Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

1998 GFI California Fall Series North, Round 1 By Jim and Valerie Enos HOLLISTER, CA,SErIo21 u s ty Ho lland made a clean sweep of both the 125 & 250cc Pro classes !!!J b y w i nnin g eve ry moto a t t h e opening round of the GFI California Fall Series , spo nso red by MSR and Yamaha o f Mod es to . Th e al w a ys -ch a lleng ing Hollister GP tr ack played host to the open in g rou nd, w hich fea tu res cont ingenci es fro m Goa t, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki - and, wi th more than 350 ridrs, the com petition was fierce. How ever, the AMP-prepped track was definitely to Holland' s liking as the Clawson Mot or sports / Honda-backed rid er took on so me o f Nor the rn California's top pr o rid ers and was never serious ly challenged . But this is a five-race series, and yo u can bet so me of Holland 's competito rs will be zero ing in on the frequent Supercross an d Nationa l rid er. The first 250cc Pro -class race started off with Vose Racing / Pro Circuit/Cycle Gea r-backed Trevor Meagh er taki ng the holeshot, followed by Jeff North rop, Dan Paladino, Jeff Pes tana and John Nelson . H olland w a s ba ck in s i xt h , but h e wouldn't stay there for very long . Meanwhil e , up front , Mea g h e r soo n wa s under pressure from a fast-charging Pestana, wh o disp lac ed Pa ladi no and Northrop by the end of the first lap. Nelson never ma de it through the first lap du e to mechanical problems . By the end of the second lap , Holland was hounding Pestana for the lead and coming ou t of the "Gravity Ca vity" triple jump, and he nearly land ed on Pesta na . Pes ta na held hi s ground, th ou gh, and did his best to keep Holland behind him. However, the third lap proved to be Pestana's last at leading the field, as Holland made a smooth insid e pass to take the lead . Ho ll a nd too k th e opportunity to check ou t, and he con sistently stretched his lead lap after lap . Behind Pestana , Meagh er had a lock on third place and began moving in . Meagher ch allenged Pes tana on the uphill sectio n but could n' t make the move. The checkered came ou t to gree t Ho lland with the w in, with Pest ana holding off Meagher for second. The battle for fourth was won b y Pa la d ino, fo ll owed closely b y Northrop . "I got a decent start and just started pickin g guys off one by one," said Holland. "The track is still too smooth; 1 like it better when it' s rough and rutted up." Pestana, backed by Clawson MOto rsports, Pro Grip and A-Ride Suspension, was pretty pleased with second. "I got a r m pump a b o u t h alfwa y through th e ra ce," Pesta na sai d . "I' m also kind of tired sin ce I just spent the last four days in a truck coming back from the last Nati onal in Pennsylvania." The second 250cc Pro-class race saw Holland snag the holeshot, follow ed by Meagher, Northrop, Pestana and Suzuki-mounted Ben Shank. Holland quickly op ene d up a 10-b ik e-length lead over Meagher. Meanwhile, Pestana made his way around N orthrop, chased down Meagher and passed him over a tabl etop. However, Pestana bobbled in the left-hand sweeper, allowing Meagher and Shank to scoot by. Pestana, mad at himself for making the mistake, caught b ack up to Sh a nk . A s th e two came down the hill, Pes tana w as yelling a t Shank - presumably asking him politely to mo ve ov er. Sh an k held hi s gro u n d until th e "Gravity Ca vity," wher e Pestana made his move, ou tjumping Sha nk . With Holland comfortably in front, Pesta na ca ugh t and passed Meag her just before th e uphill and settled in to a a~ secu re second. A tight pack cons isting of Mea ghe r, Sha nk and No rthrop ba ttl ed the last few laps for third , but tim e ran ou t. The checkers wa ved for H olland , foll owed by Pest ana, Meagher, Shank an d Northro p. "I ba cked off the la st few lap s and crui sed , looking for new lines," Holland sa id . "T he t r a ck is ge t ting