Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left to right) John Jewell, Greg Perry and James Romero wrapped up the top three overall positions in the CCS Southwest Sprint Series In the final round at Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Arizona. (Below) Perry's performance at Firebird was so hot his bike caught fire. CCS Southwest Sprint Series, Final Round Perry scorches Firebird By Michael Ross '6 CHANDLER, AZ, NOV. 3D-DEC. 1 reg Perry earned his second consecutive number-one plate at the season finale for the CCS Southwest Sprint Series held at Firebird International Raceway Sunday, but it was far from easy. Perry crashed Saturday trying to pass Fred Schell on lap three of the GTO race when his bike caught fire and burned to the ground as Perry tried in vain to put it out. Perry crashed at the exit of turn 11 and slid up to the corner worker station in turn 12 where a fire bottle was irrunediately available, but Perry emptied the extinguisher and the bike caught fire once again and suffered extensive damage. Only an all-night thrash by Perry and friends Terry Tucker, Bruce Jackson, Jamie Wittrick and Craig Frank allowed him to continue racing and scoring much-needed points Sunday with a ZX6R built from bits and pieces of last year's bike. CCS Southwest also honored the second- and third-place finishers in the division Sunday with a parade lap after the races. John Jewett earned the number-two plate with strong, consistent finishes in nearly every class throughout the year. Jewett, in his first year as an Expert, stated at the beginning of the season that his goal was the number-one plate, but he seemed very happy Sunday with second. "1 tried really hard this year, but halfway through it didn't look like 1 could do it," explained the sponsorless Albuquerque, New Mexico, resident. "1 had lots of problems, but here 1 am today with a number-two plate and 1 am really pumped about the whole thing." Jewett said that he intends on racing next year, but will concentrate on class championships and looking for some sponsorship money. '. James Romero took third-place overall honors on his Babe's Cabaret-backed CBR600. Romero, who hails from Tempe, Arizona, also had his share of problems over the course of the season. "It was a long, hard, haul," Romero said after the races Sunday. At the beginning of the season I planned on getting a top-10 finish, but halfway through 1 thought I had a chance at a top-three until I crashed at Las Vegas on Labor day and broke my wrist. I totaled the bike and I really owe this number plate to Francis Bizzarro, who gave me the parts to build another bike. I raced with a brace on my wrist at Firebird last time. 1 guess we all (the top three finishers) had bad crashes this year." Although the top three in this season's series all had a tough time, none could compare to the misfortune that struck AJ. Amman, who was looking for a number-one plate as the season drew to a close. Amman entered 16 classes Saturday and Sunday armed with his freshly prepped 8f\d painted 1996 GSXR750 and a KTM Duke. Amman crashed on the hot pit road while going out for the first practice session Saturday in a freak HIW srrw AM: 1. Jacques Lagourgue (Duc); 2. Mark Lessac (Hoo); 3. Travjs Short (Due); 4. Scott"Fisher (Han); S. Jason Schultz (Han). UW SfIW EX, 1. Ed Abdo (Hoo); 2 . WUam Munn (Suz); 3. A.J. Ammon (Due); 4. David Hull (Due). L/W srrw AM: 1. Mark Lessac (Han): 2. Keith Miller (Han); 3. Scott jellsen (Kaw); 4. Scott Fisher (Hon); 5. Edward Coons (K

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