Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

; REVIEW rofessional MX season teammates Bayle and Stanton. While fighting for positions on the chaotic opening lap of the feature, Bayle and Stanton got close to each other, and Bayle abruptly flew off the track and crashed. Bayle alleged that Stanton had run into him, but Stanton said they hadn't touched. "I had just passed Stanton and he tried to pass me back," said Bayle. "Stanton touched me my back wheel- and that was it." "There was no contact," said Stanton. "If anything, my front wheel might have touched his left leg that was hanging off his bike, but that had nothing to do with him crashing." Nonetheless, Bradshaw ended up winning the race and assumed the series points lead once again, albeit only by six points over Stanton, who finished second in San Jose. Bayle eventually finished ~ 8 Bayle won his second supercross of the series the following week in Tampa, with Stanton taking the runner-up honors, and Bradshaw finishing a disappointing fourth after losing a duel for third to Suzuki's Guy Cooper.. Bayle left Florida with a three-point lead over Stanton, while Bradshaw dropped even further back in third, 11 points behind Bayle. Bradshaw marked his comeback at the Pontiac doubleheader,.where he won both rounds. The sweep shot the Yamaha rider back into the series points lead over Stanton, who went 2-7 in Pontiac, and Bayle, who went 7-4. Bradshaw enjoyed a six-point cushion going into the next round in Las Vegas. Coming off back-to-back wins, Bradshaw rolled into Las Vegas two weeks later with momentum and confidence - perhaps too much confidence, as it turned out While running a comfortable fourth place early in the feature, Bradshaw tried a risky pass on longtime rival Jeff Matiasevich, resulting in the two riders colliding and crashing. Many who saw the altercation felt that Bradshaw "brainfaded" by trying such a pass so early in the race, not to mention the fact that the championship was on the line. To make matters worse, Bradshaw was later fined $500 by the AMA referee for "endangering another rider." Brain-fade or not, the attempted pass cost Bradshaw dearly as he ended up finishing ninth, which dropped him to third in the series point standings. Bayle and Stanton finished second and third, respectively, moving Bayle back into the series points lead with 268 points. Stanton was second with 266, and Bradshaw third with 262. But wait! Immediately following the Las Vegas feature, Team Yamaha protested Team Honda for allegedly using illegally altered frames and swingarms on both Stanton and Bayle's Hondas. If found guilty, both Bayle and Stanton would be disqualified from the Las Vegas race and their points would be erased, which would practically ensure Bradshaw the title. Many felt that this was a desperate act on Yamaha's part, but Yamaha believed .that they had enough evidence to protest Honda, especially in light of the fact that earlier in the year, Honda had openly admitted that their bikes were suffering handling problems. In response, the AMA ordered Honda to strip the frames and swingarms in question, and later ship the parts to the AMA headquarters in Ohio to be inspected. While most of the spectators had long since left the stadium when the AMA issued their order, hoth Bayle and Stanton helped their respective mechanics, Cliff White and Danny Betley, tum wrenches and tear down their race bikes. Later that week, the AMA denied (Left) Kawasaki's Mike Kiedrowski earned the 500<:c MX National Championship title. (Below) Team Noleen-Yamaha's Larry Brooks finished fifth in the 250cc National series and was the topfinishing privateer. (Above) Stanton (left) helped his mechanic Danny Betley tear down his bike after Yamaha filed a protest, claiming Honda used illegal chassis at the Las Vegas SX. Yamaha's protest after finding the frames and swingarms to be legal. By this point, the strain of the tight points chase was intensifying, and Bradshaw was the first to admit it. "I can't wait for this thing (the series) to end. I don't care what anybody says; the pressure is almost unbearable. They (Stanton and Bayle) might Say there's no pressure but that's a bunch of bulL" Three weeks later the series visited Dallas, where Bradshaw scored his eighth win of the season, tying the single-season win record set by Bayle the previous year. Bradshaw also took over second place in the series point standings from Stanton and inched closer to points leader Bayle. The next round in San Jose saw the anxiety of the title chase come between 1992 AMA National Championship 250cc MX Series Finishes/Points J""r-r b,$!' (:'s~ "'~ 'b~-rv .,Q. 'bO'J.. ~ ~ '" 'b.s~ .,~

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