Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Ab ove) Jeff Gibson, who just moved t o the A ran ks , wo n t hree out of four main ev ents at the final two rounds of the AMA Vict ory Sports Indoor Winter. Motocross Series. (Left) Doug Blackwell outdueled Scott Summers (not shown ) to w in round eight of the AMA Mid-South Winte r Hare Scrambles Series he ld in Van Lee r, Tennessee. AMA Victory Sports IndoorW Motocross inter Series,Rounds 13 &14 Gibson shines at finale By Barbara Williams Photos by Loren Williams MORRISTOWN, TN,FEB.13-14 eam Green's Jeff Gibson won three out of four Pro main events at Morris tow n 's Walte r s Sta te A r e n a, w hich pl a y ed h ost to the fin al t w o T rounds of the AMA Victory Sports Ind oor Winter Motocros s Series. In on ly his th ird and fourth races since makin g t he ju m p to t h e A classes, Gibso n owned th e 125 a n d 250cc A classes on Fri day, plus the 250cc A main on Saturday, and finished second in Saturday's 125cc A ma in event. Fellow Buckeye Tommy Collier was the s poiler o f Gi bson 's in ten d ed sweep, grabbing the 125cc A wi n on Saturd ay. Collier also wo n the intermission ju mp contest with a perfect nac-nac, Rid ers fro m thro ughou t the So u thea s t, as well as Ohi o a n d Mic higa n , enjoyed 'their last opportunity for almost a yea r to race in the Walters State Are na on the Larry Harrison-prepa red track. Harrison ha s ch a ng ed th e layou t for eve ry Mo rristow n weekend - to the riders' approval each time . However, Gi bson d idn't know the difference, since this was his first visit to Wa lters State Arena . "He tore a ligament in his thumb," explai ned Gibson's father, Dan. "A fter su rgery for th at , h e was out for th ree w hole mo nths. Frid ay was only his third race back." In Saturday's 125cc A main (the only main Gibson d idn't w in), Tommy Col - lier bla sted his F&S-bac ked RM125 off the line ne ck a nd neck with Gibson , qualifier ru nn er-u p Marcus Hedrick an d Todd Ben nick. Coll ier muscled his way to the fron t c oming throu gh turn one with just a w heel on Gibson. The crowd cheered the side-by-side racing bet ween the lead pairs as Gibso n pressured Colli er and Bennick aggressive ly cha llenged Hedrick. As th e 14 la p s clicked off, Gi bson op ted to go for a sa fe bridesmaid finish ra ther tha n hang it all out in a dive for th e. win a nd risk new inj u ry. Co llier , streaked to a well-deserved win , covered by Gibson . The in tensity of th e Bennick / Hed rick battl e wa s reminiscent of an earlier round of the Indoor Series in which Bennick tripled in traffic an d lan ded atop Hedrick, w ho had doubled . Th is tim e , it was Be nnic k w ho wa s forced to retire with a seized motor . Bennick's su dden s top left the door wi de open for William Wilson, mounted for the first time on br an d-new Yama has from Al Lane. Kingsport Suzuki's Brian Ra ymo nd a lso s a w h is cha nc e to advance, an d st epped in lin e direc tly behind Wilson for a sho t at thi rd . Wilson ducked u nder Hedrick in a corn er to o lat e in th e ra ce for H e dr ic k to answer, secu ring the fina l podium sp ot ' for himself. Before Tha n ksg iving last ye ar, Gibso n's dad was talking about h o ld ing him in B-class competit ion for another year, since he wa s just 14 then. No w that it' s February, after Gibson's recuperation and some long, hard thinking, the d eci s io n to advance to th e A ra n ks almost made itself. Gibson bested everyone in 125 and 250cc B every