Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Ty Davis and Russell Pearson's rear tire shredded and nearly chewed off the back section of their bike, Believe it or not, the team made it to the finish and took third. IRNMN EX: 1. Rick Daniel (KTM): 2 Aaron Griffin (Kaw); 3. Dan Lorenze (Yam). 250 AM: 1. Marian Kostka/Bohumil Monas/ Michal Strnad (KTM) 125 AM: 1. Matt Sales/Eric SmIth (Kaw). 30. AM: 1. James Embro/Duane Schwab. 35. AM: I. Andy Allsup/Ernie Allsup (KTM); 2. Greg Landers/Eric Pealstrom (Hon) 40+ AM: I. Miles Frandsen/Ron Young (K8w); 2. Stan G. eedham/Don Snow (KTM); 3. Gary COVington/Rhett Higgins/Marty J. Smith (VOR). 4·STRK AM: 1. Glenn Warren/Robert Warren; 2. Dave Deloe/Brad Merrida Jr./Jason Sturtz (Yam): 3. George Felix/Kevin Parsons (Hon). IRNMN AM: 1. Steve Lorenze Jr. (Yam). BEST IN THE DESERT FINAL POINT STANDINGS Steve Hengeveld Ishown) and Johnny Campbell drew the first starting position and were hard-pressed to keep the lead. The team crossed the finish line first but took second on adjusted time. result, Abbott and Esposito only needed to finish this race to clinch the championship. "We really just wanted to finish," Abbott said. "I started off pretty decent. I was able to get around [Kirk] Stephensen, then past the alternate I got around David [Pearson). and I felt pretty good. We were leading on time." Russell also passed a number of teams after starting from the back of the Open Pros, and he was up to third when he handed the bike off to Davis at the end of the first loop. By coming from behind, though, they were tantalizingly close to the lead on corrected time. Suddenly, their hopes for the win came apart when the experimental rear radial tire that they were using disintegrated as Russell started the third and final loop. "Russ and I worked our way up through the pack really good," Davis said. "Going into the last loop. we had the lead [on time). and the brake pads were gone. so we were going to trade at the next pit and put new brake pads in. but we had a tire come apart. That kind of ruined our race." "1 don't know what it was." Russell said after finishing with a leg and backside bruised from all the tire shrapnel. "All I know is. it started riding real rough. I started wanting to baby it in because I could look back and see something was happening back there. About a mile before the pits, it finally came apart. I tried to stop and fix it, but my tools wouldn't cut it off. I was like, '1 can sit out here or try to baby it in.' I went, 'Sorry, Ty!' I tried to get going fast so maybe it'd break off, but it just started beating [the back of the bike] up worse, so I just babied it in." The shredded tire nearly destroyed the back of the bike, and after they had changed wheels, Davis found himself chasing three teams, includ- ing the Brown/D. Pearson bike, which slipped into third place. Davis eventually got back past the Kawasaki and finished out the race there, in third. As Campbell worked the third lap, he discovered that his pace wasn't quite enough to maintain the lead. "Destry surprised me," Campbell said. "He came up beside me at a checkpoint. We took off out of there, and I backed off for a ditch, and he didn't. He took a chance and got by me. I told Steve to get on at the alternate and do the last 45 miles just because he was more aggressive than I was today." With Abbott now a couple of minutes in front (though plagued by brake problems), Hengeveld went to work. "I just put the hammer down, and everything clicked," he said. "Finally there was a trail out