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/127577
eS&~aO~~c~~~~_~_~_se_rie_S:R_o_m_dl_4 _ e Mike Kiedrowski (3) and Jeff Stanton (1) fought over second place for several laps. Jeremy McGrath scored a record-tying ninth win and clinched the championship. McGrath clinches title with Pa dena win By Chris Jonnum Photos by Kinney Jones PASADENA, CA, MAY 15 ll indications suggested that Jeremy McGrath would be leaving the Pasadena Rose Bowl with the Camel Supercross title, but it was still a little hard to believe when the Team Honda sensation did just that. Sure, McGrath had come into the facility with a substantial 52-point lead on Team Kawasaki's Mike Kiedrowski, and he had already won eight main events in his incredible rookie season, but the fact remained that no rider had ever actually earned the supercross crown on their first try; it seemed improbable that even McGrath could pull off such a feat. As he has done all year though, the likable 21year-old racer from Murrieta, California, showed that nothing is impossible, dom- A 4 inating the entire race to post yet another victory, and, more importantly, to garner what is arguably the most prestigious motocross title in the world. It is becoming more and more clear that McGrath has lifted the talent level of the sport to a new height, and so far, no one has been able to follow his lead. The new champ is simply in a class of his own. "There were a million things going through my head during those last few laps," said McGrath after his win. "I wanted to make sure I didn't crash or anything, but I didn't want to slow down, because that's when you make mistakes." After a race-long duel with Team Honda's Jeff Stanton, who missed the previous round due to a concussion suffered in a crash in Pontiac, Kiedrowski came home a distant second to McGrath, with the defending champ a dose third. Honda teamster Steve Lamson was fourth ahead of Kawasaki's Mike LaRocco, who was racing in just his second supercross since breaking his wrist earlier in the year in a practice crash. In addition to the $5000 portion of the $35,000 250cc class purse that he earned for his win, and the $4000 Coors Silver Bullet award he took home for setting the fastest heat time and winning the main event, McGrath earned the $100,000 Camel bonus for clinching the title. Factor in what is certainly a healthy bonus from Honda, and the result is a very lucrative evening for the rookie rider. Kiedrowski's share of the purse was $3500, while Stanton earned $2000 for his efforts. The victory was also McGrath's ninth, which tied him for the record of most wins in a single season with Team Yamaha's Damon Bradshaw, who set the mark last year. The Honda rider will have two chances to break the record before the series concludes. In round six of the 125cc Western Regional Supercross Series, Team Suzuki youngster Damon Huffman scored his second main event win of the season, finishing with a healthy margin on his teammate, Phil Lawrence. Series points leader Jimmy Gaddis was third, but the Team Splitfire/Hot Wheels Pro Circuit rider lost precious ground to Lawrence, and now leads by just five points with two rounds remaining. The 17-year-old Huffman, who hails from nearby Saugus, California, pocketed a $2000 share of the $10,000 class prize, with Lawrence and Gaddis earning $1000 and $750, respectively. The Rose Bowl facility, site of last year's NFL Superbowl, was unfamiliar to some, as a supercross had not been held there since Kawasaki's Jeff Ward won in 1990. The race had originally been slated for the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, but ongoing renovations forced a venue change. A local curfew meant that the schedule had to be moved up slightly, with the opening ceremonies kicking off at 6 p.m. According to the promoting Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group, there were 30,143 race fans on hand to witness McGrath's title-winning ride. The Glenn Scott-designed track was slippery and technical, wi th a bizarre start straight that included a dogleg tum, a step-up jump and a triple, but most riders praised the layout for its efficient use of available space. 250cc Heats Suzuki's Denny Stephenson led the first of eight laps in heat number one, but Team Noleen's Larry Brooks pushed his Yamaha past in a section of whoops. After a fourth-place start, Bradshaw moved into the lead during the second lap, and stayed there for the remainder of the race. Kiedrowski gated poorly, but secured second place during lap two, and pressured Bradshaw to the finish. Third went to Suzuki's Larry Ward, while Brooks slipped to fourth place, the final transfer spot. Suzuki factory rider Brian Swink put on a last-lap charge to challenge Brooks, who managed to maintain the spot by performing a "fly_ ing W" over the finish-line jump. "The championship's out of reach, but I'd like to win the last few races," said Bradshaw. "Winning is what it's all about, and I haven't been doing enough of that lately, but I'm trying to get my confidence up for the outdoors races. You need to have both the bike and the rider working good, and I feel like I've got the combo tonight." Heads turned when Team Suzuki's Ezra Lusk, who finished third in the 125cc Eastern Regional Series, holeshot heat number two and led for most of three laps in his first race on a 250. Early on, Honda privateer Buddy Antunez crashed over a triple, and Jeff Matiasevich landed on the downed bike and got off hard. The Team Suzuki rider limped off the track, but was later taken to a local hospital with a neck injury. McGrath passed a fading Lusk for the lead about midway through, and Lamson, Stanton and Yamaha's defending 125cc National MX Champion Jeff Emig followed suit soon after. Emig