Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

GFI Racing Winter Series South, Round 3 Events By Greg Robertson SAN IACI TO, CA, IAN. 24 ound three of the GFI Racing/Goat Eyewear/Troy Lee Designs/Pro Circuit/Fox/FMF/Dunlop-sponsored Winter Series traveled to Competition Park, where Pamo Honda's Ryan Hughes won both the 125cc and 250cc Pro classes, while Yamaha-mounted Sean Hamblin went 1-1 for the 125cc Intermediate-cla s overall honors. Rookie Pro Justin Buckelew pu this Yamaha a t the front of the pack a the 125cc Pros were let loose for the 20minute one-shot moto. Hughes and Bryan McGavran settled into second and third respectively after a lap to lead Nick Metcalf, Nick Weyand Doug Parsons. Hughes latched on to Buckelew and the two started to pull away from McGavran, who had his hands full with Wey by lap three. Hughes pulled up next to Buckelew in a whoop section and then took the inside line away to grab the lead. Buckelew tried a quick retaliation off the next jump; the two riders made contact in the air, and Buckelew ende9 up on the ground. McGavran put up a great fight, but Wey managed a pass down the back straight to take over second place. Hughe bobbled and Wey found himself running out front at the halfway point. Weyand Hughes argued over the lead for the next six laps until Wey messed up a turn and Hughes was right there to take advantage of it. With the white flag waving, it became a dash for the checkers, with Hughes getting there first by a couple of bike lengths. "I haven't raced a 125 for some time, but I got a pretty good start," explained Hughes, who will be leaving for Europe at the end of February to contest the 250cc Grand Prix wars. "[ had some lines and I got up into second place real quick and then tarted closing. in on Buckelew. [ passed him, then he came around the outside and kind of jumped into me and we tangled and he went down. I was lacking a little in the straights. I think I've got 20 or30 more pounds on everybody. It's good training, and that's why I came out here." Wey, who will soon be contesting the AMA 125cc East Coast Supercross series for the SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team, seemed content with a close second. "I got a fourth-place start and the leaders were already pretty far gone," Wey explained. '1 just tried my hardest. Ryno (Hughes) made a mistake and [ ended up getting by him. I probably led mo t of the race. [ slid out in the back section and Ryno got by me. I was right on him but [ couldn't make the pa . It was a good battle." Rusty Holland overcame a midpack start to get around McGavran with two laps remaining to pick up the thirdplace money. Parson rode to a steady fifth aboard his Suzuki. Brett Racine and Tommy Clowers both came from the very back of the pack for sixth- and eventh-place finishes, respectively. Akira arita nailed the 250cc Proc1as holeshot aboard his Honda, but it was Hughes out front by the completion of lap one in the 20-minute moto. HoIland was all over Hughes until he took a header between a couple of jumps that left him dazed and confu ed and out of action for the rest of the day. Wey worked his way around Narita for second place by lap four, but Hughes had already checked out. Hughes took the win with 10 seconds to spare over Wey. Racine held off Narita to earn third at the checkers. Oowers spent another moto passing people after R a bad start to finish fifth, ahead of Metcalf, Joakim Elia son and Billy Mercier. A pair of holeshots certainly did not hurt Hamblin's cause, as he kept his YZ125 ahead of 30 other hungry 125cc Intermediates for a sweep of the highly competitive class. "We just changed the gearing this weekend, because last week I wasn't getting the starts," Hamblin said after the second moto. "I