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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127825
MOTOCROSS FLORIDA WINTER AMA SERIES (Above) Team Green's Paul Currie enjoyed the sandy track and won the 125cc Pro class. He won the second moto In the 250cc Pro class after an eartler DNF. (Left) Earl May (82) leads the Vet Pros Into the first turn at Florida's Sun State Raceway. May won the Vet Pro, Over 25 A and Over 30 A classes. By Mike and Anne Adair BRADENTON, FL,JAN. 1&-19 or the second week in a row, Paul Currie proved that he is an exceptional sand track rider by scoring the 12Scc Pro overall win at the Sun State Raceway stop of the 27th annual Florida Winter AMA Series. Currie~s HSK/Pro Circuit/Fox/Team Green Kawasaki also was prominent in the 2S0cc class, sharing moto wins with Tony Lorusso, the overall winner. "The sand here is even deeper than last week's race at Dade City," Currie said. "The whoops got deep and 1 had to be careful to not lose the front end in F (Right) Keith Johnson rode conslstentiy and finished second In both the 125cc and 250cc Pro classes. (Below) Aaron Lindsey (29) moves around a downed rider en route to his win In the Super Mini class. He finished second to Chad Johnson In the 85cc 14- to 15-year-old class. 250c.c Pat Barton passed Todd Gardner to. lead the first lap of 2S0cc Pro competition, with Lorusso and Johnson in tow. Johnson moved into the lead on lap two, and looked solid for the win until the final lap. Carsten finished in third. "1 had it made and a lapper messed me up," Johnson said. "He held me up for half a lap, and when I passed him, I had lost my rhytluri and crashed." Lorusso, who picked up the win after Johnson's crash, said, "1 couldn't believe it. Keith had it won, and ] came around a turn and he was lying in the any ruts." F&S Suzukj / UFO / Pro Circuitbacked Lorusso put together a 1-3 moto tally to win the 2S0cc Pro class. "1 feel tired now, but felt great on the track today," Lorusso said. "The best strategy was to concentrate on a good pace and conserve energy." Earl May won all six motos in the Vet Pro, Over 25 A and Over 30 A classes to take those respective wins, but not without a fight. "Pat Barton and Matthew Crown made me work hard in both Vet Pro motos," May said. Tills is the first time that the series has swung south to visit Bradenton's Sun State Raceway. The track is located between two orange groves and uses an exceptional irrigation system. "We are a fami! y-orien ted 'track," track co-owner Merle Davis said. "We try to provide safe racing, good food and hospitality." 125cc 28 Brandon Roberts grabbed the holeshot in the first 125cc Pro moto and led for one lap before Keith Johnson track." made the pass and ruled the rest of the moto. "1 really like this track," Johnson said. "1 was able to take the lead and set my own pace." Currie finished second to Johnson after having some early problems. "1 was closing on Johnson," Currie said. "But 1 crashed in the whoops and was never able to reel rum in again." Johnson gated first in moto two and led for five laps as Currie pursued. Cur- rie staye<;i close and made his pass stick to take the moto and overall win. "1 knew that 1 had to get this guy (Johnson)," Currie said. "1 got beside him several times, but he held the inside every time. I finally jumped by him into a corner and somehow held him on the inside." Johnson got second overalL followed by Lorusso. Barry Carsten and Brock Sellards rounded out the top five in the 125cc Pro class for the day. Currie, who suffered a DNF in moto one, took the early lead in moto two ahead of Johnson, Anthony Pocorobba, and Lorusso. Johnson caught Currie and challenged for the lead, but could not make the pass and fell back to fifth in the moto. He stj]\ earned second overall for the day in class. "Johnson dived in besid,e me and for a couple of laps we were really close," Currie said of their duel. "] finally gained an advantage and opened a lead for good." Pocorobba also passed Johnson and locked into the second spot by the finish. "My first moto was a disaster," Pocorobba said. "The bike had a major problem." Lorusso, in maintaining a third-place finish ahead of Johnson, assured himsell the overall win. "1 knew that] would be tired after