Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

FRIDAY Pederson proved to have the fastest hand as he nailed down the holeshot in Friday's 125cc main. But things happen fast in arenacross and moments after getting the holeshot, Pederson was passed in the rocker section by Pennsylvania rider Dave Yezek. Michigan rider Todd DeHoop was running in third, followed by Grayson Goodman. On the third lap of the 16-lap race, Pederson squeaked back by Yezek and took control of the moto. DeHoop was holding third, while Antunez was on the gas, picking off Goodman for fourth. After passing Goodman, Antunez took a few laps to bide his time and wait for an opportunity to displace DeHoop, which he found at the end of the start straight, thus moving into third. Not too long afterward, Yezek began to fall off the pace, casing his bike off the big double jump in the center of the cour e. This wa all Antunez needed to strike, and two turns later, after hooking up nicely over the second set of doubles, Antunez made the pass on Yezek in the start straight hairpin. "1 got a little tired out there," Yezek said. "Buddy was pushing hard and I started making little mistakes." Pederson rode on to the win, with Antunez coming out of the pack to take At the midpoint of the 2Q-lap race the order read: Antunez, Katin, Palmer, Stephenson and Ty Wallace. Things changed quickly, however, as Stephenson made another mistake, talling his bike before the Blockbuster double-jump section, which allowed Wallace, who passed Yezek, to move into fourth. Then Katin drew the trouble card - he got squirelly and shot off of the track in the rocker section, moving Wallace into third. Series points leader and 125cc-clas winner Pederson worked his way through the pack and by Wallace to break into the top three. Stephenson was fading and Bayville, New Jersey's Barry Carsten was gaining momentum. Carsten passed Stephen on, Yezek and Wallace to move into fourth spot. The 250cc main ended with Antunez winning, Palmer in second, Pederson in third, Carsten in fourth and Yezek taking fifth. "It's real tight here and I had some problems with la ppers in the 125cc main," Antunez said. "The 250cc race was a different story, 1 had some better luck there." SATURDAY Pederson pulled off another holeshot in Saturday's 12Sec main and was fol- (Above) Consistency has paid off for Antunez, who has moved Into second place in the series standings. (Below) Trey Owens styles for the crowd during the jump contest. second, Yezek holding third spot in front of DeHoop '!Jld Team Green rider Brock Sellards riding solidly to round out the top five. Busting through the pack in the 125cc race obviously got Antunez right up to speed for the 250cc main as the Honda rider nailed the holeshot. Yezek and.. early series points leader Palmer were also right in the mix. Suzukimounted Palmer powered past Antunez to lead the first lap, but Antunez answered back by pulling alongside of Palmer at the hairpin near the starting gate, where he proceeded to apply extreme pressure until he made the pass in the rockers. Yezek was running in third and Stephenson fourth. After a Stephenson miscue, Honda rider Mike Katin was able to work by Stephenson to dice with Yezek. Katin then passed Yezek to move into third and line up Palmer, whom he subsequently passed over the double before the start straight hairpin to move into second. lowed by Eric Riley, Trey Owens and Antunez. However, Antunez wasted lit- . tle time getting by Owens and Riley to move into econd. Riley couldn't hold the pace, as he got out of shape in the rocker section and tossed his bike into the stands. After a few laps, Palmer moved on Owens and dropped him to fourth. Fifth and sixth places belonged to DeHoop and Sellards, respectively. Owens began to fade under pressure from the fast field and was soon passed by DeHoop. The Yamaha of Troy rider was clamping Palmer in the vice - making several runs at the Suzuki rider. Palmer, however, managed to hold him at bay. Owens was busy trying to hold off Sellards, who was aggressively showing him wheel after wheel. Sellards was riding well and after passing Owens he set his fender on DeHoop and passed him as well. It looked like Palmer might be next. DeHoop was within striking distance for Sellards and the Team Green rider moved in and tried to get by, but again, Palmer hung tough and kept Sellards at a safe distance. Sellards was charging and with more time in the moto, the outcome might have been different. Pederson took the 125cc-class win like he did the night before, Antunez took second and Palmer held onto a hard-fought third in front of Sellards and DeHoop. "I didn't really know where 1 was, because lapped riders made it tough to tell your position," Palmer said. "I just kept riding my race and when someone came up on me and started pressuring me, I rode faster. It turns out that I was in third and on the podium." The 250cc main started with Pederson bolting out of the gate first, followed by Antunez, Palmer and DeHoop. This was the order for the first few laps until Antunez made a mistake in the rockers, letting Palmer and DeHoop get by. Antunez immediately turned on the gas and charged back past DeHoop, then picked off Palmer with an inside line in the rocker section and an aggressive move at the hairpin. Meanwhile, a match was shaping up for third spot. Palmer was the hunted and DeHoop was the hunter. DeHoop dogged Palmer's fender until a miscue sent Palmer to the ground, relinquishing third to DeHoop. The checkered flag fell with Pederson walking away with the moto followed by Antunez and first-time podium finisher DeHoop in third. "Doing well in your heat race is important in Arenacross so you get a good pick on the gate for the main," Pederson said. '1 had to come from the second row on the first night. In Philadelpbia, only seven riders got front-row starts. Some of the other venues had 11 riders in the front row. With the tight tracks and short motos, getting a front-row starting position really helps to get out front. I'm trying to get as many points as I can and take advantage of the payoff at midpoint in the series. I'm only riding till the halfway point." C\' CoreStates Spectrum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Results: November 15-16,1996 (Rounds 5 & 6 of 26) Friday 125: 1. Chad Pederson (Yam); 2. Buddy Antunez. (Han); 3. Davey Yezek (Suz); 4. Todd DeHoop (Suz); S. Brock 5elJ"'ds (Kaw); 6. Andy Bowyer (Kaw); 7. Barry carsten (Suz); 8. Mike Kattn (Hon); 9. Jim Chester (Suz); 10. Denny Stephenson (Hon). 250: 1. Buddy Antunez (Hon); 2. Oiff Palmer (Suz); 3. Chad Pederson (Yam); 4. Barry Carsten (Suz); 5. Davey Yczek (Suz); 6. Denny Stephenson (Hon); 7. Grayson Goodman (Han); 8. Ty Wallace (Suz); 9. Brad Woolsey (](awl; 10. Mike Kalin (Han>. Saturday 125: 1. Chad Pederson (Yam); 2. Buddy Antuenz (Han); 3. Cliff Palmer (5.,z); 4. Brock Sellan:ls (](awl; S. Todd DeHoop (Yam); 6. Denny Stephenson (Hon); 7. Grayson Goodman (Suz); 8. Barry Carsten (Suz); 9. /eromy Buehl (Yam); 10. Jim Chester (Suz). 250: 1. Chad Pederson (Yam); 2. Buddy Antunez (Han); 3. Todd DeHoop (Yam); 4. Oiff Pamer (Suz); S. Mike Katin (Hon); 6, Barry Carsten (Suz); 7. Grayson Goodman (Suz); 8. Andy Boyer O

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