Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

AMA USA Mega Series, Round 1 By Barbara Williams Photos by Loren Williams BLOUNTVILLE, TN, MAR. 7 oto Planet/ Al Lane Yamahabacked Robbie Horton brought the heat to Muddy Creek Raceway by leading every lap save one of both the 12scc A and 2sOcc A contests. Horton's f6urth-place finish in 12scc action at the Daytona Supercross proved to be a good springboard for his domination of the Mega Series opener. "Daytona was fun yesterday, and I'm glad to be here even though Daytona was a lot warmer," allowed Horton, who pocketed $500 for his wins. "But it's good that it's so cold today, because that's keeping me awake:' Nearly 800 riders celebrated MCR's first race of the 1999 season, enjoying sunny skies and enduring bone-chilling cold wind. Dunlop awarded tires to all Amateur-class winners, and the Victory Sports crew presented a perfectly prepared track with many new features. Promoter Sam Gammon had elected to cancel Saturday's practice day, because the snow on Wednesday and intermittent rain until Saturday afternoon left the Muddy Creek loam too soggy for useful practice riding. Horton did not get every holeshot, but he did employ the stamina and speed that he has gained over the winter to easily pick off riders. The only exception came in the ~econd round of 2socc M 5 W e· e p 5 the Creek (Above) Robbie Horton cleaned house at Muddy Creek's opener of the AMA Mega Series. Horton took 125cc A and 250cc A horiors by winning every mota he entered. (Left) Brad Edwards came back·to racing after nearly a year off and still grabbed the 125cc A holeshot. Edwards finished fifth on the day. A action, when Kevin Walker got the drop on Horton and rounded, turn one first at the top of the hill. Aboard a borrowed YZ400, Walker set the pace for the first lap, with Horton looking for an easy way to get around him. But with Walker's experience and smart riding, even though this was his first race back after months of recuperation from knee surgery, he held off Horton. Horton jiggled the latch lap after lap, but he could not open the window. Finall y Horton decided to just go through it. At the beginning of lap two, Horton was glued to Walker's fender coming 'into the new uphill section of the track. Horton then simply pulled to the right into a really rough part of'the track and powered into the lead. Seconds later, Horton reined his plunging steed back into the usual line just in time to make the downhill corner to take the win. • In 12scc A action, KTMmounted Brad Edwards pulled the holeshot in the first moto, followed by A u's t i n Squires, Hans Neel, Horton, Tim m y Milligan and Wi I I i a m Wilson. For the better part of the first lap, Edwards rode in clean air before handing the lead over to Horton. Edwards fell back to finish ill fourth. . ''I'm having a terrific day," said Edwards, despite his fading back to fourth. "Basically, this is my first race in seven months, and it feels really good because I know it hasn't been a 'gimme: These guys don't let you have anything." . Edwards' 1998 season was severely shortened by a badly broken leg. Then, in his first race back ,in November, he broke his wrist in a turn-one crash. During his comeback, he notched a second~ round seventh in 12scc A for fifth overall. Hans Neel does not say much, preferring to let his Hondas do the talking. As Horton took the lead in the first 125cc A moto and Edwards began to fade, Squires found a place to pass, putting his Suzuki into second in place of Edwards' KTM. Then Neel slipped around Edwards to take over third, where he remained for the rest of the moto. The second-moto start found Neel in midpack, having to make up ground to crack into the top five. One by one, Neel climbed from position to position until late in the race, when he ducked inside in a sweeper and passed both Squires and Wilson to take fourth. Neel's 3-4 finishes were good for second overall. "Sometimes it's all I can do not to whoop and holler," grinned Neel's dad, Reggie, who regularly handles the announcing duties at Victory Sports races. To Reggie Neel's credit, he remains cool and professional. CI'I Muddy Creek Raceway Blountville, Tennessee Results: March 7, 1999 (Round 1) so (4-6): 1. Ian Trettel (Cob); 2. Preston Thomas (KTM); 3. Trevor Brown (Cob); 4. Cody Robbins (Cob); S. Dustin ChandJer (Cob). 50 17-8), 1. Los Smith (Cob); 2. Colton Bailey (Cob); 3. Ben Denton (Cob); 4, McKinnon Welborn (Cob); 5. Zachary Alvear (KTM). 50 SHFI, 1. Cody Robbins (Yam); 2. Randall Taylor (Yam); 3. Damon Gain (Yam); 4. Chelsea McSwain (Yarn); 5. Trevor Barrett (Yam). 60 (7-9), 1. Zach Osbome (KTMJ; 2. Justin Ashburn (KTM); 3. Sean Hackley Jr. (Kaw); 4. Dustin Rowe UCaw); 5. Jacob Kenton (}(aw). 60 (l0-11): 1. Justin Sipes (Kaw); 2, Jake Fricker O

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