week last year with lap times as good as the top five finis hers in the A classes at the same major races. "He's go t a little bit of me n tal ma tu rity to gai n a t 15," said his fat he r, Da n, "bu t that wo n't take too long, we feel. He has the speed , so w hy not go p la y with the big d ogs now?" 0 Walters State Aren a Morristown, Ten nessee Results: February 13-14 (Rou nds 13 & 14) Fri day 50 (4-6): 1. Bradley Bu nch (Cob); 2. Tr ey Ma t th ew s (Cob) ; 3. Josh Sco tt (KTM) ; 4. j oseph Blair (Ya m); 5. Co urt land Hod ge (KTM). 50 (7-8): 1. Brandon Larg e (Cob ); 2. Zac h Os borne (KTM); 3, Mason Ca ldwell (KTM ); 4. D.). Ellis (Cob ); 5. Ben Denton (Act ). . 65 (7-9 >: 1. C hase Beck (Kaw ): 2. Za ch O s borne (Kaw ): 3. Ju s tin As hb u rn (Kaw); 4. Bra nd o n La rge (Cob); 5. Matth ew Mashburn (Ka w). 6S (10-11): 1. jerry Mashburn (K.1w ); 2. Taylor Reilly (Kaw): 3. Kyle Cla rk (Kaw). 80 D BEG : 1. Jaso n Bolin s k y (Ya m ); 2. Lo ri Zim me rma n (Kaw): 3 . Ke vin w ilson (Ya m); 4. Jim my Poole (H e n) : 5. Ju stin Whi te (Kaw). JR MINI: 1. Cha se Whitten (K.1W); 2. Chase Bec k (Ka w ): 3. Dustin Sm ith (Kaw ): 4. Curtis Dye r (Suz) ; 5. Justi n Ash burn (Kaw ). 85 (12.13): 1. Gav in C racy k (Kaw ): 2. Jarred Burrell (5uz); 3. Jason Tucker (Ka w) : 4. Jeffr ey Field s (Yam); 5. Do ug las Thomason (Ka w). 85 (14· 1S): 1. Bradley Robert son (Ya m); 2. Justi n Jon es (Ya m). S/ M INI: 1. Ga vin Gr a c yk (Kaw ): 2 . Br a dley Robertson (Yam); 3. Dou glas Thomason (Kaw): 4. Ja rred Burrell (Suz) ; 5. Jason Tu cker (Ka w). 125 A: 1. Jeff Gibso n (Kaw ): 2. Todd Bennic k (Suz); 3. Mar cu s Hedrick ISuz ): 4. Willi a m Wilso n (Ya m): 5. Scott Smith (Ka w ). 125 B: 1. Dan ie l Tes h (Suz): 2. J.T. Smith (He n): 3. C hris Shaw (Yarn): 4. Ke ith G ra ha m (Su z ); 5. Jake Buckner (Suz). 125 C: 1. Micha el M a haffe y (Ka w ): 2. William Lackey (Hen) : 3. Joh n Gu ke r (KTM); 4. T.J. Fairbanks (Suz ): 5. Clint Harbison (Ka w ). 125 D: 1. Chris Alley (Ka w ): 2. Josh King (Ya m); 3. Steve n Whit e (Yam). 250 A: 1. Jeff G ibso n (Ka w) : 2. Mar cu s Hedrick (Suz) ; 3. Brian Raymond (Suz ): 4. Tod d Bennick (Kaw), 5. William Wilson (Yam). 250 B: 1. Daniel Tes h (5uz ); 2. Sha ne Jenkins (Suz): 3. Brand on Belcher (Ho n). 2SO C: 1. Da llas Nonna n (Ka w); 2. William Lackey (He n): 3. ja son Rowe (Suz ): 4. Jeff Durham (Ya m); 5. Clint Harbison (Kaw ). 250 0 : 1. Michael Stro u pe If-lon): 2. Mark Daniel (Yam); 3. Kyle Mulli ns (Kaw ). 25+: 1. Shane Jen kins- (Su z) : 2. Stacy Dickerson (Yam); 3. Rock Sisson (Suz ): 4. Jon Waggner (Kaw ). 30+: 1. Jeff Elkin s (Ka w ): 2. Ricky Alley (Kaw ); 3. Sco tt G r ubb (Ka w) ; 4. Rock Sisson (Su z) ; 5 . Da n ny McCoin (Ya m). U/L AM: 1. Da niel Tesh (Suz) : 2. Sha ne Je nk ins . (5uz ); 3. J.R Smith (Hon): 4. Chris Sha w (Ya m); 5. Keith Gra ham (Su z) . U/l C·D: 1. Michael Mahaffey (Ka w) : 2. Fredd ie Brown (Yam ); 3. Iarrod Da vis (H o n): 4. John C u ke r (KTM); 5. T.J. Fa irba nks (Suz). Sa tur day 50 (4 ~6) : 1, Brad le y"Bu nch (Cob); 2. Josh Sco tt (KTM ); 3.•Trey Matth ews (Cob); 4. Joseph Blair (Ya m); 5. Stephe n Mann ers (KTM ). SO (7·8 ): 1. Z ach Os bo rne (Cob) ; 2. Bra ndon Large (Co b); 3. Mason Ca ldwell (KT M ); 4. Ben Dent on (Ad); 5. Cody Co pe land IKTM ). 65 (7·9): 1. Zach Os borne (Kaw): 2. Justin Ashb urn (Kaw ): 3. Brand on Large (Co b); 4. Mason Ca ldwell (Kaw): 5. [arcd Sca lf (Kaw). 65 (t0~11) : 1. Kyle Cla rk (K.1W ); 2. Jer ry Mashbu rn (Ka w); 3. Dustin Folk (Kaw) . 