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/128370
Salminen Back on Top in Georgia GNCC A fter winning the opening GNCC round in Texas and then finishing second to I"'\ooug Henry in Florida, KTM's Juha Salminen returned to the top step of the podium after topping the Maxxis General GNCC in Georgia on March 13. The Finn jumped out to the early lead, while his teammate Mike Lafferty and Am Pro Yamaha's Barry Hawk tried in vain to keep him in sight. By the finish, however, Salminen had a big lead, winning the second Suzuki Grand National Cross Country event of his career. "Mike was riding good early, and then I got the pit board telling me Barry Hawk was coming," Salminen said. "I just try to go the same speed every lap. You know all the tracks are going to be different, but if you're going to ride them, you might as well try to win." Lafferty held the point for a while early on and then survived an all-out duel with Hawk to emerge second. "It's never been a matter of conditioning with me," Lafferty said. "It's just a matter of doing it and breaking through. I always seem to make the wrong decision on the last lap, but today I made good ones." Hawk ended up third after dicing with Lafferty. "I can even count how many times Mike and I passed each other," Hawk said. "I finally got to second and started inching up on Juha. I washed out in a corner; it was stupid. That kind of took all the energy out of me, and that's when I stopped trying to catch him." Fourth place went to Australian Shane Watts on a KTM 12S, while Kawasaki Team Green's Chuck Woodford rounded out the top-five overall. Pearson Edges Abbott in Ocotillo The second round of the AMA FMF Racing National Hare & Hound Series in Ocotillo, California, on March 13 came down to the wire, with Montclair Yamaha's Russ Pearson taking the win by only a few seconds over defending champ Destry Abbott. Team Green Kawasaki's Pearson Honda's Abbott, and Team Steve Hengeveld all led at one point during the race. Abbott, however, led the most, but struggled with the course markings and, more than once, saw his lead disap- pear after getting lost. Still, Abbott iooked to Spencer Honored at Daytona have things under wraps as he headed toward the finish line with a small lead over Pearson, Three-time World Champion Freddie had the opportunity to watch these riders Spencer was honored into the Goodyear during their racing careers." but the two riders lost Legends of Daytona at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Goodyear Legends of Daytona is situated in the Nextel Fan-Zone in the newly the course again. and it March 12, the former Daytona winner now featured with other prominent Daytona motorcycle racers, as they appear side-byside with their stock and sports car racing brethren. renovated infield of Daytona International was a frantic race to find the markings first. Speedway. When they finally did, it Motorcycle riders featured in the was Pearson coming out on top, taking the checkered nag just a few feet ahead of Abbott. "I could see the pits and just like the whole day [had] been going, I past racing legends that played a major part Goodyear Legends of Daytona include Spencer, Jeff Stanton, Kenny Roberts, Ricky Carmichael, Don Emde, Scott Russell, Cal Rayborn II, Mike Kiedrowski, Rick Johnson, Eddie Lawson, Jimmy Weinert, Dale Singleton, David Bailey, Dick Mann, Gene in making Daytona International Speedway Romero, Jeremy lost the markings again the "World Center of Racing." "We happy to be able to honor motorcycle racing legends who had great success at Daytona," Speedway president Robin Braig said. "This will give younger fans an McGrath, Bob Hannah, Gary Nixon, Miguel Duhamel and Roger Reiman. On Saturday, Spencer - who in 1985 won the 2S0cc International Lightweight race and the Formula One final before with a half of mile to go," Abbott said. "Both Russ and I were looking all around, and then we opportunity to learn a little about some of starting on the pole and winning the the past legends and hopefully spark some Daytona 200 by Honda - was to be hon- this little hill in front of the finish. As soon as I fond memories of those still around who ored in the ceremony. went over it, we both The Goodyear Legends of Daytona is a walk of fame of sorts, with large photographic and information panels honoring 10 MARCH 23, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS Giacomo Agostini, saw some markings on realized we needed to make a sharp right- hand corner and go into the finish chute. He was able to get to the inside of me and take the win with a second or two." Hengeveld ended up finishing third, while Kawasaki rider David Pearson finished fourth.