Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Florida Winter AMA Series, Round 1 (Left) Ronnie Tichenor (14) came out of retirement to take home the top prizes in three divisions, winning every moto in the 250cc Pro, Over 25 and Over 30 classes at the opening round of the Florida Winter AMA Series in Gainesville. (Above) James Stewart (259) roped in two wins, with victories in all four motos of the 85cc (14-15) and Supermini classes at Gatorback Cycle Park. Bv racing's Tyson Hadsell took the lead ahead of Robert Farnell, Thomas, Chase Reed and Barry Carsten. "I caught Farnell on the first lap and then had a really good race with Hadsell," Thomas said. "Hadsell fell and I had a good lead until Farnell came back and challenged me at the end." "The suspension was really kicking me, and Reed got ahead of me," Farnell reported. "He slowed at the end and I regained second." The ageless Carsten moved from a top-10 start to third by moto's end. The Yamaha-mounted Thom!!s ripped the second-moto holeshot and led all the way to the win, ahead of Hadsell, Carsten, Reed and Aaron Dieter. "Dieter was strong for a couple of laps;" Hadsell said. "I finally jumped by him into second on the tabletop." "The track was fast but had some huge holes," Farnell said. "Thomas must have had some awesome lines. He was out of sight." Carsten, who has competed in the Over 30 class for a couple of years, earned the second overall spot. Tichenor rocketed to the front of the first 250cc Pro moto and at the end of lap one he was leading Farnell, Thomas, Tony Lorusso, Kenny Yoho and Carsten. Thomas caught up to Farnell and passed for the second position. "I caught Farnell before the elevator and stuffed inside of him," Thomas explained. "Ronnie was really charging and was too far ahead for me to reel in." "After Thomas passed me," Farnell said, "I had to hold off Lorusso MIKE AND ANNE ADAIR GAINESVILLE, FL, JAN. 1·2 onnie Tichenor is back. Tichenor, who is sponsored by Suzuki, Performance Engineering, Shift, Fox, Oakley, and Bent Frame clothing, came out of retirement and swept three classes in the opening round of the Florida Winter AMA Motocross Series at Gatorback. The former Team Suzuki rider - who has earned minicycle, amateur and professional championships during his career here - won every moto in the 250cc Pro, Over 25 and Over 30 classes. "I missed motocross," Tichenor said, "so I set up a new Suzuki, opened a motocross school and plan to return to racing on a limited basis." Jason Thomas won both 125cc Pro motos and also placed second to Tichenor in the 250cc Pro class. The Lineman Cycles/Thor/EVS/Bieffe/ FMF/"pro Action/Pirelli-backed Thomas is commuting back and forth between a German MX series and the AMA Supercross events. "I have never been in better shape," Thomas claimed. "My personal trainer, Kirk Layfield, has developed a cross-training program for me that really works. I also cycle with pro mountain biker Rodney Reeves." The 29th edition of the series featured a large turnout of 70] riders, who practiced on New Year's Day and ran both motos on the Jerry West-designed Gatorback track on January 2. The weather was ideal, a sunny 75 degrees. In the first 125cc Pro moto, BSY 30 JANUARY 19, 2000' eye • e n e _ s and Carsten to hang on to third." "It was fun," said Tichenor. "I got the bike about two weeks ago, and Performance Engineering has got it dialed in pretty wei I. " Suzuki jockey Yoho led the second 250cc Pro moto, ahead of Tichenor, Carsten, Farnell, Jeremy Shuttleworth and Thomas. Tichenor got outside Yoho and held the next turn for the lead and eventual win. "Tichenor came by me real quick," recounted Yoho. "He had some great lines." '" really wanted to race with Tichenor," Thomas lamented, "but 1 was buried a few places back and it took me forever to pass Farnell, Carsten and Yoho." "I feel like I am really riding pretty well and definitely having a lot of fun," Tichenor said after the win. Chase Reed was the king of the ] 25cc A and 250cc A classes. The talented Yamaha-supported rider from Oklahoma swept all four motos, topping Hadsell in both classes. "I let Reed go in the first 250cc A moto, saving something for the Pro classes," Hadsell said. "He had the second moto wired as well." Grant Ransdell caught Damon Hambright with two laps to go to win the