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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127944
MOTOCROSS MAZDA TRUCK/AlIA 125cc NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MX SERIES City SVRA Park (Left) Steve Lamson's win at Hangtown also marked /:lis first National win In over a season. The two-time 125c National MX Champion's 2-2 score was consistent enough to earn him ~~. , (Above) Yamaha's John Dowd won the first moto, but a first-turn crash In the second moto held him to fifth and he garnered second overall. f1 By Cameron Coatney Photos by Kinney Jones SACRAMENTO, CA, MAY 17 uch like his ex-Honda teammate Jeremy McGrath, Steve Lamson had not won a ational Motocross in over a season, with his last win coming in Augu t of 1996 in Washougal, Washington. The two-time defending 125cc National Motocross Champion had been shut out all season long in 1997 by Ricky Carmichael and Kevin Windham. More than 18 months later, Lamson found sOme redemption by piloting his Team Honda-backed CR125 to the overall victory at the Hangtown Classic with consistent 2-2 scores. "I had a bit of a dry spell there," Lamson confirmed, "and1his feels good. I wish I would have won a moto today, but those other guys were incon istent they'd win and crash, crash and win and I'll take it (the win). I rode consistent and smart, and I felt comfortable out there. My finger is still bugging me a little but, besides that, I rode strong and my bike is working pretty good. I didn't holeshot either O10tO, but [ was in the top five or six and that's wnere you've got to be. This feels good because [ know the guys at Honda are happy and I'm stoked." The main story of the day had to revolve around the shoulder injury sustained in practice by defending champ and last week's runaway winner, Ricky ~ Carmichael (see Briefly ... ). When the SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki crashed violently in the first moto, Dowd was there to walk away with the win. But how things change. In the second moto, the Dowd story continued and his legend grew when the 32-year-old came back from a horrendous first-tum crash involving at . least 10 riders to finish fifth from running as far back as 25th in the early going. Even an hour after the race, Dowd was in a state of shock over what had just happened. "Considering that first-tum crash in the second moto, this wasn't too bad of a day," Dowd said, still looking gunshy. "I was right up there for the start, and me and Rjcky were side by side, and he kind of ju t pushed a little wide and someone came from the outside, too, and we just came together. I went down hard. [ felt like I was flipping, flying and just rolling, hoping I wasn't going to get killed out there. I came out of it pretty good, without any injuries or sore spots, so that's good. I knew I had some work to do, picking my bike up in the fir t corner, so I just put my head down and kept charging the whole time. I felt good, but it was a long way to come £rom, especially compared to my first moto." Even with an injured houlder anq the high-speed, high-flying crash and subsequent eighth-place finish in the first moto, Carmichael came back with a vengeance in the second moto to troll off with the holeshot and the win. His econd-moto performance was just good enough to steal the final podium spot. "That moto went a lot better," Carmichael said. "I just wish I could have pulled it off in the first moto, but it's not a big deal. The main thing is that I got points, because I didn't even think I was going to race after that practice crash. I couldn't be any happier, though; I'm still in the points lead. I wish I wouldn't have thrown it away in the fiTst moto, but like I said, I'm just happy to get points." Carmichael's Pro Circuit teammate Casey Johnson looks to be finding his speed again after itting out the entire supercross season with a hattered ankle sustained in ovember of '97. Johnson looked poised all day and just missed out on the final podium po ition with a 34. "1 felt good all day long and my bike wa working pretty good," Johnson said. "My mechanic, Dave Feeney, did a heck of a job tuning it, and the su pension was dead-on. I got hosed on the overall deal, but I guess I'm just going to have to get a little stronger. To even be racing with those guys is a good accomplishment for me this year, so if I can just keep r~cing with them week in and week out, I'll get on that podium." Team ~oto XXX/Pro Grip/Simi Valley Cycles' Michael Brandes rode to fifth overall (5-9) and top privateer, Team FMF/Thor/Honda's Scott Sheak improved to sixth (11-8) after a terrible 21st at Glen Helen, and Kawasaki of Carrollton/Thor-supported Josh pemuth took seventh (9-11). Team Chaparral/ Yamaha's Jimmy Button salvaged eigh!k overall (37-3) after an engine seizure in the first moto. Team Honda of Troy's Mike Brown earned ninth with a 15-7, and Noleen/Thor/K2-sponsored Tim Ferry bettered his 23rd from last we with.a 10th by going 7-16. Carmichael was able to maintain the points lead over Dowd, 88-85, while Lamson holds third with 79, foUowed by Johnson (70) and Button (56). MOTOONE Dowd was allover the tart in the first 125cc moto, with CarmichaeL Team Stiffie/Westwood/TMR-backed Jeff WiUoh, Johnson, Ferry and Lamson in tow. As the track made its second righthand turn and approached the finishline jump, Carmichael went down in grand fashion in the middle of the screaming pack that followed. "I was outside aDd got kicked and landed on a hay bale and crashed," Carmichael explained. "I fell to the left and right onto my shoulder. I don't know how far back I wa . There was nothing much I could do but try to move up." Up front, Dowd led for a lap until all aggressive Johnson. started to bang on Dowd's back d60r, pressuring the veteran for a lap until making his pass stick for a few Laps_ It didn't last long, though, as Dowd moved by Johnson in the whoops on lap three. Lamson, who was watching all this transpire from behind, used the whoops to depose Johnson on the following lap.