Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127759
SUPERCROSS If Mark Barnett loves to ride anything more than a motorcycle, it is a bulldozer. Barnett artfully carved a most intricate and technical supercross track that was the immediate favorite of the riders. The track provided the ultimate passing lanes and Barnett-style whoops. Johnson rolled to three Expert-cla s wins. "1 had my toughest time in the 250 modified final. 1 bumped the gate in the start and was last into the first turn," said Johnson. Kenny Jones led the first two laps and bailed, then Casey Lytle controlled the next six laps. Johnson said, "1 caught up to Lytle and when he singled the tunnel jump, 1 doubled alongside and used a block pass for the win." Chase Reed took over the 85cc (7-11) point chase with a sweep of both finals. chool, and I can talk with the American riders now. 1I James Stewart and Chase Reed each claimed a 85cc (7-11) victory. "In the modified final, I collided with another rider in the tunnel and may have broken two fingers," Stewart said. In 85cc (12-13) action, Brandon Jesseman and Bryan McGavran were the stars, each winning a final. Fonseca led Danny Carlson all the way to the 85cc (14-15) Stock final and then erased Carson's holeshot to ace the modified contest as well. Reed took the lead and eventual win from Ben Riddle in a close Stock final. Justin Buckelew and Jeff Gibson shook up the points in the 85cc (12-13) division with class wins. Buckelew trailed Gibson in a close Stock race. "Donnie Hansen has helped a lot with my riding technique, said Gibson. " Fonseca rolled on in the 85cc (14-15) class. Matt Walker, Fon eca's closest competition, said, '1 twisted an ankle in a qualifier and cannot match Ernesto's speed today." . Chuck Wicker, who is closer to 60 than the Over 50 class he rides in, had the crowd with him. Wicker said, "Terrell Welborn always beats me. But I wore him down today and passed him for the win." MOTOCROSS Motocross is by far the most anticipated of all the "Olympic" events. Riders love the National Circuit at Gator- (Above) Casey Johnson was awarded the Dunlop Silver Tire Award for being the top-finishing Expert. (Right) Other award winners Included Emesto Fonseca (middle). who won the Axo Bronze Boot Award for being the most successful Youlh-elass racer. and Scott USA Golden Goggle Award winner Tommy Harrison, who was the top amateur racer. (Below) Glo Tedesco (29) and Travis Pastrana (199) battle for position In the 85cc class. back park. Expert rider Johnson said, "One of the reasons to come to Florida is that 1 love this motocross track. I look forward to competing here as a pro in the National someday." Charlie Bogard won the first 125cc A moto and owned most of the the second. '1 had a seven-second lead over (Anthony) Pocorobba, but he rode strong and caught me on the last lap:' said Bogard. Pocorobba added, "The starter threw the white flag twice. Lucky for me the second one counted." Johnson won the 125cc A Modified class and backed it up with a 250cc A Stock-class win. "The second 125cc Modified race moto was the closest," he said. "1 had the lead, laid it down, struggled back from fourth and caught up to Perolio and J.D. Collin. Perolio jumped a berm and took Collins out. 1 slid by on the inside to take the win" Lytle overcame 250cc Modified-class moto wins by Johnson and Pocorobba to earn the overall. Brandon Jesseman and Justin Buckelew scored the 85cc (12-13) wins. Buckelew said, "I am amazed to be riding at all. In my qualifier I crashed off the pit lip and dislocated my shoulder. It popped back in when the EMT's picked me up. It hurts but I can ride with it:' Fonseca and BSY teammate Walker finished L-2 in both 85cc (14-15) classes. "We had the best race in the second stock moto:' said Fonseca. "There were several guys ahead of us:'