Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127558
GSUPERCROSS AMA Camel Supercross Series: Round 2 ~ Bradshaw spanks Jem,Cooperwows Jem in Houston Q'\ Q'\ ~ By Donn Maeda Photos by Kinney Jones HOUSIDN, IX,JAN. 16 ame place, same tlung. One yeaago, Yamaha's Damon Bradsha turned in a runaway win at t Houston Astrodome, while Suzuk1s Guy Cooper turned in a thrilling conefrom-behind ride to finish second. TIis year's version of the Houston SUpercr6S was no different. A record crowd of 44,817 spectators cheered as Bradshav grabbed the lead on the opening lap aJd slowly but surely established a lead tnt would stretch to six seconds at the finis\. '1 wanted to let the race come to llIe, but 1 ended up having to set the pa::e right from the start," said Bradshaw. "Then 1 decided to get as far ahead as 1 could, because 1 didn't know how strong I'd be at the end of the race." Like last year, Bradshaw again struggled wi th a cold, bu t the pesky virw; could do little to slow the 20-year-old North Carolinian. Bradshaw is back and on track. Period. "I prefer to not even talk about my knee surgery anymore, it's not a pro)lem and I'm sure that people are justas sick of hearing about it as I am of talkhg about it," said Bradshaw. "It won't be used as an excuse." And just as they rooted Bradshaw m, the crowd went wild as they folloved Cooper's progress through the pack aber the 31-year-old rider suffered a mediocre start. Cooper gated eighth and steadily worked his way through the pack, all the while riding on the ragged edge. .. "I always seem to do well here. Maybe because it's like a hometown race," said Cooper, who hails from the neighboring state of Oklahoma. "But 1 think it's mostly the type of track, it suits my style. 1had my hands on the bars and my feet on the pegs about 50% of the time, so 1guess I was riding up to par:' Finishing a secure, but non-threatening t/lird was defending Camel Supercross Champion Jeff Stanton, who succumbed to Cooper's charge late in the race. "Damon and Guy rode a hell of a race," said Stanton, who was in a somber, yet confident mood after the race. "I still didn't feel totally comfortable, and 1 figured that it was better to finish third than to push it and crash. J always seem to feel better and better as the season goes on. Give me another week or two." For his first win of the season, Bradshaw collected $5000 of the $30,000 250cc purse at the SRO/PACE-promoted event, and also forged ahead in the series point standings. With two rounds down and 13 to go, Bradshaw boasts 45 points and enjoys a scant five-point lead over Mike LaRocco and Mike Kiedrowski, the Kawasaki teammates who are tied for second. laRocco suffered another typical laRocco start and was forced to come from behind. Despite a pair of crashes, laRocco finished sixth at Houston and sits second in the series point standings with 40. Fourth and fifth a t the Astrodome went to 500cc National MX Champion Mike Kiedrowski and two-time Western Regional 125cc Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath, respectively. Like LaRocco, Kiedrowski suffered a poor start and had to work through the pack. Damon Bradshaw turned in a runaway performance at the Houston Astrodome and posted his first win of the season with ease. McGrath, however, started near the front ~~...;;;;;;;-------------------------------------:==============~~of pack aboard his factory Honda the S 6