Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left ) Ezra Lusk (17) led the 125cc main from start to fi nish. Damon Huffman (20), Mike Metzger (85), Don Upton (59), Chad Pederson (51). Jimmy Button (34) and Ryan Hughes (22) gave chase. (Bel ow ) (Left to rig ht) Winner Ezra Lusk, thi rd-placed Damo n Huffman and runner-up Ji mmy Button made It a Team Suzuk11·2·3 sweep In th e 125cc . main. Emig was the first to capitalize on Ward's mista kes, and took over the lead on lap 10. McGrath followed in Emig's wake, passing the rapid ly fading Ward soon after overtaking Craig for third. "When 1 saw Emig get the lead 1 knew I w as se t," said ·McGra th . "He can't hold on for 20 laps ." McGrath stalked Emig for only a lap befo re d iving to the inside be fore the whoops an d making the pass. The pass was not smooth, however, as McGrath continued to rid e into Emig. The two made contact and ca me to an ab ru p t halt before getting underway. "I just wanted to mak e su re he didn't cut back under me," said McGrath. Once into the lead, McGrath opened up an imm edi ate two-second lead - now it was laRocco's turn to mak e a charge. "I had a hard time getting past Cliff Palmer, so Je r emy was able to get ahead," said LaRocco. " But 1 was cutting a good la p and gaining a lot of time. " LaRocco d isposed of Craig, then Emig, before rapidly gaining ground on the leader. By lap 14, laRocco was wi thin striking distance. Visibly faster in the whoops, LaRocco repeatedly closed to the rear fender of McGrath, but w as unable to stick a wheel in on the fron trunner. "Jeremy rid es all of the smooth lines, and in order to pass him 1 kne w 1 needed to be aggressive, but 1 never got the chance," said LaR occo . "No one else seems to be carrying the speed tha t he and 1are, bu t 1need to figure out how to get aro und him as well." The final laps were anticlimactic, as McGrath continued to do what he needed to keep a safe distance ahead of his rival, and at the finish enjoyed a threebike-length lead . Emig came hom e some 10 seconds la ter in th ird, whil e Craig was eq ually alone in fourth . Stanton was a solitary fifth; Lamson was sixth. "It was just one of those weekends," said Stanton. "Fi rst, we had ignition problems on press day, then 1crashed in the heat. 1 just never3 fe ~, c.omfortab le over that jump again ~4)L~dn't want le a s 56 to push it." "I felt reall y IooseIrrpractice, bu t 1 got a little n ervous a nd tense in the ma in," said Lamson. "I just rode tigh t, but I'm making progress." 125cc Th e top four players in the 12Scc class dominated the heat race action, as Huffman sty led to the first race w in over Hughes, and Lus k topped Button in h eat two. Texan Jeff Dement scored the LCQ win aboard h is DGY Yamaha. At t he start of the main, Lusk led th e way and was joined at the front of the pack by H uffma n and NCY Yamaha's Mike Metzger and Don Upton. Hughes and Button suffered mediocre starts, but worked to the front quickly . Lusk a nd H uffman broke awa y from the fiel d early on , then on lap two Lus k gained a b it of b reathin g room when H uffman fell in a turn. "I was right behind Ezra and 1 saw him swa p over a jump ," sai d Huffman. " Then 1 s wa p p ed t he sa me wa y a nd tipped over into so me ha y bales. " Huffm an regrouped qu ickly and rejoined the chase in fourth, but within four more turns found himself floundering at the side of the track. " I got bumped in the air and landed on a hay bale," said Huffman. "I had no where to go but off the course ." H uffman sped alon gside the triples on the concrete that