Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Jean-Sebastien Roy dominated the opening round of the Canadian National Championship Motocross Series, held at the R.J. Motorsports Park in Midhurst, Ontario, Canada, by winning both the 125 and 250cc classes. 0-7 Expert Motocross series, Round 6 Seth and Bubba visit By Jerry Athey SHIPPENSBURG, PA, MAY 31 ore than 500 riders packed the hillsides of Doublin Gap MX Park as the beautiful mountaintop facility simultaneously hosted both round six of the 16-race District 7 Expert Motocro s Series and round six of the District 7 Sound Of Thunder Series, a separate 10-race series created exclusively for four-stroke and vintage machines. In addition to some great racing, the JT Motorsports/Boyesen/Twin Airsponsored event also held an additional treat for the record-setting turnout of riders and fans, as promoters Rod Yentzer and his brother Jeff, who currently wears number 92 in AMA ational Motocross, were able-to coax their friends Seth Enslow and Bubba stars of the legendary "Cru ty Demons of Dirt" video ~eries - into making an extremely rare public appearance. Seth and Bubba hung out with fans, signed autographs and mugged for photos throughout the day, and Bubba, much to the delight of the hordes of "Crusty" fans that lined the trackside fences, actually took to the course in the Over 25 A class, airing out Pro-Am rider Chris Brown's YZ400F on the jump-filled cir- M canadian National Championship Motocross series, Round 1 Roy reigns By Jason T. Griffiths MIDHURST, ONTARIO, CANADA, MAY 31 igh winds and gloomy storm clouds set the scene for the first round of 1998 Canadian National Championship Motocross Series at the R.J. Motorsports Park. The first round was much anticipated after word came that Canadian motocross star JeanSebastien Roy was returning to once again race on Canadian soil. The rider from Acton Vale, Quebec, left the Canadian racing scene in 1997 to pursue his motocross career in the AMA Supercros and ational Motocross series. His efforts in the United States gained him a formidable 17th position in the 1998 Supercross series, with his best showing at the Charlotte, orth Carolina, Supercross, where he finished an impressive eighth. Roy fans got their money's worth as the Two Wheel Kawasaki/MSR-supported rider conformed to Canadian tradition and raced both the 125 and 250cc classes. Roy put on an incredible performance in front of the Canadian crowd, taking the overall wins in both the 125 and 250cc classes. In the first 125cc-class moto, it was number-two-ranked. Suzuki rider Marco Dulle from Quebec absconding with the hole hot, followed by Canadian Motocross and World Snowcross Champion Blair Morgan. Morgan put the pressure on Dube early on in hopes that he would fail to the pressure, but the Suzuki rider held strong and made things difficult for Morgan and his Kawasaki. As the battle continued up front, Roy was recovering quickly from a midpack start and H 48 soon caught up and passed Morgan for second. Dulle held on for the win as Two Wheel Kawasaki teammates Roy and Morgan finished second and third. In 125cc moto number two, Saskatchewan native Morgan grabbed the holeshot and was followed closely by Roy. Roy crashed after the second lap but came back strong to pass Morgan and take the overall win. Morgan finished the moto in second to snag third overall, while Ontario provincial champ Chris Pomeroy finished the moto in third. The big surprise of the day was Dulle's second-overall finish. The Quebec rider tore a ligament during the Daytona Supercross and was not expected to do so well this early in the season. In the 250cc class, the story was much the same as in the 125s: Morgan took the early lead in both motos while Roy followed close behind. The two Kawasaki rider pulled away from the rest of the pack, and by the halfway point Roy surged to the front and passed Morgan. Roy clinched both moto wins, Morgan picked up two second-place fini hes for econd overall, and Dube took third overall. For Morgan, the first round was a bit of a downer. After winning 17 of the 24 motos in the 1997 ationals, Morgan has yet to win one in 1998. A broken finger and a chest cold may have dampened his performance. t·~ R.J. Motorsports Park Midhurst, Ontario, Canada Results: May 31, 1998 (Round 1) 125: 1. