Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

little bumping and grinding along the way. Reid's troubles didn't end there, either, when former factory Yamaha, Honda and Kawasaki rider Ron Lechien, on an '83 Honda CR480R, came knocking. Reid felt Lechien's presence and picked up his pace to keep Lechien at bay. Meanwhile, former Team Yamaha rider Jim Gibson worked his way up and started challenging Lechien. Gibson, whose borrowed YZ250 suffered a top-end meltdown during practice earlier in the day, was now aboard another borrowed bike Rick D0l!ghty's personal 1981 Maico 490. Despite given explicit orders to be "ginger" on his prized German steed, Gibson came up through the pack on a torrid pace, nearly giving Doughty a heart attack. Gibson eventually got around the Honda rider to get third. Moto two was a near-carbon copy of the first, except Gibson was in the hunt from the get-go. Holley was set on winning again despite a rapidly disintegrating rear wheel. Gibson kept Holley honest throughout the race, and Reid hung around in third the whole way. Lechien wasn't a factor in this one, as he saved his energy for the Race of Champions. Here, former factory Kawasaki rider Tom Benolkin, former Suzuki factory rider Brian Myerscough, former National MX Champion Gary Jones and many others joined in on the fun. Gibson, now fully bonded with the Maico and its legendary handling, chased down Reid and Holley's YZ490s, as well as Lechien's CR480. The Glen Helen course favored the big-bore machines, which left Benolkin, on a '74 CR250, Myerscough, on an '80 CR125, and Jones, on a Follmer Motorsport '74 Maico 250, to form their own battle for fourth through seventh. The day eventually belonged to the unusually aggressive Gibson, who was anything but ginger on Doughty's Maico. He eventually went 1- 1 for the overall victory, while Lechien ended up second. Benolkin finished third overall, ahead of Jones and Joe Melton, who rode an '81 Suzuki RM250 Full-Floater. In the Motocross des Nations event, wherein a team of three riders combine their scores to determine the overall winner, any age machine can (Above, right to left) Casas, Rich Truchinski, Pasha Afshar and friends made up "The Wrecking Crew from Indian Dunes," but they looked more like Team Honda of the early '80s. (Left) Eric Casas won the 40+ Expert class on his Darryl Schultz works-replica 1983 Honda CR480R. be used, but the "scoring handicap" adjusts the finishes to create parity. So, how did it all shake out when the points were tallied? Remarkably close. The winning team of DC Sports/California had a score of 97 points, armed with all Evolution-era machines. The team was made up of Joe Melton, on a 1982 Suzuki, Micky Dymond, on a 1982 Maico, and Gilbert Valdez, on a 1982 Yamaha. Second-placed Factory Fred/ Washington had 98 points, and all rode 1974 CR125s. Third place was Eric Casas' Wrecking Crew, a.k.a. "Valley Boys," all aboard their matching CR480s. In other classes, there was some great racing in the 125cc divisions. Former factory Suzuki and Yamaha rider Scott Burnworth was a favorite to win the Eva 125cc Water-Cooled Expert class, but it was Yamaha rider Ty Swartz who came away with the victory. In the first mota, Burnworth, who rode a 1982 Suzuki RM 125, threw away his chance for the overall win when he discovered that the rear suspension was so soft that he slowed down on the first lap thinking something had broken. Burnworth