Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

back, third place was up for grabs. Brian Lane slipped into the position. However, as soon as Lane gained the position, he encountered mechanical woes that left him with a D F. Inheriting the number-three spot was Chuck Shirley. Shirley gated terribly and spent the entire moto playing catch-up. At the finish, it was Walker, Black, Shirley and Capps, followed by Benji Rutledge, who made a couple of late passes to secure the fifth po ition. Moto two aw Walker grab the holeshot and again establish an early lead. Capps, Yamaha-mounted Sean Skutnik, and Black were all vying for the number-two position early on. Black made his move just after the halfway poiJ;>t, moving into the number-two position and leaving the rest to argue over third again. With the two frontrunners ou t in the clear, the race was for the final podium position. . Capps made his move on Skutnik at the same time as Black; however, he had Shirley knocking at the back door. With the race drawing to a close, the veteran Shirley closed up on Capps and pressured the rookje, hoping for a mistake. Nevertheless, Capps held strong, takmg third, with Shirley and Skutmk close behind. On a borrowed bike, Walker grabbed the holeshot in 12Scc A action. Walker again pulled a disappearing act from the rest of the field. Sand specialist Chris Wagner was in the second spot, under heavy pressure from teammates Black and William Wilson. Slow-starting Shirley was again the man on the move, quickly slicing through the pack and into third, while Wagner and Lane paired off in a battle of their own. Shirley closed up on thirdplaced Wagner just past the halfway point. Shirley also caught up to Black, but the second-placed rider took the pressure well, not giving an inch. At the checkers, it was Walker with a comfortable le~d. Black was second, followed closely by Shirley. Capps managed to quietly work his way into fourth, and Wagner finished fifth. The event could not have been any better if it had been scripted, as the final 125cc A moto of the day was indeed the most exciting. Shirley finally had found the start he was lookjng for and seemingly had the holeshot, only to see Walker slip by with a smooth inside line at the first turn. Shirley did not let Walker off the hook, taking up the pursuit. The two riders set a torrid pace that no other riders could match. Shirley mirrored Walker move for move. Although he was right on Walker's rear fender, he could not find an opening to get by. Just past the halfway point, Walker opened a slight lead but then fell over in a slow left-hander. It looked like the break Shirley needed, but Walker's luck held out and he fell onto a stack of tires and inadvertently blocked the track. As Shirley pulled out of the racing line to go around, Walker regained his balance, and the two d rag-raced to the next corner. Walker was the first rider there. Local boy Shirley stayed close, but Walker held steady for his hardest win of the day. Shirley took a very creditable second, with Suzukj rider Richie Clippard, also having his best moto of the day, finishing third. Black, nursing a sick-sounding bike, raced to fourth. After winning the 12Scc A class, Walker also went on to win the Over 25 Adass. Dou ble class wins seemed to be the order of the day, with seven riders pulling off the feat, including Cody Robbins and Joshua Schmitt. Robbins' first class win came in the White Brothers W· s ... Again! • • Team White BrotherslVamaha rider Spud Walters clinches the '99 U.S. Offroad Thunder Bike 4-Stroke Series Championship with an uncontested victory in the final round of the series in Seattle, Washington. The win garnered Spud and the team 5 WECO their second-straight series championship after a hard fought season of racing. "The stadium competition this year was awesome! We had guys from aU over the count? ripping-itup on 4-strokes. It took a lot of hard work and effort to put this season together and without the support ofmy sponsors, pit crew, family and fans this dream wouldn't have been possible." Spud Walters Champion '98- '99 All Spud's race bike accessories are available thru your local we dealer For more info. call: (714)692.3404 fax (714)692.3409 www.whitebros.com E!!IF=lC3~I-IE!EF=I!!!!!!i!S Ot999 White Brothers, Inc. 24845 Corbit Place. YOfba Unda. CA 92887 The best way to Laguna Seca is through your Honda Dealer. "he bnl way to the llonda Challen~e of l.a~lIna Seca Itam Draier. \X"hnl' wl"rl' gi\ing a\,a~ coupon, redeemable ,;" tich'l\ to Frida\', 'luJlihin~ Jnd ,I 2-for-1 o!ll'[ on adllli'l'lioll for .".!turd.l\'. \t j.l[ ~'our Honda the race, we'll han' a ,pecial product di,pLn and an aUlll~raph 'ellion II ith the Hooda ra,ers. Plul relen cd p."kin~ and helmet ,heck for IIRe.\ memb"", It', our W,I\ of lIuking [hi" ~ollr h~'1t 1..1~1I1lJ )1.:(,1 t.,'\I.:r. www.honda.com . 0> 0> 0> ~ is. « 31

• Cover