Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

MOTOCROSS Final round: Steel City Raceway A MAlMAZDA TRUCK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 250cc M XSERIES Canadian Jean-Sebastie n Roy was awarded a check for 55000 from U.S. Tob ac c o f o r being the t o p- fi nis h in g privateer (placing ninth) i n the 25 0cc National Series. was hard to pass. Also, the vent tube on my gas tank came off, and I was ge tting splashed with gas real bad , and I was wor ryin g about it and was tryin g to put it back in on the ju mps. When I quit worrying about it, I rode a lot bett er." As the ra ce cl ock wound d own toward th e 3D-m in u te mark - it was Albertyn all alone out front, maintaining a 14-secon d lead , followed by Henry, Ward (w ho was some si x' se co nds adrift), LaRocco (some 30 seconds back), -t;ughes, Voss, a ruffled Pichon, Dement , Japanese Yamaha rid er Takeshi Koikeda , and Kalin. When the checkered flag flew , th e top 10 w ould finish in that same order. Briefl "Man, it's weird," he sai d following the moto. "In some races you rid e effortlessl y and every thing just comes togeth er and you end up flying - and that was one of those. It was just fantastic." At 4:35 p.m., the ga te dropped on the final AMA moto of the season. Slammin g int o the first turn at the sharp end of the pack w ere Alb ert yn, Katin, LaRocco a nd Ward . Albertyn led the fie ld a ro u nd the ma jesti c S teel City track . wit h Henry rid ing righ t in his tire tracks. Behind Henry w ere a fast-starting Koikeda, LaRocco and Ward . As the shadows began to len gthen, Alber ty n ga ve it his all as he at tempted to put distance bet we en ' him self and a ~rsis tent Henrv. LaRocco , meanwhile, w ho had fought his way into third place, bega n to lose ground to the two front-runners . "I was ru nnin g the sa me pace for a while and those guys kind of go t into a ra ce, and I go t st uck bac k t here b y mys elf, " ex p lai ned LaRocco. "Ma king up one more place on the tra ck wouldn't have made a differe nce anyway. I jus t got stuck." At the halfw ay ma rk, Henry began chip ping away a t Alb ert yn 's eight-second lead. Lap by lap . he wou ld chip . away at the time di fference to the point that. on lap 10, he ou tbraked the South African a t th e bottom of the cir cuit's steepest hill, sna tching the lead and. for all intents and purposes, the overall. , "I felt stro ng in the first mot o, but I wa s kin d o f fig h t ing th e b ik e ," explained Henry. "This is the kind of track where you have to now an d se t up an d ride rea l smoo th, and I did n't see m to be doing that too good in th e firs t one. Between mo tos, I tr ied to thi nk about the track and ge t p repared to get out there and ride smooth in the seco nd. I think Greg just go t tired in the second moto, and I don 't think I w a s any stronger." Albertyn, who had ridden so we ll in the first moto and appea red to be on the way to his firs t Nation al wi n of the season, fell victim to a tro ubled st omach . and a loss of energy. . "T h e s econ d - well, it ju st d idn 't come togeth er." said the valiant Suzuki rider. "Ge tling sick between motos really hurt me." Cros s in g th e fini sh li ne a dista nt third was LaRocco. Larry Ward, w ho was mo re or less in a race of