Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

EVENTS EDfTEDBY CAMERON COATNEY bytheDcean (Left) Ryan Hughes (9) won both motos at the Commotion by the.Ocean at· Carlsbad Raceway. (Below) Mike Craig kept Hughes honest and ended up finishing second. By Scott Hoffman 42 CARLSBAD, CA,jULY7-8 t wasn't just another day a't the beach for factory Kawasaki's Ryan Hughes. Hughes was on fire as he grabbed his share of the cash after wining both Pro motos at the 10th running of the Honda of Troy-sponsored Commotion l;>y the Ocean MX at Carlsbad Raceway. In what started out as a battle between Honda of Troy's Mike Craig the defending Commotion Champion and Hughes ended up a runaway for Hughes. Craig, -riding a 125, put on a charge ifI both motos but couldn't take Hughes on his 250. Another surprise was .factory KTM rider Lance Smail, who, on his thumper, came from back in the pack in both motos to take third overall ahead of Yamaha rider Doug Dubach. When the gate dropped for the first 2Q-rninute plus two-lap Pro moto, it was Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Craig Decker with the best reaction time followed by Steve Drew on hi~ KTM 620 and Hughes. Hughes wasted little time making his way to the front. Before the end of the first lap, Hughes had already pulled a five-second lead on the field. Craig and Michael Brandes, both on 125s, had their work cut out for them from the drop of the gate. Before the end of the first lap, though, Craig was on the gas, as he worked his way to second and then set his sights on Hughes. Brandes and Decker had a brief battle early in the moto. The two riders made the pass on Drew to take -third and fourth. Decker started to gather his composure after being worked on during the opening lap until the fierce Carlsbad track bit him. "I swapped positions with Brandes a few times and started to ride better until it got a rear flat," Decker said. Brandes moved into third, but by this time, Hughes and Craig were already way out front. Back in the field it was a battle for positions. Kawasaki's Damon Huffman, Drew, Dubach, David Pingree and Smail were all over each other. Huffman held fourth for most of the race until a cllarging field caught up with him. Dubach and Smail started their charge through the field with Dubach taking charge of the trio. Dubach made his way past Pingree and Drew, and' with a few laps to go, he also got by Huffman. Dubach tried to reel in Brandes bot time ran out and he finished fourth. Smail had a slow start but mounted a late-race charge to the front on his 620 KTM. Smail was the next rider to knock Huffman, Pingree and Drew each back another spot. Smail would finish the moto in fifth. Up front, Craig was on the move and slowly gaining on Hughes. "1 pulled into 'the lead early on and started to get arm pump," Hughes said. "Luckily, I had a decent lead because Craig waS riding great." With only two laps to go, Craig was in position to make a move. Hughes did his best to counter and squeeze off a couple of good laps to keep Craig at bay. Crilig looked like he had a chance at the pass, but a few little mistakes allowed Hughes stay out front. At the finish it was Hughes, Craig and Dubach, in that order. In moto two, Jimmy Lewis grabbed the holeshot on his KX500 with Hughes and Craig quickly taking over. Lewis dropped back as the' race for the lead heated up. Hughes basica)ly started off the second moto as he finished the first, out front. Craig quickly established a blistering pace with Hughes in his sights. Craig had a chance at Hughes until he came around 10 seconds back. "I was railing a berm in the back section when I went over the berm and down a 5-foot hole," Craig said. With Craig out of the hunt, Hughes just had to stay on his bike to take the win. Craig regained his composure, but HL1ghes was too far out front to close the gap. At this time, the race was for third and up for grabs involving Brandes, Dubach and Smail. Decker