Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

MOTOCROSS HilA WORLD IIIHI GRAND PRIX rank high among the many former World Mini champions, riders such as Damon Huffman, Robbie Reynard, Kevin Windham and Ricky Carmichael who have all gone on to successful professional motocross careers. Ironically, Buckelew's most impressive race of the week was the only moto that he didn't win, the 80cc (14-16) Stock-class runoff, an event that combined the top 15 riders from division one and division two for a final race. Riders would carry their points into the final, and the overall class finish would be based on the total score from both the runoff and the qualifying race. Buckelew's bad start was only the beginning of his problems, as he was involved in a six-rider pileup just two turns later. "All I know is I came through this turn, and when 1 looked up there was this Yamaha going straight in front of me without a rider on it," Buckelew said. Buckelew hit the deck then remounted in 30th position and began what may have been one of the sweetest comefrom-behind rides in the history of the World Mini. His mission was clear: He had to pick himself up, dust himself off and pass 30 of the nation's fastest minicycle racers in just five laps. Buckelew put his head down and went to work, passing an average of six riders per lap, many of them in the rocker section. "1 was doing a triple, triple, double through the rockers when most of the riders were just doing two/two or By Tony Alessi LAS VEGAS, NV, APR. 3-6 uture motocross stars converged on Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the 26th annual running of the MA World Mini Grand Prix, and when all was said and done, Justin Buckelew sat alone atop the throne as the Icing of the minicycle riders. Buckelew scored three overall championships when he joined over 1300 other entrants who arrived from 49 different states and four different countries. The racers were greeted by an alJnew track, which was built by former mini champion Kurt Henricksen, at the new speedway. The new course, which was built in a quarry, was mostly sand, eliminating the problem of broken wheels, an issue in previous years. Most of the racers found the new venue a welcome change. Bucklelew's wins in the 80cc (14-16) Stock and Modified divisions and the always-exciting Supermini class could (Above) King of the hili: Justin Buckelew was the top dog st the NMA World Mini Grand Prix, sweeping the 80cc (1416) sge ranks ss wall as topping the Supsrmlnl division. (Right) Buckelew (58) bettles with Chsse Reed (155). Reed went on to top the aOee (1213) age division. rolling them," Buckelew said. "That's where I passed a lot of riders." In the end, Buckelew charged all the way to second, just a few feet behind winner Chris Gosselaar. "'I remempered on the last lap that Gosselaar told me on the line before the race that he messed up in his first moto," Buckelew said. "That's when 1 knew I had the overall win." Buckelew did indeed end up with the overall win, posting 1-2 moto finishes over Gosselaar's 5-1, Michael Young's IS, Johnny Marley's 2-8 and Brandon Hightower (3-9). Perhaps the only disappointment was the fact that the runoff marked the first moto at a National event that Buckelew has not won since the Branson motocross championships held last October. Buckelew rebounded with a sweep of all motos in both the SOcc Modified and . Supermini divisions on his Dean Dickinson-tuned mini works bikes. In those races, Buckelew's competition either parted company with their machines, crashed in to one another, or broke: Buckelew breezed to the titles via runaway performances. The question remains as to whether he will be as competent on 125cci machinery, but his lap times during' many of his minicycle races would have placed him inside the top 12 in the 125cc, Pro class. "I will be riding the 125 after Loretta~ Lynn's in August," Buckelew said:! "Right now we are concentrating on fin~. ishing off with 80s, and then we will take it slow on the 125s and work up."

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