there, so you knew where you were going [unlike his first tour, when he was breaking trail]. I caught Destry and passed him about three miles before the finish, [but] it just wasn't enough." "I knew if I was within a minute and a half, we had it: Abbott said. "We didn't really take any chances, but I felt like I was riding pretty well. I think it helped us that the Yamaha guys had a problem, because I don't know if we would've beaten Russ and Ty. They rode really well. too." In the end. the Kawasaki racers had both the race and series victories to enjoy. "It was a great year." Abbott said. "We won five of the races. Shane's definitely the one who won the championship for us. I have all the respect for him. He definitely won it for us because of him having to solo two races." eN lJIs Vegas 200 Jean, Nevada Results: December 7, 2002 IFinal Round] O/A: 1. Destry Abbott/Shane Esposito (Kaw). 4:21 :06: 2. Johnny Campbell/Steve Hengeveld (Hon), 4:22:12; 3. Ty DaVis/Russell Pearson (Yam), 4:28:38: 4. Brian Brown/David Pearson (Kaw). 4:30:01: 5. Mike Childress/Andy Grider (Hon), 4:30:20: 6. Clint Braun/Danny Cooper (Hon), 4:34:34: 7. Bert Bradford/Rob Phillips (KTM), 4:44:50; 8. Tom E. Willis/Greg Zitterkopf (Hon), 4:44:57: 9. David Fry/Kirk Stephensen (Kaw), 4:45:14; 10. Christopher Blais (Hon), 4:45:44. OPEN PRO: 1. Destry Abbott/Shane Esposito (Kaw); 2. Johnny Campbell/Steve Hengeveld (Hon); 3. Ty Davis/Russell Pearson (Yllm): 4. Brian 4-STRK PRO: 1. Bert Bradford/Rob Phill;ps (KTM): 2_ Christopher Blais (Hon): 3. Daryl OPEN PRO: J. Destry Abbott/Shane Esposito (1531); 2. Ty Davis/Russell Pearson (1421); 3. Johnny Campbell/Steve Hengeveld (1191): 4. Danny Cooper/Andy Grider (1178); 5. Brian Brown/David Pearson ( I 159). 250 PRO: 1. Bryan Folks/Wade Phlliips (1350); 2. Dennis Gallagher/Gordon Keller (381): 3. Brent Harden/David Rees (210). 125 PRO: 1. Mike Healey!Tlm Weigand (250); 2, Robbie Bell/Josh Thompson (210). 30+ PRO: I. Tom E, Wlliis/Jeff T. Capt (675); 2, Ricardo Malo/Sergio Vege (210) 3. Jonah Street/Scott Vonbargen (25). 40. PRO: 1. Ron Lawson/Gary Jones (225); 2. Roger Russell/Ross Williams (225), 4-STRK PRO: I. Daryl Folks/Paul Krouse (1222); 2, Bert Bradford/Rob Phllilps (l 093); 3. Todd Davis/Justin Drake (785). Folks/Paul Krause (KTM). OPEN EX: I. Billy Hagan/Aron Huntington/ Danny Linnell (Yam); 2. Chuck Sun/Dick WOk Huntington/Danny Linnell (1453); 2. Anthony Grierson/Scott Herweg (996); 3. Steve LaRoza/Jesse Brown/David Pearson (Kaw); 5. Mike Childress/Andy Grider (Han). 250 PRO: I. Bryan Folks/Wade Phillips (KTM). 30.,. PRO: 1. Tom E. Willis/Greg Zilterkopf (Hon). 40+ PRO: 1. Roger Russell/Ross Williams (KTM). OPEN SPTSMN: (KTM); 3. Steve LaRoza/Jesse Ochoa (KTM). Billy Hagan/Aron Ochoa (976). 250 EX: I. Bebo Gutierrez/Oscar Munoz (Kaw); 2. Mike Aguilera/Tony Aguilera/Kelly Hall (KTM). 125 EX: 1. Ben Amboy/Jeremy Butler/Randy 1. Tyner (225), 250 SPTSMN: 1. Mike Aguilera/Tony Aguilera/ Kelly Hall (1066); 2. Jason Licitra (555): 3. Michael 125 SPTSMN: 1. Tyler Flippen/Kyle Gibson/ Jonathan Martinez (1290): 2. Ben Amboy/Jeremy Butler/Randy Wells (1224): 3. Chris Garnett/Nate Pearson/Justin Wray (182). 4·STRK SPTSMN: I . .Bo M. Hams/Brian Pinard (1560); 2. Blii Clarey/Scon Cla",y (864): 3. Ronnie Couturier/Damon Gill/Eric Shenberger (785). 35+ SPTSMN: 1. John Clayton/Phil DouglllS/ Rex Fieck (1672); 2. Steve Panklls/Ron A. Purvines/Donald R. Tussing (1116); 3. Bobby Wells (KTM). 30. EX: I. Rusty Denman/Brett Marshall/Tim P;ndel (Hgb). 35. EX: J. Steve Pankas/Ron A. Purvines/Donald R. Tussing (KTM); 2. John C1ayton{Phil Douglas/Rex Fieek (Kaw). 