Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Team Suzuki of Japan's Kyle Lewis won both the 125 and 250Cc classes on bo1h nights at the CMC West Coast Arenacross Challenge In Sacramento, California. (Right) Racing action gets under way In the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California, during the CMC West Coast Arenacros Challenge. blocked the track, slowing all who were trapped behind him. Meanwhile, out front, Lewis was putting a pass on Ma,tson to take the lead as Holland raced a couple of seconds back in third. As the race progressed, Lewis pulled away with Matson circling in second. Holland suddenly found himself busy defending third from Wheeler as Crumb also closed in, tightening up the race from fifth place. As Holland and Wheeler battled bar to bar in several turns during the following laps, Holland held firm. At the finish of 15 laps, it was Lewis first, followed by Matson, Holland, Wheeler and Crumb. In the 250cc division, Davis may have had the toughest route to the main, making it only after an epic battle with Evans in semi two, during which he swapped the lead with Evans several times before finally taking the win. In the 250cc main, Matson holeshot once again, shadowed by Lewis. Holland, Wheeler, Crumb, Hagseth, Evans and Jake Windham raced dose behind. Matson and Lewis traded glances as they flew side by side over the finishline triple, then tradad paint as Lewis made a challenge around the next turn, but Matson held his ground. Trailing by only seconds were Holland, Wheeler and Crumb. Further back, Hagseth, Jeff Fredette (13) was the big money winner in Ice racing action at Lambs Farm in Libertyville, illinois. Windham, Davis and Shaun Wooten continued to battle after Evans retired following a spill. Matson was the next to sample soil, going down in a crumpled heap. Lewis roosted away as Matson was slow to get to his feet. Matson was shaken up in the fall and called it a night. Holland suddenly was all alone in second, while a distance back Wheeler and Crumb diced for third, followed by Hagseth, Windham and Davis. Windham and Davis tangled, sending both riders down. Davis was quick to restart and get. back up to speed, but Windham, nursing an injured shoulder, couldn't resume the pace and eventually called it quits. Next to fall was Wheeler, who threw it away on a jump, allowing Crumb and Davis to slip by. At this point, Lewis was building his lead over second-place Holland, with Crumb a solid third as these leaders all continued to put distance between themselves and the pack. On the closing laps, Wheeler reeled in and repassed Davis, while Lewis roosted on to take the checkered flag by 10 seconds over Holland and Crumb. SATURDAY A number of visiting Japanese racers attempted to make the main Saturday, including 125cc hopefuls Hiro Suzuki and Hisashi Satch and 250cc rider Ryu Yamada. Only Yamada was able to make the main via the LCQ. Holland holeshot the 125cc main, with Evans, Lewis, Crumb and Davis second through fifth. Evans fell victim to an advancing Lewis before crashing in a hairpin turn, causing a big pileup that claimed Wheeler, David Evilsizer and Malan, while Crumb, Davis and Hagseth were among the racers getting through the mishap unscathed. Evans ended up at the bottom of th.e dog pile and was unable to continue, but Davis capitalized on the mayhem to overtake Crumb and capture third place. Lewis dosed in on Holland and nearly landed on top of the leader after flying off the triple-jump. Holland gave way to the charging Lewis through the next turn in a move best described as capitulation. Once out front, Lewis was unchallenged by Holland, who held position several seconds back. The order remained steady as the race wound down, and at the fini h it was Lewis by _ seven seconds over Holland. Lewis immediately assumed the lead as the 250cc main got under way, with Windham, Crumb, Davis and Hagseth in tow. Windham lost second to Crumb after getting out of shape exiting the rockers, but the momentum allowed the lead trio to put distance on the pack. Meanwhile, Holland's