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/127822
sey, who just bailed from the Primal Impulse team, in the West. Coming off an extremely successful FIM World Supercross Series, Team Kawasaki must be considered a deadly serious threat for the 1997 AMA Supercross title. Kawasaki will be led by team captain and defending AMA 250cc National Champion Jeff Emig. During the off-season, Emig won the FIM World Supercross Championship and enters the '97 AMA Supercross Series with his confidence at an all-time high. In 1996, Emig was the only rider to defeat McGrath in supercross and backed that up with an emotional championship run in the 250cc Nationals, where he beat McGrath heads-up. Riding in tandem with Emig will be the ultra-talented Damon Huffman, who took the measure of McGrath during the second night of the '96 Paris Supercross. If Huffman can stay injury-free and maximize his amazing skills, he is more than capable of pulling off the title. Ryan Hughes, the third member of Team Kawasaki and winner of the prestigious 1996 King of Bercy Supercross title, is another racer who was haunted by injuries in '96. Fast, determined and aggressive, Hughes is a winner who has a few victories coming his way this season - if Team Manger Roy Turner can keep his riders motivated, out of the hospital and on the gas, '97 could just as well be Team Kawasaki's year. Team Yamaha, with team manger Keith McCarty at the controls, heads into the '97 supercross fray with a wellrounded lineup. Ezra Lusk, who ended up an impressive third in the final '96 250cc Supercross point standings, will lead the team into battle with a rejuvenated Doug Henry at his flank. Henry, fully recuperated after a serious back injury is slated to run - at his option - a Yamaha factory-fabricated four-stroke in the series, which will provide a great, new technical dynamic to the proceedings. In the 125cc ranks, Kevin Windham considered by many to be the next great supercross rider - will compete in the West division, just like he did last year, and do a lengthy stint in the 250cc class in all races that do not conflict with his 125cc program. Don't be surprised if Windham pulls off his first AMA 250cc Supercross win in '97. Old pro John Dowd, who won two Supercross events and finished second to Pichon in the :96 series, will do time in the East division. In 1997, a number of factory-supported "B" teams will hit the circuit. These teams are not to be taken lightly. In fact, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT MOST OF THE EDITORS here at Cycle News still predict that Jeremy McGrath will record his fifth straight AMA Supercross title, but what you can't tell is that those who picked McGrath are nervous. They're not nearly as confident as they were last year when th.ey (and everybody else) predicted McGrath would take the title. This year, though, McGrath will be adjusting to many new, major changes - a new mechanic, bike, race manager, sponsors, etc. - and everyone will tell you that changes, even if they're for the better, aren't always easy to adjust to - even if you're Jeremy McGrath. Still, McGrath is a more so this year than any other in recent history, these "satellite" teams are more than capable of putting their bigbrother factory teams in a world of hurt. In '97, the movement will be led by the team that instigated the current "B" team craze, Team Pro Circuit/SplitFire/Kawasaki. Owned and operated by hop-up guru and supercross visionary Mitch Payton, the team will defend its 1996 125cc East Region title with multi-fold amateur ch~pion and series rookie Ricky Carmichael of Florida and David Pingree - who has rebounded from an injury-addled '96 season - of Arizona. Riding in the West Region for Payton's outfit will be Craig Decker, who makes an inspiring return to racing after suffering a career-threatening back injury a few years ago. Riding in a united front with Decker will be a lightningquick Casey Johnson. If Johnson can find his rhythm and stay consistent, he can very well walk away with the West Region title. If the December 29 Chaparral Pro Shootout at Glen Helen Raceway is any indication, Team Pro Circuit/SplitFire / Kawasaki riders Pingree and Decker, who ran a close second and third to Jeff Emig in the final, respectively, also will be serious title contenders. The most prolific effort of the support team movement is, without a doubt, Team Honda of Troy. Orchestrated by aftermarket:business tycoon Phil Alderton, Honda of Troy will prove to be a major thorn in the side to the high-dollar, bucks-up factory teams. However, the team was recently snakebitten in the off-season.as their team leader Larry Ward, who was enjoying an extremely successful European supercross season (Ward won events in Milan and Paris), broke his