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/127840
MOTOCROSS AAfMfAXlMA WESTERN FOUR· STROKE NAT10NAL IX SERIES , City SVRA Park , -- ~~-- The event ran in conjunction with the AMA Pro National Motocross round. Brian Roth powered his big Z-Racing Husaberg FC501 into the lead at the start of the first moto ahead of Kalos, Davis, Walters, Gordon Ward, Smail, Dircks and Healey. Roth's lead was short-lived, Kalos and Smail, who had put the move on just about everybody through the first couple of turns, both passed the Honda rider, settling into the first two places. While Kalos and Smail pulled away, Roth slowly slid down through the pack and ~ould eventually finish ninth. Davis found his niche in third, relegating White Brothers/Honda-mounted Walters to fourth and BBR rider Ward to fifth. By Don Schnieder Photos by Kinney Jones SACRAMENTO, CA, MAY 4 TM's Lance Smail took a giant step in the right direction toward defending his fourstroke crown by posting perfect 1-1 moto finishes at the Hangtown round of the AMA/Maxima Western Four-Stroke National MX Series. By winning both motos, Smail stretched out his series points lead over previousround winner Shaun Kalos to 14 points with five races still left in the series. Smail used a little bit of good luck in the first moto to get the job done. While running a distant second to Kalos in the first moto, Smail took full advantage of a Kalos crash to squeak into the lead and ride off with the moto win. Kalos regrouped in time to take second. In the second moto, it was again Kalos and Smail providing the action up front, with Smail passing Kalos la te in the race to take his second win of the day and the overall victory. Third overall went to Honda rider Spud Walters whose 4-3 tally bettered the 3-5 turned in by Kawasaki Team Green's Ty Davis. Honda-mounted Mike Healey went 5-4 for fifth overall. Ray Crumb, Brian Roth, Gary Dircks, Destry Abbott and Billy Binckley rounded out the top 10 overall. (Above, left to right) Spud Walters, winner Lance Smail and Shaun Kales made up the rostrum at the Hangtown round of the AMAlM811lma Western FourStroke Netlonal. (Above right) Kales (46) holeshots the first moto. He led for most of the race until he fell. (Right) Watters captured third overall with 4-3 moto flnlshea. (Far right) Ty Davis ended up fourth. At this point, Healey was on the move, passing Dircks for sixth and then Ward for fifth. Once past Ward, Healey found he had a lot of ground to cover in order to catch and, as it turned out, it would be too much. Meanwhile, up front, Kalos led the way and seemed in command, but always within striking distance was the defending champ, Smail. Well into the race, Kalos enjoyed a six-second lead over Smail and a further 12 seconds back came Davis, on his very trick-looking KLX Kawasaki. Hot on his tail chased Walters. Kalos was in control and looked to have the race in the bag then he suddenly went down in a turn. As I was leaning into the turn and U