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/128143
. ~ J1ST ANNUAL WORLD MINI GRAND PRIX· WORLD CHAMPfONSHlP MOTOCROSS· '1ST ANNUAl. • WORLD MINI GRAHD PRIX· WOfU..D CHAMF'tONSHP MOTOCROSS. '1ST ANNUAl.· WOfUJ) MINI GRAND PRIX· WORLD CHAMVIONSHIP 1iIOTO~ 8 South Dakotll's Clint Erickson was showing in the Open Pro class. Erickson won everything during the two-show format. In timed qualifying, the J&L Harley/21st Street Body Shop/5Star Muffler-backed Erickson posted the quickest time and secured the pole position. Before the Pro races began, the Open Amateur class took to the Coke-syrup-cov- ered concrete. Several competitors found themselves on the concrete, as it was possible to lose traction even on the sticky floor. Wisconsin's Danny Vrana and Duke Erickson, Clint's younger brother, took heat-race wins and would line up next to each other for the main event. Vrana took the holeshot in the main and began to run away, but Duke began moving up. Duke was getting faster each lap, in search of the top spot. Duke made an incredible outside pass on Dusten Johnson to ~ ~ ~b I I ~ ~ I i i ~ ~ ~ take second and began reeling in Vrana. Terry Pfeifer secured third in the closing laps with a pass on Johnson. Unfortunately for Duke, time ran out and Vrana took the win. Duke finished a respectable second, followed by Pfeifer, Johnson and Dave Stamp. The Pro division took the floor, with Clint Erickson on the pole for the main event. Erickson was coming of( a heat-race win, as weli as taking all the money in the Dash For Cash. The only question was whether or not Erickson could make it a perfect night. Uning up next to Erickson was S-K Service/Cliffs Cycle Service/Pro Plates-backed veteran Steve Kasten, who recently received his Grand National license. As the 14-rider field dived into the first corner, it was a three-way battle for the lead, as Kasten was sandwiched between Erickson on the inside and c.J. Beving on the outside. By the time they hit the back stretch, Erickson had taken over the lead and Beving was in second. Kasten wanted to make sure he didn't lose sight of Erickson, and he made a pass on Beving for third. There were plenty of batties raging back and forth a Iittie further back in the pack. Pilot Truck Stop/Cody Hall Inc./lnterlake Sport Center-backed Sheldon Wenz was holding down fifth, just head of Bob Shaver and Exit 14 Amoco/Legend Airride/Deluxe Harley Davidson's Randy Coughlin. The Open Am winner, Vrana, was in fourth, just a wheel ahead of Wenz. In the opening laps, Coughlin moved past Shaver, and at halfway he took over fifth from Wenz. That would only last a lap, as Wenz retook the position and took off after Vrana. Meanwhile, up front, Erickson was on cruise control with a big lead in front of Kas· ten, who was running comfortably in second. With three laps to go, Wenz squeaked by Vrana and set his sights on Beving. Wenz ducked under Beving coming out of tum two to steal away third. Erickson completed the perfect day, followed by Kasten, Wenz, Beving and Vrana. R ••ults OPEN AM: 1. Donny Vrono (Rtx); 2. Duke Erickson (Rtx); 3. Terry Pfeifer (Kow); 4. Dusten Johnson (Hon); 5. Dave Stamp (Yam). OPEN PRO: 1. C1lnt ErIckson (Ra); 2. Steve Kasten (Yam); 3. Sheldon Wen: (Suz): 4. C.J. BevIng (Hon): 5. DaMy Vrana (Rtx) Glen Helen Raceway Park Tanaka, Papp Smear 'em at REM MX BY ROCKY HASH SAN BERNARDINO, CA, JAN. 26 A large turnout of racers enjoyed a pictureperfect day for racing during Racing Enterpris- es Motorsports' weekly Saturday motocross. In the Over 40 Intermediate division, Tibor Papp won the overall honors on the day, while in the Combined Pro class, Kawasaki rider Takase Tanaka eamed the lion's share of the purse with his two-mota sweep on the day. In the first moto of Pro action, Brian Beach snared the holeshot aboard his CRF450. Craig Davis stuck his YZ426F into the second slot, while Willy Musgrave held down third. Tanaka was fourth, with Nate Hawley filling out the top five. On the first lap, Davis took over the point position in the back canyon, pushing Beach back to second place. Tanaka was also moving forward, and by the third lap he was up to second place. Musgrave still held third, while Beach slipped back to fourth. After following Davis for a bit, Tanaka made his move and cue I _ n __ s FEBRUARY 27,2002 75