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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127794
MOTOCROSS AMA 1251250cc National Motocross Championship Series Round 8: Unadilla Valley Sports Center (Above) Suzuki's Tim Ferry (20) and Yamaha's John Dowd battled in both motos. Dowd finished third overall with a 3-4 and Ferry finished fourth overall with a 2·5. (Left) Team Suzuki boss Roger DeCoster congratulates Albertyn after winning the overall. It's been a long time coming for both of them. "After the crash my front brake lever rotated downward and so did my handguard that was mounted on it," explained Emig. "My hand was exposed as I was coming through the pack and I caught a rock off one of my knuckles. It's pretty swollen - it might be broken." McGrath's 4-1 moto score gave him second overall, although, he was still a bit displeased with his performance. "I really let myself and the fans down in the first moto," said McGrath. "But r turned things around in the second moto. Ward was going fast out there and I was trying my hardest, but my starts just weren't there today. I had to charge to hold off Albee (Albertyn) at the end there. My bike worked perfect in the second moto after we got the shock worked out. Skip (Norfolk) did a great job." Albertyn finally won his first AMA National on an outdoor track that suited his European riding-style well with a 22 moto tally. He was ecstatic to say the least - But not the slightest bit out-ofcontrol happy. He's won three FIM World Championships and he knows what it's like to win - just not over here. ow he does and he was extremely satisfied. He was as humble as ever, publicly thanked God for the win, and thanked the fans. "I'm a guest in this country," said Albertyn. "And I just really appreciate all of the support I've been able to get over here - especially from the fans. Thank you." ex . Brieflv... . Chaparral's Brian Deegan and Team Noleen's Kyle Lewis were the recipients of the Skoal Racing Privateer Challenge award for being the top privateer finishers in' their respective classe~. Deegan was 11th overall in the 125cc class with an 11·15 mota score. while Lewis took seventh overall in the 250cc class with a 6·10. Each rider received $500 end is eligible for the $5000 year-end grand prize in each class, Team Suzuki Sports/Pro·Clrcult!AnswerlSrrrith/Bell/Peak Performance rider Scott Shaak Is a local to the Unadilla circuit and is from nearby Hudson, New York. H~ got ,sixth in last year's Unadilla National and his fans from New York wer~ 'expecting great racing from the up·and·comlng 'star th,is year. Unfortonately, Sheak reinjured hiS left ankieafter catching his_toes,in a hole alid ripping his foot trom the· peg, Sheak was still recuperating from an ankle injury from Red Bud two weeks ago; and it was a bit tender. Most riders had handguards mounted to their bikes at Unadilla to fight off hand and finger injuries fwm the flying rocks that seem to litter the entire track. Only brave few·weren·t running handguards and Team Honda even went as' far as mounting trick alumirium pipe guards 'to the works machines of lamson and McGrath tofend off pipe dings. Better safe than sorry,' ' a The rocks also had most riders and mechanics worried about fiat tires. which seem to have played such a prominent role at many of this year's events. Most of the factory teams were eilher running full Bib MOusse's (foam Inner lUbesJ made by Michelin or Dunlop·s.new tube/foam·insert combo called the Crescent Mousse, Some teams weren't worried about it as much. like Team Kawasaki. end were running doubled-up heavy-duty tubes, Oddly enough, even with the rockiest conditions of the year. flats did not play a role in any of the outcomes at Unadilla. 18 all over the track. McGrath finally got by Ward on lap seven exiting the corner before the long straight in the back called the Freeway. When the riders came around on lap eight it was McGrath followed by Ward, Albertyn, Hughes, and LaRocco who were all about two seconds apart. It was intense. About 15 seconds back came Swink, Burnsville Yamaha/ PJ1 / Xtreme/ Atomic 22's Jimmy Button, Canada's Jean-Sebastian Roy, Lewis, and Emig in 10th. Smoke started flying off of the heads of Team Suzuki mechanics and personnel as they did the math and began to realize that if Albertyn could get around Ward and into second place, his 2-2 would give him the overall victory his first ever in America. Could he do it? Would Ward - also riding a Honda for Team Honda of Troy - let it happen? Could Emig actually catch up and spoil everything? It wasn't to be. Ward fought valiantly and rode his heart out after Albertyn would dose in and then lose ground numerous times, but the inevitable happened on lap 11 Albertyn passed Ward in lapped-traffic just before the drop into the Gravity Cavity. The game was over and Albertyn had the overall trophy practically . sitting on his mantle at home - but he wanted McGrath and got to within two seconds of the champ on the last lap. McGrath held off the hard-charging Albertyn for the moto win, followed by Ward, LaRocco, Hughes, then at quite a distance back came Swink, Button, Emig, Roy and Lewis. Emig fought hard, but the leaders were just going too fast up there - pushed by Albertyn. Amazingly, Emig was still able to earn third overall with a 1-7 after charging from midpack with a bent bike and a severely swollen knuckle. Team Yamaha's Do. . Henry came to Unadilla to race after knocking out two of his front teeth ancfinjuring his shoulder in a first tum pileup at Red Bud. Henry had two temporaries put in for now and was still receiv-' ing treatment at the track on his shoulder by his sports therapist Frank Krasowski. Krasowski is the therapist who helped Henry retum to action after his near-career·ending back i~jury he sustained in his now-famous leap at Budds Creek last year. Tim Pustalek was hanging out with Brian Swink at the Honda of Troy Pits and looking good after suf" fering a broken neck.at the St. Louis Supencross lasi year on his RRP/Acerbis Suzuki. nm reports that the injUry is not career-.ending and he should be back for the Steel City National. Swelling in his neck caused temporary paralysis that subsided when the swelling went down: His second. third. and feu'rth vertabrae were fused together and he feels he should be ready to ride soon. Team Suzuki's Tim Ferry missed most of the moming practice sessions held on SUnday when he did nolo receive'a wake·up call at the Red Roof Inn in nearby lI!ica. It did,;'t seem to faze' hini· much. though. as he raoed to a fourth overall'with a·2-5 mota score.' .' .'. . . • Jo Jo Keller made an'appearance at the legendary Unadilla trpck· and' qualified for his first-ever ;·25cc National on a Bettencourt Honda CR12? out of West Bridgewater. Massachussetts. Keller raced his first .race at Unadilla in 'a OF> ·in 1979. and has Qeen coming back ever since. Keller. who is now. 34. j9ked: .'I . couid just ba the heaviest guy to.ever quali&' fer.a 125cc National.' He's still pretty fast'and rode to a respectable 26-21 score for the daY to stay withi~ lhe top 3~ ·overaU. . .for the first time. women's motocross,racing was featured July 20.-21, at Unadilla. Over 20' members of the U,S. Women:............... '~... competed hi the AMA-sanctioned championship series that cansis!s of four rounds of the 1996 AMA National Motocross Series. The women '!Iced one mota on Saturday and one on Sunday. Dee Wood took the overall win with a 3' f score, Aniber H...... finished second with a 2-2, and Shelly Kann rounded.out the top three with a 5-3. . ..