Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

eSUPERCROSS I AMA Camel Supercross Series: Round 14 Jeremy McGrath, the first rookie ever to win the title, celebrated over the finish line jump. Guy Cooper (7) and Jeff Emig (6) diced early on, before Cooper faded and Emig crashed. rap song about him played over the PA system. McGrath then stopped on top of a jump and raised both his fists in the air while the crowd cheered. "1 wanted to get away as fast as 1 could," McGrath said. "1 knew the track was technical, but 1 just acted like 1 was in second place. 1 didn't see Mike (Kiedrowski) at all, so 1 wasn't too worried about him catching me. In fact, 1 thought Jeff (Stanton) got second. Actually, it was pretty easy. Two more wins would be nice" "1 was just thinking, 'bike, don't break; Jeremy, don't crash:" said McGrath's tuner, Norfolk. "Jeremy didn't seem worried, so 1 was doing all the worrying for him." "1 did the best 1 could," said Kiedrowski. "1 rode a good race, and got second, which isn't bad. Jeremy just outrode me this year. He didn't have any bad luck, but he deserves (the championship). I've been getting better every year, so hopefully I'll get better next year and come back and win the championship." "Unfortunately, 1 didn't win tonight, and 1 didn't win the championship," said Stanton, who has not won a main event this season. "Jeremy has been riding great all year. I've lost (the championship) before and then came back and got it back, so 1 just have to get another contract and come back and do it next year. AI!terican Honda's been great to me, so I'd love to stay where 1 am next year." Lamson maintained fourth place to the finish, with LaRocco rounding out the top five. Henry and Lusk were both impressive in their debu t rides in the 250cc class, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively. Stephenson was eighth, ahead of Palmer and Cooper. 125cc 6 laps, with Kiedrowski not qui~ able to find the opportunity he needed. On the 13th lap, the 500cc National MX champ moved up beside Stanton in a set of whoops, and it appeared that he would get by. However, just as Kiedrowski made the attempt, Brooks, who was being lapped at the time, stepped off and went sprawling across the track, blocking Kiedrowski's path. Kiedrowski was again relegated to chasing Stanton, and waiting for a mistake that wouldn't come. Both pilots were riding strong but conservatively, and seemed to be locked in a test of wills. "1 was trying to get around for the longest time," said Kiedrowski. "1 thought 1 had him at one point, but Brooks fell right at the wrong time. 1kept getting close in that section of whoops, so 1 knew that the only way 1 could get by was to jump them. 1 did it and it worked." With two laps to go, Kiedrowski tried the line through the whoops that had first been used by Emig, and it gave him just the momentum he needed to steal second from Stanton. Lamson, who was hired by Honda for his "outdoor" skills, but has been rapidly improving in supercross, was riding another strong race, steadily working his way up to fourth by the halfway point and towing LaRocco along behind him. Henry was also impressive in his firstever 250cc main event, moving into sixth on lap 11 and staying there for the remainder of the race. After his fifthplace start, Lusk slipped a couple positions to seventh, where he spent the bulk of the main. Up front, McGrath began to ease the pace slightly on the last couple of laps, taking the time to wave to the crowd over the jumps. After pulling a major clicker over the steep finish line jump, McGrath cruised around the outside of the track, celebrating his title, while a After Suzuki cohorts Huffman and Lawrence won the two heat races, and Kawasaki pilot Billy Mercier handled the last chance qualifier, Team Splitfire/Hot Wheels Pro Circuit rider James Dobb pulled the holeshot in the IS-lap main event. Dobb is a British rider who was making his first supercross appearance after injuring a wrist early in the year, and he was soon passed by teammate Gaddis. While Dobb began to fade, Huffman moved up on Gaddis' rear fender and began to pound the leader. On lap three, Huffman tried to pass twice, the first time on the inside of a turn and then through a section of whoops, but Gaddis held him off. One lap later, however, Huffman put a block pass on Gaddis and took over the lead spot. Lawrence had completed the first lap in fourth place, and after passing the fading Dobb, he began to pressure Gaddis for second. He closed to Gaddis' rear fender at the halfway point, and took advantage of lappers to make the pass over the triples. Huffman, however, already had an approximate six-5eCond lead. "1 didn't get the greatest start, and when 1 got into third, Damon and Gaddis were already gone:' said Lawrence. "1 got Gaddis, but Huffman was too far ahead. 1 started guarding my position after that; 1 shouldn't have, but 1 did." Huffman scored the easy win, with Lawrence holding on for second despite the fact that a course worker kept waving the blue flag in his face in the final few laps, apparently under the impression that the lanky Suzuki rider was a lapper. Gaddis held on for third. "1 feel really good and really confident:' said Huffman, who, with a 32point point deficit to Gaddis, stands little chance at winning the title. "All 1 have left to prove is to win the last two races." "If 1come back and win the next two, I'll have a shot at it," said Lawrence. "At least 1 beat Gaddis." HI'm not happy," said Gaddis. "There are two races left, and I've gotta win this series. 1 just have to do what it takes in the last two. 1 made a couple bobbles, but 1 have no excuses. 1 should have ridden better. 1 think it's down to five points." There are, indeed, just five points separating Gaddis and Lawrence, and with the difference between a first- and a second-place finish being three points, Lawrence can steal the title if he wins the last two races. (N Results 2SO HEAT 1: 1. Damon Br.dshaw (Yam); 2. Mi1ce tevich (Suz); 20. Chris Young (Suz). TIme: 7:22.05 250 SEMI 1: 1. Swink; 2. Stephenson; 3. Cooper; 4. URocco; 5. Buehl; 6. O

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