bordered the track and rejoined the race in fifth behind the fleeting Lusk, Ferry, Button and Hughes. Shortly after that Ferry began to drop off the leaders' pace, and by la p five Bu tton, Hughes and Huffman had all motored past. Lusk continued to pad his lead and wo uld not be challenged throughout the remainder of the race. Button seemed to h a ve second equally secured, but a rapid ly recovering Huffman had other ideas. After a brief battle with Hughes for third, Huffman forced his way past and began to ree l in Button. Time ran ou t, however, and he was forced to settle for the lower spo t on the winner's box. . . '- ,e; e(ll~lSs~:!ii'#ed to the win w~th ~0!J. ~ P/il~ !a.,spare over the Clpss:.(lying " duo of,13utlon and Huffman,while Hughes followed six seconds later. n 9rl' riQuo ·""" 1 got the holesh ot and made sure th at 1 d id all of the jumps on the firs t lap, and 1 was able to get away," said Lusk. "I hea rd someone back there at first, but 1 wa s jus t riding smooth and stead y. If Damon would have poked a I Chris Craft (Yam); 6. Mar k Traversy (Yam ); 7. Barry We inberger (Hon) ; 8. Doug Rol and (H on); 9. Hoot Parker (Kaw) ; 10. Roger Ewing (Kaw) ; 11. Mark Hulsey (Suz); 12. Kevin Hamid (Hon); 13. David Redmond (Hon); 14. Ray Michell (KlM); 15. John Rickel (Suz ); 16. Jeff Schwirtz (Hon). TIme: 6:42.27. 250 MAIN l2ll ri d..., 2ll Iapsl, I. Jerem y McGrath (Hon); 2. Mik. laRocco (Kaw); 3. J.ff Emig (Yam ); 4. Michael Craig (Yam); S. Jeff Stan ton (H on ); 6. Steve Lamson (~on); 7. l.a!!Y ~ard (Ya m); 8. Bri an Sw ink (5uz) ; 9. Oiff Palmer (KlM); 10. Larry Brooks (Yam); 11. Erik Kehoe (Hon); 12. Doug Henry (Ho n); 13. jeremy Buehl (Ya m); 14. Denny Step he nson (Suz); 15. Mike Kiedrowski (Kaw~ 16. J.ff Ma tiasevich (Yam); 17. Dag Bcyesen (Yam) ; 18. Kevin Crine (Hon); 19. Kyle Lewis (Yam); 2ll. Todd Dowms (Hon). Ti me: 19-.55.05. 250 AMA CA M EL S UP ERC RO SS SERIES C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (Aft.r 2 of 15ro. nels), 1. Jeremy McG rath (50/2 wins ); 2 . Mik e laRocc o (44) ; 3. J. II Stanton (36); 4. J.ff Emig (34); 5. Michael Craig (33); 6. Steve Lamson (31); 7. Dou g Henry (27); 8. Brian Swink (25); 9. a iff Palmer (23); 10. La':'}' Brooks (19); 11. Erik Kehoe (19); 12. Mike Kiedrowski (19); 13. Larry Ward (18); 14. Jeff Matiasevich (15); 15. jeremy Bu.hl (14); 16. Denny Stephenscpn (12); 17. Kyl. Lewis (9); 18. Dag Bcyesen (4); 19. [TIE) Keith Johnson/ Kevin Crine (3). US HEAT 1 (20 riders, 6 laps. top 9 transfer): 1. Damon Huffman (Suz) ; 2. Rya n Hu ghes (Kaw); 3. Pe ro d Gonzal ez (Ka w) ; 4. Mik e Met zge r (Yam); 5 . Travis Hodges (lCaw); 6. Crai g Decker (Ho n); 7. Kevin Cri ne (Ho n) ; 8. Cory Keeney (Kaw ); 9. Steve Andrich (Suz ); 10. Danny Ulven (Kaw); 11. John Dowd (Yam); 12. Brian Dee ga n (Ka w ); 13. Josh Stee l (Suz); 14. Jeff Dem ent (Yam); 15. Chris Brown (Suz); 16. Dere k Na tvig (Kaw); 17. Oint Latham (Hon); 18. Forrest Transue (Ao n); 19. Lance Moura! (H on); 2ll. James Dob b (Kaw). wheel in, 1 still could have perked up a bit." "I just need to get a start with Ezra," said Button, who also finished second to Lusk at Orlando. "I felt good until 1 got into second, then 1 got brain fade ." Of Houston Astrodome Houston. Texas Results: January 22, 1994 (Round 2 of 15) 250 HEAT 1 (17 riders, 8 ups. top 4 transfer): 1. Mike La Rocco (Ka w) ; 2. Mik e Craig (Ya m) ; 3. Jeff Stanton (Ho n); 4. a iff Palmer (KlM); 5. Jeromy Bu.hl (Ya m); 6. J.ff Em ig (Yam); 7. Todd Downs (Hon); 8. Kyle Lewis (Ya m); 9. Chris Craft (yam) ; 10. Kevin Hornick (Ho n); 11. Hoot Parker (Kaw); 