Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Events ( Left) Jeff Northrop won the 125cc and 250cc Pro classes at round five of the GFI California Winter Series, held in Hollister, California. (Right) Bruce Rutherford won both motos of the 51 cc Stock (7-11) class at the Loretta Lynn's Qualifier held at Glen Helen Raceway. 1999 GA Calnornia Winter MX series North Round 5 Northrop nails two By Jim Enos HOLLISTER, CA, MAR. 14 pectators were treated to two of the best races of the series as Team Green/FMF/fox/Renthal-backed Jeff Northrop hammered down two solid motos on the always-challenging Hollister Raceway to sweep the 125cc and 250cc Pro classes at the final round of the 1999 GFI California Winter Series. Northrop's wins, however, did not come easy, as Clawson Motorsports' Jeff Pestana actually led each mota at one time. A mistake by Pestana in the 250cc mota and a very aggressive pass by Northrop in the 125cc mota had Pestana settling for two secondplace finishes. With wet weather hitting the area late in the week, ruts played a factor and made for some interesting line choices as the day progressed. Track conditions were otherwise superb as the AMP crew welcomed more than 200 riders to, the fifth and final round of the ann'ual series. The first Pro moto of the day was the 250cc class, and a 16-rider gate filled the first turn, with Dean Matson railing the outside and jumping out front. Northrop and Pestana got caught up in the middle of the pack and had to fight their way around Ray Crumb and Ben Shank. Matson, howeyer, appeared ready and willing to hold the lead in the 20-minute, one-mota affair, as he quickly opened up a five-second lead over the pack. As the laps wore on, though, Matson's lead vanished as Pestana made a move on Matson on the first uphill section to take over the lead. Northrop was still a ways back, but he was heavy on the gas and had Ma tson in his sights. At the halfway point, Northrop passed S Matson on the back section of the track to take over second. However, second was not what Northrop was after, and he slowly closed in on Pestana and began studying his lines willie applying the pressure. His consistency paid off, as Pestana cross-rutted just before the finish-line jump and went down. Northrop inherited the lead; Pestana quickly remounted to hold off the charging Matson. Pestana simply ran out of time while attempting to catch Northrop, who took the checkers for the win. Matson came in third, behind Pestana, with Yamaha pilot Crumb fourth, ahead of Shank. "I saw Jeff (Pestana) get all cross-rutted," said Northrop. "I think I hit his back wheel trying to get out of the rut to avoid him." The 12Scc Pro moto saw Kawasakimounted Scott Davis snag the holeshot, ' with Northrop, Paul Timmerman and Pestana in tow. Pestana appeared to have things under control as he quickly made his way to the front of the pack by lap two, putting a good five-second

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