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/127945
Round 3: High Point MOUNT MORRIS, PA, MAY 24 or the second time in three races, SplitFire / Pro C?,cuit Kawasaki nder RIcky Carnuchael dominated both motos in the 125cc class in the 1998 .Mazda Truck/ AMA 125cc National Motocross Championships. The 18-yearold Carmichael was in a class by himself at High Point Raceway, winning both motos with relative ease. In doing so, the defending class champion was able to move 15 points clear of his nearest competitor in his bid to become the third successive back-to-back 125cc National Championship winner. "I got some decent starts, got into the lead quickly, pulled some nice leads and pl1l1ed off a _couple of wins," said Carmichael, who hopes to join Doug He"ry (1993-94) and Steve Lamson (1995-96) as a recent back-to-back champion. "This is the first time I've ever ridderi this track on a big bike and I just love it. This track, Steel City and Budds Creek are my favorites." Carmichael rode like it all day long, never missing a beat on the Chad Wattsprepped KX125 even though he's still recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered just a week ago. Finishing second on the day was Carmichael's closest title rival, John Dowd of the Yamaha squad. Dowd was a lackluster third in the first moto, but rode to an inspired fourth the second time after falling early. Third place went F MOTOCROSS MAZDA TRUCKIAMA 125cc NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MOTOCROSS SERIES to Team Honda's Lamson, who wOlllast weekend's Hangtown National in California. Lamson ran 6-2 in the two motos to edge out the 5-3 of Honda of Troy's Mike Brown, who put in his best effort to date in the 1998 series. The biggest surprise of the day, if not the season, was the fifth-place overall finish of 16-year-old local rider Branden Jesseman. The Suzuki support rider was able to ride the huge wave of support given to him by the massive High Point audience of 20,OOO-plus to one of the best professional motocross debuts in AMA National MX history. '1 didn't know what to expect today, but I knew that I would ride my hardest and be happy with that," said the shy teenager, who finished 11th in the first moto after a ninth-place start. In the second moto, Jesseman fared even better. He ran third for much of the race before fading toward the end. He was understandably tired after competing in the first two half-hour motos of his career, but he held on for fifth place. "I was really glad that all of the people were cheering for me and that really helped me a lot," he said. "It definitely (Above) Ricky Carmichael (1) was again unstoppable al Mount Morris, winning bolh motos. Here he leads Branden Jessemen (757) and the resl of the 125cc' pack out of the flrsllum. (Right) SuzukJ's Rabble Reynard climbs oul of a rul en roule to a second-place finish In Ihe first 125cc mota. 9