Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

OFF-ROAD AMA GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES Round 5: Starvation Point (Left) The battle for second can't get much closer than this. Fred Andrews barely beats Rodney Smith across the finish line for the runner-up position. (Right) Despite starting some 20 seconds behind the Pro field, 250cc A-class rider Jimmy Jarrett was able to beat the conditions to finish fifth overall. it started up again. I just thought that the vent tubes were stopped up so we cuUhose, and then later it quit two more times in just the same way." By the fifth of eight laps, the Proclass leaders were scattered among lappers and tracking positions became difficult. Though the going was challenging, the relatively short 7 "'mile course allowed the mixing of classes early on and 250cc A and Vet A riders began infiltrating the top positions usually reserved for AA contestants. For the third of five events, Brian Keegan found his day stopped short after connecting with a tree and tearing his rear brake hose. Already on the sidelines were the retired Plessinger and Husaberg's Jason Dahners. Lafferty had aIso d rapped au t a fter effects from a stomach virus substantially slowed his charge. With the Pro field dwindling and riders so widely spread out, consistent chargers like Jarrett from the 250cc A class began inching their way into the top 10 overall. "I think the Pros were going kind of slow the first lap because 1 caught those guys pretty quick and I just had a really good day with no problems," the Ohio rider commented. "I just rode my own race and kept plugging away at the track." What was clear to even the most casual observer was the size of Hatch's lead and t.he hotly contested fight for second. Going into the final lap, Hatch maintained a nearly two-minute lead on the Andrews/Smith wheel-to-wheel duel. '1 just rode as smooth as 1 could and tried not to get too excited," Hatch related. "We did the Moo e Run last week and I ended up on my head a couple of times and 1 didn't want to let that happen to me today. I only went down two or three times." While the winner's position appeared assured, positions were swapping in second and third. Andrews feared his shot at the runner-up position might be gone when he took a tumble with just a few miles to go. "I got crossed up in two ruts and it put me over a hill," he said. "I couldn't . get up and couldn't get'up and ended up shooting my bike up over the top. As soon as [ got on my bike, Rodney (Smith) came by and 1 thought, 'Shoot, I'm in third and so tired from pushing well, third's better than fourth." Smith didn't last long in second this time, though, finding it necessary to stop for .water for his radiator just a short time after passing Andrews. "I 'made a few mistakes up on a few of the hills," Smith admitted. "I think it was my own fault for making my bike overheat. The bike was pinging so bad that there's no way that 1 would have made it to the finish if I didn't stop." With Hatch already atop the finish podium, Andrews and Smith came into (Left) Mud was the order of the day at Starvation Point. It doesn't get much worse than this. (Right) Defending GNCC Champion Scott_Summers was a victim of the mudhole on the opening lap. By the time he recovered, he'd lost 16 minutes and ended up finishing 13th overall. view of the pits. At 100 yards from the finish they jumped onto the concrete pad. Andrews, then Smith, both went sideways when their knobbies hit the slick surface. Andrews maintained his bikelength lead past the flag. Seven minutes behind them was Hawkins, scoring the best G CC finish yet for Yamaha's first-season four-stroke effort. . "I tried to pick good lines, and Dale (Stegal, Hawkins' mechanic) was out there keeping me on the ball about where I was at (in the field)," Hawkins said. "He didn't let my mind wander and think, 'Man, we're not even in the hunt,' He just helped me keep catching the next guy and then catching the next guy. I found out that where my bike really shines is on the slick uphills - I passed so many guys on those nasty uphills today." Physically fifth across the line and also on adjusted time was Jarrett, followed by Edmondson's ailing Suzuki two minutes later. Finishing seventh was former Proclass rider and Vet A entrant Steve McSwain from North Carolina aboard a Kawasaki. Californian Brian Garrahan rode his KTM to the eighth spot.for his best season-to-date finish. He and his brother Pat are showing improving finishes while traveling the entire eastern series by van for the first time. Ohio's Chuck Woodford broke the GNCC top 10 for the first time on yet another Kawasaki while placing second to Jarrett in the 250cc A class. Rounding out the top 10 were Vet A and longtime Kawasaki rider Gene Onail, making it five green bikes in the top 10 - qui te a change from Team Green's minimal participation in GNCC racing in recent years. Changing series demographics are also evident when looking at the geographic origin of riders. The top 10 overall now lists four riders from California (though Hatch and Edmondson are relatively recent transplants), four from Ohio and two from the Carolinas. L~ Starvation Point GNCC Elizabeth, West Virginia Results: May 10, 1998 (Round 5 of 12) OIA:. 1. Stev.e Hatch (Suz); 2. Fred Andrews (Kaw); 3. Rodney Smith (Suz); 4. Randy Hawkins (Yam); 5. Jim jam>tt (!

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