80 D BEG: 1. Jason Boli nsk y (Yarn ): 2. Ma tth ew Brin kley (Yam); 3. Kevin Wilson (Ya m); 4. Case y Rice (Yam); 5. Lori Zimmerm a n (Ka w). JIt M IN I: 1. Chase Whitte n (Ka w ): 2. Ricky Ho pkins (Yam ); 3. Dusti n Smit h (Kaw): 4. Curtis Dyer (Suz): 5. Matt hew Brin kley (Yam) . 85 (12·13): 1. Gavin G racyk (Kaw): 2. Jarred BuTTt'1I (SU7.); 3. Je ffre y Field s (Ya m ); 4. Dougla s Th omason (Kaw): 5. J.150 n Tu cker (K aw). 85 (I4 ~15 ); 1. Ju stin Jon es (Ya m) ; 2. Brad le y Robert son (Yam ); 3. Casey Rice (Yam ); 4. King Smith (Suz) . S/M IN I: 1. Br adl ey Robert son (Ya m ); 2. Jaso n Tucker (K.1W); 3. Zach ary Miller (Suz); 4. jarred Burrell (Su z): 5. King Smi th (Suz). 125 A: I. Tummy Col lier (SU7.); 2. Jeff Gibson (Kaw ): 3. Will ia m Wi lso n (Ya m ); 4 . Ma rcu s Hed rick (Slllo); 5. Bria n Raymond (Su z) . . 125 B: 1. Daniel Tes h (SU7. ; 2. Tonv C raham (Yarn): ) 3. C hris Shaw (Yarn): '4. J.T. Smith (Hen): 5. An tbo uv Na sh (Yam) . • 125 C: 1. M ich ae l M aha ffe y (Kaw): 2. Don nie Ada ms (Kaw) : 3. And y Gra y (Yam); 4. David Thac ker (He n): 5. Fred die Brown (Yam) . 125 D: I. Da....id Rogers (Su lo 2. Chris Alley (Kaw ); ); 3. T ra vis Bryso n (Yam ): 4. Du s ti n Messe r (Su z ): 5. Jeremy Bracke tt (Suz) . 250 A: 1. Jeff Gibso n ( K.1W); 2. Tommy Collie r (SU7); 3. Mar cu s Hed rick (Su z): 4. Todd Ben nick (Suz); 5. Bria n Raym ond (Suz) . 250 B: 1. Jo hn Kirby (Ka w ): 2. Daniel Tes h (Suz). 250 C: 1. Bo bby Sa nders (Su z) : 2. Te d Osb o rne (Suz); 3. William Leckey (Ho n): 4. J.1S0 1\ Rowe (Suz): 5. Da vid Bridges (Su z). 250 D : 1. Micha e l St roupe IHo n ): 2. Ma rk Da niel (Yam); 3. Chuck Freels (Yam). 25+ : 1. Mik e Pad gett (Yam) ; 2. Sta cy Dick erson (Yam ); 3. Bobby Sanders (Suz): 4. David Eller (Kaw): 5. Cary Hink le (Ya m). 30+: 1. [eff Elkins (Kaw): 2. Daniel Tra vis Bell (Suz): 3. Ricky Alley (Ka w ): 4. Dann y McCoin (Ya m); 5. Le ia a Cedi (Suz). UIL AM : 1. Dan iel Tesh (Suz ): 2. Joh n Kirby (Ka w): 3. J.T. Sm ith (Hon): 4. Ton y C mham (Yam); 5. Ant hony Nash (Ya m ). Ufl C ~D : 1. Do nn ie Ad a ms (Kaw ): 2. Mi cha el Maha ffey (Kaw) : 3. Freddie Brown (Ya m ); 4. Do nn ie Alliso n (Yam ); 5. Ted Osborne Jr . (Suz ). AMA Mid-SouthW interHare Scrambles Series, Round 8 Blackwell holds on By Paul Michels VANLEER, TN, FEB. 15 port Cy cle Racing Yam aha 's Doug Bla ck w ell ret urned to ac tio n in rou n d eig h t o f th e AMA Mo ose ' Off- Roa d /Pirelli Mid-South Wi n te r Hare Scram b les Series and ou td uele d multi-tim e off-road National Champion Scott Sum me rs to take th e overa ll w in on a coo l, s u n ny day in ce n tra l Ten nessee. The ea rly-morning fros t soon melted away as the su n heated things up and racer s fro m as far away as N ew York ca me so u th to sha rpen th eir skills in preparation for Daytona Bike Week and racing in Florida. Mike Sa m pson , a board h is Grea t Da v e s -s p ons o red T M, garnere d the holeshot as th e Pro class sho t in to th e first creek crossi ng . Blackwell took over soon after and tried to get away, but fell and handed the lead to Summers. SRCbacked Summers XR600 came throu gh th e scoring ten t firs t a t th e end of the openi ng -la p on th e 7-mi le, Paul Allen a nd Com p any-p repared co u rse. (Th e track was laid out on Allen's and a couple of his neighbors' su rro unding farms, and it was bea ut iful. They d id a grea t job !) Blackwell stayed close in th ird , S 00 0\ 0\ ,......

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