Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Casey Lytle equaled his results from round one by scoring a second place at Qualcomm. Lytle held off several pass attempts by Erick Vallejo and Nathan Ramsey late in the moto. (Above, left to right) Lytle, Johnson and third-place finisher Nathan Ramsey celebrate their 125cc main-event finishes. were coming within a hair of making contact in the corners, Ramsey made several attempts of his own to dive in underneath the dueling duo. "Vallejo was riding pretty aggressive," said Lytle. "But after last week, we had a team meeting, and we talked about keeping my line when someOne is coming. I knew my lines were faster, so I just stayed with them and didn't let him push me out." Fort.unately for Lytle, Vallejo got crossed up in the whoQps and went down, ending his hopes of a secondplace finish. Ramsey picked up where Vallejo left off, trying to get around Lytle in every comer of the last lap. As Johnson whipped his Yamaha of Troy ISinisalolOakley I Bell-backed YZ over the finish line for the win, most of the .spectators kept their eyes on Lytle and Ramsey, In the final two corners, Lytle came dangerously close to losing second, but he was able to edge out Ramsey across the finish line. "I came out pretty decent, considering where I had to start, but I had to ~ork my way through the pack still," said Ramsey, who was less than thrilled with his third-place finish. "I did everything I could to catch him (Lytle). There is one rutted line through the whoops and a lot of the track, so you had to follow a lot. I wouldn't be so down on third if I didn't have such a bad time last weekend. My chain broke last weekend and I ended up 18th. The championship is getting away from me, and I'm pretty concerned." Brief"ly._·. ~~ _ Arm pump Was a big issue in San Diego, as such esteemed riders as Mickael Pichon, Rpbbie .Reynard. Larry Ward and Kevin Windham all com· plained of the dreaded ailment. According to te'am' manager Roger DeCoster. arm pump played a key role in Reynard's fall down the lap charts. while Windham was alleged to have also fallen victim to the .. de-ath grip" syndrome. which saw him wind up in an uncharacteristic and off·the·pace 14th·place position. ' What's up with Team Suzuki? According to the team's five·time 500cc World Champion manager Roger DeCoster. it all appears to be the result of early-season nerves and anXiety. "They.are just riding too tight and getting 100 nervous." said DeCoster immediately following the race in San Diego. Team FMF/Honda has been bitten by the injury bug. Tallon Vohland, ,the three·lime FIM 250cc Grand Prix winner, is, according to team manger Bob Moore, slated to be out for the next four' weeks due to a cracked shoulder blade. Fourth went to Chiodi, who was feeling pressure from Brandes in the last few laps. "I had to go to the LCQ which pretty much gave me a bad pick on the line," said Brandes, who was unable to match his third-place finish at Anaheim. "If I would have gotten a better start in the main, I know I would have been further up there. I was stuck behind one guy for what seemed like an eternity. I'm not happy with what happened tonight because I'm ready to go out there and start winning races." Bogard recovered from his crash to finish sixth, ahead of Isaiah Johnson and Ryan Clark. Sheak admitted to not being in full race mode, but he was still able to grab ninth, ahead of Pingree, who was injury is just minor and Roncada will be ready to ride the openlng Eastern Region'round pn February' 13 in Tampa. Florida. Lately, Kehoe himself. gets around on crutches due to a foot injury he sLiffered' la~t month ,while practicing with Casey Johnson. He should be walking around crutch·free in the next two weeks. Team FMf'Honda's Tallon Vohland has ,been switched from the 125cc Western Regional oompetition to the East Series follOWing the shoulder injury he sustained the previous week in Anaheim. Vohland has a possible crack in his shoulder, but he should be ready for the Tampa round. He will join. Danny Smith and. Brock Sellards in the east. which means that. for the time being. FMF will field no 125cc West comp:etitors. According to Kawasaki's Ron Heben, the entire factory teani, including the Pro Circuit camp. was out practicing starts the morning after the Anahei", Supercross, Both 125 and 250co riders felt that poor starts were the cau$e behind'their mediocre showing in round one. The practicing seemed to help a little bit in San Diego. but most of the Kawasaki riders. with the exception of Ricky Canmichael in his heat race. still ere unable to produce what would be considered a "good start. " . 