Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

aEVENTEI Honda of Houston/FMF T€xas Wint€n S€rics Round 3: Oak Hill MX Park PHOTO BY MXPICTURES,COM Mudders Prevoil qt Round Three DECATUR, IX, JAN. 28-29 Ir was onlv a mafter of time before Mother I Naturc came catting on the sixth annual Texas Winter Series, and the result was that a touth track got even tougher. with some of the nation's top riders coming to town for one bst chance to race Oak Hill prior to this year's Grand National Champion.hip (held each year in March), the racint was the best this series has seen. Even ttre muddy conditions couldn't keep $e top doSs from layins down some hard-core lap6 ar the third round of this popular series. Every class seemed to be rtacked with national-caliber riders, but it was the Mini classes that saw the most intense comp€tition. ln the 65(c class$, the likes ofjon Barr, Beau Baldwin, Andrew Paerce, Cade Moore, Pierce Low and J.D. Elliot were on hand to make a statement prior to the start of the Nationali, EBRS Pierce prevailed in the 65cc (7-9) class, over Low Moore and Drake Dunlap. ln the 65cc (10-l l) class, it wai Barr edting out Baldwin, Tracy Morgan and Elliot. Moore came back stront in the 65aa Open class, with Low, Barr and Pa€rce close behind. These four will be top contenders when the "Texas Swing" gets under way in March, with Lake Whitney beinS the first stop. Thes€ Suys will 8et a chance to do k all over aSain at round four of this series. which coincides with the Lake Whitney season opener. Nlore national riders are sure to be present, as this will be an opportunity to get some seat time at Whitney before the SprinS Classic. Whitney is the founh and linal round of this series. ln rhe 85cc (7-l l) das5, JM Racirg's Baldwin hooked up with TH Ra(ing's Caleb Dowell and Earr for moae excitinS motos. Even thouSh the motos w€re cut short, $e action wa! superb, gMng hns a glimpse of what is to come later in tf|e sprinS at th€ Narionals. New York native and Loretta Lynn's champion Brandon Mays was on hand to contest the 85cc ( I 2- I 3) clars. edging out lason tantford lr. ,ustin Bo8le and Beau Hudson. Mays will b€ one of the favorites goint into the Spring Classic. Honda of Houston's Terren O'Dell was the big winner in the 85.c (14- 15) claJs, over Ty Wonhington. O'Dell is another early-s€son favorite for the Nationals. The Pro classes were alao stacked, and tlvo of Honda of Houston's top Expert!, Sean Hackiey lr. and Wil Hahn, battled with Kyle Summers and Robbie Smith. Hahn took the overall in rhe l25cc A class, with Hackley in second. Hackley then went out and took the 250cc A class, over Summers in second and Hahn in third. These Euys are also ea.V-season favorites toint into the national season. Next, it's on to Whitney for th€ llnale. Cil St€phenron (Cob)r 2. H.yden Fo*er (KTM)r 3. Bl.k. Neiheiser (Cobt: 4. llr3hall Lrw,en

• Cover