a. little rough er - just how I like it" The 125cc Pro-class race saw nea rly all the same players on the gate, an d the hol eshot w ent to Tea m Gree n / Ax o / FM F-back ed N o rthrop . H oll and fo llow ed in second and had his to ug hes t race of the d ay. N orth ro p , w ho la ter commented that he felt a lot better on his 125, st ayed in front of Ho llan d for fou r la ps a n d was o n a torrid pa ce . Behind Northro p and Ho lland, Meag her was doi ng all he could to hold off Pestana. Ho wever, Pes tana pulled a tricky in sid e- outsid e mo ve to pas s Mea gh er arou nd the tight left-hander. Up front, Holland was stalking Northrop lap after lap u ntil Holland d ecid ed he had see n enough of Northrop' s rea r fender. As th e tw o approached a tight right-hander, Ho lland simp ly took the inside line •away fro m Nort hro p. to take th e lead. 1':!orthrop wo u ld not give up, th ou gh , and he stayed with Hollan d turn af ter tu rn . Wi th o n e lap to g o, Ho ll a nd emerged fro m th e back sec tion o f th e track w ith No rthrop now here to be seen . In fact, Pestana came around in second , wit h Me a gh er right be h in d h im . Northrop had go ne d ow n on th e left hand sweeper, but he go t up in time to main tain fourt h. Holla nd to o k th e chec kered flag .w ith' another command ing lead , followed by a consistent Pestan a, Meagh er, Northrop and Sha nk. "I ga ve Jeff (Nort hrop) a little bump on that pa ss for the lead," Ho lland later .com men ted . "He rod e real well and I w as kind of su r p rised to s ee him up front." . . "I' m d efinitely faster on my 125," a somewha t disappoint ed Nor throp sai d later. "I should have had an ea sy second place, but 1 lost the front end in the tum. Luckily, I still have another mo to to go." As the ga te dropped for the start of the second 125cc Pro-elass moto, it was Yama ha -mou nted Dan Paladin o taking the ho leshot. Pestana, looking for a second overall on t he da y , w a s r igh t behind, follow ed by Holland, N orthrop and Meagher. Paladino was quickly challenged, as the pack was rig ht on his tail entering the downhill. And things got hairy as the pack descended thl:,hill when Pestana lost his front end, send ing him tumbling down the h ill and nearly taking o u t Holland . Pe stana would remount, but not until the field had gone by and the front-runners were long gone. Paladino soon su rr end ered his lead to Holland, and Northrop followed suit, relegating Paladino to third. On the third lap, d isaster struck as Paladino w en t down, d ropping .b ac k to sixth position. As the race wore on, the top four were evenly spaced out, with Holland again taking a commanding lead. However, rising from the back of the pack w as Pestana, who h ad made his way back up to a respectable fifth position after the first -lap get-off. Ho lland crossed the finish to take his fourth consecutive moto w in on the day, followed by Northrop, Me a gher, Sh ank and Pestana. I'll Hollister Hollister, California Results: September 21, 1998 (Round 1 of 5) 50 FfT (4-6): 1. Andrew Haskett (Hu s). (7-8), I . Du sti n Sm ith (KTM). 50 50 STK BEG (4-6), 1. Ty Keen om (KTM); 2. Dillon ). Moo re ( K1"M )i 3. Co Barham (Yam) . sn 50 STK (4-6) , 1. Jos h u a G reco (KTM ); 2. Sco tty Cra ve n (Lern); 3. Dyla n 'fnJjillo (KTM). 50 MOD BEG (4-6 ), 1. Co dy Lam bott (Le m ); 2. N icholas Bacch ini (Yam). soSTK BEG (7-8), 1. Richie Thomas (Cob); 2. Ruben He r nande z (Act); 3. Ja ke Baral d i (KTM) ; 4. Sha w n Mu rp hy (KTM); 5. Cary Koto wski (KTM). 50 MOD BEG (7-8), 1. David Stump (KTM). 50 STK (7-8~ 1. Matthew w m;.ms (!.em); 2. Cody Ja ckso n (KTM ); 3. Eric Pa th (Cob); 4. Micha el Cu rci (FM); 5. Tyler Trujillo (KTM) . 50 (0-8) O PEN , 1. Chris Gi lbert (Yam). 60 Fm I. Stephen Tarpley (Kaw) . 60 BEG: 1. Den ver Edwards (Kaw); 2. Chris Santino (Kaw ); 3. Danny Stu m p (Kaw); 4. Cody Jackson (Kaw ); 5. Joey Ha rris (Ka w ). 