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/127824
ARENACROSS AMA/PJ1 NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES 1 : Lazy EArena that he was healthy, I got a whole new attitude toward racing," Palmer continued. "Before 1 took racing real serious, now 1 take it a little lighthearted, and even though 1really want to do good, it doesn't really matter if [don't. I'm having a whole lot more fun! It's been easier on me." Pederson had a better weekend than the previous one in Fort Worth, Texas, winning Friday night's 125cc main event and locking up hi lead at the halfway point. "1 hurt my back in Fort Worth," Pederson said. "I've been recovering all week long. As the night went on, 1 got sorer and sorer. In the 250 main, I was pretty much hurting, so [ just kept it on two wheels as 1 just wanted to ~ap up the points Friday so 1 could settle back Saturday night." Antunez never made the podium Friday night, finishing fifth in the 12Scc class and eigth in the 250 . "I made a few mistak s and it took the wind out of my sails," Antunez commented. "1 got a really bad start in the 2505 and by the time the dust had settled, everyone was gone and 1 couldn't catch up." FRIDAY Brad Woolsey holeshot the 125cc main event on his Nielson Enterprises/Thor/Bel-Ray/McGrath Motorsports-backed KX, but a mistake over the last rocker into the sweeper before the whoops had him commenting, "We By Kat Spann Photos by Craig Cole and Kinney Jones GUTHRIE, OK, JAN. I(}'11 he Lazy E Arena hosted the midway point oJ the AMA PJ1 ational Arenacross Series where Yamaha Motorsports/Chaparral/ Atomic 22/ Elf-sponsored Chad Pederson collected the biggest bulk of the $25,000 halfway booty by way of nine wins and 479 collected points. The remaining $75,000 of the $100,000 points-paying purse will be collected at the final round in Denver, Colorado. The MSR/ Answer-sponsored event played to two sold-out nights, despite freezing temperatures in Oklahoma. "The Lazy E has always been· a favorite to many of the riders because of the size of the course," promoter Mike Kidd said. "This is our eighth annual race here, adding a big surprise with the addition of the backward-falling gate for the first time." F&S Suzuki/]T /Shoei/Bill's Pipes/ Factory Connection-backed Cliff Palmer closed his points from third place to fleeond Friday night by finishing second in the 125cc main and winning the 250cc event in front of his hometown crowd. He then evened up his points with Team . Thor/Honda/Primal Impulse/Tuf Racing's Buddy Antunez Saturday night w hen he finished third in the 125cc event and again won the 250cc main. The tie breaker for second went to Palmer with his eight wins against Antunez's six-win record. The results, however, are unofficial, due to a mutual protest filed against both Palmer and Antunez, until the AMA makes a ruling. "Winning in front of a hometown crowd is quite a bit different," Palmer said. "1 just kept thinking during practice that 1 want to win, 1 want to win. 1 had quite a bit of adrenaline pumped up in the 125 heat race in spite of a terrible start, but 1went to the front real quick. It helps with the crowd behind you because you do things that you don't normally think you can." Did having his wife and 9-month-old son, Colt, there bother Palmer? "No, not really," he said. "1 try to treat it like any (Above) Chad Pederson took home most of the $25,000 halfway point fund when he locked up his points lead with the 125cc win on Friday. (Right) Cliff Palmer rode well for the hometown fans and won both 250Cc main events In Guthrie, Oklahoma. other race. Having my son here is great, though! He's probably the reason I've been racing so good in the last nine months. Before he was born, 1 wasn't doing that good, but as soon as he was bom, it was like a burden off my shoulders. "After I saw he had five fingers on each hand and five toes on each foot and _ call that a one-handed double-face auger." Suzuki Promotions/MSR/ FMF / Smith / Bell/ Sil kolene-sponsored Charley Bogard was second out of turn one, but was soon passed by Pederson. Palmer raced behind Pederson, having passed both Bogard and Woolsey, but Pederson was history by the time the hometown boy came into play.