final 50cc (4-6) moto and the overall. Brad Johnson shared moto wins with Michael McArthur, but Johnson took the 50cc (7 -8) class win. Dominic Izzi caught Orlando Hamilton and Colton Bailey in the final 65cc (7 -9) moto to earn the overall. On his first ride on a KTM motorcycle, Kyle Keylon edged Zach Osborne in a close 65cc (] 0- ]] ) class. Davi Millsaps had to pass Larry Partin in the final 85cc (7-11) moto to complete his class sweep. Josh Lichtle won a close contest over Matt Goerke in the 85cc( 12-] 3) class. Team Green Kawasaki's James Stewart swept all four motos in his 85cc (14-15) and Supermini classes. "I injured my shoulder in practice this week and didn't know if I would be able to ride at all," Stewart reported, but the injury turned out to be a bruise and barely slowed down this rising star. Tichenor had one of his toughest starts in the first Over 25 moto. "I got squeezed out off the gate and had to eventua lIy pass Mark Beamer and Gaylon Dickson for the moto win," Tichenor said. After watching Tichenor's romp in the Over 25 and Over 30 classes, Earl May scored a pair of moto wins for himself in the Over 35 class, ahead of Mark Beamer. Manufacturers rep Flip Page made his annual appearance and swept both Over 40 motos. "I always like to get an up close and personal view of what's happening in Florida," Page said. Brian Gray edged Joshua Summey in a 125cc B-class tie breaker, but Summey romped to a pair of 250cc B moto wins to dominate that class. CN &atorback Cycle Park Gainesville, Florida Results: January 1-2, 1999 [Round II 50 AUTO STK (4-6): 1. Gront Ronsdell (KTM): 2. Johnnie Gargano (Cob); 3. Damon Hambright (Cob); 4. Mikey Morello (Cob); 5. Collin Cabre. 50 AUTO STK (7-8): I. Bred Johnson (Cob); 2. Michael McArthur Jr. (Cob); 3. Michael Meiterman (Cob); 4. Chose Cooture (Cob); 5. Nd McPhee (Kow). 65 (7-9): 1. Dominic lui (Cob); 2. Orlando Hamilton (Kaw); 3. Colton Bailey (Kaw); 4. Ryan Lawhon (Kaw); 5. Dustin Solovitch (Kaw). 65 (10-11): 1. Kyle Keylon (KTM); 2. Zoch Osborne (KTM): 3. Ricky Renner (KTM); 4. Broc Tickle (KTM) 85 (7-11): Davi Millsaps (Suz); 2. Jon Camp (Yam); 3. Dean Dyess (Suz); 4. Jake Griffis (Hon); 5. Zach Osborne (KTM). 85 (12-13): 1. Josh Uchtle (Suz); 2. Matt Goerke (Vam); 3. Matt Boni (Kaw); 4. Kyle Chisholm (Kow); 5. D.C. Clork (Suz). 85 (14·15): 1. Jomes Stewart (Kow); 2. Donold McGourty (Yam); 3. Stephen Shoaf (Suz); 4. Robert Kiniry (Kaw); 5. Richard Sheriff (Han). WMN: 1. Angie Keuntjes (Kaw); 2. Jessica Patterson (Kaw): 3. Cara Chada (Yam): 4. Jessye Davis (Kaw); 5. Sommer Wood (Kaw). 4-STRK: 1. David Mack (Yam); 2. Timothy Eggers (Yam); 3. Kirk Layfield (Yam); 4. Kevin Cozodd (Kow); 5. Show Dunkel (Vom). 125 YTH (12·15): I. Drew Koin (Vom): 2. Brion Gray (Yam); 3. Micky Marshall (Yam); 4. Brad Modjewski (Suz); 5. Matthew Barnes (Kaw). 125 A: 1. Chase Reed (Yam); 2. Tyson Hadsell (Yam): Jarrett Tipping (Suz): 4. Tony Medrano (Yam); 5. Darren McElhatten (Yam). ]25 B: 1. Brian Gray (Yam); 2. Joshua Summey (Kaw); 3. Paul Perebijnos (Yam); 4. Ryan Davis (Kaw); 5. Jocob Soylor (Yom). 125 C: I. Lee Williams (Hon); 2. Bubba Bardwell (Yam); 3. William Studstill (Yam); 4. Ryan Burkett (Yam); 5. Bradley Bernier (Suz). 125 PRO: 1. Jason Thomas (Yam); 2. Barry Carsten (Suz): 3. Robert Farnell (Suz): 4. Tyson Hadsell (Yam); 5. Joshua Woods (Kaw). 250/500 A: 1. Chase Reed (Yam); 2. Tyson Hadsell (Yam); 3. Jeremy Shuttleworth (Yam); 4. Jarrett Tipping (Suz); 5. Randy Jackson (Hon). 250/500 B: 1. Joshua Summey (Kaw); 2. Ryan Davis (Kaw); 3. Jason Baker (Yam); 4. Aaron Stancil (Yam); 5. Timothy Baker. 250/500 C: 1. Patrick Manning (Yam); 2. Jerad Meister (Yam); 3. Mike Taylor (Hon); 4. William Studstill (Yam); 5. Chris Nelson (Yam). 250 PRO: I. Ronnie Tichenor (Suz); 2. Jason Thomas (Yam); 3. Tony Lorusso (Suz); 4. Barry Carsten (Suz); 5. Kenny Yoho (Suz). 25+: I. Ronnie Tichenor (Suz); 2. Gaylon Dickson (Kaw); 3. Earl May (Kaw); 4. Matthew Crown (Kaw): 5. Marcus Pedrero (Yam). 30+: 1. Ronnie Tichenor (Suz); 2. Gaylon Dickson (Kaw); 3. Barry Carsten (Suz); 4. Earl May (Kaw); 5. Matthew Crown (Kaw). 35+: 1. Earl May (Kaw); 2. Mark Beamer (Suz); 3. Ed Kiley (Han): 4. David Mack (Yam); 5. Samuel Allen (Yem). 40+: 1. Flip Page (Hon); 2. Robert Tiesler (Hon); 3. Mark Thomas (Kaw); 4. Kevin Austin (Suz): 5. Barry Mayo (Hon).