Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

AMA Fall Classic Motocross Series, Round 1 ree (Left) Mike Brown (9) went on a tear during the opening round of the AMA Fall Classic MX series at the Birch Creek Motorsporls Complex, scoring wins In both Pro classes. Here, Brown leads Jim Neese (61) In the 125cc Pro classes. (Below) Mike Young (273) defeated Mike Brown (9) In moto one and then went on to post another victory In the second moto to claim the overall victory In round one of the AMA Eastern National Four-Stroke Motocross series at the Birch Creek Motorsporls Park. By Jay and Sharon Hauser DANVILLE, VA, SEPT. 15 onda of Troy Rider Mike Brown came across the Tennessee State line to Virginia literally to destroy the competition at the opening round of the AMA Fall Classic Motocross Series at the Birch Creek Motorsports Park. Brown was unstoppable as he ran off and hid from both the 12Scc Pro and 2s0cc/ Open Pro classes en route to a four-mota sweep, capturing both overalls. .Track condition was a concern early in the week prior to the event as Hurricane Fran had left the lower portion of the race course four feet under water, but as always, the Birch Creek crew worked long, hard hours to whip the track into shape. As Sunday morning practice started, the skies were blue, the air was cool and the track was perfect, ensuring great racing. The AMA Fall Classic is designed to give National riders a chance to earn some big paychecks during the off season and ride with some strong competition. Brown currently looks as if he will not be able to contest the entire series, but last year's overall 25Occ/Open-class winner Todd DeHoop plans on retaining the Fall Oassic Series title. DeHoop got things off to a good start with two strong rides to score the runner-up position to Brown in both matos, jumping out to an eight-point ad vantage over third-place overall Keith Bowen. The former Team Yamaha rider had his Factory-supported KTM on the gas to score a solid 5-3 and get on the podium. The 125cc Pro class is run as a support to the 250cc/Open class, but that does not affect the level of racing. Brown was quick to get out front in both 125cc Pro matos, which left some great H \D 0\ 0\ .... N l-< Q) B u o 32 Sellards. Carsten made some late"moto moves and took fourth away from Bowen with David Kratz rounding out the top six. Neese managed to hold on to seventh by mota's end and was looking to improve on that score in mota two. Just as he had done in mota one, Brown jumped out to the early lead in the second mota of 2s0cc/Open racing with DeHoop in tow. DeHoop's secondplace ride was quickly taken away by an aggressive Sellards. Neese was looking stronger, with a solid grip on fourth ahead of Bowen, Stovall and VPE/Boyesen's Jason Conlon. Dunaway had survived the first turn this time and was eighth over Joel Dengler and Carsten. Brown slipped out of sight one last time and motored his way to a four-mota win for the day, but the pack of riders left behind still had plenty of sorting out to do. Sellards continued to run in the second spot as DeHoop started to slip backward, falling as far back as seventh on lap nine. Neese and Bowen were back at it, trading off the third position when DeHoop got his act together and started his climb back up to the front. DeHoop first picked off Bowen and then took Bowen with him when he moved baCK past Neese for third, pushing Neese all the way back to fifth in a hurry. Just as DeHoop started to make up a little ground on Sellards, Sellards' Kawasaki died. "The crank went out," a dejected Sel.lards said. "Well, that's about 350 bucks." The misfortune that struck Sellards helped put DeHoop right where he needed to be, back in second and securing as many series points has he could get. Recently crowned AMA Vet Amateur National Champion Bowen pulled out a third in mota two with a fine ride to capture the final podium position. Neese made up for his first-mota ride and scored a respectable fourth-place finish in mota two, netting him fifth ove~all. Carsten's score of 4-5 brought his MSR/Bromley's Suzuki in with a fourth overall. Birch Creek Motorsporls Park Danville, Virginia Results: Septelitber 15, 1996 (Round 1 of 6) racing behind for the second through seventh spots. A strong pack of 125cc pilots followed in Brown's wake, Team Green/ Pro Circuit rider Brock Sellards stepping up to take the runner-up spot by day's end with 3-2 mota finishes. Local Ace Jim Neese had a good day going aboard the 125 with a second in mota one, but as the day wore on, Neese succumbed to fatigue and could only manage a 12th in mota two. Barry Carsten made his presence known with a good ride to take third overall over David Culton, David Kratz and Neese. With the 2SOcc/ Open class serving as the premier race of the event, that's where the top racing is, and the riders did not disappoint. Brown pulJed the holeshot of the series-opening 250cc/Open Pro mota, but DeHoop was right on his rear fender. . Bowen and Team Green rider Charlie Dunaway both hit the ground in turn one, with Bowen quick to get his KTM up and going back into the top 10 by lap two. Dunaway required a little extra time to get going but would still claw his way back to 11th by mota's end. As Brown led the field, DeHoop upheld second over Byrd's Kawasaki-mounted Bobby Stovall, Sellards and Neese. Bowen was fired up and moved in on Neese with ideas of taking another posi~ tion. Brown pulled a 1Q..second lead by lap three and continued to builci that lead all the way to the flag. With Brown out and gone, the best racing was between DeHoop and Sellards. As the mota hit the halfway point the top three runners remained the same, but positions were changing behind them. Stovall lost one place per lap as Bowen worked into fourth, holding off Neese and the ever-consistent Carsten, who eventually moved past Neese and went to work on Bowen. By the time Brown put his bike on the stand back at his van, DeHoop was crossing the line mere inches ahead of 125 MOTa 1: I. Wke Brown (Hon); 2. Jim Neese (Hon); 3. Brock Sellards (Kaw); 4. Barry Carsten (Suz); 5. David Culton; 6. Joel Dengler (Suz); 7. Charlie Dunaway (Kaw); 8. David Kratz (Hon); 9. Adam .Rake (Hon); 10. Brandon Turlington (Suz); 11. Chuck Green (Suz); 12. Chris Wagner (Hon); 13. Chad Newton (Suz);14. Andy Franklin (Suz); 15. Chad Gochenour (Hon). 125 MOT,O 2: 1. Mike Brown (Han); 2: Brock Sellards,(J(aw); 3. Barry Carsten (Suz); 4. David Kratz (Hon); 5. David Culton (Han); 6. Charlie Dunaway; 7. Adam Rake (Han); 8. Brandon Turlington (Suz); 9. Chuck Green (Suz); 10. Chad Newton (Suz); II. Chad Gochenour (Hon); 12. Jim Neese (Hon); 13. Chris Wagner (Han); 14. Chris Morgan (Kaw); 15. Joel Dengler (Suz). 125 O/A: 1. Mike Brown (Hon); 2. Brock Sellards (Kaw); 3. Barry Carsten (Suz); 4. David Culton (Hon); 5. David Kratz (Hon); 6. Jim Neese (Hon); 7. Charlie Dunaway (J

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