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/127823
SUPERCROSS. GFI $10,000 SX INVITATIONAL By Tony Alessi PERRIS, CA, JAN. 4 eam Honda's Steve Lamson proved that good guys don't always finish last as the two-time 12Scc National MX Champion scored the victory at the seventh running of the GFI $10,000 Supercross lnvitational at Perris Raceway. Lamson pocketed the lion's share of $10,000 that was up for grabs in the two pro races, and he also took home an additional $1,000 for being the rider leading the way after the halfway point of the race. GFI's new racing format for this race, which was implemented last year, was again the talk of the pits this year. Racers would race a single 14-lap race, but on lap seven all the racers would be stopped in the order that they were running for a five-minute bike inspection. The unique format served a dual purpose both by providing for a safer race situation for riders and by creating a closer race, since riders who started poorly would only be a few seconds behind the leaders on the restart instead of perhaps a few minutes. "The new format is good because it creates a closer race," former supercross champion Jeff Ward said. "The only thing that would make it better would be to increase the amount of laps during the .second half, say seven laps first then 14 on the restart." Ward ,was a spectator for today's racing. While Lamson was top dog in the 2S0cc division, it was Team Yamaha's Kevin Windham who was doing all the winning in the fully stacked 12Scc Pro division. Not only did the pros race this day, but so did nearly 700 amateur racers who also took part in the annual race. The amateurs raced the same singlemoto format - minus the stop-and-go that the pros did, with most races running an average of eight laps. When the 2S0cc Pro main event left the gate, it was a dead-even drag race involving the Kawasaki of Damon Huffman, the Yamaha of Doug Henry and the Honda of Lamson. As the riders weaved through a technical switchback section, it was Henry who emerged as the leader. When Henry reached the spectatorspotted hi Ilside, the Perris crowd came to life with a roar of cheers and screams. Lamson moved into the runner-up position and settled in right behind the . leader Henry, while Emig, Huffman, Suzuki's Mickael Pichon and Hondamounted Damon Bradshaw filled the top spots. Henry controlled the pace for the first four laps of the race, but a bobble dropped him from the top five. Lamson suddenly found himself in the lead with Emig a close second, while Huffman , was busy trying to shake Pithon, who was riding very strong in fourth. Bradshaw eventually retired with a bruised foot after running as high as seventh, while Kawasaki's Ryan Hughes and Yamaha's Ezra Lusk moved into the top seven. Lamson was first at the halfway point and was awarded the $1,000 bonus money, while Emig, Huffman, Pichon and Hughes rounded out the top five at the break. . Emig went to work on Lamson right from the drop of the flag on the restart. Emig dogged Lamson and showed him his front fender on numerous occasions, but Lamson held tough to his lines. ~t about the same time, Pichon slipped his Suzuki by Huffman for third and was hoping to join the Emig/Lamson duel that was going on just in front of him. With just a few laps left, it looked as though Emig would make his move on Lamson, but Ernig made a big mistake: (Right) In the 125cc Pro class, It was Team Yamaha's Kevin Windham doing ,the damage as he cruised to victory.