his ow n, rolled beneath the checkers in fou rth. "In the second mota, I almost caught up behind LaRocco and tried to p ass him and tried to pass him, but - I don 't know . I s h ou ld ha ve d ug a li tt le b it deeper and kept trying to pass him . But it's the last race of the year, and I just kin d o f se ttled fo r fourth. Tha t' s not very goo d, but that's pretty much what happen ed. It was a to ugh track today because it go t real dry and choppy, and it kept poundin g at my back really bad ." Koi keda had a no the r strong rid e to pl ace an impressi ve fifth in the mot o, while Pichon went thr ou gh the motions to place sixth. Str eits Mot or sports /RPI Racin g /Pro-A cti on s ' Ja s on Th om as pl ac ed seven t h, a nd Th or /Ka wasaki Carrollton / Te am G re en r ider Jos h Demuth was eighth. I~ Steel City" Raceway De lmont , Pen nsylvania Results : Sep tem b er 6, 1998 (Final Round ) MOTO 1: I. Greg Albertyn (Suz): 2. Doug Henry (Yam ); 3. Larry Ward (Suz) ; 4. Mike Lakoccc (Hon ); 5. Rya n Hu gh es (Ka w): 6. H.. ath Voss (He n): 7. Mickael Pichon (Suz ): 8. Jdf Deme n t (Ya m); 9. Tak eshi Koikeda (Yam); to. Mikt. Katin Jr. (Yam); 11. James Povolnv Jr. ' (Suz): 12. Ty Wall .lce (Yarn): 13. Iea n-Sebasfien 'Ruy (Kaw) : 14. Blair Morgan (Kaw ): 15. Ped ro Go nz alez (Kaw ): 16. Jaso n Thoma s (Ka w): 17. Kevin Crinc (Ka w): 18. Josh De mut h (K.1W); 19. Brad woolsey (K.H ); 20. ... Ryan Terlecki (Suz): 21. Ted Ca mpbel l (Suz); 22. Brad Hagsc th (Yam ); 23. Jaso n Fren e tt e (K,lW); 24. Doug Dehaa n (Kaw): 25. Rya n Clark (Kaw) : 26. jeffrey Bake r Jr. (K.1W); 27. Davey Yeze k Jr. (5u 7.); 28. Dan Moore (Suz); 29. Bruce Stra tton (Suz): 30. james Eva ns (Kaw ): 31. La nce Smail (KTM); 32. Jimm y Wilson (Su z); 33. Cory Baude r (Yam); 34. Kelly Sm ith (KTM); 35. Marro Dube (Suz) : 36. Paul Karle (Yam); 37. Chad Sa nne r (Ka w ): 38. Phil Law re nce IKa w): 39. Pau l Ca rpe n ter (Kaw ): 40. Cliff Palmer (Ka w ). MOTO 2: 1. Do ug Henry (Ya m); 2. Greg Alberryn (Suz): 3. Mike Lagocco (Hen): 4. Larry Ward (Suz): 5. Takeshi Koiked a (Ya m); 6. Mic kae l Pich on (Suz): 7. Jason Thomas (Kaw): 8. Iosh Demu th (Ka w): 9. Ryan Hu gh es (K a w ): 10 . H eath Vo s s (Ho n); 11. Pedro Gonzale z (Ka w): 12. Brad Woo lsey IKaw): 13. Ryan Terlecki (Suz); 14. Blair Mor gan (K.1W); 15. Mar co Debe (Suz) ; J6. Mike Kahn Jr . (Yam) ; 17. Paul Ca rpe n te r (Kaw); 18. Ty Walla~ (Y. m); 19. J.llTk.:'O Evan s (Yam) ; 20. T 1 " Jeffrey Baker Jr. (Kaw) : 21. Bruce Stratton (Sux); Z2 Dan Moore (Suz ); 23. Chad Sanner ( K.Jw) ; 24. Jimmy wilson (Suz); 25. Kevin Cli ne ( K .1W); 26. Davey Yezek Jr. (Suz); 27. Dou g Dehaan (Kaw): 28. Jason Frenette (Kaw); 29. James Povolny Jr. (Suz); 30 . Cli ff Palmer (. a w); J1. K Ryan Cla rk (Ka w): 32. Brad Ha gscth (Yam) ; 33 . Ted Ca mpbell (5uz); 34. Iea n-Scbastic n Roy (Ka w): 35. Jeff Dement (Yam); 36. Lance Smai l (KTM); 37. Cory Bauder (Yam); 38. Phil Lawrence ( J(., W ); 39. Paul Karle (Yam); l 40. Kelly Smith (KTM) . . a 0 1A: 1. Dou g Henry {Y m}; 2. Greg Albcrtyn (Suz); 3. Mike Lakocco (Hun) ; 4, Larry Ward (Suz); 5. Mickacl Pic hon (5u z );.6 . Takcsh i Koi keda (Yam) ; 7. Ry a n Hu ghes (Kaw): 8. Hea th Voss (Hon): 9. Jaso n Thoma s (Kaw): 10 . Josh Demu th (Kaw): 11. Pedro Gonza lez (Kaw): 12. Mi ke Kat