Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

lem midway through the lap, which forced him to pit while he was trading the lead with Edmondson. "I think th.e spokes just came loose (in the front wheel)," Summers said. "There were some real big jumps out there and maybe I just wadded something up or broke some, I don't know. I could feel it over a period of two laps and it was getting kind of squirrely. 1 deeded 1 better bring it back (to the pits) before I ate it:' The Team Honda rider re-entered the . fray after losing seven minutes on the leader, Edmondson. By lap seven of the eight-lap race, Plessinger had· found his way past Edmondson to the front of the pack, and Hawkins had quietly made his way to a secure third position, actually gaining ground on the battle for the lead. About a minute back, Hawkins would not get the chance to challenge for the top position. Over two minutes behind Hawkins was Andrews, who was feeling the effects of fatigue, and Dahners was in the fifth spot, though Summers was charging back toward the top five. All eyes were on Plessinger and Edmondson out front as they entered the final lap, with Plessinger 11 seconds ahead. By this time, word had reached the pits that Plessinger's KTM (which was performing so well) had inexplicably begun consuming large amounts of gas, and he would have to dedde whether or not to pit halfway through the final drcuit for fuel. Doing so would surely allow Edmondson by again and not doing so would jeopardize his ability to finish. His crew was set up and ready in the woods and he did stop, letting the Suzuki rider by in the process. "The fifth lap, it started running kind of funny and I stopped and looked down (in the tank) and there was only about two inches of gas," he said. "I put it on reserve and made it to get some gas, then went another lap and got some more gas." . . Letting Edmondson by was not a concern, even though there were only four miles to go to the finish. "I wanted to make sure that 1 had enough to finish, and 1knew that 1 could pass him because it just seemed like I was cruising all day long," Plessinger said. Plessinger's prediction came true, with the pass to ice the win coming less than two miles from the finish at a difficult creek crossing. "We came to the mudhole on the last lap and tried to jump it," Edmondson said. "I ended up hitting a tree and getting stuck. [ had to get off and lift the bike over some tree roots." Though unable to take the win, Eddy was very happy with his finish and his overall chances in the G CC series. "I feel good, you know," Edmondson said. ''I'm real happy because they're all very established as far as GNCC. 1 feel that now r can hold a good race with them and put up a challenge:' In third, one minute and 18 seconds behind the leaders, came Hawkins, who came back strong after recovering from arm pump. "Arm pump has always been a probLem during my whoLe career, even in enduros," Hawkins said. "The guys used to not be so fast and now everybody is just fast, right out of the gate. It used to be that r could kind of lag around (the first part of the race) and r could catch back up, but you can't do that now because these guys are so fast." The finish for the fourth spot was easily as spectacular as the Hatch/Summers photo finish at the previous round. It again involved Summers, but this time it (Above) National Enduro champ Randy Hawkins charged to a third-place finish. (Above right) Former GNCC champ Fred Andrews returned to action following a beck injury. He rode well, taking fourth overall. was Andrews who barely edged the XR rider for the position. Summers didn't realize for much of the last lap that it was Andrews that he was battling with. "I didn't know who that was, I thought Andrews was in front of that guy, whoever it was," Summers said. "I guess I didn't recognize his gear. 1caught up with him about a mile back and I hIt his tire and ended up going over into the bushes. Then 1 caught back up and he must've known it was the last lap. because he picked it up. At the end, he just had the inside and 1 had the outside." Andrews was happy with·fourth but realized that he has work ahead to get back to the winning pace. ''I've got a long way to go," Andrews admitted. "I thought 1was in pretty good shape, but I've got a long way to go." Dahners claimed sixth after being passed by Summers on the morocross track going into the final lap. Robbie Jenks. a 250cc A-class rider, put in an inspired ride to come from the second row to seventh overall, besting 13 Pro riders in the process. Frank Keegan rode to eighth, and last year's Four-Stroke A Champion Barry Hawk took ninth overall and second 250cc A Another 250cc A rider, Scott Phelps, rounded out the top 10 on his Kawasaki. fN Brownsville GNCC Brownsville, Pennsylvania Results: May ", 1997 (Round 6 of 13) O/A, 1. Scott Plessinger (KTM); 2. Paul Edmondson (Suz); 3. Randy Hawkins (Yam); 4. Fred Andrews (Yam); 5. Scott Summacs (Han); 6. Jason Dahners (KTM); 7.. Robbie Jenks (Yam); 8. Frank Keegan (Yam); 9. Barry Hawk (Suz); 10. Scott Phelps (Kaw); 11. Ross Benson (Suz); 12. Curtis Bardonner (Yam); 13. Tim Shephard (Yam); 14. Bla;" Bersano (KTM); 15. Todd Morain (Yam); 16. Teff Murgel (Yam); 17. Ronnie Bnrnfield (Suz); 18. Keith Rodgers (Kaw); ]9. Mike Grizzle (KTM); 20. John Shaffer (Suz). AMA GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 6 of 13 round.), 1. Scott Summers (108);'2. Steve Hatch (94); 3. Scott Plessinger (89); 4. Jason Dahners (75); 5. Paul Edmondson (74); 6. Randy Hawkins (58); 7. Rodney Smith (51); 8. Jim Jarrett (47); 9. Doug Blackwell (45); 10. Brian Keegan (41); U. Thomas Carson (36~ 12. (TIE) Fred Andrews/Robbie Jenks (34); 14. Ty Davis (33); 1S. Scott Phelps (29); 16. (TIE) F,ank Keegan/Gene Onail (28); 18. Todd Morain (27); 19. (TIE) Tim Shephard/Chris Smith (26). (Above) Defending champ Scott Summers was slowed by mechanical problems but still came In fifth. (Below) Jason Dahners followed Summers across the finish line In sixth.

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