'Team Mota XXX privateer Phil Lawrence was Ihis 'week's winner of the Racer X $250 ," gas card" for being the top-placing privateer in San Diego, Casey Johnson was the winner of the 1 ·900·PRO·RACE Holeshot award in the 125cc class. For his effort, he received a check for ,S500. Last week's recipient in the same class was none other than. Johnson's teammate Casey Lytle. David Vuillerriin g'rabbed the 250cc main-evenl holeshot. and with that came a $1000 check from 1· 900·PRO·RACE. Yamaha of Troy's Stephane Roncada, who was scheduled to ride the 250cc class in San Diego. was a no-show. The 125cc East Coast Series rider injured his knee while practicing during the week and chose to sit out the event. RODcada was present, however, signing autogr'lphs and walking around the pit"s. According to Yo,,! team manager Erik Kehoe. the if anyone is wondering about a possible rivalry of Caseys in, the YoT camp, wonder no longer. According to Erik Kehoe, the two ,are fierce competitors, but they are also pretty tight friends. "It's serious, but friend· Iy," claims Kehoe. "We didn't change a thing this week. It'll jusl be business as usual. .. back iIi 18th at the start of the IS-lap main event. Going in to the third round in Phoenix, Johnson holds a six-point lead over Lytle, and while the points leader seems to be riding at a level above everyone else, he is aware that anything can happen. "I've got the momentum going and the confidence now," Johnson said, "but, like with Lytle tonight, there's always going to be someone there. Maybe next week someone will step up. You never know. I'm always going to stay on my toes." t:III Qualcomm Stadium San Diego, California Results: January 16, 1999 (Round 2 of 7) US HEAT 1 (61aps, 1·9 tra.nsfer to main): 1. Charlie Bogard (Suz); 2. Casey Lytle (Yam); 3. Donald Upton (Hon); 4. NathOln R.,msey (K.l'\v); 5. Ryan Clark (J(aw); 6. Scott Sheak (Kaw); 7. Travis Preston (Suz); 8. Billy Payne (Kaw); 9. Tyler Evans (Suz); 10. Michael Brandes $uz); 11. Gio Tedesco (KTM); 12. Jason Partridge (Suz); 13. Andy Harrington (Yam); 14. Matt Maximoff (Hon); 15. Doug Parsons (Suz); 16. Ronnie Clark (Yam); 17. Daniel Blair (Yam); 18. Michael Young (Yam); 19. Dan Moore (Suz); 20. John Sereik., Jr. (Han). Time: 5 min., 33.280 sec. 125 HEAT 2 (6 laps, 1-9 transfer to main): 1. Cnsey Johnson (Yam); 2. David Pingree (5uz); 3. Erick Vallejo (Kaw); 4, Rusty Holland (5uz); 5. Jimmy Varis (Suz); 6. Keith Johnson (Vam); 7. Greg Schnell (Vam); 8. Orad Hagseth (Hon); 9, Chad Reed (5u,); 10. Stan Sloboda (5uz); 11. Kenny Bartrnm (KTM); 12. Hawk White (Suz); 13. Jason 5mith (Han); 14. Harold Hageman (Suz); 15. Kris Rourke (Suz); 16. Donovan MitcheJl (Vam); 17. Danny Carlson (Yam); 18. Steve Andrich (Yam); 19. Alessio Chiodi (Hus); 20. Isaiah Johnson (Yam). Time: 5 min., 28.660 sec. 125 LCQ (4 laps, 1-4. transfer to main): 1. Michael Brandes (5uz); 2. Alessio Chiodi (Hus); 3. Ts..1iah Johnson (Yam); 4. Andy Harrington (Yam); 5. Kenny Bartram (KTM); 6. Jason Partridge (Suz); 7. Steve Andrich (Yam); B. Harold Hngeman (Suz); 9. Cia Tedesco (KTM); 10. Doug Parsons (Suz); 11. John Sereika Jr. (Hon); 12. Daniel Blair (Vam); 13. Jason Smith (Hon); 14. Kris Rourke (Suz); 15. Danny Carlson (Yam); 16. Ronnie Clark (Yam); 17. Hawk White (Suz); 18. Dan Moore (Suz); 19. Stan Sloboda (Suz); 20. Donovan Mitchell (Yam); 21. Michael Young (Yam); 22. Mntt Maximoff (Hon). . Time: 3 min., 42.550 sec. 125 MAIN (IS laps): 1. Casey Johnson (Yam); 2. casey Lytle (Yam); 3. Nathan Ramsey (KJw); 4. Alessio Chiodi (Hus); S. Michilel Brandes (Suz); 6. Charlie Bogard (5uz); 7. Isaiah Johnson (Yam); B. Ryan Clark (Kaw); 9. Scott Shenk (Kaw); 10. David Pingree ( uz); 11. Travis Preston (Suz); 12. Enck Vallejo (Kaw); 13. Tyler Evnns (Suz); 14. Donald Upton (Hon); 15. Keith Johnson (Yam); 16. Billy Payne (Kllw); 17. Chad Reed (5u,); 18. Brad Hagseth (Hon); 19. Greg Schnell (Yam); 20. Andy Harrington (Yam); 21. Rusty Holland (Suz); 22. Jimmy Vans (Suz). Time: 13 min., 47.360 sec. Winner's average lap time: 55.157 sec. Margin of victory: 7 sec. 125ee AMA WESTERN REGIONAL SUPER CROSS SERIESPOfNT STANDrNGS (After 2 of 7 rounds): 1. Casey Johnson (50/2 wins); 2. Casey Lytle (44); 3. Michael Brandes (36); 4. Isaiah Johnson (27); 5. Charlie Bogard (25); 6. (TIE) Natha.n Ramsey/David Pingree (23); 8, Tyler Evans (22): 9. Tra'vis Preston (2]); 10. (TIE) Ryan Clark/Billy Payne/GregSchnell (20). Upcoming Rounds: Round 3 - Phoenix, Arizona, January 23 Round 4 - Seattle, Washington, January 30 11

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