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Kaw); 2. Marco Du~ (Suz) ; 3. Blair Morgan (Kaw); 4. Chris Pomeroy (Flon); 5. Earl Reimer (Suz); 6. Marty Bur (Yam); 7. Bill Wallin (Hon); 8. Darcy Lange ()(aw); 9. Jason Thorne (Hon); -!O. Ryan Gould (Yam). 250: 1. Jean-Sebastien Roy (K.:1w); 2. Blair Morgan (Kaw); 3. Marco Oube (So2); 4. Chris Pomeroy (Hon); 5. Ryan Gauld (Yam); 6. Lance Rickard (Suz); 7. Bill Wallin (Hon); 8. Darcy Lange (Kaw); 9. Jason Thome (Hon); 10. Chuck Mesley frlon). CANADIAN ATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MOTOCROSS SERIES POINT STANDINGS (Aftu 1 round): 1. Jean-Sebastien Roy (97); 2. Blair Morgan (86); 3. Marco Dub< (81); 4. Chris Pomoroy (76); 5. 8il1 Wallin (49). cuit. For the second time this season, Kemp's Racing-backed Jay Rassa took the overall wins in the Oren A and FourStroke divisions with perfect 1-1 rides. Rassa piloted his trusty Honda CRSOO to . the Open A win and flew to the FourStroke win aboard the same borrowed Yamaha that Bubba would later ride. Rassa also raced to a top-five-overall finish in the ultracompetitive Over 25 A class with consistent 6-5 moto scores. When the gate dropped for the first Four-Stroke moto, it was Fredericktown Yamaha's Ian Riley blasting to the holeshot, followed by KTM-mounted Brett Friedel, Rassa, Chris Schueler and Jason Palmer, all aboard Yamahas. In an effort not to lose sight of the leader, Rassa quickly moved around Friedel for second. Riley, looking confident and aggressive out front, resi ted the attack of Rassa until the halfway point in the moto, when the hard-charging Rassa made his move for the lead a he exited the track's ru tted woods section. Once in the lead, Rassa used the clear track to his advantage and pulled out 'to a fivesecond cushion, while an aggressive Schueler eventually dropped Riley to third. At the cl1eckers, it was Rassa, followed closely by Schueler. Fri del put in a strong late-moto charge for third, followed by Riley and Palmer. Riley repeated his aggressive firstmoto holeshot as the riders hit Doublin Gap's sweeping right-handed first tum to start moto two. Friedel was second, followed closely by Rassa, Palmer and Schueler. By the end of the first lap, Rassa had moved into the runner-up spot, while Schueler charged past both Palmer and Friedel for third. Riley and Rassa engaged in a fierce battle for the lead, with Rassa taking the position near the end af the second lap with a daring block-pass on the approach to a slick jump face. As Rassa charged out front, Schueler once again began to hound Riley for second. Schueler' determined efforts would prove to be in vain, however, as the race was cut short by one lap due to an injured rider on the track. Rassa flew to the moto win and the overall victory, followed by a great ride from Riley in econd. Schueler was third, followed by Friedel and Palmer, who put in a consistent ride for fifth. Edward Childs was the big winner in the Senior Expert division, piloting his Off Road Cycle Supply-backed KTM to a convincing 1-1 sweep of the 25rid~r class. Hard-charging Honda pilot Jolm Kirk was second overall, followed by Rick Wenger, also aboard a Honda. Defending Di trict 7 Senior champion 1.'im Ti tcomb was fourth aboard a Kawasaki, followed by lhe District's number-two Senior rider, John Kellough, who rounded out the top five overall with consi tent rides aboard his Honda. 0 Doublin Gap Motocross Park Shippensburg, Pennsylvania Resuns: May 31, 1998 (Round 6) 50 (4-6" 1. Gary Radforo Jr. (Cob); 2. Garrel Toth (Cob); 3: Anthony Jones (Cob); 4. Broc Schme.lyun

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