Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

SUPERCROSS Round 12: Trans World Dome J TOYOTA TRUCKSI1HORIPARTS UNLlMfTEDAMA SUPERCROSS SERIES F - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ' , fourth lap, and then he began his' charge on Pichon, who had already built up a few seconds on the rest of the pack. But, for Pichon, it wouldn't be nearly enough, as Windham reeled in the Suzuki rider and passed him on the eighth lap. From there on out, the race would be all Windham's. The Yamaha rider opened up about a full straightaway lead, which he would maintain to the finish. But tbe battle for second place was wide open, as LaRocco and Lusk moved in to third and fourth after Pichon crashed and dropped to eighth. laRocco quickly dosed the gap on McGrath and began pu tting serious pressure on the defending champ. By the halfway point, McGrath and LaRocco were battling closely while threading their way through lapped traffic, and Lusk kept a dose eye on the happenings from a safe fourth. Eventually, McGrath got the upper hand on LaRocco when he jumped a triple that LaRocco chose to double. At that point, the pursuer was now being pursued, as LaRocco began feeling heavy pressure from Lusk. On the 17th lap, Lusk made his move and got by LaRocco for third. Once past laRocco, Lusk was within striking distance of McGrath, but McGrath seemed in control of the situation, not letting Lusk get too dose - until two corners from the checkered flag. In a light right-hander, Lusk outbraked McGrath going into the turn, cut to the insiCle, then drove out wide and into McGrath, knocking the Yamaha rider to the ground. Lusk stayed upright to finish second, while LaRocco slipped by McGrath before he could get going again to take third. A not-so-happy McGrath took fourth. Moments after riding into the pits, words were exchanged between' McGrath and Lusk before they retreated to their respective pit areas. "He didn't even attempt to turn," a rather caIrn McGrath said. "I was in the rut and there was nowhere I could turn out and get away from it. Wha t am I supposed to do? I'm just going to have to muscle down and whip 'em next time." "I didn't get a great start, and I played around with Mike (LaRocco) a little too long," Lusk said. "I wanted to make it past him, but I never made tha t pass stick, so we ended up losing touch with Kevin (Windham). I got by Mike, and then passed Jeremy - he should've expected it. It was a strong block-pass, and I really didn't do it intentionally. I came in sliding with my binders on, toward the exit of the turn, but he just didn't expect it, and we went together, and he went down. I slid into him to do a block-pass; unfortunately, he didn't hold on light enough." Later that evening, Lusk was visited by the AMA's Duke Finch and was officially given a warning for rough riding. But McGrath will admit that he probably should not have let himself get in a position to get taken out in the first place after turning in a (for him) lessthan-spirited ride. "I don't know, I just didn't feel that good tonight," McGrath said. "But I was feeling good enough to at least get second. I just couldn't get going tonight. He (Windham) got a big lead - there was nothing I could do, really. I just couldn't get into a charging mode. I didn't have that killer instinct tonight and I don't know why. " A huge gap separated the top four riders from the rest of the pack for much of the race. Craig held down fourth Toyota TruckslThorlParts Unlimned/AMA 125cc Eastern Regional Supercross series Round 6: Trans World Dome l:a.-.llil:lJael'S sixtll By Dave Deringer Photos by Kinney Jones ST. LaUlS, MO, MAR. 28 fter a week's vacation, Pro Circuit/SplitFire/Kawasaki's Ricky Carmichael returned to the 125cc Eastern Regional Supercross Series at the St. Louis Trans World Dome undefeated, with five commanding wins. When it was aJl over, he came away with win number six. The native of Havana, Florida, made it look easy once again, winning both his heat races and the main event after grabbing the holeshot on his Chad Watts-prepared KX125. Although he crashed by himself on the final lap of the main, Carmichael eventually won by eight seconds for his sixth consecuti ve A win. '1 rode a smart 14 laps in a row and place during the middle portion of the race until Henry slipped by him on the 17th lap. Finishing right behind Craig in seventh was oowd, followed by Huffman, Ward and Pichon. "When Lusk got behind me, I made a mistake in a turn and fell over," Pichon said. "I bent the handlebars a little bit, and I couldn't run very good in the ruts. 1 know I have the speed, but fm going to have to work a bit more." fX Trans World Dome. SI. Louis, Missouri Results: March 28, 1998 (Round 12 of 16) 2SO HEAT 1. (Sla.ps, 1-4 transfer to main); 1. Kevin Windham (Yam); 2. Ezra Lusk (Hon); 3. Jimmy Button (Yam); 4. Ryan Hughes O

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