60 NOV: 1: Ca sey H in son (K a w ); 2. Matthew Spencer (Kaw); 3. Kurtis Batey (KTM); 4. Kyle Bergan tz (KTM ); S. Kyle Ken t (KTMl . 60 IN T: 1. Jared Merten s (Ka w); 2. Roc co' Curci (Kaw ). 80 .BEC n-u 1. Ca s e y H in s on (Suz) ; 2. Rory Radovich (Ha n) ; 3. Tyson Enz we iler (Su z); 4. Sea n Ha m pto n (Suz ); 5. Chris Conley (Kaw l. . 80 BEC o·z: 1. Matthe w Spencer (Hon); 2. Tyler Bird (Yam ); 3. Je ff Sinks ISu z ): 4. Eric Pina (Yam); 5. Col ton Ross (Yam) . 80 NOV: 1. Brett M a r kari an (Ya m ); 2. Ste ve n , Hernand ez (Yam), 3. A.J. Perez (Suz); 4. David Darsey (Suz); 5. Iimmy Hazel (Yam). 80 INT: 1. Ryan Morais (Yam ); 2. Ma tt M<.Crummcn (Yam); 3. Ty ler Kal isi ak (Yam); 4. Eric McCrummen (Ya m); 5. Co ry McDan ie l (Yam). 80 S/ M I N I: 1. Rya n M ora is (Ya m) ; 2. M a tt M~mmen (Yam); 3. Cory McDan iel (Yam); 4. Tyler Kalisia k (Yam). 125 BEG O~ l : 1. Jo h n Good by (Ya m) ; 2. Jes s e Wilb ur (S uz) ; 3. Aaron C a sados (Ya m) ; 4. Mi ke Sta rweather (Han); 5. Loren Thomas (Ka w). 125 BEG 0:'1: 1. Michae l Ca rnes (Ya m); 2. G r eg Canter (Yam); 3. Guy Rose (Yam ); 4. Kevin Cox (Suz); 5. Jeremy Wea therl y (Suz). 125 NOV: 1. Ste ve Me rt en s (Suz ); 2. Adam Ba ca (Yam ); 3. Dy lan Vicha (Yam); 4. Ma rk Ve rhougstraet e (Suz); 5. Simo n Te mmerman (Yam). 125 INT: 1. Jesse Ketcha m (Suz); 2. Fred Wiech ers (Ho n); 3. Dieter Temmerman (Suz); 4. Logan Mast erson (Y am ); 5. Jeremy Santoro (Ya m). 125 PRO: 1. Rusty Holland (Ho n); 2. Jeff No rthro p (Kaw): 3. Trevor Meagher ($li z); 4. Jeff Pestana (Ya m); 5. Ben Sha nk (Suz ). 250 BEC : 1. Ant hon y Lorsc he id er (Ho n); 2. Miek Langston (Ya m); 3. Joe Ga llie t (Kaw): 4. Ale x Wilson (Hon): 5. Jason Ca meron (Ha n). Rusty Holland flew over the top and Into the win of the 125cc and 250Cc Pro class at round one of the 1998 GFI California Fall series North, In Hollister, California. 250 NOV: 1. Kelly Quin n (Suz ); 2. C h ris Ple tero (Ka w); 3. Billy Iu revich (KTM); 4. Rick Co nza les (Ya m)' 5. Ju st in Broo ks (Hen). ' 250 INT: 1. Jason Jenkins (Ka w); 2. Cory Mor a is (Yam); 3 . Jeremy Santo ro (Ka w): 4. Ma tt Fowler (Kaw): 5. Chri Vend1ey (Suz). s ' ' 2SO PRO: 1. Ru sty Hol1an d (Ha n); 2. Jeff Pestana (Yam); 3. Trevor Meagher (Suz); 4. Dan Paladino (Yam); 5. Jeff No rthrop (Kawl . 500 INT: 1. Ga ry Plaa t je (Han) ; 2. jchn Moore (Yam). ~ ~ BEG: 1. Alex Wilson (Han); 2. BiIJSmymiorut (Hon): 3. Ga ry Rose (Kaw); ... John Molin a (Kaw): 5. Randy Tufts (Yam) . 25+ NOV: 1. Brooke Shaw (Hoe); 2. Dave Lowi (Ka w) : 3. Em met Ramirez (Ya m); 4. Hos sein Sha ri fi ":' (Kaw); 5. Mike Neal (Hon ). 25+ INT: 1. Mike Besemer (Hen): 2. Mike Hod ges (Suz); 3. Ro n Sharp (Su z); 4. Da vid Krist off (Yam); 5. John Matalama ki (Su z). 30+ BEG : 1. Ga ry Rose (Ka w ): 2. Fra n k Sa nc hez (Hon): 3. Duane Shepherd (Han); 4. Richa rd Suff ecool (Kaw); 5. Jonathan Chapman (Yam ). 30+ NOV, I. Bob Pimenta l (Ho n); 2. Dan DeN uzzo (Ho n); 3. Tim Al va r~do (Ka w) ; 4. William Serpa(Yam). 30+ INT: 1. Mike Hodges (Suz ); 2. Er ic Liddell (Ya m ); 3. Ron Sha rp (Suz); 4. G ary Pla a lje (Kaw ): 5. Shane Verd in (Han). 30+ PRO: 1. Te rry Basta rd (Yam) ; 2. Jon Nel son (Suz); 3. Geo ff Wood s (Kaw ); 4. Greg Pen nington (Suz) ; S. Mark Tucker (Suz). 35+ NOV: 1. Bob Warren (H on ); 2. Randy Lyn ch (Yam); 3. Jim Enos (Suz) ; 4. Pat Sauga r (Yam); 5. Ed Poo l (Yam). 3S+ 1NT, I . Ga ry P1aatje (Kaw ); 2..Ron Sha rp (Suz); 3. Tim Alva ra do (Ka w) ; 4. John Moore (Yam); 5. Do n Mendenhall (Yam). 40+ NO V: 1. Robert Field s (Yam); 2. Steve Bacchini (~ w ); 3. Trans Hu ch (Yam); 4. Bob by Lyn ch (Ya m ); Mitch Weatherly (Han). 40+ INT: 1. Jenny Woh igemn (Ho n ); 2. Danie l M alfatt i (Ya m ); 3 . Rick Fa lc oner (Ka w ); 4. Dirk Temmerman (Yam) ; 5. Henry Kalisia k (Yam). 4ll+ El(, I. John HandeHn (Suz); 2. Al Posey (Kawl. WMN: 1. Tina Hand elin (Ya m) ; 2. Hei di Henry (Suz). 00 0\ 0\ ..... t-:" 53 :9 u o 41

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