Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Steven Smith was the overall winner at round 11 of the SETRA Enduro series, held at Loretta Lynn's Ranch In Tennessee. (Above) Suzuki-mounted Rick Ryan was unstoppable at round two of the CMClSunstar Golden State MX Nationals North at Riverfront Park In Marysville, california, winning the 125 and 250cc Pro classes as well as the Over 25 and 30 Pro classes. The terrain at Loretta Lynn's is very rocky, hilly and fast. The course consisted of a 45-mile loop that was run twice, plus two grass tracks. Riders traveled eight-tenths of a mile to the start of the first terrain test. The test was 6.2 miles long and fQSt, with' a very high fun factor. The only trouble to be had here was arm pump. There waszero warmup before the riders were told to go as fast as they could. Duane Conner on an SCR-backed Yamaha had fast time through the test with 945 seconds, followed closely by Smith with 954 seconds. Several miles of trail led to the first grass track. The pace of the trail was relatively easy at an average speed of 14 mph. The grass track was located at mile 12, on a series of rolling hills by the pit area, and was quite tricky. There were a lot of off-camber turns and very steep downhills where you could really pick up speed. Riders were let on the track in intervals of about five seconds. Gravitt had the fast time, blitzing the grass track in 173 seconds. "1 haa a pretty good day, although I've been having problems with tendini-· tis in my arm," Gravitt said. "It bothered me most of the day, then 1 fell and stalled my engine on one of the grass tracks. That cost me some time." Conner was close with 177 seconds, followed by Franklin Ramey with 178 seconds'. Senior A rider Robbie Neeley rode through in 180 seconds. AA rider Jeff Harris rode the track in 181 seconds. Mike Morris and Steven Smith both had 182. After the grass track, the faster riders had about 10 to 15 minutes of free time to gas up and rest. After the break, there were five' miles of trail before the second terrain test. The test was 5.8 miles long and consisted of fast, rocky trails. There were a few hills to climb a couple of tricky off-camber areas and several rocky creek bids. This time Smith, on his KX, posted the fast time, going through 'in 926 seconds, followed very closely by Gravitt with 929. Scott "Cheeseburger" Miller had the third-best time with a 937. Tim Shephard in the Vet A class posted a 944. Other notable times were Harris with 946, Jason Chancey with 948, Morris with 949 and Ramey with 951. The test ended with about a mile of trail to grass track number two. This track was located at 24.9 miles, in a flat pasture, and was considerably shorter. Smith and Conner tied with a time of 113, with Morris and Neeley a very close 'second at 114 each. Gravitt and Ramey cleared the track in 115. After the grass track, the riders went to check number three and into the final 14 miles of the first half. The speed aver€lge through the section was 13 mph, pretty easy to maintain. It included several miles of new trails and was fairly tight in spots with a lot of hills to climb and some treacherous downhills, but the low average had most everyone coming in with 10 minutes or so at the fourth check. After a gas stop, the race resumed at check number five on mile 40. Riders basically repeated the first half. This time through the trail was rougher, like a long series of braking bumps. Terrain test nlimber three started at 40.8 and went to mile 47. Conner had the fast time with 926 seconds, beating his previous time by 28 seconds. Smith had the next-best time with 965, then Chancey with 969, Ramey at 971 and Gravitt at 976. Grass track number three was at 52 miles. The track was quite different this time, with a lot of ruts and a few berms. Gravitt was fastest with ]71. Ramey was next at ]76, also besting his first run by two seconds. Smith posted 177. After a break, it was on