Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

~ MOTOCROSS ~ Ferry won his seventh title at Loretta Lynn's, surpassing the previous record of six. 14 New Mexico's Shawn Morga. While Morga faltered with a second moto tenth and Carlisle suffered another flat tire and a big crash, Plotts continued to impress throughout the week by reeling off three-straight moto wins for his first-ever National title. However, Plotts did not escape some post-race controversy. His machine and that of apparent third-race finisher Deegan were protested following the final moto. While Plotts' Honda passed inspection, Deegan's bike was declared illegal when it failed to appear in the impound area. "I rode hard all week and now I guess I don't have much to show for it," said the Team Green-backed Deegan. "This is all a misunderstanding and I hope that I get another chance to show these people what I can do." Deegan did return to win the final 250cc A Stock moto. With Deegan out of the final moto, Davey Coombs was awarded second in the final moto while Anthony AmaJ:"adio was adjuMed into the runner-up spot after a strong 7-6-3 showing in three motos. Morga was third overall on the heels of a 2-10-4 week of racing. Controversy was not limited to the 125cc A Stock class at Loretta Lynn'S, as two banging incidents clouded the proceedings in the 125cc B Stock and 85cc (9-13) Modified classes. In the opening 125cc race Washington's Jason McCormick was alone out front as Arizona's David Pingree and Florida's Andrew DeSpain jockeyed for runnerup honors. After a few brushes with one another Pingree drove into DeSpain in a corner at the end of the mechanics' area and took out the Honda rider's front wheel. DeSpain suffered a wrist injury and dropped out, while Pingree's actions were brought to the attention of AMA officials. A spectator's videotape of the incident was used to determine that Pingree was the aggressor, and the Suzuki pilot was subsequently docked five positions for rough riding. The penalty proved costly to Pingree, as he battled McCormick straight-up in the next two motos, each scoring a first and a second, but McCormick's steady 1-1-2 showing earned him the title and Pingree had to settle for third. The 125cc B Modified class saw fate shift for Pingree as the Suzuki rider sped to the title with a 1-1-2 score. Latham was second overall with an improving 3-2-1 score. Third place was awarded to Pennsylvania's Robert Stock with a 6-10-3 showing in the talent-rich class. McCormick's fortunes took a bleak turn in the 250cc B Stock class, as the Honda rider was disqualified from the second moto for using an aftermarket plastic frame protector. He ran second in the other two heats behind a dominant Craig Decker, but could only muster.31st in the overall results. Texan Kevin Foster (5-4-9) and New York's Scott Ghidiu (8-2-10) rounded out the top three in the 250cc B Stock division. California's Decker was the undisputed star of the 250cc B classes, never missing a beat on his way to a perfect six wins in six motos. Decker posted lap times within a few ticks of Ferry's fast A-class times (all in the 2:12 to 2:15 range). Decker was trailed in the Modified scores by Florida's Dustin Rounds (4/2/3) and Texan Brian Rister (5/3/7). A second, more startling controversy took place in the 85<.:c Modified (9-13) minicycle group that included pre-race • favorites Ricky Carmichael and Charley Bogard. Florida's Carmichael led the first moto until a derailed chain cost him the win with two laps to go, allowing Ohio's Brock Sellards and Bogard into the front positions. In race two a battle for the lead ensued between Carmichael and Bogard, ending when the two collided. "I got out of control after the tunnel jump and ran into Bogard and he fell," said Carmichael of their initial contact. "Then I guess he decided to wait a lap for me to come around and he just took me out." Eyewitnesses to the incident informed'race officials that Bogard stopped in the pits and was told to avenge his crash the next time Carmichael came around. Bogard was disqualified for his actions and Carmichael did not ride the final moto. Team Green's Sellards took advantage of the incident to score his first championship via a 1-1-2 showing. Only Nevada's Jason Partridge was able to get a wheel up on Sellards, winning the third moto and earning second overall with a combined score of 12 (38-1). Georgia's Robbie Horton placed third in the class with a steady 4-4-4 performance. Carmichael found some redemption for his Modified class misfortune by stomping the 85cc Stock (12-13) class with a three-heat sweep. Bogard chased the Kawasaki rider across the finish line in both early motos but could only muster a fourth in the finale. Still, Bogard picked up the second-place prize ahead of Sellards' 3-8-2 total. A rising star in the minicycle world is Michigan's Nicholas Wey, who captured the 85cc Stock (7-11) title with a second and two firsts. While on his title march, Wey battled with Maryland's Travis Pastrana and fellow Michigan rider Randy Valade. "I thought Chris Considine would be the hardest guy to beat, but I guess he had some trouble," said Wey of yet another fast Michigan racer in the class. Considine won the first race and placed second to Wey in the second moto. tlis luck turned sour in the finale, however, as Considine went down on the fifth lap and could not re-enter the race. Georgia's Matt Walker was the top finisher in the 65cc Stock (7-11) class with a total of four points after three motos. The Kawasaki rider ran 2-1-1 to outscore New Mexico's Justin Buckelew (1-2-4) and Oregon's Eric Williams (4-46). Oklahoma's Johnny Marley, an early favorite in this category, failed to complete a single lap in the first moto when his throttle cable snapped just after the start. He ran third and second in the remaining heats to.salvage 15th overall. In the 51cc Stock (4-8) class, David Whitcraft emerged from three motos and a handful of protests to win the National title. The Yamaha pilot was just one of several top finishers to have his bike tom down when protests were filed. The Ohioan's machine proved legal and his 1-1-2 score unbeatable. Florida's James Stewart was second with a 3-2-1 tally and Yamaha rider Chaz Northey third with 2-5-3 scores. While Ferry raced away with his sixth and seventh titles in A-class action, Robbie Reynard was making a name for himself in the schoolboy categories. All week long the 15-year-old Oklahoman had the crowd in a-buzz with his sensational speed and passing abilities. In a memorable second 125cc Stock (12-15) moto, Reynard narrowly avoided a massive first-turn pileup that claimed rivals Greg Rand, Kenny Yoho and Jason Sybert, then went from 30th to first place in a matter of less than two laps! "When everyone hit together in the first turn, I just backed off the gas and

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