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/127664
';S CamelS CrossS . . Round 12: Texas Stadium U E R Series P R O S>, :AM! of the Coors Light Challenge 20-lap main event. What transpired over the final two laps of the race left nearly everyone in the stadium brea thless, voiceless and trying to recall what had just ha ppened - and that included 'LaRocco himself, who found himself standing on the highest step of the rostrum flanked by Kiedrowski and McGrath . "1 must admit, I've had a lot of bad luck in the pas t so it's nice to have thi ngs go my way for a cha nge," said Lakocco, who started the race in 15th place . . Lakocco's good fortu ne came at the expense of McGrath and Kiedrowski. What looked like it would be another McGrath runaway ended up in an epic, last-lap duel to the finish between the season-long rivals. After passing Team Yamaha's Michael Craig for the lead on the fourth lap, McGrath seemed to be headed for what would have been his ninth win of the season. In typical McGrath fashion, the defend ing champ quickly opened up a seemingly insurmountable lead, but Kiedrowski never gave up hope and whittled away at the margin between himself and McGrath. The Kawasaki rider moved into second place on the 10th lap by passing Yamaha's Jeff Emig, and he slowly but surely closed in on McGrath until he could read the 1-8ODCOLLECT decals on his rear fender. Two laps from the finish, McGrath bobbled exiting a turn and lost the momentum he needed to clear a hair-raising triple jump. McGrath was forced to double the first two jumps, while Kiedrowski sailed past the Ho nda rider, clearing all thr ee jumps. Moments later, they took the white flag and McGra th came back, bumped in to Kiedrowski and passed him. Kiedrowski, though, had no intentions of giving up and retaliated by ou t-riding McGrath through a long, tough section of w hoops - pu tting his fro nt wheel ahea d of the champ. Following the whoop section was a wide, sweeping right -hand tum, where McGrath tried to dive underneath Kiedrowski in a desperate attempt to re-pass the 250cc National Mike laRocco headed Int o the last lap of the 250cc Coors U ght Challenge a di sta nt third, but took the checkered fla g leadi ng the pack, scoring his second win of the season and the fou rth of his career. By Kit Palmer Photos by Kinney Jones IRVING, TX, APR 23 e're not used to being this lucky," said a relieved and very happy Mae Lakocco after watching her son, Mike, win what was one of the most exciting ::!' supercross finishes in recen t memory. ..... ' As 33,815 screaming supercross fans ~ in Te xas Stadium looked o n, Tea m Kawasaki's Mike LaRocco patiently sat back in third place, keeping ta bs on a la te-race duel for the lead that took shape between his tea mmate Mike Kiedrowski and Tea m H on da/l -800COLLECT's Jeremy McGrath, who had up until that point - led the last 16 laps This sequence of photos tells the story. The fi rst frame was shot moments after the IntJtJaJ contact beween Jere my McGrat h (1) and Mike Kiedrowski (3): McGrath goes down while Kiedrowski sends the mechan ics scambllng as he tries to maintain control of his motorcycle. McGrath's tuner Skip Norfolk and KIedrowski's tuner Shane Nalley look on•••