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/127977
Round 2: Qua/comm Stadium TOYOTA TRUCKSITHOR/PARTS UNLIMITED AMA U.S. SUPERCROSS SERIES corner with the holeshot. In his wake were Reynard, Lusk, Albertyn, Ward, Carmichael and Pichon. Over the triples, the Albertyn's yellow Suzuki could be seen tumbling off the circuit, the result of a midair collision with Lusk. Albertyn's race was ruined for the evening, while the intrepid Lusk forged on. As the pack of 250cc motorcycles lofted over the finish-line jump to begin the second lap, Carmichael flew off the track and hit the ground hard. In the fall, his bike's footpeg slashed a deep laceration into his thigh. He was unable to finish the race and will miss at least two races. Meanwhile, up front, Vuillemin, with Reynard glued to his rear fender, began to put some daylight between himself and the other 18 riders. By lap three, the two riders began their slicing and dicing on one another, while McGrath began making his move (Left) Mike LaRocco put together another fine ride, matching his previous week's third-place performance. (Below, left to right) laRocco, Lusk and McGrath share the spotlight. "The track is very easy and too hard to pass on," said Pichon. "Everybody is going to the inside, and it's hard to find a way around." 'SEMIS Damon Huffman rode his factory Kawasaki to the win in semi number one, taking the measure of Team Suzuki's Larry Ward, who finished second. Pichon took third, while LaRocco and Moto XXX/Suzuki privateer rider Phil Lawrence grabbed. third and fourth. Tim Ferry, who rode in third place for most of the affair, fell on the last lap and took a trip to the LCQ. For the second Saturday night in a row, Jeff Emig had to ride a semi, and he tried to make his life a bit easier by taking the holeshot. But Chaparral Ia Yamaha rider Steve Lamson jumped out ;: in front and led the entire race to claim Iii the win. Emig, however, was satisfied !II with second; he was followed by Vuillemin and Kawasaki of Mexico's b. Pedro Gonzalez. Team Honda factory .. rider - and FIM 250cc MX World Cham~ pion - Sebastien Tortelli took fifth. Ii! llI. LAST-CHANCE QUALIFIER Q Team Noleen's Ferry made up for his • minor miscue in the first moto to win g: the last-chance qualifier. Following him ~ . home was Texan privateer Grayson ~ Goodman, who grabbed the last ticket ~ to the main. '" ::I c:: '" .., 8 MAIN With the 54,645-strong crowd on its. feet, Vtrillemin rolled throqgh the first through the bar-banging pack, first making a slick move on his longtime adversary Emig for sixth. By lap six, Vuillemin was looking over his shoulder and seeing Reynard, while Lusk was riding about six seconds back in third. Pichon was now alone in fourth, and M'cGrath had moved into fifth after passing Ward. Before the lap was completed, Ernig and Lamson went down in a heap. By lap nine, the Vuillemin/Reynard duel had heated up, while Lusk and Pichon had McGrath closed in. Reynard and Vuillemin traded places back and forth a couple of times, but Vuillemln continued to hang on. At the halfway mark, McGrath moved into fourth place, sending Pichon back to fifth. A lap later, Lusk crept inside of Reynard and began stalking Vuillemin. McGrath soon displaced Reynard and the battle for the win was on. Two laps later, Lusk found his way around the stubborn Vuillemin, who came right back and slammed the Honda rider in a turn. Undaunted, Lusk held the position, and Vuillemin was now concerned about McGrath. He held McGrath back as long as he could, but the champ made a nifty move and shot by Vuillemin. "I was being smooth and remained calm, because I know Ezra and Jeremy are very fast and have a lot of experience," Vuillemin said. 'Tm here to learn, maybe to come here full time next season." McGrath was beginning to chip away at Lusk's hard-earned lead, but Lusk did a masterful job of sifting through the lapped traffic, and McGrath could not pula dent in Lusk's modest lead. Meanwhile, a few seconds adrift, Vuillemin hung tough in third, while Pichon rode in fourth. LaRocco, who had heated up and was now c1ieki.ng oH