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RACE WATCH

Stanton, Swink score at Supercross season opener

Team Honda's Jeff Stanton began his quest to equal Bob Hannah's record of three consecutive supercross titles in fine fashion by winning the opening round of the AMA Camel Supercross Series at Orlando, Florida’s Citrus Bowl. The two-time and reigning champ came from a mid-pack start to pass early leaders Ronnie Tichenor and Damon Bradshaw, then held off his charging French teammate Jean-Michel Bayle to take the win. Team Yamaha's Bradshaw settled for third place ahead of Tichenor, a Florida local riding a Suzuki for Tuf Racing after being dropped by the Suzuki factory at the end of last year. Former 125cc champ Mike Kiedrowski, back with Kawasaki after a stint with Honda, fell in the first turn, but remounted, working his way through the pack to finish fifth.

Kiedrowski's teammate Jeff Ward battled with Bradshaw for second early in the 20-lap main event before falling; he recovered to finish ninth. Team Honda superstar Rick Johnson saw his hopes of a top finish derailed when his chain jumped the sprocket on the last lap.

The opening round of the 125cc Eastern Regional Series saw 1 8-yearold ex-mini-star Brian Swink pass Team Green’s Ryan Hughes in a final dash to the checkered flag to take the win in his first-ever Pro supercross. Hughes put in perhaps the most impressive ride of the evening as he came from a last-place start after hitting some trackside banners, then stormed his way through the pack into the lead nearing the end of the l 5-lap race. But Swink, a member of the new Peak Anti-Freeze/Pro-Circuit Honda support team, took advantage of lapped trafile in the final corner and sailed past Hughes across the finish-line jump to claim the win. E3