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/127650
By Chris Jo nn um Photcs by Kinney Jones ORLANOO, FLORIDA,JAN. 15 n the inevitable discussion, conjecture and comparison that seems to take place during the pre-season, most experts have agreed that 1994 has the potential to provide some close racing. Although no one was willing to place a bet against Jeremy McGrath, there was hope that the defending champ would be forced to fight a little harder this year. After all, he will surely feel more pressure - last year he wa sn't expected to win, and the title he earned w as a su rp ise even to (Above) Des pite somewhat chilly weather, 36,714 fans were on hand at Orlando, a slight ga in over last year' s atten dan ce. (Left) Mike laRocco (7) overcame a midpack start to finish second, while Steve Lamson (4) rode a steady race for fifth place. (Below) Apart from this clos e en counter with a phot ographer, Jeff Stanton turned In a strong performance In the season opener. those in the Ho nda camp. But now, with McGrath sporting the number-one plate, no one will be satisfied with anything less than another title. And of course there's McGrath's competition - most claim to be healthier, better-rested and more fired-up than in the past. At the opening round of the AMA Camel Supercross Series, when the time had come to stop talking and start racing, McGrath gave a performance that at once silenced his critics and disheartened his competitors, laying to waste even the most carefully constructed arguments. The Team Honda/1-800COLLECT rider ea sily controlled hi s heat race, then rode to a convincing win in the 2o-1ap Coors Light Challenge. All this only reminded us that until so meon e else proves otherwise, he is s till the bes t rid er in th e world on a s ta d iu m track. "1 just wanted the season to get started so e ve ryo ne w o u ld sh u t up," said McGrath after his masterful performance at Orlando's Citrus Bowl. "It seems like there' s been so much hype late ly, and it was starting to get a little old ." Wearing the number-one plate for the first time didn't s low Jeremy M cGrath down; the Californian dominated in Orlando, winning his heat race and the main even t. While n o one was able to rise to McGrath's level at Orlando, there's still ple nty of hope for the competition. Not since 1987, w hen Jeff Ward ea rn ed the title, has the round-one winner go ne on to beco me champ ion. And while McGrath shows li tt le si gn of sl ow in g down, the other primary contenders do appear to be improving. Mike laRocco, winner of the previous two Orlando supercrosses, proved that he has the speed - if not the startin g technique required to beat McGrath. Th e Team Kawasaki rider worked his way up to a second-place finish from a mid-pack s ta r t, and was gain ing r a p id ly on McGrath when the checkered flag fell in the ma in event. Most of the buzz in the pits , howeve r, centered a round a certa in former c ha m pi o n - one who had suddenly returned after a year-long absence. Sure, Jeff Stanton rod e the series last year, but then he wasn't the same rider that won thr ee supercross and three Nationa l MX titles between 1989 and '92. That Jeff Stanton showed up at Orlando, loo ked impressive in p racti ce, won his hea t race, then wen t home with a third-place finish in the ma in. ''I' feel much better than last year," Stanton sa id afterw ards. "I made a good mo ve by staying home and training d uring the off-season. There are sti ll a cou- pie of rough edges to work out, but I'll ge t there." Also impressive was Stanton 's Hon da/1 -800-COLLECT teammate Do ug H enry , a 2S0cc -cla ss r oo kie . Henry was riding with a sore sh ou lder, but the 199 3 12Scc Eastern Regional Supercross Champion ran near the front for the entire race, actually leadin g at One point, and co ming home with a fourth-place finish. La rry Wa rd, mounted on his new Team Noleen/Sizzler/Xtreme Yamaha, was perhaps even mo re of a surprise. Ward, who raced a privateer Suzuki last y ear, holeshot th e featu re and led for four laps. Even aft er being passed by McGrath, Ward con tinu ed to ride strong and sma rt before a la p-seven tangle with Stanton sent him h ard to the tu rf. "I had it going for a' while there," said Wa rd . "There's just a couple things 1 need to work on, but afte r tha t, 1 think I can go just as fast - if not faster - for the rest of the series." 7