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/127812
ARENACROSS Rounds 5&6: CoreStates Spectrum AMAIPJ1 Arenacross ~ , (Lett) Buddy Antunez (19) chases Chad Pederson (25) at the CoreS1ates Spectrum. (Below) Pederson rode to three wins and a second, extending his points lead in the series. Here, he passes Andy Bowyer (8). By Chris Collom Photos by Karl Ockert PIDLADELPHlA, PA, aV.15-16 s the ational Arenacross series visited the City of Brotherly Love, points leader Chad Pederson showed none to his competitors. The Chaparral-backed Yamaha rider once again powered his way into the victory circle as he ripped to three wins a t the CoreSta tes Spectrum, opening with the 125cc-class victory Friday night, then returning Saturday to do the double, winning both the 125 and 250cc classes. In a near repeat of his performance last week, Team Thor/Honda/Primal Impulse's Buddy Antunez was again the only rider to beat Pederson. The consistent Antunez rode to the win in the 250cc class Friday night - after taking second in the 125cc main - and backed it up with a pair of seconds Saturday, thus moving into second place in the points standings in front of F&S Suzuki's Cliff Palmer. After getting off to a fast start this season, Palmer hasn't seen quite the strong success he began with. Still, Palmer's two podium finishes and a fourth place have kept him in the points race. Pederson earned 60 championship poin ts for his successful weekend's efforts and he now leads Antunez 225207. Palmer sits third with 187, followed by Denny Stephenson, with 151, and Todd DeHoop, with 115. The Philadelphia track featured plenty of action-oriented sections, including doubles, triples, hairpin turns and rockers. After the start straight, the track backed into a left-hand sweeper which served as an approach to a SO-yard rocker section followed by a hairpin turn. This turn led to the premier obstacle, the Blockbuster double jump - a peaked, 70foot sky shot. After this big-air opportunity, the track changed direction with a hairpin turn, which set up yet another double. After this double section, riders peeled around (you guessed it) a hairpin turn and down the start straight. Riders were able to negotiate the tight course in approximately 30 seconds per lap. The dirt for the PhilIy circuit wa on the tacky side, which made for good traction, but also for good ruts. After approximately 10 races, the track worked up deep grooves. "These tracks are so tight that when ruts work up it makes it hard to do the obstacles," Team Thor/Honda/Primal Impulse's Denny Stephenson said. "In Supercross the ruts al 0 get bad, but the tracks Me more open. In Arenacross, the same basic ruts redevelop after each track grooming. It's important for the promoters to groom the course before the main events so the fans can see the riders do the obstacles."