leg in a practice get-off. Considered to be a serious title contender, Ward is not expected return to the fray until the second or third race of the series, thus doing serious damage to his title hopes. Left to carry the Troy torch will be Mike Craig and Mike Kiedrowski. The slightly eccentric, and quite-capable Craig goes into the '97 season as the title dark horse. Coming off of two highly impressive, back-to-back wins at the Geneva Supercross, Craig has proven, time and time again, that he has the talent and speed to run ,vith anybody, anywhere, anytime, if his head is screwed on straight. If he starts the season off well, Craig can very well win the whole thing. We shall see. Teamed with Craig will be four-time champion, four times over, and most of us here believe that his experience will prevail. Our West Region 125cc champion pick is easy, as we all went with Team Yama- AMA National Champion Mike Kiedrowski. Out of retirement to make another run at supercross glory, Kiedrowski is an unknown entity. While his talent, desire and determination have never been questioned, his year off from the sport may come back to haunt him. However, if anyone can blow off the cobwebs and get back on the gas, it is the "MXKied." In the 125cc class, Phil Alderton will send out the latest and greatest impOrt from France, Stephane Roncad.a, in the East and Casey Lytle in the West. Both riders have the ability to visit the top step of the victory podium on more than one occasion. Factory Yamaha will join forces with Team Chaparral in 1997, as the San Bernardino, California-based team will officially be designated as Yamaha's factory supported "B" team. Leading the charge for team manager Larry Brooks will be journeyman racer Phil Lawrence, who raised a number of eyebrows in '96 with his fine fourthplace in the final AMA 250cc Supercross point standings. Cast as the lead man in the Chaparral quadron, Lawrence will be a force to be reckoned with. Running interference for Lawrence will be another new member to the team, Jimmy Button, who returned to race as a privateer in America in '96 after an illfated run at the 1995 FIM 125cc World Championship Series. ow on good machinery and a member of a strongly supported team, Button could be a spoiler this season. Chaparral also will field a significant 125cc effort in the form of Chad Pederson and Travis Preston in the East Region Supercross Series, while Californians Michael Brandes and Greg Schnell, who nearly won the '96 Anaheim Supercross, will race in the West. French connection David Vuillemin also will take part in the West region series. Team Primal Impulse, out of Texas, will hit the road as factory Honda's 125cc satellite team. Led by perennial contender Robbie Reynard, Primal Impulse has an outstanding chance of taking a title back home to the Lone Star state. However, for this to happen, Reynard, considered by many railbirds to be the greatest young motocross talent in the nation, has to keep the rubber side down. Perhaps the most injury-addled rider since a young Mike LaRocco, Reynard has all the talent in the world - but he need~ to be racing, not visiting doctors. Another Honda support team will hit the circuit in '97, and if all goes as who'll come out smelling like a rose. The East series, however, is tough to predict, just like it was last year. Tim Ferry was supposed to take it all in '96 (and '95 for that matter) but, in the end, he wasn't even a factor and, because of it, nearly lost his job at Suzuki. Not too many SX racers get a second chance, and some of us here think that Ferry will make good use of his. And then there's the little-known Frenchman Stephane Roncada, Team Honda's newest Scott Sheak, and Pro Circuit/SplitFire/Kawasaki's David Pingree and Ricky Carmichael. Anyone of them, perhaps, could go the whole way. Our Picks Paul Carruthers'.., 1. Jeremy McGrath 2. Damon Huffman 3. Jeff Emig 4. Greg A1bertyn 5. Ryan Hughes 125 West· Kevin Windham 125 East - Scott Sheak ha's Kevin Windham. ot that he has no competition - after all there's Pro Circuit/SplitFire/Kawasaki's Craig Decker and Casey Johnson, and Suzuki's Nathan Ramsey to contend with - but when the smoke clears, Windham is our bet as to Cameron Coatney's... 1. Jeff Emig 2. Jeremy McGrath 3. Damon Huffman 4. Steve Lamson 5. Ezra Lusk 125 West - Kevin Windham 125 East - David Pingree Mark Hoye,' s... 1. Jeremy McGrath 2. Jeff Emig 3. Steve Lamson 4. Ezra Lusk 5. Greg A1bertyn 125 West - Kevin Windham 125 East· Stephane Roncada Kit Palmer's... 1. Jeremy McGrath 2. Damon Huffman 3. Jeff Emig 4. Ezra Lusk 5. Steve Lamson 125 West· Kevin Windham 125 East· Tim Ferry Scott Rousseau's... 1. Jeremy McGrath 2. Jeff Emig 3. Damon Huffman 4. Steve Lamson 5. Greg A1bertyn 125 West· Kevin Windham 125 East· John Dowd