40. EX: 1. Randy Blevins/Kurt Sotka. Jr. (Hon). 50. EX: I. Jerry Allen/Howllrd M. Larson (Yam). 4·STRK EX: I. So M. Harris/Brian Pinard (Hon); 2. Robert Howard/Jeramie Young (Yam); 3. Ronnie Couturier/Damon Gill/Eric Shenberger (Yam). Owens/Alan Rudd (408). BRIEFLY••• This marked the third year that Steve Hengeveld has finished the Las Vegas 200 in the run· ner·up spot. "That kind of sucks,' he said. 'I wanted to break that [streak), Maybe next year." The race also marked the one·year anniversary of the bad crash suffered by Honda's Tim Staab. who is still recovering. Staab has continued to make slow but steady progress from trauma to the brain. and he still enjoys hearing from his buddies, Cards and letters can be sent to Staab at 2500 Gosford Road. Apt. 2. Bakersfield. CA 93306. Suzuki's Mike Kiedrowski surprised a lot of people by showing up at the Las Vegas 200. though it wasn't to race. He was simply helping pit for a friend running a ProTruck, Though unable to train yet. Kiedrowski appears to be recovering nicely from the broken shoulder that he suffered in a mountain-bike crash late in November. "i can lift my arm pretty well." he said while demonstrating. He plans to be ready for at least some light trail nd,ng soon. with the Invitational FMF Baja Mar trail ride on January 6-8 as his goal. Team Aggie triumphs again. Though they finished runners-up for the day in 250cc Expert class. the tno of Mike Aguilera. Tony Aguilera and Kelly Hall were tops In final pOints in the class Once again. they did the deed on their trusty 1998 KTM, backed by the Bushwackers MC. Ranch Elko NV and D,ck's Raclng_ Bryan Folks and Wade Phillips were the lone entrants In the 250cc Pro class on their Pro CirCUit/Sportsman Cycle/Dunlop KTM. ensunng themselves the class Win. They easily aced the class In the final senes pOints as well Former MXer and desert racer Greg Zitterkopf made a tnumphant retum to competing on dirt bikes. JOIning Tom WilliS on the Major Alarm/O'Neal USAITemecula Motorsports XR650R for the Over 30 Pro ViCtOry. Now a reSident of Grand Junction. Colorado, Zitterkopf claimed he hadn't ndden In qUite a while. so he practiced a coupie of days before the race He gets most of his racIng fill a quarter-mile at a time now, drIVIng drag cars. Four-Stroke Expert racer Steven Fuller reportedly suffered a broken leg when he was hit by a buggy that crossed the motorcycle/ATV course by mistake. Ty Davis was scheduled to undergo a hernia operation a few days after the race. He noticed a problem while picking up rocks before the WORCS finale but claimed 11 didn't affect hiS ndlng Christopher Blais soloed to 10th overall and second place In the Four-Stroke Pro diVISion on hiS Blalsracing.com/Pro Honda Oils/Goat-backed XR650R. Billy Hagan. Aron Huntington and Danny Linnell tnumphed In the Open Expert class, taking top Expert team honors and placing 13th overall in 4;55:51 on their Cliff's Texaco/Gone Wild/Ely-backed Yamaha, The win wrapped up the senes championship for them as well. Bo Harris and Brian Pinard dominated the Four-Stroke Expert class all year. with six wins and a second in the seven races they entered on their Temecula Motorsports/MSR/IMS Honda, Their Vegas 200 win gave them the class championship. Four-Stroke Amateur entrants Glenn Warren and Robert Warren were not only first in class at Las Vegas but aiso the first Amateur finishers. placing 34th overall In 5:54:04. cue I e n e _ S • JANUARY 8. 2003 43

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