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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127745
ting up a winner-take-all finale that had
the crowd on its feet. Lamson scored
the holeshot, winning the race and the
championship after 35-plus minutes of .
absolutely perfect riding. Hughes
matched th-e effort, but not the result.
"Sometimes we wait a whole career
without getting a championship, but
JlOW Steve's done it and 1 congratulate
him," said a gracious Hughes as he
watched Lamson accept the National
Championship at the trophy ceremony.
"He worked hard for it and he deserved
it. 1 pushed as hard as 1 could that second moto and couldn't gain a second on
him, but he couldn't pull a second on
me, either. So 1 thought, 'Well, 1 guess 1
better start riding over my head.' 1 did
and 1gained a little bit but it didn't happen, npt this time, anyway." Hughes
ended up pushing his bike across the
finish line after his chain fell off in the
last tum.
The 2S0cc National Championship
was also decided at Steel City. It did not
come with the fireworks or suspense of
the 12Scc struggle, but it did offer the
great Jeremy McGrath the chance to
make a statement.
"This is the 'Shut Up' title!" said a
happy McGrath after a title-clinching
first moto win. "This title feels different
than all my supercross titles (six, counting three 2S0cc titles, two USee titles
and one F.1.M. World title) because one
outdoors means a lot to me. I'm enjoying these wins more and more every
time. Now 1 get so pumped up 1 can't
even sleep. Winning Nationals means
so much to me." As far as winning
against a depleted field of contenders
that lacked early title favorites Mike
LaRocco and Greg Albertyn, McGrath
shut his disappearing critics down by
saying, "They were all at Gainesville,
weren't they? This title also gives me
confidence for next year's title because 1
know 1 can run with these guys. I'm the
champ here now, too. It just feels so
good!"
"1 gave it 100 percent and this is
what 1 got," said Emig as he accepted
the role of runner-up for the series.
"Next year 1 just need to give it more
and maybe get this championship."
Emig started the day 47 points·b~hind
McGrath and ended up 60 points down
at the end, 466-526. Finishing thirCi in
the series was former four-time outdoor
champion Mike Kiedrowski of Team
Kawasaki (389). Emig's Yamaha teammate John Dowd, who ran 2-3 in two
heats compared to Emig's 6-2 for third
overall. Kiedrowski was fourth with a
3-5 score.
Steel City was hosting. it's eighth
AMA Pro Motocross National on Sunday and a record crowd of just over
12,000 attended the race. A dry summer
made for a dry, hard-pack track. The
Racer Productions crew did a commendable job of keeping the dust at a
minimum on a bright, sunny day but
the price of all that watering was a slick
track. Lap times hovered around the
3:30 mark on wha t is the longest track
on the outdoor National circuit. The
rough track had a lot of jumps and a lot
of long, fast stretches and hills. Oddly
enough, the dramatic second 12Scc
moto clocked in five seconds faster than
the second 250cc moto.
125cc NATIONAL
Yamaha's Kevin Windham, finally
back up to speed after spending most of
the year at less than 100 percent with
various injuries and illness, holeshot the
first moto and set a furious pace at the
point. A grip of Honda riders that
included Lamson, privateer Ryan Huffman and Honda of Troy's Mike Craig,
(Above) Hughes (9)
and Lamson (5)
fought for the lead
In the first 125cc
mota. Hughes
scored the win
putting him and
Lamson Into a tie
going Into the titledeciding, final
mota.
(Right) A huge firstturn pile-up In the
first 250Cc mota
ended any hopes
Jeff Emlg (6) had of
beating out
McGrath for the
National crown.
followed Windham. Hughes started
sixth. At the other end of the pack was a
frustrated Damon Huffman, the last
man left in the mathematical title chase.
Huffman's slim title hopes disappeared
when he punched the starting gate with
his front wheel and ensured himself a
dead last start.
"I've grown up my whole life watching the gate in front of me," explained
Huffman. "Some guys watch the pin
that moves first, but 1 can't always see
it, so 1 don't ever watch it. Because the
gates were kind of low 1 had a clean
view of the pin, so 1 decided to try it.
Pichon was right next to me and his
front wheel is a little bigger than a pin. 1
saw him go and 1 just let loose and
smacked it."
Windham was definitely on the gas
through the first hal! of the moto, but
the Hughes/Lamson duel for second
carried them to the sophomore ProAm's rear wheel anyway. Hughes
zapped the Yamaha first but Lamson
wasn't long to follow.
'1 tried to relax out front, but then I
saw the two points lappers come up
and that was definitely on my mind," .
said a cautious Windham. "It caused
me to tense up and 1 got a little arm
pump. 1 was shaking like a beginner
anyway because that's basically what 1
am. 1 haven't been racing that much
because of my injuries and all, so it felt
good to finally get up there. It really
built my confidence for next year."
The climactic moment of the first
moto came three turns before the checkered flag when Lamson leaped a short
double that Hughes did not completely
clear and nearly got a wheel inside the
Kawasaki in the V-turn that followed.
Hughes cut the turn close the inside
and held his ground,. sprinting to the
checkered flag with Lamson it hot pursuit.
"I came pretty close at the end,
didn't I?" asked Lamson after the dramatic race. "My arms are done pumping up now so I'm going to go out there
and tear it up in the second moto. 1
have no strategy for the last moto. I'm
just going out there to win because
that's all 1can do."
"1 knew 1 had to go out and beat
~
Lammy or it was all over," said Hughes
of the first battle. '1 went out and got a
good start, found some good lines, and
got past them both. My objective is to
give it all 1 have and beat Lamson or die
trying. Well, 1 guess I'm not dead yet,
but 1 know that it's really d