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/127935
SUPERCROSS Round 10: Superdome TOYOTAffHORIPARTS UNLIMITED AliA SUPERCROSS SERIES By Cameron 'Coatney Photos by Kinney Jones NEW ORLEANS, LA, MAR. 14 ne might think that being toutt ged all week long in radio ~ ~ advertisements as the favorite <;& to win the Louisiana Super4 cross and receiving top billing in the opening ceremonies could make a 20-year old local racer a little nervous, but Team Yamaha's Baton Rouge-bred Kevin Windham overcame the pressure and pageantry to win the Louisiana Supercross in front of 36,815 fans. Windham's night was as near to perfect as one can get, as he won his heat race in a great battle with friend and extealllmate Ezra Lusk and then came out to get the holeshot in and lead all 20 laps of the main event for the popular win even with the four-time champ, Jeremy McGrath, breathing down his neck during the middle stages of the race. Windham was up to the challenging track. conditions that sent many of the top rideo ers to the floor on numerous occasions. 0\ It was his second career 250cc super0\ cross win; the other one came in Char,...... lotte last year when he was still a 125cc contender. "This is great," Windham said from the Yamaha transporter. "1' ve been working so hard, and for everything to come together at such a great place with everybody around - it just feels great. I'm definitely on top of the world right now. 0 ~ (Above) Local boy Kevin Windham's (8) holeshot in the main on his Alley Semar-tuned YZ2S0 propelled him to his second career 2S0cc Supercross victory and his first of 1998. (Right) Jeremy McGrath was fightil")g a head cold but rode a steady race to claim second. McGrath has a solid lead in the points race over Windham, 224-168. "I didn't feel much pressure in the main - I think I rode a perfect race," Windham continued. "The crowd was helping me for sure, and the bike was working great. Everybody says this was a really hard track and I felt like I came through good. My trainer, Gary Semics, and I have been working really hard and I feel great. For a while there, I was getting all nervous being the hometown boy, but I settled down and used it to my advantage, which. is about the only thing you can do. This is, by far, the best win of my career." The series points leader, McGrath, was fighting a cold, but still came through the field very early in the· main after about a seventh-place start to finish a solid second. By the fifth lap, McGrath was into second but Simply could not catch the fleeing Windham on his night. "I rode a smart and conservative race," McGrath said. "I've been dealing with a head cold all week. I though t 1'd be fine for the race, but on about the 10th lap I got zapped of most of my energy. It was pretty hot and humid in there. After about the 10th lap, I settled in and kept a good pace and just rode smart rather than trying to be a hero. My lap times were very consistent for me; they were a little slower than Kevin's, but hey, that's all right it's a good race for Kevin and a good boost, being his home race. It was nothing special, . just getting points. I need to get healed up and find some energy for next week, and I'll be ready." Team Kawasaki's Damon Huffman turned in his best ride of the season thus far to earn his first podium finish of the year. Huffman got to the main by winning his semi, got a good start in the main, and battled with several riders before claiming third at the checkers.