hadn't ridden the bike before the race. "The suspension was so bouncy, I thought something was wrong," Burnworth said. Earlier, Burnworth had ridden an '83 Honda CR250 to victory in the Evo 3 Expert class. "The suspension on that bike was so stiff, and that's what I was used to. That bike was good but had no top-end but a lot of bottom-end, so you had to short-shift it." Myerscough ended up winning the Evo 125cc AirCooled Expert class. After winning the first mota, Myerscough said, "I feel a little rusty. I haven't ridden in no long, I had to take it easy." Myerscough rode a 1980 CR Honda. "This is the first time I rode it," he said of the bike. "It's good, but the suspension is a little soft, and I though it was going to seize at one time." eN 61en Helen ll.lceway San Bementino, Callfomia Results: June 28-29, 2003 Saturday PRE·'70 NOV: J. Michael Johnstone (BSA), 2. Scott Blunk (Hus); 3. Don Vandercook (Yam): 4, Steven Burke (DKW). PRE-'70 INT: 1. James Keegan (Ric): 2. Keith Petrangelo (BSA), 3. Rolph Porzelt (Ric). PRE-'70 EX: 1. John Garmon (Mai); 2. Charlie Beck (Mai). PRE·'65 EX: 1. Chad Mcintosh (Tri); 2. Russ Held (C2). PRE·'72 125 NOV: J. Don McGregor (Pen). PRE·'72 125 INT: I. Larry Good (Pen). PRE·'72 125 EX: 1. Bruce McDougal (Pen). PRE··75 500 NOV: J. Jeff O'Brien (Cl), 2. Leon Roach (CCI'I), 3. Klaus Ramsey (Vam). PRE·'75 500 INT: J. Kevin Whiteside (Cl), 2. John Lambert (Cl); 3. Lou Harker (Cl); 4. Steve Mclean (Hus). PRE·'75 500 EX: J. Greg Corter (Mai); 2. Ed 5tovin (Cl), 3. Gary Lower (BSA). EVa SUP NOV: 1. Dennis Rowedder (Hus); 2. Allen McKay (Hus); 3. Dave Turk (Hon); 4. Don Wallace (SOl); 5. Mike Gomez (Yam). EVa SUP INT: I. Tom Barker (Hus): 2. Rodney Davidson (Kaw); 3. Rick Price (MZli); 4. Darrick Contreras (Suz): 5. Dennis Carlock (Yam). EVa SOP EX: 1. Jim Holley (Vam); 2. Jim Gibson (Mai): 3. Warren Reid (Yam); 4. Ty Schwartz (Yam); 5. Jason Domann (Yam). PRE·'75 125 NOV: 1. Gerry Glenn (Hon): 2. Brad Putoit (Hon). PRE·'75 125 INT: L Mike Dunn (Hon). PRE·'75 125 EX: 1. Andy James (Han): 2. Scott Davis (Hon); 3. Bruce McDougal (Pen): 4. Chris Alamangos (Hon); 5. Chris Corum (Hon). PRE·'75 250 NOV: J. Bryan lemon (Cl), 2. Randy Lowen (Han); 3. Dennis Rowedder (KTM): 4. Patrick Cook (Han); 5. Scott Knauf (Yam). PRE·'75 250 INT: I. Joe Hart (Hon), 2. Roger Neil (Han); 3. Paul Hefterich (Hon). PRE·'75 250 EX: I. Richard Ashby (Cl). DLR CHAL NOV: 1. Aaran Robinson (Vor): 2. Mark McLeran (Yam): 3. Joe Berg (Yam); 4. Steve Anderson (Yam); 5. Curtis Resinger (Suz). DLR CHAL INT: 1. John Berg (Yam): 2. Steve Bebeck (Han); 3. Mike Garrett (Han). DLR CHAL EX: I. Nick Hart (Hon); 2. Reese Hutchins (Ric). MORN SUP NOV: 1. Justin Jones (Suz); 2. Peter Davenport (Yam): 3. Daniel Reynolds (Kaw); 4. Devin Whitesides (Kaw); 5. Andrew Whitesides (Kaw). MORN SUP INT: 1. Greg Jones (Yam); 2. Greg Groom (Suz); 3. Isaac Gibson (Hon); 4. Jake cue I e Tonkinson (Yam). MORN SUP EX: 1. Jim Domann (Yam); 2. Gilbert Valdez (Yam): 3. Tyson Talkington (Hon): 4. Gary Jones (Yam): 5. Tom White (Yam). 50+ NOV: 1. Jeff O'Brien (Bul); 2. John McElhenny (Sac). 50+ INT: 1. Keith Petrangelo (BSA). 50+ EX: 1. Charlie Beck (Mai); 2. Dennis Middleton (el). 30+ EX: I. Tim Nash (Han). 60+ NOV: 1. Randy Whitesides (Mai). 60+ INT: 1. Skip Kawetl (Hon): 2. Steve McLean (Hus). 60. EX: 1. John Huegel (Vam), 2. Ed Ott (Vam). 40+ NOV: 1. Leon Roach (eeM); 2. Jim O'Sullivan (Cl); 3. Patrick Cook (Hon); 4. Michael Johnstone (BSA): 5. Scott Knauf (Yam). 