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/128318
Briefly... Matt Tedder (10) I_ ds Michael Clement (255) in the 40+ class. Tedder went an 10 win. Once again, riders from California took the majority of the 49 titles up for grabs at the 28th annual GNC Motocross Final with 13 overall championships. Florida was runner-up with nine. while North Carolina claimedfour. A greater variety of states were represented on the podium this year, as Michigan. Washington and Texas each won three championships. Utah, Oregon . Colorado, Nevada, Arizona and Ok lahoma each took a pair. while New Mexico and Kansas held fast to one. For the second week in a row, Honda led the parade of wins with 14. Suzuki came in second with I I. followed by Kawasaki with eight. terM and Yamaha shared six each , while Polini and Cobra each shared two victories. Transponders were used at the GNC Final this year with great success. The only problem that arose was from the riders not mounting the boxes as instructed by the Trackside personnel on site . The fastest lap time posted in the I 25cc Schoolboy was by Malt Boni with a 1.40.7, but it was Mike Alessi's 1.40.0 on lap three in the second rnoto of the I 25cc Open that topped the charts as the fastest lap time throughout the weekend . Schoolboy behind Team Green's Matt Boni of Florida. Boni kept Alessi in sight throughout the second race in the 12Scc Schoolboy and went for the brass ring in the last lap, when he made a wild attempt to pass in the final turns. Both riders went down. with Boni using sheer adrenaline in remounting his bike to head toward the checkered flag first . Alessi came in second . but it was Boni who took the win and the title. Suzuk i's Matt Goerke of Florida took championships in the 125cc Stock and Modified Expert and the 250cc Stock Expert. along w ith a second in the 250cc Modified Expert behind Tommy Hahn of Kansas. Washington's Team G reenfThousand Oaks/P ro CircuitfThor-backed Ryan Villopoto three-peated his performance at the GNC, hav ing just come off a triple win at Lake Whitney the weekend prior in the Mini Bike Stock and Modified (14-15) along with the 100cc (up to 16) events . Although Villopoto rode his final motos with an injured knee, he'll head back to California to recuperate before the World Mini in Las Vegas in mid -April . Several riders collected double championships. In the Vet classes, 32-year-old Shaun Kalos of Arizona won both the 25 + and ]0+ Expert events on his Team Green/FMF-backed Kawasaki. Nevada's Darron Sturgeon blasted his way to the 25 + and ]0+ Intermediate titles. In the younger ranks Conner Mitchell ventured down from the Pacific Northwest and put Oregon on the map w ith wins in Teeny Mini (4 -6) Stock and Modified classes. Zachary Bell of Florida won Teeny Mini (7-B) Stock and Mini Mini (6 -8 ) Modified and then collected second overalls in Teen Mini (7-8) Modified and Mini Mini (6-8) Stock. Caden Hadley of Utah, who finished second to Mitchell in Teeny Mini (7-8) Stock and Mini Mini (6-8) www.cyclenews.com Donations were collected to aid famed motocross announcer Lynn Nickerson, of Fort Worth, Texas. Nickerson, who has been calling race action for almost 30 years and is a very recognizable voice at not only local Texas motocross facilities but the World Mini Grand Prix. the Ponca City Nationals. and the GNC Final, as well as various NHRA events. was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus and is without medical insurance. Ifyou would like to make a contribution, please make checks payable to: Lynn Nickerson, 5708 Orval Court. Fort Worth, Texas, 76117-3254. The overall vote this year in regards to the Mosier Valley course was a big thumbs down. Parents and riders alike spent a great dealof time complaining about the high speed of the course, as well as the lackof maintenance. Numerous riders refused to ride their second motos because of the conditions. CYCLE N EWS • APRIL 7,2004 49