Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

everyone else. That made it h'ard to get by the lappers sometimes." Further back, Antunez was having a tough time getting by Stephenson, but he finally made ·a move for third place down the start I finish straightaway on lap 11, electing not to force the issue. "Denny was riding real good in the opening laps," Antunez said. "1 didn't want to try and run it in on'a teammateit's too early in the season for that - so I sat back and waited for him to make a mistake." . Goodman tried to challenge Antunez for third, but it wasn't to be as the Texan stalled his Suzuki in the late going and lost two places in the process, finishing sixth behind Stephenson and Gaddis. l'N Meanwhile, Stephenson stuffed his way under Goodman in the right-hander before the PJ1 Triples for fourth, but Pederson was also in the fray, and ·before the lap was complete, Stephenson found himself back in sixth behind Goodman and Pederson. Antunez did make forward progress, however, as he managed to overtake Gaddis for the runner-up spot. Pederson, too, was on the move, as he flew past Gaddis over the Budweiser Catapult, dropping the champ to fourth on lap 13. Pederson picked up second place after Antunez dropped his bike in the corner before the start I finish line, but l:1y the time the Iowan inherited the position, Palmer was long gone. "I just kept riding, and everyone else was getting tired - except for Palmer," Pederson said. "I'm satisfied, but I'd like to win. I'm not out here to get second place." Gaddis rolled in third ahead of Goodman and Antunez. "This is going to be a tough series," G<\ddis said. "It's going to be good." SATURDAY The level of competition appeared to improve Saturday.oPederson got the drop on the field in the 125cc main event and led a more aggressive, more tightly bunched pack of riders into the rockers. One of those riders was Gaddis, but the champion's race came to an early end as he crashed in the rockers and exited the race. In his absence, several riders took up the chase, including Palmer, Stephenson Antunez, Goodman, Buehl and Team RRP I Acerbisl Suzuki rider Ty Wallace. Palmer wasted no time in catching Pederson and he began to show the leader a wheel in the comer before the Budweiser Catapult on several successive laps. Palmer continued to push Pederson and finan y pulled the winning move, an inside pass up the start I finlsh straight, on lap seven. "We've been testing so hard for the last two weeks," Palmer said. "I've even got me a bttIJdozer, and we built an arenacross track. I just wanted to come out here and surprise everyone. I think we did that. I don't think they expected me to do too well." Pederson fell into line as the field spread out, with Antunez, Stephenson and Goodman maintaining an even twolength spacing among themselves. Goodman was the only rider to make a pass among the front-runners for the rest of the race as he got by Stephenson for fourth. Despite losing sight of Palmer, Pederson stayed in charge mode for the rest of the race to take second place, staving off an equally aggressive Antunez. (Above) L.ocal boy makes good: Pederson wowed his fellow Iowans as he Whipped up a victory . In the 250cc main event on Saturday. (Right) Along with Stephenson, Antunez debuted the 1997 Honda CR250 In AMA National competition. Antunez was fifth on Friday and third on Saturday in the 250cc class. Veterans Memorial Auditorium Des Moines, Iowa Results: November 1·2, 1996 (Rounds 1 & 2 of 26) Friday US, 1. Diff Palmer (Suz); 2. Jimmy Gaddis (Kaw); 3. Buddy Antunez (Hon); 4. Chad Pederson (Yam); 5. Denny Stephenson (Hon); 6. Shawn Morgan (Kaw); 7. Andy Bowyer- (Kaw): 8. Todd DeHoop (Yam); 9. Mike Katin (Hon); 10. Cory Keeney (Yam); Il.lsaiah Johnson (Kaw); 12. Jim Chester (Suz); 13. Jeromy Buehl (Yam). 