12. RosIer Ewing (Kaw); 13. Donnie Roland (Ho n); 14. Da vid Redmond (Hon); 15. Kevin Crine (Hon); 16. Jeff Schwirtz (Ho n); 17. Jeff Matiasevidl (Yam). Tune: 8:05.56150 REA T 2 (17 riders, 8 Laps, top 4 tr.nded: 1. J• .., my M<:Grath (Hon); 2. Steve Lamson (Hon); 3. Doug Henry (Hon); 4. Mike Kiedrowski (Kaw); 5. Larry Ward (Yam); 6. Erik Kehoe (Hon); 7. !.any Brooks (Yam); 8. Denny Stephenson (Suz) ; 9. Dag Bcyesen (Ya m); 10. Joe Benyak (Yam); 11. Barry w einberger (Hon); 12. Brian Swink (Suz); 13. Mike Hulsey (Suz); 14. Mark Traversky (Suz) ; 15. Mark Easl ey (Ya m); 16. Ray Michell (KTM); 17. John Rickel (Suz) . Time: 7:53.45. %SO SEMI 1 (13 riders, 6 Laps, top S tnns fcr): 1. Jeff Emig (Yam); 2. Jeff Mati asevich (Yam) ; 3. Kyle Lew is (Yam); 4. Jeromy Buehl (Yam); 5. Kevin Crine (Hon); 6. Todd Downs (Hon ); 7; Chris Craft (Yam); 8. Doug Roland (Hon); .9: Hoot Parker (Kaw) ; 10. Reger Ewing (Ka w); II..KeVin . Horrnck (Hon); 12. Doug R ed mond (Hon) ;-13. JeffSchwirtz (Hon)~ • ,. HI , • • ?.ll UJ 6:03.06 rrl '))fC .e 1 I '-D . 150 S.EMI2,(1) ri de rs, 6 la ps , topS transfed : .l . Larry Wa rd (Yam); 2. Denny Step henson (Suz); 3. Erik Time: Kehoe (Ho n); 4. La rry Brooks (Yam); 5. Brian Swink (Suz); 6. Dag Boyesen (Ya m); 7. Joe Benyak (Yam ); 8. Mark Easley (Yam); 9. Mark Travers y (Yam); 10. Barry Weinberger (H on ); 11. Mark Hulsey (Suz); 12. Ray Mitd1e1l (KTM); 13. john Rickel (Suz). TI me: 6:f11.83. 2SO leO: 1. Da g Boyesen (Ya m ); 2. Todd Downs (Ho n); 3. Joe Benyak (Yam); 4. Mark Easl.y (Ya m); 5. Tune: 6 minutes, 21.fl6seconds. US HEAT 2 (20 riders, 6 laps, top 9 to fe.. tu~): 1. Ezra Lus k (Suz) ; 2. Jimmy Bullon (Suz) ; 3. Ti m Ferry . (Han); 4. Mike Bro wn (Hon) ; S. David Pingree (Suz); 6. Robbie Reynard (Kaw) ; 7. Don Upton (Yam); S. Larry Linkogle (Hon); 9. Nathan Ramsey (Yam); 10. Erik Anderson (Suz); 11. Scott Sheak (Yam); 12. Ty Birdwell (Hon ); 13. To ny Amaradio (Kaw ); 14. Jack Brassfield (Hon) 15. Mall Shue (Hon); 16. Chad Lough (Suz) ; 17. Chad Pederson (Yam); 18. Axe l Holvoet (Yam); 19. Doug Dehaan (5uz); 20. jason Krempin (Hon). Ti me: 6;12.99. 1%5 LCQ f20 ri d .... 4 I.p', top 4 transfer): I. jeff Dement (Yam); 2. Chad Pederson (Yamt 3. Chad Lough (Suz~ 4. Brian Deegan (Kaw ); 5. Axel Hol voet (Yam); 6. Tony Amaradio (Kaw) ; 7. Danny Ulven (Kaw); 8. Lance Moura! (Hon); 9. Mall Shue (Hon); 10. josh Steel (Suz); 11. Chris Brown (Suz); 12. Erik Anderson (Suz); 13. Srott Sheak (Yam); 14. Jack Brassfield (Hon ); 15. Derek Natvig (Kaw); 16. Oint Latham (Hon); 17. Doug Deehan (Suz); 18. Ty Birdwell (Hon); 19. Forrest Tra nsue (Hon); 20. John Dowd (Yam). Tune: 4:12.95. ~ 1%5 MAIN l2ll ri d..., 15 laps): 1. Ezra Lusk (5uz) ; 2. Jimmy Button (Suz ); 3. Damon Huffman (Suz); 4. Ryan Hughes (Kaw ); 5. T im Ferry (H on ); 6. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw ); 7. Mike Metzger (Yam); 8. Mike Brown (Hon); 9. Craig Decker (Han); 10. Chad Pederson (Yam); 11. David Pingree (Yam); 12. Tra vis Hodges (Kaw); 13. Robbie Reyna rd (Kaw); 14. j.1I Dement (Ya m); 15 . Donald Upton (Yam) ; 16. Nathan Ramsey (Yam ); 17. Chad Lough (Suz); 18. Kevin Crine (Hon); 19. Ste ve Andrich (Suz) ; 20. Cory Keeney (Kaw). 12 See EAS TERN R EGIO NA L C H AM PI ONSHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 2 of 10 rounds): 1. Ezra Lusk (SO/2 wins); 2. Jim my Button (44); 3. Tim Ferry (36) ; 4. (TIE) C had p.d.rson /Mik. Br ow n (27) ; 6. Robbie Reynard (26); 7. j.ff Dement (22t 8. j.ff Curry l (13); 9. Jooh~a ,Latina (12); 10. (T!E) Jim C\lester{.!

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