was just havilJg fun. This is only the second time 1 rode this week; my bike blew up on Tuesday. Chris (Sprenkel) has been riding real good now. He's been traiiung with Ryan Hughes, which is real good for him." Sprenkel kept his Bill's Pipes-sponsored Suzuki within striking distance of Hamblin throughout both motos for a well-deserved second overall. Ross Garcia came up through the field in both rounds to go 3-5 for third over the 8-3 of Dusty Walters and the 7-4 of Brian Barker. Kevin Townsend aced the first 250cc Intermediate moto, ahead of Honda riders John Burr and George Merry. Sean Thornton fought back for a wire-to-wire second-moto win, but an eighth-place showing in the first moto held him back to fourth in the final standings. Town end's runner-up finish in moto two was all he needed to win the class. D.I. Umphres' 5-3 edged out Burr's 2-6 for second on the day. Team Green's Daton Beavers cleaned up in the Supermini class on his KX80. Daryl Ecklund went 3-2 for second overall to lead a sea of blue bikes that included those of Scott-Simon, Ben Ramsaran and Mickey Griffin. Ecklund returned later in the day to pick up a win of his own in the 80cc Open Expert class after splitting moto wins with Erik Meyer. With multi-time mini champ Mike Alessi sidelined with a broken jaw, it was up to his brother Jeff to uphold the family name - and he did so, posting 1-1 performances in the 80cc Novice class. Team Green teammate Edward Herring, who finished second overall, made Alessi work for both of his wins. Cobra-mounted BlaKe Baggett was· nothing short of awesome in his quest for a win. Baggett ran away with both 50cc (4-6) Stock-class moto wins, beating all the 7- to 8-year-old riders in the process. He then came back to finish off the day with a pair of wins in the 50cc Open class for a perfect four-moto win streak. eN Competition Park San Jacinto, California Results: January 24, 1999 (Round 3) SO STK (4.-6): 1. Blake Baggett (Cob); 2. Dakota Comer (Cob); 3. Bryce wart (KTMJ; 4. Justin jeffen (KTM); 5. Brett Harrison (Cob). 50 STK (7-8), I. Scot! Noble (Cob); 2. Johnny Jeldcrda (Lem); 3. Trevor Reis (Cob); 4. Tylor Hemme (KTM); 5. Corrick Noble (Cob). SO OPEN, 1. Blake Baggett (Cob); 2. johnny Jelderda (KTM>; 3. Scott Noble (Cob); 4. Tylor Hemme (KTM); 5. Daleo.. Comer (Cob). 60 Frr: 1. jonathan Horgan (Knw). 60 BEC: 1. Matt Harrison (KTM); 2. Andy Straight (!. 500 BEC: t. Mark Andersen (Yam). 25+ BEC: 1. Wayne Cook (Kaw); 2. Steve Bullock (Yam); 3. Steve Broussard (Hon); 4. Tim Dollar O1in Dopf (Hon); S. David Bagwell (Hon). 2S+ EX, 1. jon Zahrt (Kaw); 2. joe Root (Suz); 3. Wayne Zahrt (Suz:); 4. Kevin L.,ne (Suz); S. jeff Gianni (5uz). 30+ BEG, 1. T.J. Kelly (Yam); 2. Kevin Gotto (SU2); 3. Steve Mangione (Suz); 4. AI Garcia (Suz); 5. Davey Covey (Hon). 30+ NOV: 1. Tim Konkol (Yam); 2. Tim McEntee (Suz); 3. Ed Niemela (Kaw); 4. Ken lurcook (Suz); 5. Darin Murdoch (Yam). 30+ tNT: I. Craig McCall (K.,w); 2. David johnson (Yam); 3. David Bagwell (Hon); 4. Chris Radzinski (Kaw); 5. Jon le.vey (Yam). 30 EX: 1. Jon Zahrt (Kmv); 2.joc Root (Suz); 3. Mark White (Kaw); 4. Wayne Zahrt (Suz); 5. Kevin L.,ne (Suz). 35+ NOV: 1. Ed iemela (Kaw); 2. Milton Mize (Han); 3. Danny lee jones (Yam); 4. Dave Simon (Yam); 5. Gary Doggett (SU2). 35+ tNT: 1. Mike Altenhofel (Hon); 2. David johnson (Yam); 3. Brian Burch (Yam); 4. les Abernathy (K.,w). 40 NOV: 1. Fred Willis (K.,w); 2. Kevin Lane (Suz); 3. David Kubes (Suz); 4. Brad Sloan (Yam); 5. David Zahrt (Suz). 40+ lNT: 1. Phillip Taboada (Suz); 2. Mike AJtenhofel (Han); 3. Cary Doggett (Suz); 4.. AI Carcia (Suz). 40+ EX: 1. Ron Turner (Yam); 2. Mark White (Kaw); 3. Jeff Gianni (Suz); 4. Bob Shimp (Yam); 5. joe Root (Suz). 31

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