Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128023
tock early, and then McClintock went down halfway through the first lap. Meados assumed second place, with Nichols in third. McClintock recovered in fourth and began a difficult charge though the pack. Meanwhile, Vallejo stretched out a 15-second lead. Meados looked strong, pulling away from Nichols, but he was no match for Vallejo through the sandy, near-four-minute course. Vallejo finished 40 seconds ahead of Meados in second, and McClintock's charge took him into third, followed by Nichols, who was fighting the flu. Between motos, McClintock was questioned about his second-moto strategy. "If I can just stay up on the first lap," McClintock replied, "I might have a chance." Vallejo smoked through the first-corner with the holeshot in the second moto. Second was 125cc Expert rider Brent Gilliam, who was struggling with the sandy course. He got sucked up by what was being referred to as the "Venus fly trap," and he eventually fell out of the picture. Nichols, Meados and McClintock rounded out the top five. "[To] Stay on my bike is the key thing here, and try to win," Vallejo said after the first moto, and at the end of the first lap he was easily adapting to the second-moto "roughness," pulling out a 20-second lead. The race got quite interest!rg behind Vallejo. McClintock, who started the race a distant fifth, had worked his way up to Meados' rear fender. McClintock went around for third. Nichols was fighting hard for the second position. "11'm running) strong in the beginning and weak in the end [of each moto) - I've got the flu right now," Nichols said between motos. McClintock passed Nichols for the second spot, placing him in a money position. As the race wore on, Nichols' fight against the flu proved to be too much for the 125cc pilot. As Nichols dropped back, Meados got a second wind and passed Nichols for the third position and started a charge on McClintock, in second. McClintock fought tough nearly to the end, only to run into the back of a lapper down on the lower part of the track in a deep sand berm. This allowed the hard-charging Meados to claim the runner-up position, as well as second overall. Vallejo crossed the line first, with Meados, Nichols, McClintock and Gilliam rounding out the top five. In the Amateur classes, former Baja champion and ISDE hero Joey Lane took the FourStroke-class win. Pasha Afshar topped the Vet class. The last trophy given at the awards presentation was to local boy Seth Hibden, who never looked back en route to top honors in the 250cc Novice division. Results 125 EX: I. Brent GIlHam. 4·STRK OPEN: I. Joey Lane. 250 VET: 1. Pashe Afshar. 250 NOV: J. Seth Hlbden (Hon); 2. Robert Bedford (Yam): 3. Caesar Alverez (Kaw). PRO: 1. Erick Vollejo (Kew); 2. Mike Me!ldoll (Hon): 3. WilllOl\ Nichols (Hon); 4. Billy McClintock (Hon). Columbus Ultracross Yezek. Jackson split the wins By JON HEDDEN COLUMBUS,OH,DEC.4 The PACE Ultracross Series came into Colum~ bus, Ohio, for round six and was welcomed by sell-out crowds and the biggest rider turnout in the history of the series. Some 57 125cc riders and 46 250cc riders were on hand to do battle on a technical track, which made for close racing all weekend. The KTM USA and AM Leonard factory support teams and the Neilson Honda support team were all on hand, along with privateers from all across the country. The 125cc main event started with Neilson Enterprises Honda's Junior Jackson taking the holeshot. This is the last anyone would see of Junior, as he went wire to wire to claim the win. KTM rider Chris Wheeler started in second, but a miscue on lap six relegated him to a seventhplace finish. Honda pilot Jeff Gibson took advantage of Wheeler's mistake and went on to an uncontested second-place finish. The battle for third lasted until the finish, with another AM Leonard KTM rider, Mark Burkhart, claiming the final podium spot over F&S Suzuki jockey Matt Shue. Midwest Honda's Austin Raubs claimed fifth, followed by Jim Neese, Wheeler, Joe Oelhof and Jeff Baker, with Brian Mason rounding out the top 10. The 250cc main was the race of the weekend. It looked as though Junior Jackson was going to claim yet another holeshot, but Jeff r----------- I I I I For FASTEST I senice attach malli... label. I Please allow 3 weeks for change to take etrect. II If label is not available print your n and old address in this box. I I I Mail to: Circulation Dept. Cycle News, Inc. 3505-M Cadillac Avenue Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Print your NEW address here. NAME : ADDRESS L I CITY STATE ZIP eye ~ I e n e vv s JANUARY 12, 2000 43