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/127811
ARENACROSS AMAJPJ1 National Arenacross Series Rounds 3&4: Knickerbocker Arena to the finish line, but Pederson had an answer for every move and dung to the victory. After a slow start, Palmer had worked his way up through th'e pack, and coming right with him was Yamaha-mounted Jeromy Buehl. After a fairly extended battle for the final rostrum spot, Palmer would nail the pass with two laps to go and the pair would take third and fourth, respectively - but only after DeHoop and Denny Stephenson, who had been running ahead of the slow-starting duo, got together before the big double" and took each other out of contention. After running 'as high as third, Jones faded to sixth, just behind Grayson Goodman. In the 250cc race, Jones jumped ahead with the holeshot, followed dosely by Stephenson and Antunez, with Team Green's Brad Woolsey, getting his best start yet, in fourth. Jones quickly turned up the wick in an effort to put distance between him and the rest of the pack, but Antunez wouldn't have it. The Honda rider displaced Stephenson for second on lap two and set out after Jones. First-race winner Pederson was looking to back up his earlier performance and passed Woolsey for fourth, then looked to Stephenson as his next goal. By lap 12, Pederson was running second and his move appeared to have taken some wind out of Stephenson's sails. Jones, who up to this point looked Photos by Michael Frisch and Danny Nappi ALBANY, NY, NOV. 8-10 fter playing second fiddle to F&S Suzuki's Cliff Palmer at the AMA/PJl Super Arenacross series opener one week ago, Fort Dodge, Iowa's Chad Pederson jumped into the spotlight with three victories and a second-place finish at the Knickerbocker Arena, the second stop on the National series calendar. Though the results might suggest outright dominance, Pederson had his work cut out for him in the form of Honda/Primal Impulse's Buddy Antunez, who was the only rider to defeat Pederson, and Palmer, who pressured Pederson more than once during the weekend's racing despite his mixed results. After an impressive performance last week, Palmer had an up-and-down weekend. Friday saw Pal=er nab a solid third after a slow start in the 125cc race, but a crash while running in the top fi ve during the 250cc race left him seventh. Saturday unfolded in a similar fashion, resul tswise, for Palmer, and he finished with a second and sixth. Antunez, on the other hand, was second only to Pederson in consistency. The Honda rider finished out of the top two only one time, and even then he was still a solid fourth. Pederson's strong performance netted the Atomic 22/Chaparral Yamaha rider the series points lead and he now (Above) The second stop on the AMAlPJ1 National Arenacross series brought close racing and a new points leader. (Right) New series leader Chad Pederson celebrates one of his three . victories of the weekend with Cliff Palmer (6) and Denny Stephenson (48). sits in front of Palmer, 149-134. Antunez currently resides in third with 133 and is followed by Denny Stephenson (111) and Andy Bowyer (75). FRIDAY The 125cc main event got off to a good, dean start with Yamaha of Troy rider Todd DeHoop gating first, followed closely by Antunez and Pederson. As the leading riders powered through the back rocker section, Antunez cut to the inside while Pederson went outside, leavin.g DeHoop sandwiched between the charging pair. As a result, DeHoop dropped to third. Kawasaki-mounted Mike Jones was the next rider to overtake DeHoop as he sliced his way toward the leading pair, who were locked in a heated battle for the point position. As the pair jumped side by side over the Miller Light Catapult, it looked as though Antunez might get a wheel under Pederson in the next comer before the triple, but while both riders skied the jump, Pederson had the inside line and the advantage. Antunez pressured Pederson heavily all the way completely in control, then threw it away Over the Miller Light Catapult and relinquished the lead tei Antunez. After another rough tart, Palmer worked his way up to 'fifth and pushed Woolsey for fourth. Jones, meanwhile, fought back from his earlier get-off and in one move passed both Palmer and Woolsey. Palmer then moved past Woolsey, the pair subsequently overtaking Stephenson. With the two-lap sign out, Antunez controlled the lead, followed by Pederson, Jones, Palmer and Woolsey, though