Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

GR california Winter MX series North, Round 3: Oatfield Raceway a e~ By Jim Enos TURLOCK, CA, MAR. 1 uzuki/FMF /Smith-backed Tyler Evans made it look easy as he' took charge of both the 125 and 250cc Pro classes at the third round of the GFI California Winter Series at Oatfield Raceway. The J 8-year-old Salinas resident is certainly on a roll, as he has managed to win a Pro-class race in each of the first three rounds of the series. With the five-race northern series schedule rearranged due to recent bad wea ther, more than 300 riders once again made the trek to the AMP-operated Oatfield Raceway to do battle, and one of those ~ticipated battles involved AMA Supercross and Arenacross contenders Jeff Willoh and Evans. When the gate - filled with 14 250cc Pros - dropped, it was a mad dash to the first turn, and leading the pack ou t of the turn was Jeff Northrop. The Team Green/AXO/Scott-backed Northrop, however, couldn't make the holeshot stick, as Willoh quickly motored by him. Nonetheless, Northrop showed good speed and took back the lead at the whoop section, bringing along some tough company, such as Evans and Brett Racine, the latter aboar.d a Team Green/Fox/Pro Circuit-backed Kawasaki. By the third lap, Evans and Racine had made their way around both Willoh and Northrop and were setting a blistering pace in the single 20-minute-plusone-lap moto. Evans, with clear real estate ahead of him, began to pull away from Racine and, by the fourth lap, opened up about a five-second lead. Meanwhile, behind Racine, Willoh and GP Sports/FMF/Fox-backed Rick 5 (Top) Winner Tyler Evans (417) dives to the inside of Jeff Northrop (15) In the 125cc Pro class at Oatfield Raceway. (Above) Brett Racine (499) and Northrop mix It up at Oatfield. Ryan, aboard a Suzuki, were making a charge and had displaced Northrop for third and fourth place, respectively. Also on the move was Yamaha-mounted Jeff Pestana, who also got by orthrop to take fifth, and then he made a run for Ryan. Up front, Evans and his Suzuki were carving lines, and the two opened up about a la-second lead over Racine, who was being pressured by Willoh. Willoh latched on to Racine at the entrance of the whoop section and ended up in front of Racine at the other end. When the white £lag flew, Evans had a commanding lead, followed by Willoh. Behind WilIoh, though, things were hot and heavy for third, involving Racine, Ryan and Pestana. Ryan tried to make a pass on Racine over the tabletop, but Racine was able to hold him off. A little later, Ryan tried again to pass Racine but ended up going off the track and handing over fourth place to a patient Pestana. At the finish, it was Evans, Willoh, Racine, Pestana and Ryan, in that order. "I was expecting to battle with Willoh today," Evans said. "I felt good the whole race and the track was in very good condition." Willoh, backed by Team Suzuki, Stiffie and Westwood, seemed content with second place. "Tyler rode a good race and pushed hard," Willoh said, relaxing in his truck. "1 got a good start and 1 thought I could reel him in. It was tough getting a drive out of the tight left-hander before the long tabletop." Racine, having turned Pro about six months ago, was pleased with third. "The track felt pretty choppy, but I had good lines through the whoops," Racine said. "Even though my arms pumped up in the middle of the race, I started to catch up to Willoh near the end.'t In the 125cc Pro race, nearly all the same players from the 250cc race lined up on the gate, and again it was "Mr. Holeshot" - Jeff Northrop - leading the 16-rider field to the first tum. This time, Northrop, a little more at home on a 125, made the holeshot stick - at least for half a lap. Evans was right on his tail, and he promptly put his Suzuki up front through the whoop section. Two familiar faces, however, were missing' from the lead pack: Willoh and Ryan. Willoh had gone down about three turns off the start, and he took Ryan out with him. "My bike kind of landed on top of him, and 1 took it easy taking off," Ryan said. Both Ryan and Willoh had their work cut out for them; Willoh was dead last after the first lap. Evans, on the other hand, would capitalize on their mishap and open up a huge lead on Northrop, Racine and Pestana. Making a charge behind the lead pack were Suzuki pilots Dean Matson and Auggie Rodriguez. Rodriguez, who had stalled his bike on the first lap in a tight left-hander, was able to hold the pack behind him and was running fifth behind Pestana by the end of the second lap. Pestana, however, stopped in a turn before the double jump and eventually' pulled off the track for an unknown reason. Meanwhile, Ryan had quickly moved up through the pack after the earlier gettogether with Willoh, and by the fourth lap he was involved in a battle for fourth with Rodriguez ana Matson. Ryan would eventually win that battle as he made a smooth pass on Rodriguez before the big step-up jump. As the laps wore down, Evans was way out front with Racine a comfortable second, followed by orthrop, Ryan ahd Matson. Ryan was obviously not content with fourth as he steadily reeled in Northrop and passed the Kawasaki rider on the spectator tabletop to secure third. With a wave of the checkered flag, Evans would make a clean sweep of the premier Pro classes, followed by Racine, Ryan, Northrop and Matson. Willoh would end up a very respectable sixth. Evans, with his bike and gear all loaded up, was all smiles. '1 had another good start and rode another good race," he said. '1 took a center gate position next to Jeff (Northrop) and I had a good start," Racine said. "1 diced with Jeff for about two laps and then passed him before the downhill double. 1 felt good the whole race and just started racing 250s about a year ago." In the 250cc In termedia te race, Harold Hageman put in an impressive 1- J score for the overall over Merced Powersports-backed Cory Morais. However, Hageman and Morais made it interesting in the first moto as both riders came over the finish line in a near photo finish. Hageman ended up taking the win by half a knobby. In the 125cc Intermediate race, Hageman once again took the overall, though not without a fight in the second moto from Kawasaki-mounted Mike Northrop. Danny Swith was at first leading until he crashed, leaving Hageman and Northrop to battle lap after lap. Their battle, however, eventually deteriorated as Northrop was overtaken by a fastmoving Craig Truglio and later by Rich Stephens. Northrop eventually went down two turns before the checkered flag. At the turn before the finish line, ick McBride appeared to have fourth in the bag, but he got stuffed by a hardcharging Danny Omelas. l."'" Oatfield Raceway Turlock, California Results: March 1, 1998 (Round 3) Pee Wee Track 50 FIT (4~6): 1, Michael Bologla (Act); 2. Lacey Perales (Yam); 3. JessiCl Lucas (Yam); 4. Michael Brooks (YLlm). 50 STK BEG (4-6): 1. R'uben Hemande7 (Act); 2. MichLiel Flores (KTM); 3. joshua Greco (KTM); 4. RYLIn Bowen (Cob); 5. Ty Keenom (Ad). 50 STK BEG (7-8), 1. Ryan MM'in (Itt Schultz (Hon); 3. Ra)' L

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