250, I. Oiff Palmer (Suz); 2. Chad Pederson (Yam); 3. Jimmy Gaddis (Kaw); 4. Grayson Goodman (Suz); 5, Buddy Antunez (Hon); 6. Andy Bowyer (Kaw); 7. Denny Stephenson (Hon); 8. Jeromy Buehl (Yam); 9. Trey Owens (Kaw); 10. Jim Chester (Suz); 11. Charles Dunaway (Kaw); 12. Cory Keeney (Yam); 13. Jeff Hedden (Suz); 14. Cliff Adoptante (Suz). SO SUP: 1. Cody Gilmore (Cob); 2. Tanner Moore (Cob); 3. Zachary Kee;"g (Cob); 4. Just;" Rumpca (Cob); 5. Chad Blank (LEM); 6, Lou;s Geilenfeldt (Cob); 7. Jesse Gildea (LEM); 8. Jered Sitz (KTM); 9. Zachary Swim (Yam); 10. Ronnie Morgan (Act); 11. Cody Dark (Cob); 12. Jacob Lee Moszueda (Cob); 13. Robbie Ogden (KTM); 14. Alex Malott (KTM). Saturday 125: 1. aiH Palm.er (Suz); 2. d,ad Pederson (Yam); 3. Buddy Antunez (Hon); 4. Grayson Goodman (Suz); 5. Denny Stephenson (Han); 6. Jeromy Buehl (Yam); 7. Cory Keeney (Yam); 8. Brad Woolsey (Kaw); 9. Shawn Morgan (Kaw); 10. Ty Wallace (Suz): 11. Jim Chester (Suz); 12. Andy Bowyer (Kaw); 13. Trey Owens (Kaw); 14. Jeff Hedden (Suz). 250: 1. Chad Pederson (Yam); 2. Cliff Palmer (Suz): 3. Buddy Antunez (Hon); 4. Denny Stephenson (Han); 5. Jimmy Gaddis (Kaw); 6. Grayson Goodman (Suz); 7. Todd DcHoop (Yam); 8. Shawn Morgan (Kaw); 9. Andy Bowyer (Kaw): 10. Mjke Kalin (Hon); 11. Andy Bowyer (Kaw); 12. Cory Keeney (Yam); 13. Brad Woolsey (Kaw); 14. Charlie Dunaway (Kaw): 15. Trey Owens (Kaw); 16. Jim Chester (Suz), . . 50 SUP, I. Cody Gilmore (Cob); 2. Louis Geilenfeldt (Cob); 3. Mike Mitchell (Cob); 4. Justin Rumpca (Cob); 5. Chad Blank (LEM); 6. Jesse GHdea (LEM); 7. Zachary Keeing (Cob); 8. Ron MUchell (Cob); 9. Jered Sitz (KTM); 10. Jade Dungey (LEM); II. Alex Malott (KTM); 12. Ronnie Morgan (Act); 13. Cody Clark (Cob); 14. Michael Nichol Jr. (Cob); 15. Jacob Lee Moszueda (Cob). AMA/PJI NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 2 of26 events): 1. Giff Palmer (78/3 wins); 2. Chad Pederson (71/1 win); 3. Buddy Antunez (62); 4. Denny Stephenson (55); 5. Jimmr Gaddis (51); 6. Grayson Goodman (43); 7. Jeromy Buch (41); 8. Andy Bowyer (40); 9. Cory Keeney (35); 10. Shawn Morgan (33). Upcoming Rounds: Rounds 3 & 4 - Albany, NY, November'8-10 Rounds 4 & 5 - Philadelphia, PA, November 15-17 "I'm Mr. Second Place," a disappointed Pederson said. "I was riding a little bit tight at the beginning, and Cliff was riding really well. We had a pretty tight battle. I saw Buddy's wheel a couple times there." "I hope the fans enjoyed that one," Antunez agreed. "We all had a clean race, and I think we all had fun." Goodman finished with another fourth ahead of Stephenson. Pederson mimicked Palmer's start in the 250cc main, and the crowd roared its approval as he stormed down through . the rockers to establish the pace ahead of Palmer, Stephenson Antunez, Goodman, a recovered Gaddis, and Buehl. Palmer did his best to catch the fleeing Pederson by attempting several different lines around the track, including a tight inside approach to the Budweiser Catapult. . "I think I was picking up time there," Palmer said. "The dirt was still real moist, and I could get pretty good traction. It was working pretty good for me." But try as he did, Palmer could not make up any ground on Pederson, and he would have to settle for second place when all was said and done. "I think Chad was just riding real good," Palmer said. "He rode flawless. We were real, real equal. 1 was just waiting for him to make a mistake. He didn't make'one." . Lappers were the only thing slowing down Pederson, but the Iowan kept the same torrid pace throughout the 20-1ap event. "I could hear him," Pederson said of Palmer. "Then when he first got slowed up by lappers, 1 could see him. It was a pretty close race, and I was real nervous at first. There was a line through the whoops that I liked to take, but so did "it and simi;.. wa51ike this. ;:Lewi; said'. "I ,Could .come' he~ and cover the story.. or I could ride. and cover-the story, So Tm going to,try a~d ride. Ijumped the .big doubie. I'm stoked. " , Team Thor{HOnda/P~mallmpulse'riders' ~uddY ~nez and Denny S.tephenson . \(Viii go De,;;.y Stephen';".. iooJ< th'e.time tei ~xplain. down in the books' as. tHe first ri.ders .to 'compete the' biggest di((erehces-betwee~ arenacl'l)ss ~nd aboard 1997 Honda C8250s in AMA National 'superc",ss. "The :track.s ar.., 30 seconds long. '.corripetiti~n 'as th.e .duo rode a Pair. of the ·al".