in Jr. (Yam); 13 . Bla ir Morga n (Kaw); 14. Jl'ff Dement (Yam); 15. Ty wallace (Yc1rI!); 16. Brad Woolsey (Ka w ): 17. Jam es Povcl ny Jr. (Suz):" . Ryan Terlecki (Suz): 19. lean- Seba stien Roy (Kaw): 20 Marro Dube (Scz): 21. Paul Carpenter (Kaw): 22. Kevin Crinc ( Ka w ): 23. [am es Evant; (Yam) ; 24. [cffrcy Bake r Jr. (Ka w). A M A /MAZDA T RUC K NATIONAL CHAM PIONSH IP MX SERIES ANAL POI NT STANDINGS (Aft 12 of 12 roun d s): 1. Doug Henry (493/5 wins); 2. Greg Albertyn (430); 3. Mike Lagoc co (390); 4. Mic kael Pichon (38 4/1); 5. Jeff Em ig (35 3 / 4); 6. (T IE) Ezra Lusk (l )/Larry Ward (329); 8. Kevin Wind ham (243); 9. jea nSebastien Roy (181); 10. Ryan Hu ghes (74); n . Hea th o" Voss (155); 12. Tak cshi Koikl- d (147); 13. Jeff De men t (44); 14. Jer emy McGrath (12]); 15. Josh Demu th (1ll); 16. Michael Craig (109); 17. Lance Sma ll (108); 18. J. SOO · 1 Tho mas (92); 19. Phil Lawrence (82); 20. Ryan Terlecki (76) . . fine." •••• meant that he would have to mlit for his fourt h 1999 fo r a shot at his hrst win . Ricky Carmichael te sted his' Motocross des Nations bike at St eel City and felt that it was satisfac tory fo r the upc oming nice in England but not quite up to par for the' U.S . Nat ional circuit (A M rules stat e that bikes 'must use much lowe r octane than the AMA . req uires.) " The bike is ·great. but I really wa nt to win this race today. so l'm going back to my regu lar bik e. - said C armichael before -the race . -I think it will be. just fine for the des Nations." .Teammate Nathan Ramsey has been helping out wi th the tes ting of RC 's M X des Nation s bike w hile ' Carmichael co ncen trated on: wi nning his .second straight 125cc N ational Champion ship title. . Foll owing the S teel City Nat ional. Greg Albertyn was schedA dding '"an intere stmq wrinkle to the Pichon selection js the fac t that his mechanic. who will be going along with him . is an Ameriuled to hea d back' hom e toCallfor rua to pre parefor his fastapproaching wedd ing and honeymoon. - N ext wee k I"m ge tting . can. " It's kindof funny." said Pichon' s Team Suzuki mec hanic . Tony B erlu t i : - I guess my emotions are kind of. mixed . M y married and go ing on a mOnth-lorig vacati on/honey m'oon : said A1bertyn followin g the second moto. "Then maybe I will do one or heart 's wi th Pichon and my bike. but Iwant the Americ ans to ·wi n. · I guess the best -case scenario would for Mi ckael to do very we ll tw o off·seaso n races in Europe arid Japan. and that will be itfor and for America to win . Rog er DeCoster will do all of the groundmy off-season." work for Pichon' s bike , because he has all the co nnections i n Europe ." said Berlu li . "l' m also worried about the .low -oc tane fuel In the on-aga in. off-again saga invo lving Doug H enry and his we have to run, which in reality is pump gas. The engine will run plans for 1998. appare ntly the Con necticut-based family man has Speaking of Pro Ci rcuit. the squad added Georgian up-and-comer hotter and crea te less compression and low er ou r horsepowe r. still not mad e up his mind. O n Sept emb er2 7. he will ride the S h a e B entley to its roste r for the 199 9 season . Bentley . a ' We also have to run that quiet muffl er over there , which is going . class champio n at the Loretta