chance for the win came to a crashing end when he endoed hard under the press box. Holland remounted and continued at a subdued pace to eventually finish seventh. The following laps saw Davis and Windham dice for third in yet another frantic battle. Davis closed to Windham's fender, but bobbled, allowing Windham to squirt away and a waiting Hagseth to get by. Davis regrouped quickly but still lost another posi tion to a rapidly advancing Wheeler, who steamrol1ed on past Hagseth as well. Davis, seeing an opportunity, also set up .Hagseth and blew by him with a well-timed move. In the closing moments of the race, Wheeler continued to advance on Windham, who offered Uttle resistance when Wheeler challenged for third. Wheeler roosted past as Windham moved in to fourth place behind him. This passivity was noticed by Davis, who appeared to catch a second wind while trying to reel in Windham. The checkered flag appeared for Lewis, who crossed the line first to fake the win, followed by Crumb and Wheel- er, but all eyes were on Davis, who had erased all of Windham's slim lead and was now threatening to pass. As the racers entered the final turn, Windham and Davis were literally bar to bar, and neither gave an inch as they sailed over the finish-line jump. In a true photo finish, officials declared Davis fourth by inches over Windham. Arco Arena Sacramento, California Results: February 28-March 1, 1997 Friday 125 PRO: 1. Kyle Lewis (Suz); 2. Dean Matson (Suz); 3. Rusty Holland (!(aw); 4. Chris Wheeler (Suz); 5. Ray Crumb (Kaw); 6. B.ad Hagseth (Yam); 7. Terrance Malan (Suz); 8. Scott Davis (Kaw); 9. Tyler Evans (Suz); 10. Justin Quinn (Yam). 250 PRO: 1. Kyle Lewis (Suz); 2. Rusty Holland (Kaw); 3. Ray Crumb (Kaw); 4. Chris Wheeler (Suz); 5. Scott Davis (Kaw); 6. Brad Hagseth (Yam); 7. MarJe: Easley (Yam); 8. Jon Ortner (Hon): 9. Shaun Wooten (Suz); 10. Jake Windham (Suz). PIW: 1. Kyle Parino; 2. Aaron Makinen; 3.,&au Wiegand: 4. J.D. Moore: 5. Stenson Womack. Saturday 125 PRO: 1. Kyle Lewis (Suz); 2. Rusty Holland (Kaw); 3. Scott Davis (Kaw); 4. Ray Crumb (Kaw); S. Brad Hagseth (Yam); 7. Carter Gurnee (Yam); 8. Chris Wheeler (Suz); 9. David Evilsizer (Suz); 10. Danny Paladino (Yam). 250 PRO: 1. Kyle Lewis (Suz); 2. Ray Crumb (Kaw); 3. Chris Wheeler (Suz); 4. Scott Davis (Kaw); 5. Jake Windham (Suz); 6. Brad Hagseth (Yam): 7. Rusty Holland (Knw); 8, Mark Easley '(Yam); 9, Pat Foster (Suz); 10. Ryu Yamada (Suz). PIW: 1. Kyle Pacino: 2. Anron Makinen; 3. Matthew Spencer; 4, J.D. Moore; 5, Stenson Womack.JUMP CONTEST: 1. Jake Windham (Suz). Fredette slaughters Lambs Ice TT By Charlie Blackshirt Photos by Mark Hickey LIBERTYVILLE, rL, FEB. 8-9 Motorcycle has returned to Lambs Farm, with Jeff Fredette winning the majority of the $4000 purse provided by Bedding Expert. lambs was the site of the AMA Amateur National in 1983 and 1985. The last Midwest Championship Ice Race was held at Lambs in 1984. George Mack of Race Face Promotions Inc., put the show together and over 3,700 fans showed up for this winter event. The $4000 purse attracted some of the fastest motorcycle ice racers in the USA. Roy Nafzger led the charge in Saturday's 250cc Pro TT race. Rob McGee was the early runner-up, but Fredette began to make his move on the second lap. Fredette took the lead out of the fourth tum on his Fredette Racing Kawasaki. McGee powered by Nafzger on the third lap to take second. Mark Gruber of Zion, Illinois, took fourth. The battle in the Open IT closs was for third between Tim Farrell on his Illinois HarleyDavidson Husky and Michigan'S Mike Babka on his four-stroke Honda. Fredette went on to pick up his second win. Babka moved up to battle with Roy Nafzger, but had to settle for third. The sun came out for the Midwest Championship Ice Race on Sunday, With the tempera· ture in the low 30s and a new track surface, it was a perfect day for ice racing, Craig Pickett grabbed the 2SOcc Pro lead at the start. Fr:edette moved from a second-row start around Todd Blom. At the halfway point,

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