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/127943
MOTOCROSS MAZDA TRUCKS AMA NAnONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 125cc fiX SERIES '1 felt good, really good," Carmichael said. "1 feel great that 1 holeshot the second mota. Man, now I'm ready for next weekend. This is my deal. I love outdoor motocross, so I'm happy to have done so well here. However, 1 know it won't be easy this year. Dowdy (John Dowd) is a tough rider and Lammy (Steve Lamson) is a good rider - they are all tough riders, but, in reality, it's all about getting a good start and riding smart." By Eric Johnson Photos by Kinney Jones SAN BERNARDINO, CA, MAY 10 n a cool, windswept, gray day in Southern California, lightning struck twice. For the second consecutive year, Team SplitFire/Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki rider Ricky Carmichael executed another resounding two-mota stomp-off, which saw him run off and hide from the-nation's premier 125cc MX pilots. Aboard his potent Mitch Pay tonmasterminded, Chad Watts-tuned Kawasaki KX125, Carmichael dazzled an estimated 12,000 spectators who filled the bleachers and clung to the manzanita-covered hillsides of Glen Helen Raceway. Through gating well in both matos, "R.c." quickly found his way to the front and, for all intents and purposes, was never headed in the first AMA 125cc National of 1998. Thrilled to be able to pick right back up where he left off in 1997, Carmichael, who has yet to lose a race in 1998, is riding the same powerful wave of momentum which led him to his first AMA'National Championship last summer. O (Top) Ricky Carmichael opened up the 125cc National MX Series by blowing everyone away, winning both motos with ease. (Above) The other 39 riders g'ot a good look at Carmichael's holeshot in the second moto. John Dowd (9), Casey Johnson .(20), Buddy Antunez (26), and Ryan Huffman (28) give chase. Following Carmichael home in both motos for second overall was the venerable John Dowd. Dispatched to the 125cc class in 1998 by his Yamaha bosses, the multi-time AMA 250cc National winner, who is coming off an impressive supercross season, showed all the speed and tenacity required to keep Carmichael honest in 1998. "Yeah, actually I'm pretty bappy with the day," Dowd said. "1 wasn't really sure what to expect coming in here, since I rode the 250s last year. 1 wasn't sure how I was going to be on a 125 - 1 didn't have a lot of confidence. I was also kind of sick this week, so I didn't really do any training or anything. I was hoping I would have, enough energy to make it through the day, but ]felt pretty good. "I was surprised 1 made it through the motos that strong," he added. "I'm pretty happy. If 1 can get a little more relaxed next week and start building on my confidence - because 1 think 1 was just a little bit off the pace of Ricky, and a few of the oth.er guys were pretty fast so 1 think if I can chill out a little bit and build up my speed and confidence, I'll be able to tighten up the gap. However, I really need to get good starts. Ricky is so fast out there and if he -gets out front and I'm back a few spots, 1 don't think there's going to be much of a chance to catch him. But if 1 can pull off some good starts, 1 think my Yamaha with the Bridgestone tires is a good combination, and tha t' s the first thing to take care of a good start. I know I"nave the conditioning and the speed to run the pace, I just need to work on the little things." Pulling consistent 4-4 mota scores for third overall was Team Cha parral/ Yamaha rider Jimmy Button. A longtime journeyman racer who has experienced success in both the United States and Europe aboard 125cc motorcycles, Button guided his visibly powerful Yamaha to a well-earned podium finish. "It was a pretty good day," reasoned Button. "1 wish I would have gotten a better start in the first mota and not crashed and slid out; if that wouldn't have happened, I think I would have gotten third for sure in the first mota. Then, in the second mota, I got a good start, made a little bit of a mistake in the second corner and let quite a few people get around me, but I worked my way up _ and got into third behind Dowd and then ju t had a horrendou get-off in the back. I flipped over the fence and jumped back over it - 1 guess, being tall, I was able to jump back over the fence pretty easily and went four-four for third overall, and that' what I wanted to come away with this weekend: a podium finish. I rode well, and that's tl\e most important tl\ing. I just need to get out of the gate with that little sucker (Carmichael). He comes out of the gate good, and you can't gh:e him any. adv.antages, because you know he is going to be good the whole ~ace - you can't give him five feet to start with because he'll take a mile. I'm glad I did as well as 1 did. 1 think a lot of people blew me off before the season - 'the big guy coming in' on the 125: -r think 1