40+ INT: 1. Lou Harker (Cl); 2. James Keegan (Hus); 3. Ron Renzulli (Cl); 4. Roger Neil (Hon): 5. Mark Hutchins (Hus). 40+ EX: 1. Ed Stovin (Cl); 2. Greg Carter (Mai). ROC: I. Jim Gibson (Hon): 2. Ron Lechien (Hon): 3. Tom Benolkin (Hon); 4. Gary Jones (Mai); 5. Joe Melton (Suz). Sunday MXDN: 1. DC Sports 2 (Joe Melton. Micky Dymond, Gilbert Valdez); 2. Factory Fred/WA State (Andy James. Josh James. Caleb Wyatt); 3. Wrecking Crew Racing (Eric Casas. Pasha Afshar. Rick Truchinski); 4. DC Sports t (Warren Reid. Ty Schwartz. Jarret Reid): 5. Jones Boyz (Gary Jones. Greg Jones, Justin Jones). DEC NOV: 1. John McCain (Hon); 2. Greg Hendrick (KTM): 3. John leGate (Hon). M.OD SUP NOV: 1. Greg McConnell (Yam); 2. Rick Caro (Suz); 3. JD Myerscough (Hon); 4. Justin Jones (Suz); 5. Peter Davenport (Yam). M.OD SUP INT: 1. David Antillion (Hon); 2. Greg Jones (Yam); 3. Ed Reyes (Hon); 4. Todd Varble (Hon); 5. Isaac Gibson (Hon). 1'100 SOP EX: J. Tyson Talkington (C·A), 2. Tom White (Yam); 3. Jim Robinson (KTM); 4. Gene Boere (KTM). VINT SUP NOV: 1. Randy Lowen (Hon); 2. Scott Blunk (Hus); 3. David Kreger (Suz): 4. Jason Doty (Cl). VINT SOP INT: 1. Kevin Whiteside (Cl), 2. Uoyd Boland (Cl). EVa 2 250 NOV: 1. Andrew Yamell (Hon), 2. Randy Thornell (Yam); 3. Dan Allen (Yam); 4. Dennis Rowedder (Hus); 5. Roy Grove (Hus). EVa 2 250 INT: 1. Charles Hilton (Hon): 2. Jason Domann (Yam); 3. Rick Price (Mai). EVO 2 250 EX: 1. Tyson Talkington (C·A), 2. Paul McPhail (Hon). EVa 2 500 NOV: 1. Jim Mulcahy (Mai), 2. Dennis Rowedder (Mai); 3. Darrell Allen (YlIm): 4. Lonnie Stark (Yam); 5. Greg Shepherd (Mai). EVO 2 500 INT: 1. Jim Barker (Hus); 2. Lou Harker (Suz); 3. Doug Reyes (Hon); 4. Keith Meggs (Mai), 5. Ed Reyes (Hus). EVO 2 SOO EX: 1. Micky Dymond (Mai), 2. Ed Stovin (Mai); 3. Ed Tashijan (Suz); 4. John Garmon (Vam). EVO 3 NOV: 1. Don Wallace (Suz): 2. Greg Kendrick (Suz); 3. Thomas Tapscott (Yam); 4. Greg Bowles (Mai). EVO 3 INT: I. Brian Backer (Yam). EVO 3 EX: I. Scott Burnworth (Hon); 2. Ty Swartz (Yam); 3. Rick Daniel (Yam). EVO 1 NOV: I. Guy Martineau (Yam); 2. Tony Pearson (Mai): 3. Scott Knlluf (Yam); 4. Mike Faui (Bui). EVO liNT: 1. Jeff Clausen (Mon); 2. TIm Harris (Suz). EVO 1 EX: 1. Nick Carapella (Hus). 30+ NOV: I. Patrick Crask (Mai). 30+ INT: 1. Pasha Afshar (Hon). 30+ EX: I. Rich Truchinski (Hon): 2. Joe Melton (Suz); 3. Scott Davis (Hon). 50+ NOV: 1. John Pischke (Bul). 50+ INT: 1. Kent Straszewski (Mai). 50+ EX: 1. Gary Jones (Mai). 40+ NOV: I. Dennis Rowedder (Mai); 2. Jim Mulcahy (Mai): 3. Bryan Zeman (Mai); 4. Gregory Kendrick (Suz); 5. Greg Martin (Mai). 40. INT: 1. Lou Harker (Suz); 2. Darrick Contreras (Suz): 3. Ed Reyes (Hus): 4. John Kovalcik (Hus): 5. Brian Backer (Yam). 40+ EX: 1. Eric Casas (Hon): 2. Ed Stovin (Suz); 3. Rick Daniel (Yam); 4. Jim Robinson (Hus); 5. Ed Tashjian (Suz). EVO 125 AlC NOV: 1. Brod Dutoit (Vam): 2. Mike Blunk (Suz). EVO 125 A/C INT: 1. Brian McConnell (Suz); 2. Tom Barnett (Yam); 3. Brian Davis (Kaw). EVa 125 A/C EX: 1. Brian Myerscough (Han): 2. Don Ruffin (Hon); 3. Russ Held (Suz). EVa 125 W/C NOV: 1. Doug Ashiey (Hon), 2. Dave Turk (Hon): 3. Klaus Ramsey (Yam). EVO 125 W/C INT: I. Dan Alamangos (Han). EVa 125 W/C EX: I. Ty Swartz (Vam), 2. Scott Burnworth (Suz); 3. Jay Pavlovec (Suz); 4. Chris Alamangos (Mug); 5. Joe Melton (Suz). n e vv s JULY 30, 2003 47

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