Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Team Chaparral's Chad Pederson padded his points lead In the series with a first· and three second-place efforts In Memphis. Pederson leads Buddy Antunez, 299-275. (Right) Mike Jones won his two main events in style, but his win in the jump contest didn't come so easily. This is his winning no-handed landing jump just before he samples the Shelby Farms Arena soil. (Below) Team Thor/HondalPrimal Impulse's Buddy Antunez stayed close In the points battle by taking a win and three consistent third-place finishes. with Pederson no more than six feet ahead. Antunez looked to have a better line down the rockers than Pederson and showed the Yamaha rider his front wheel. The pass would have to wait for another three comers, coming over the PI1 triples. At the halfway point of the 20-lap main, backmarkers slowed front-runners Jones and DeHoop, allowing Antunez to take advantage of DeHoop. Pederson came on strong, as did Stephenson. Through the rockers, Antunez got by what looked to be a slowing Jones, but Jones came right back to put Antunez back in his place. Jones then stalled out before the rocker section, allowing Antunez, Pederson and Stephenson to advance. The' rockers played bost to a lot of positionswapping among the top five riders. DeHoop led before turning it over to Antunez. Then his teammate (Stephenson) got his shot at the gold before Jones reclaimed the lead once again. Pederson wasn't done yet as he made an inside move on Jones for the lead and one he would not tum over again. Jones collected the second position with Antunez, DeHoop and Stephemson rounding out the top five. Palmer suffered another poor start and fought his way from 13th to sixth. "My hat's off to Pederson and Jones," a tired Antunez said. "1 gave it everything 1 had. The racing was great, close, and anybody could have won. I know at one time we had three OT four of the leaders going down the rocker section side by side." "Not to make any excuses, but I didn't have any rear brakes for the last 10 laps," a dejected Jones said. "I was using the front only - it's the only thing 1 had. While most riders use their front brake 80 percent of the time, you still need the rear. With these guys out here you need 100 percent; 1 couldn't win with only 80." "Man, it was wild out there," Peder, son said. "I couldn't seem to get a rhythm going early on, and 1 was making little mistakes. By the halfway mark, I tried to get things turned around. I could tell 1 was catching Jones, and that helped me. It was so cool - through the rockers we had all the front guys going for the lead at one time. 1 think the top five guys all led at one time or another. We had riders going everywhere. My Chaparral Yamaha was running strong, and rm glad 1 came out on top of this one." Jones turned the wick up a little more. Jones took his second win of the weekend, followed by Pederson, Antunez, Buehl and Stephenson. "Lapped traffic pLayed a big part," Antunez said. "There' was a group of us in the early going that was going fast, but once we hit traffic, it was hard to do anything." Pederson also commented, ''I'd get going and then run into traffic and that kind of slowed me a Little. Mike was going fast and I knew if I was going to be in the hunt at the end, I'd have to stay as close as possible. I fel t good and even felt I could make a run at him in the closing laps, but 1 ran out of time. I picked up some more valuable points and rm happy with my performance." "I wasn't going to let this one get away," Jones said as he waved to the crowd. '1 knew where Chad and Buddy were the entire race. There weren't going to be any surprises. I felt 1 had the better Line through the rockers. I wanted this one bad." fN SATURDAY Jones pulled the trigger first, leading into turn one with Pederson, Palmer, Antunez and Buehl in his draft. Pederson tried to make a move on Jones before the end of lap one in the 16-lap main, but to no avail. Antunez was the next to make a move, and Palmer was the victim as Antunez shot by him in the rocker section. DeHoop was having his best race of the series as he came up on Buehl and took the fifth position away. Over the catapult Palmer tried to repass Antunez as the two landed almost side by side. Palmer dived to the inside but his rear wheel washed out, sending the Suzuki rider to the ground and to the back of the pack. While front-runners Jones and Pederson battled for the lead position, Antunez gained ground. Pederson covered every move Jones made, but when it came to the rockers, Antunez got the better drive, passing Pederson in the process. Pederson tried to come back on Antunez over the rollers, but the Yamaha rider couldn't make it stick. Antunez set up Jones as he did Pederson the Lap before, coming out in front. Pederson sucked on to Antunez as he, too, got by Jones, who came right back to get Pederson over the rollers as the crowd went berserk. Pederson came right back in the fast left-hand sweeper to push Jones out. Jones tried to come back, but ran out of laps. Antunez collected the win, followed by Pederson, Jones, DeHoop and Stephenson. "1 tip my hat to Buddy and Chad tonight," Jones said of his third-pLace finish. "They were faster than I was. I give them the credit. I had fun; I think I made a few fans and that's what motocross is all about - you fans." "This track didn't allow you to rest," a tired Pederson commented. "1 was always working, but I think we put on a good show for everyone. I'm happy with second, but I'll try and do better in the 250." "Everything fell into place tonight," Antunez said. "I knew I had to get to the front early, and take control, and make these other guys ride my race." Pederson and Buehl led the' rest of the 250cc main event field into turn one side by side, but Jones muscled his way to the front position as the three riders headed into the rockers. Pederson latched onto Jones with Buehl 'and Bowyer in tow. Antunez got by Bowyer before the catapult as did Goodman. Stephenson, suffering from a poor start, worked his way up to challenge Goodman, who was still getting used to his new Yamaha ride. Goodman then came into the left-hander before the rocker section too 'hot and went dowri. Stephenson said "th.ank you" and headed after Buehl in the fifth position with DeHoop a couple of bike lengths behind, along with a remounted Goodman seventh. Jones was a determined man as he countered every move Pederson made. If it looked as if Pederson was gaining, Shelby Farms Arena Memphis, Tennessee Results: November 22-23, 1996 (Rounds 7 & 8 of 26) Friday US, 1. Mike Jones (Kaw); 2. Chad Pederson (Yam); 3. Buddy Antunez (Hon); 4. Denny Stephenson (Hon); 5. Grayson Goodman (Yam); 6. Jeromy Buehl (Yam); 7. Brad Woolsey (Kaw); 8. Ty Wallace (5uz); 9. Andy Bowyer (Kaw); 10. Oiff Palmer (Suz); 11. Trey Owens (Kaw); 12. Shawn Morgan (Kaw); 13. Tim Puste.lak (Han); 14. Cliff Adoptante (Suz); IS. Todd DeHoop (Yam); 16. Allen Reed (Hon). 25(), 1. Chad Pederson (Yam); 2. Mike lanes (KaW); 3. Buddy Antunez (Hon); 4. Todd DeHoop (Yam); 5. Denny Stephenson (Hon); 6. Oiff Palmer (Suz); 7. Ty Wallace (502); 8. Grayson Goodman (Yam); 9. Andy Bowyer (Kaw); 10. Brad Woolsey (Kaw); 11. Shawn Morgan (Kaw); 12. Isaiah Johnson (Kaw); 13. Oiff Adoptante (502); 14. Tim Pustelak (Hon); 15. Jeromy Buehl (Yam); 16. Trey Owens (l

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