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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127757
his Honda into the face of a jump and crashed out of the race on the last lap. In heat two, McGrath caused quite a stir when he failed to' qualify directly after crashing three times. "That's more times that I crashed all this year," joked Jeremy after a dismal eighth. Hughes won the race with Ward and Honda of Troy's Mike Craig following. The first semi was won by Yamaha factory pilot John Dowd while 250cc World Champion Stefan Everts of Belgium was second. The second heat went to McGrath over teammate and fellow crasher Lamson. The repecharge, or Last Chance Qualifier, was won by Japanese National Champion Matiasevich ahead of Frenchman Daniel Obelisco. Failing to make the main event altogether were British pilot James Dobb, Lawrence, Tragter, French stars Pichon and Frederic Bolley, and South African Colin Dugmore, who finished fourth at the Barcelona series opener. The main event saw McGrath steal the early lead from Craig and more or less jump away with the win. McGrath led all 20 laps while Craig held second for the first nine laps before being overtaken by Ernig, who was in turn passed by Ward on the final lap. McGrath pleased the crowd with a finish-line nac-nac, and then told the packed house how pleased he was to win for them. "I want to be up here on top of the podium every night," said the popular American. "Winning Paris has been a When asked how impressed he was with McGrath himself, Tragter admitted that he was very impressed. "The way he jumps is not like anyone I have seen," said Tragter. "It as if he is riding BMX while the rest ",re on motorcycles. Did he once ride the BMX or something?" When told he was correct, Tragter was very pleased with his guess. The highest finish for a non-U.S. rider all weekend long was seventh, accom- , plished by Frenchman Thierry Bethys on Saturday night. The three-night Paris-Bercy, organized by the Lariviere corporation of Mota Revue and Mota Verte magazine fame, is a unique event through and through. The Berey stadium itself is the most famous arena in France. Inside its grass-covered ways are a variety of events that only those Jerry Lewis-loving Frenchmen could think up: supercross, wind-surfing, jet-skiing, tennis, Madonna concerts, trials, rodeo, mountain-biking, and slick track racing, to name just a few. The event is also famous for its opening ceremonies. This year's theme was ."The Wild West Show." With the help of Euro Disney, stunt riders dressed as cowboys and Indians did trick-riding on horses, fired cap guns and played live country music as the announcer kept track from aboard a steer. There were also look-aIikes and act-alikes for Sitting Bull, Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill. The riders then came out on motorcycles, wearing cowboy hats. McGrath's grand entrance came in a cheerleader-filled covered wagon. The track was designed by highlyrecommended U.S. track builder"John Savitski, who made use of every inch of the stadium floor - and a few hallways to put together a track of abou t 45 seconds in length. The Friday night edition was su per technical and made for notso-great" racing. Savitski took some and pulled away from early challenger Button in the first five laps. Button held second for half the race before Hughes and Craig motored by. McGrath, meanwhile, was firing through the field on all eylinders. He was up to fifth by the 10th lap, but needed five more laps to catch Button. Two laps later he zapped Craig before running out of time in third place. "There was just no place to pass out there and I didn't really want to take anyone out," said McGrath. "Besides, I don't want to take a chance of losing the King of Berey, at least not any more than I already have." McGrath was referring to the fact that Ward had seized the lead in the weekend standings by virtue of his 2-1 finishes. "I think that tomorrow night will be a great race because there's a lot at stake and I know that I can win," said Ward. "It will mean a lot for the 1996 season as well, because my confidence level is higher than it's ever been. I know I can ride with anyone now and next year I'm going to go for some wins." Ward did just that off the st"art of Sunday's decisive main event, but so did McGrath and Hughes. Once the first-lap shuffling settled, McGrath was in the lead with Hughes and Ward following. Ernig, meanwhile, lay back in the first turn. "I banged elbows with Craig a few times coming off the starting gate and it messed me up going into the first turn," goal of mine all year long and I don't want to go home with anything less than the King of Berey crown." Rounding out the top five behind McGrath, Ward and Emig were latechargers Lamson and Hughes. Then came Craig, Button, and high-finishing Frenchmen Obelisco and Bethys. Kawasaki-mounted Matiasevich would round out the top 10. The King of Berey crown would be in jeopardy for McGrath after Saturday night's main event. After winning their heat races McGrath and Ward entered the main event as the clear favorites, in that order. But in the second turn, McGrath clipped another rider's rear wheel and went from fourth to dead last. Ward seized the perfect opportunity to win his third-ever Paris main event said Emig, whose night was looking bright after beating McGrath straight up in their semi heat. "I tried to drive in and push everyone out a little bit, but th.ere was no room and I went down." Emig would spend the race of the night trying to salvage points - he made it up to 12th. While Ward tried frantically to get past Hughes, McGrath slipped away with the lead and the weekend crown. "Showtime" led all 20 laps en route to raking in his third main event in four World Championship rounds to date. Sunday's win also marked his careerfifth Paris main-event win. "Hughes and Ward made me work for that one but I still felt pretty much in control," said McGrath, as his fans crowded around. "I haven't even begun (Left) Larry Ward was the secondmost consistent rider In Paris. Ward ·won on Saturday night, and momentarily took over the World Supercross Championship series point lead. (Right) Reigning 125cc National Champion Steve Lamson turned in two fourth-place finishes and an eighth at Bercy. notes on a dinner napkin late that night as some of the riders suggested, and altered the track the next day. The result was a better, less technical track that allowed for more passing and better racing. Once the horses were cleaned up after, Friday's racing began and the first heat-race win was turned in by Honda of Troy's Mike Brown, another surprise of the '95 U.S. racing season. Brown bettered expatriate Jimmy Button and Frenchman Frederic Vialle. Failing to make the first three transfer spots were Americans Jeff Matiasevich, Jeff Ernig, 125cc National Champ Steve Lamson, and privateer Phil Lawrence. "I was out front and I thought I pretty much had it wrapped up until I had brain-fade," said Lamson, who plowed