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RACE WATCH

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Supercross series to Stanton

The AMA Camel Pro Supercross series wrapped up its 1990 season in front of 40,000 standing, screaming fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum, with Team Honda rider Jeff Stanton finishing in sixth place, high enough to gain his second consecutive title and $50,000 in prize money.

But Stanton’s ride was all but ignored by the crowd, which had its attention riveted on the battle for the lead between Damon Bradshaw and Jean-Michel Bayle. Bradshaw, the 17-year-old Yamaha rider who dominated the first two races of the season before being slowed by injuries, barely held off a hard-charging

Bayle to score his fifth victory in the six-month-long, 18-race series.

The 20-lap main event started off with a holeshot by Stanton, whose steady riding had him in the series point lead after a conservative start to his season. Crowd favorite Johnny O’Mara, 29 and rumored to be retiring after this season, held a strong second, though he eventually faded to fourth. Bradshaw soon swept into the lead, though, and began to pull away. > Bayle, meanwhile, had been mired in an eighth-place start, but was moving to the front at a furious pace. The 20-year-old Frenchman, already a world champion in the 125 and 250cc classes, came to America this year to try to win both the supercross and 125cc outdoor titles. Bayle’s championship hopes had been put in jeopardy by an elbow injury earlier in the season and a last-place finish after falling at the Charlotte Supercross. Still, he came to L.A. second in the point chase, with a chance to take the title if he won and teammate Stanton finished 10th or worse.

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With five laps to go, Bayle had indeed reeled in Bradshaw, but, despite several spirited attempts, could not pass. Then, on the last lap, going up the Coliseum’s peristyle section and through the famous arches atop the stadium, Bayle squirted by, accompanied by a roar from the crowd. As the pair leaped back down to ground level, though, it was North Carolinian Bradshaw, earning his “Beast from the East” nickname, who had barged back in front. For the remaining half-lap, Bayle dogged Bradshaw until 50 feet from the finish-line jump, when Bradshaw bobbled terribly in the stutter bumps and was almost catapulted from his bike. Half-on and half-off the YZ250, Bradshaw somehow regained control and sailed past the checkered flag a bikelength ahead of Bayle.

As the racers now turn their attention to the remaining races in the outdoor season, some things are apparent: Damon Bradshaw and Jean-Michel Bayle are currently the fastest riders in American motocross, but Jeff Stanton is the steadiest, and that’s what wins championships.

Supercross Point Standings:

1. Jeff Stanton (Hon)

2. Jean-Michel Bayle (Hon)

3. Jeff Matiasevich (Kaw)

4. Mike Kiedrowski (Hon)

5. Jeff Ward (Kaw)

6. Larry Ward (Suz)

7. Mike LaRocco (Suz)

8. Damon Bradshaw (Yam)

9. Ron Tichenor (Suz)

10. Guy Cooper (Suz)