-' and tbepace'i~'a little moreintenSa,. ·but not'th<\t ' minum, perimeter-framed machines in Des· r[luch because pretty. much !,veryone >Joes full Moines. !;loth riders apP,ear' to- be. quite happy . throttle at 'supercrqss now," said Stephenson, with. themachine~. commentirig that. the p~wer.. who' swept the second night 'of competition in' they. produce is excellent. "There' s still· more Des:Moines last year. "The only1hing that is big'work to be done; though:" 'Stephenson s<\IO."1 "ger is the p~rse. and .that's why we're 'here; ',ended up riding -the exaCt same'suspensipn set- '. There IS a $100.000 point fund he~ 'That's what tings as·.Iast night'll was a little top harsh. But we. we had In'supercmss last year. There's a lot of ·can·t thankthe guys at Pro-.Circuit, Ed CAntunez's, . prol1)oters who could learn smoothing frcim Mike mechaniG) and my dad' enough. We just got ·the .' Kidd."· ." . ' . .' ·bikes: and tney 'really huriied to get everythi~g prepared for ,:,s. " . .', ' . Denny St8phenson won the five-lap Dash for .' . ' Cash: which 'is'open to the five fasteSt qualifierS, Stephenson and Antunez weren'tthe' only riders" Friday. Stephenson qollected $450. ChSd Peeldebuting new equipment at Des Moines. One'of . erson won .Saturday·s dash and pocketed $550, the more ..in·teresting combinations was last year's numb.er-ihree finisher Todd DeH~p, . Kevin. Cri".. ''''(on 'Filday's Big T~mato. Piiza who has switched from his F&S Suzukis to ' jump-pf!, but il.p.roved to ~e a costly victory. 'The 'Yamaha' of Troy YZs, "It's something ne";", F&S Suzuki .rider. iost contmi of his motor.cycle just for arenacrqss;: DeHoop said: "It's just me. after fulling 'to pull 'off a no·l!lQged. can-can' and Igot'them three weeks agd, and they Seem to be crashing, over the tum at ihe end of the Budweis-, . really good. I j~st have to get uSl'd: to them' er Catapuit. Crine' reportedly s.uffered broken' beca'u'se of their different structure, I've only rid: kneecap 'lOd ~amaged patella tendcin and underden them a totai of 45 minutes." DeH60p, had a went lengthy emergency surgery -to repair the 'tough weekend, with his best finish being a sev., damage in a -Des Moines, area hospital. There enih,in th~ 21>0cc ma,in event 'SaturdW . , . ' .wiis .0'0 word' <\S to hoW I.ong he might 'be out of action. .' . Joii-omy Buehl has pUt tog~ther backing frt;,m Yamaha forhis .I 996-97 National Aeenacross·. 'Thor/Team Kawasaki's.Andy Bowyer collect-, ,effort.- "That's a reai boost of confidence:" said ed the $200 first prize in Saturday's jump.-off ,by , Buehl. who was I!\st year's 'runner-up_ "I'm just·. pulling ,off a no-handed landing from the .Budweis-, . ·going to take what happened to'me last ¥!lar a'nd er catapu~. "it's easier .than it looks." -Bowyer , learn from it. .I. was leading the whole first half and said. "But the' crowd IClites it:." ' ·then, had ohe bBd race. There are four races in one weekend at an arenacross. I want tci do the' Chrome. Horse/Peteus ConstructionlEvilie Rac", . ·bastfcan tirstay in the winner's circle. and hope- ,ing' s Cody Gilmor:8 stormed to both 50cc sup(ully we GaO' put together a champion~h;p. ". port main eVents during -the wet;>kend. leaving the . eompetition ~r 'in his wake, each time. Perhap's . CYe/e World Edito'r ..Jimmy· L,ewis' contested . even,more imp~ssive than the young lowan's Des Moipes aboard a'pair of.Thor/Kaw~!,akis but perfor'rJ1ances 'W~s 'his. team transporter. a 40failed tO'make the. mains on either night d.esp~e . (Oot.tandem-axle -Kenworth' that dwarfed the' rigs . · tu.ming resMciable perfori'T\ances. in his .qualifiers ofthe top ·125cc and 250cc camp,etitot:!l, . . . a

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