to check number six at mile 53. After five miles of trail, rid.ers were greeted with the 5.8- mile final terrain test. 5.8 miles long. Conner posted the fast time through with a 926, followed by Vet A rider Tim Shephard at 941. Gravitt posted 946, Smith 953. Next was the final grass track test. The soil was soft and after 250 or so bikes there was a deep rut in every turn. Morris tied Smith here, posting 110, while Shephard was third with 111. Chancey earned 113, Gravitt 119 and Ramey 121. The remaining 14 miles of trail saw the speed bumped to ]7 mph. Many riders, not accustomed to the course length, saw fatigue set in and dropped route points. At day's end, Smith claimed the top spot with 4380 points. Gravitt was second with 4399 and Conner rounded out the top three with 4406. SETRA points leader Ramey finished out of the top 10. SETRA EnduroilSDE Qualifier Hurricane Mills, Tennessee Results: ~ebruary 9, 1997 AA: 1. Allen Gravitt (KiM); 2. Duane Conner (Vam); 3. Scott Miller (Hon). '250 k 1. Wade Perry (Kaw); 2. Brian Goble (Kaw); 3. Robert Roy jr. (Yam). 4-STRK A: 1, Harvey Whitaker (Kaw); 2. Rod . SR A: 1. Robert Neeley (Kaw); 2. Daryl Moody Thrley (Hon): 3. Don Bohn (J<1M). (Vam); 3. John Farar (KTM). MSTR A: 1. David Pierce (Yam); 2. Ron Miller (Yam): 3. john Gordon (Yam). OPEN A, 1. Mitch McRee (KTM); 2. Andy Barkley (Han); 3. Rich Bryan (KTM). 200 A: 1. Tommy Veator (Kaw); 2. Jim Parsons (Kaw); 3. William Miller (Kaw). VET A: 1. Tim Shephard (Yam); 2. Arty Spencer (KTM): 3. Damien O'Neill (Suz). S/SR k 1. jim FOJ:d (0.). GLDN MSTR 1. Wally Watlenbarger (Han). OPEN B: 1. Doug Sanders (KTM); 2. Lee AlJen (Cre): 3. james Embro (Han). 200 B, 1. Jimmy Bales (Kaw); 2. Curt Cook (Suz); 3. Mark Thompson (J(aw). VET B: 1. Dan Jackson (Suz); 2. Dale Stallings (Kaw); 3. Mike Moore (Suz). S/SR D, 1. Michael Thompson (KTM): 2. Rich Kimple (KTM): 3. Ron Pruitl (Kaw). 250 B, 1. Chad Coleman (KTM): 2. jeff Collins (Yam); 3. Kevin Clayton (Yam). 4--STRK B: 1. John Giles. (Hon); 2. John Hamilton (Suz); 3. Paul Gibbons (Suz). SR B: 1. George Noxon (KTM); 2. Rick Harder (KlM). . MSTR B: 1. Guy Anderson (Yam; 2. Mike Garrett (Han); 3. Fisher Campbell (Han). OPEN C: 1. Shannon Ham (KTM); 2. Mike Culler (Vam). 200 C: 1. Reggie Yarbrough (KTM); 2. Mike Thomas (Suz): 3. Suzy Fann (Kaw). VET C: 1. Tim Morgan (Han): 2. joe Ragon (Kaw): 3. Tom Fanner (KTM). S/SR C: 1. Mark Zachary (Hus); 2. Patrick Freiburger (Hon). 250 C: 1. Chad Hollis (Kaw); 2. Jim Breetz (Han); 3. Brett Bierly (Suz). 4-STRK C: 1. <;;erald Greshan (Han): 2. "Bob Ragon (Kaw): 3. Mark Fly (Han). SR C: 1. Galen Campbell (Kaw); 2. Danny Burkbal"'r (Hus). O/A: 1. Steven Smith (Kaw); 2. Allen Gravitt (KTM); 3. Duane Conner (Vam): 4. Scott Miller (Han): S. Jason Chancey (KTM). " CMC Golden State MX Nationals North, Round 2 Ryan rages through Riverfront By John Silva MARYSVTI..LE, CA, FEB. 9 hen the Feather River flooded . over its banks and filled Riverfront Park with 10 feet of water, it was an unstoppable force raging over the MX track. And several weeks later, when the water had receded, another unstoppable force raged over the track - Rick Ryan. Fox/GP Racing/FMF-sponsored Ryan aced eight grueling motos to become the top rider at round two of the 21st annual CMC Sunstar Sprockets Golden State Nationals Series. Ryan sailed his Suzukis to victory in the 125cc and 250cc Pro classes, as well as the Over 25 and Over 30 Pro races. JU'stin Tiearney, Tyler Evans, Scott· Myers, Jefferey Pestana and Ryan headed a IS-rider field of 125cc Pros as the first moto got under way. Tiearney battled with Pestana for two furious laps before Pestana stole the lead. Tiearney raced briefly in second before refiring on lap three. Meanwhile, Ryan moved past Myers and quickly reeled in Pestana. Ryan took the lead for good at midrace, leaving the rest to fight for second. Pestana laid claim to the runner-up W

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