crowd favorite, "Airtime" Cooper, was swapping for positions back in the field. "I got a terrible start," said Cooper. '1t had been a while since I started from a cement starting gate and I had all kinds of problems." Up front, Kehoe was quick to drop Musgrave to second and take over the Lead. Dubach knew that Kehoe would be a threat, and that he had to work fast. Before the end of the first lap, Dubach moved into second and set his sights on Kehoe. Dubach and Kehoe quickly started to pull some distance on the field. Dubach was riding like the seasoned veteran he is as he continued to apply extreme amounts of pressure to Kehoe. It was just a matter of time before Kehoe surrendered to the sight of Dubach's front tire running up his back-side. On the fourth T L/') 0\ ~ ~:f 1-4 Q) "S Q) > o z 12 (Left) Former 125cc National Champion Guy Cooper competed In his flrst..ver White Bros. Vet World Championship race, but ceme away In second. (Above) Honds of Troy teem manager Erik Kehoe showed that he stili possesses exceptional speed, finishing third In the Pro class. Lap, Dubach dived to the inside to take over the lead. "I felt really good at the start of the race, (but then) I started to get a little tired and my arms started to pump up." said Kehoe. Back in the pack the race was for the third through fifth spots. Cooper was riding like a madman as he sliced his way past some of his oLd nemeses. Cooper first picked off Liles, then set his sights on Musgrave and Dymond. Hearing Cooper's patented panic-rev riding style, Cooper's competition practically pulled over when they heard him coming. Cooper systematically passed Musgrave and Dymond, and to the surprise of cheering crowd, kept his charge going strong. Dymond was riding an excellent race despite nursing a sore foot from an accident early in the week "I had a good rhythm going at the start of the race, but I got caught in lappers and I knew Cooper was going to reel me in," said Dymond. After leading from the start of the race, Musgrave slowLy fell back in the pack By the end of the race Musgrave ended up sixth after Liles made the pass for fifth. "I was trying to hold them off at the start of the race, but I landed off a jump and my foot got caught under my footpeg." said Musgrave. Up front, Cooper was still on the gas and lap after lap started to reel in Kehoe, who started to slow because of lappers. Cooper started to see his window of opportunity. When the white flag flew, Cooper started to make the mad dash for second. Coming into the front section of the track for the final time, Cooper jumped to the inside and dosed the door on Kehoe. "I didn't think that Cooper was that dose on the last lap, all I could hear was his panic rev behind me," said Kehoe. "He jumped too far and I thought he was going to land on me." When the checkered flag flew, Dubach crossed the line with a cOl;nfortable lead while Cooper took a well-deserved second over Kehoe. In the second moto, Cooper learned from his mistakes after his poor start in the first moto and found himself leading the pack into the first tum. Tom Carson held the second spot as Dubach and Kehoe trailed. Dubach wasted little time as he quickly moved into second and set out after Cooper. Dubach looked strong and made sure Cooper didn't pull away. '1 didn't really worry at the start of the race. I knew I felt good, but I knew it was going to be a good race," said Dubach. Going into lap two, Dubach was all over the rear tire of Cooper. Dubach stuck to Cooper like glue and when the opportunity arose, took over the lead. Cooper stayed dose, but Dubach was all business and wasn't willing to cut Cooper any slack Kehoe was able to make the pass on Carson and move into the third spot. In a . valiant effort early in the race, Kehoe reeled in the leaders, but fell off the pace Later in the race. Kehoe remained uncontested for the remainder of the race and ended the day with third overaLL Carson later feU victim to Dymond and Liles and ended the day in sixth. Back in the pack, Dymond was on the gas after a poor start and began to maneuver his way through the field. Dymond finally made his way past Musgrave and Carson and set his sights on Liles, but a flat tire slowed the Kawasaki rider and he was forced to settle for fifth. Up front, Dubach Jed the race as the final Laps were near. Cooper hovered dose behind, waiting for Dubach to make the slightest mistake or leave the door open

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