Lynn' s AMA Amateur Nationals last VZF400 for Team US A at the Mot ocr oss des Nations at Foxhill, month . w ill ride under th e Pro Circu it te nt for th e 125cc East .England. and alter that. only he knows for sure.' In regard to his to be harde r for Mickael. because he can' t hear the bike as good . .. , Psychologically. that could be a proble m ." Re g ion al S X S eri e s . H is t e amm at e s w ill incl ud e Fl oridi an future and the 52nd annual running 01 the M ot ocro ss des Nations. Carmichael:Ten nessee'sNathan Ramsey . M lchigan' s Nick Wey. Henry had this to say: " I had a 'chance to watch a video tape of the and New Yorker Scott Sheak . If the lineup does n' t change. this Ju st as Jeremy McGrath has one track on which he has never Foxhill GP that ran this spring. and the track looks a littl e bit like l'rn wo n in Pe nnsylvan ia. thing s migh t be shaping up tha t wayfor will .mark the fi rst time that Pro Circ uit has not had a C alifornian the top section of Gainesville. It looks like a fun' track, o n it s rost er . . Ricky C a rmi cha el in the Key stone State . High Point Racew ay loo king forwa rd to go ing over there to race. As for next year . l'rn in nearby M ount Mo rris. Pennsylvania. is the only track on the not really sure w hat l'rn going to do . l'rn going to go to Japan this Team Green/Fox/Hammerhead/Ballzee/Oakley·backed Shae Bentwinter and try to get the b ikes ready fo r next year. justin case I .AM A /M azda N ati onal M X circ uit and the AMA/Toyo ta .S upercross cir cuit w here M cG rath has never w on ' an overal l. N ow ley almost won the Copenhag e n Racing P riv at eer C h a ll eng e dec ide to co me back a nd race. I don ' t know if l'rn going to come bac k and race . Right now .l jus t want to help Yamaha out w ith the Ca rmichael has a win at every track on the 125cc outdoor Nationat Steel City with his 1Oth-place finish in the 125cc National. The 17bike for next year. and if I feel like I want to race ,": will; if I don 't. I al and 125cc East Region SX Serie s except at Delmont . Pennsylyear.ol d was edged out by Team ChaparrallYamaha's J i mmy B utwo n·t". l ' ~ go ing to ~ave to wc:"it and see: " . vania' s Steel City Raceway: Carmichael started his professional ton . who placed ninth to earn top privateer honors. The 250cc·c1ass honors we nt to Yamaha J apan/H olley Racing/Bridgestone/O'N ealcaree r at Stee l City in 199 6. the only 125cc Nationa l he rode that Due to French Grand Prix. rider Frederic Solley breaking his wrist. year,. and finished eighth overall on his number·768 Kawasaki. backed Takeshi Koikeda. who put in solid sixt!i ·place-overall M icka el Pichon lias been tapp ed by the French Federation to Last year . he finished second to .Kevin W indham on the n umber· 4 hnish with 9-5 moto p1acings. G reat Lakes Airlines/Bill"s Pipes/Fa .ride his Suzuki RM 250 in the upcom ing Motocross des Nations. .70 bike . This ti me . a first ·mo ta cra sh on the numb er-one bik e tory Co nnection's Heath Vos s was nex.twith an eig?th.place finish. and a 18 trip 't~ Steel City in "I 'm excited ." said Pichon at Ste el City. " Myonly worry i~ the bike . becau se we have to ride with their unleaded fuel. W e now only have three week s to get the bike tuned . but I think we will be

• Cover