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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Best In The Desert Silver State Series Round 3: Desert Vipers M.e. Adelanto Grand Prix STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARK KARIYA ADELANTO, CA, FEB. 22-23 fter a weekend full of runner-up finishes, Ty Davis had to be both satisfied and frustrated at the 23rd Adelanto Grand Prix in the city limits of this high-desert town not far from where he lives. The Montclair Yamaha/Race Tech/Moose YZ450F racer finished second in both the Fourstroke Expert and Vet Expert classes to Honda's Johnny Campbell on Saturday. Team Green's Destry Abbott ended the day with the big money in the Pro race, Davis again second. Fellow Yamaha rider Nathan Woods then beat him for the 250cc Expert victory on Sunday morning. Davis knew he'd put in good rides but hadn't claimed the top spot once all weekend, and that didn't set well with the unofficial "King of Adelanto." That changed in the last race of the weekend, the Pro Team race that served as round three of the Best In The Desert Silver State Series. Davis enlisted Woods to join him, since regular partner Russ Pearson was trying his luck in Texas at the opener of the WORCS Eastern tour. Together, the pair took turns reeling in the leaders, dispatching each one until the Yamaha was at the front, where it stayed. Johnny Campbell/Steve Hengeveld, one of the A early leading teams on their Precision Concepts/ Dunlop/IMS XR650R, held on for the runner-up spot, while Abbott and teammate Shane Esposito - another leading team - claimed a close third on their Chevy Trucks/Pro Circuit/ Maxima KX500. "Nathan was awesome; he was riding so fast," Davis offered. "It was a good turnout; I got seconds in every race and a first, so I can't complain." With over 2400 entries for 13 races put on by the Desert Vipers Motorcycle Club over the weekend, Adelanto may very well live up to its self-proclaimed billing as one of the biggest races in the region, if not the country. With spectator admission, a Saturday-night concert, and camping all free, the town's population swells well beyond its normal level, and the races are the fiscal highlight of the year for the area. For the second year in a row, many of the races also served as pOints-paying events for Best In The IAbove) Johnny Campbell had a good weekend after suffering from the flu. He won two classes and was runner· up in two others, including the Pro Team race with partner Steve Hengeveld. -- Open ProS head fDr1he tII'lIt tum In the T _ ,... thM _ . The (Top right) A fonner "King of Adelanto," Ty Davis won only the last race of the weekend this year: the Best in the Desert Pro Team event. He did get second in four other classes, though. 34 MARCH 12, 2003' eye I ~- . the KI8't c.em (OOlIt . . . . with DeatIy AIIbott ~ who _ the IndIvId 114,000 Pro rece the p.-t_ ~ to him. a-tuaI wlnnerlY DftIa Is AIIIIoIt. 011 the _ . . . . . . . . . . (3J ..... JoIInnW c.np 1lQ. _.lIencr • n • _ s