had third early in the moto but fell off the pace early on. Dubach made the pass on Brandes on the third lap to take third. Brandes stayed close before Smail decided to make his charge. '1 was floundering at the start of the race and finally decided to just pour it on," Smail said. '1 was lucky. The track was great for my four-stroke." Smail, all of a sudden, started to make a charge, Smail reeled in Brandes to take fourth, and then he set his sights on Dubach. Smail never let up and, with only a few laps to go,. took over third. Brandes would later lose one more position to Huffman. Smail and Dubach's battle carried them to the rear fender of Craig, but neither Smail or Dubach could engage. At the flag'it was Hughes with t'he doublemoto win followed by Craig and Smail. In the 40+ class, it was a blast from the past with motocross legend Marty Smith taking the double-moto win. KTM's Scott Harden took second-place honors With a pair of second-place finishes. Ron Rum finishes took third for the day. 1:N Carlsbad Raceway Carlsbad, California Resuhs: July 7-8,1997 OPEN PRO, 1. Ryan Hughes (Kaw); 2. M;chael Craig (Hon); 3. Lance SmaiJ (KTM); 4. Doug Dubach (Yam); S. M;chael Br.mdes (Yam). VET PRO, 1. Doug Dubach (Yam); 2. M;ke FlSheT (Kaw); 3. Willy Musgrave O1on); 4. EriJ< Kehoe (Hon); 5. Pele Mun-ay (Suz). 4-STRK PRO, 1. Lance Small (KTM); 2. Steve Drew (KTM); 3. Gary Jones (Suz); 4. Scott Harden (KTM); 5. Spud Walters (Hon). 40+ PRO: 1. Marty Smith (Yam); 2. Scot Harden (KTM); 3. Ron Rut, 4. Bob Rutten (Hon); 5. Rich Eierstedt (Yam). XRIDO PRO MOD: 1. Ray Groom (Kaw); 2. Ron Wood (Han); 3. Jimmy Lewis; 4. Chris Alamangos (Kaw); 5. ErikMattson O1on). Saturday 80 BEG: 1. Eric Rizzo (Kaw); 2. Kyle de Quilletts (Yam); 3. David Meyers (Hon); 4. Justin Herrmann (Kaw); 5. Sean McClure (Kaw). 80 JR: 1. Nick Tyree (Yam); 2. Richard Albach (Yam); 3. Jason Carlton (Suz). 125 BEG: 1. Cliff Jennings (Suz); 2. Kevin Jennings (Suz); 3. joshua Tupa (Hon); 4. Kevin Chimits (Hon); 5. Brooks Sitko (Suz). 125 JR: 1. Michael Sleeter (Yam); 2. jason Howard (Suz); 3. Scott Mumford (Kaw); 4. Nick Beaver (Kaw); 5. Carth Tarlow (Suz). 2SO BEG: 1. Steve Shirk (Hon); 2. Anthony Grierson (KTM); 3. M;ke Stewart (Hon); 4. Jason SeUert (Suz); 5. F...nk Dell (Kaw). 250 JR' 1. Jef! Hanzo (Suz); 2. Todd Raming (Yam); 3. Steve Yurkovic (Kaw); 4. Nick Beaver (Kaw); S. Danny Cunningham (Han). 500 BEC: 1. Brian 5.'lundcrs (Han); 2. Kirk Chandler (Hon); 3. Matt Carrett (Hon); 4. John Simms (Hon); 5. Ernie Veckert (Hon). 500 JR,.l. Nick Beaver (Kaw); 2. Steve Coster (Kaw); 3. Thomas Engelhardt (Yam); 4. ji.m Hart (Han); 5. Dan CampbeU·(Hon). 2S+ BEG: 1. Ryan Cumming (Hon); 2. Matt Morgan (Hon); 3. Nic Rositani (Suz); 4. Tom Bisset (Yam); 5. Robert Brewer (Suz). 25+ JR: 1. Axel Minch (Han); 2. Mark Blakley (Yam); 3. Creg Taylor (Yam); 4. F... nk Aragaki (Kaw); 5. Mark Oldfather (Yam). VET BEG: 1. Victor Walker (Han); 2. Doug Ra.hders Oion); 3. Brian Saunders; 4. Mark Fields (Yam); 5. Peter Bauer (Yam). . 30+ VET JR, 1. Steve ZwingeT (Kaw); 2. Jerry Jetton (Suz); 3. Roger Saenz (Kaw); 4. Kirk Bamett (Hon); 5. Rich Wa;te (Hon).! 35+ VET JR."'l. Curtis Tyree (Yam)] 2. Steve Fry (Hon); 3. M;ke Jansen (Kaw); 4. Don Pastell (Kaw); 5. Jerry SechleT (l(Jw). 40+ VET J.R: 1. Mark Christman (Suz); 2. John Caper. (Yam); 3. Allen McKay (Yam); 4. Mark Hall (Hon); 5. R.D. T.wnski (Hon). 50+ JR, 1. Bob Maynard (Kaw); 2. Cary Cogdill (Hon); 3. Phil Blackburn (Yam); 4. Chuck Woody (Yam); 5. Bruce Corncll (Kaw). WMN B"EG: 1. Bonnie Dasse (Yam); 2. Maryann Hobbs (Kaw); 3. Tiffany Holtman (Yam); 5. Pa.m Oemons (KTM). Sunday 80 INT, 1. R. Russell (Kaw). lOOXR STX: 1. Dan Alamangos (Hon);2. Cary MartiJti O1onJ; 3. Clenn Scott (Hon); 4. Jeff Seifert (Hon); 5. Scott Hootie Davis (Hon). 125 !NT: 1. Andy Anaya (Yam); 2. Frank Mecono (Kaw); 3. Josh Warner (Kaw); 4. Tim Olson (Yam); 5. Keny Terracciano O

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