Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Right) Wallace (65) had his best Arenacross finish Saturday night when he took second in the 125cc main. Here, YZ400F-mounted Wallace dices with Antunez in the 250cc class. (Below) Denny Stephenson (4) mixes it up with Palmer in Saturday's 250cc main. He finished fifth. (Below right) Palmer (3) continued to hold on to his series points lead with consistent finishes in New York. Palmer, who suffered from a bad start, worked all race long to get around Wallace, Stephenson and Rand, finally finishing in second. Wallace picked up his pace to take third, his first podium finish of the series. "I had a blast," Wallace said. SATURDAY Antunez rocketed his Suzuki to the lead in the 125cc main. Hoimaster, Wallace, Rand, Stephenson and Buehl battled back and forth, probing one another for any weakness or miscue. Series leader Cliff Palmer got jostled at the start and dropped back quickly. Palmer regained his composure and set out after the front-runners, making passes on each lap of the 16-lap main. He ended up fourth by race's end. Wallace stuffed hi borrowed YZ125 into second, ahead of young Hofmaster, who worked his way backward throughou t the pack for the remainder of the race. Things got wor e for Hofmaster when Stephenson tangled with him and both riders were sent crashing to the arena floor. The scariest cra h of the race occurred when Willoh cased a hay bale while trying to make a pass. He got up unhurt to finish seventh. The race ended with Antunez in first and the ever-improving Wallace in second, marking Wallace's best arenacross finish ever. Jeromy Buehl finished a solid third. "1 finally got a holeshot," Antunez stated. "My Ed Longacre-tuned Suzuki was working great and my RG3 suspension was working great, too. [ just put my head down and did what I had to do. 1 rode as fa t as I could." Wallace was excited about hi second podium finish of the weekend. "I'm really happy to be here (on the podium)," gushed Wallace. "I'm building some momentum in this arenacross stuff. I got messed up with some lappers a little bit, but it's a privilege for me to be here." "It was pretty tough," said thirdplace man Jeromy Buehl. "1 felt like 1 was battling the whole time out there. Things were just going crazy. 1 didn't even realize r was in third until it was over. I'm happy to be on the podium." The same gang of riders lined up with blood in their eyes and thunder in their hearts for the 250cc main. The bigger bikes reached the first turn in short order, with Wallace pulling a massive "Doug Henry" holeshot on his booming YZ400. Wallace rode the race of his life for eight of the 16 laps, pulling away from the pack before a slight miscue allowed eventual winner Willoh to pass in a corner. Wallace's focus was broken and he crashed trying to repass WiUoh. The four-stroke pilot got up and soldiered on to take a well-deserved sixth place, but not before battling it out with Antunez and Palmer. After losing the lead to Willoh, Wallace held off Antunez for four la ps before the number-one plate holder found a way into second. ext on Wallace's tail were Buehl and Palmer, who tepped up to get in their digs at Wallace. The Yamaha ace bobbled and ran off the track with a little help from another rider. Meanwhile, Willoh was riding smoothly and almost unnoticed in the madness of the moment. Making quick and efficient passes on the lappers, Willoh again saluted the crowd as he sailed over the finish-line jump, taking the checkered flag. Second place went to Antunez and third place was owned by Buehl. Palmer held on for fourth, trying to keep Antunez from gaining any more points on him. Stephenson finished fifth, one spot ahead of Wallace. In .his first attempt at the series, Willoh is getting ever so close to Palmer and Antunez in the points chase. "1 appreciate it," said Willoh at the finish line. "My Honda worked great. My mechanic, Todd Ramsey, had the bike working well all night. It feels great." ot to be outdone by Willoh, Antunez gained some points on Palmer with both of his 125cc main-event wins. "My Primal Impulse RG3 Suzuki was working great," said Antunez. '1 made a couple of mistakes when I got hung up on some lappers, but 1 tried to push up there at the end. 1 wish 1 had a couple more laps. 1 would've loved to get a chance at Jeff (Willoh)." "Once again, I felt good," said Buehl, who sits fourth in points. "It was a tough race. There were just people flying everywhere. [ just tried to do the best 1 could and keep the rubber side down and the shiny side up." _ Long Island Nassau Coliseum Uniondale, New York Results: January 8-9, 1999 (Rounds 13 & 14 of 34) Friday 125 PRO (IS riders, 16 laps): 1. Buddy Antunez (5uz); 2. Jeff Willoh (Hon); 3. Cliff Palmer (\(aw); 4. Denny Stephenson (Han); 5. Jeromy Buehl (Hon); 6. Tom Ho(master (Suz); 7. Tom Welc~ (Suz); 8. Greg Rand (/(aw); 9. Ty Wanace (Yam); 10. Jim Chester (sOl); 11. David Kratz (Suz); 12. Erik Janssen (Sux); 13. Rob Abram (Yam); 14. Joshua Sterritt (SuU; 15. Eric Reil1y (sOl). 250 PRO (15 ride.rs, 16 laps): 1. Jeff WiJloh (Hon); 2eU£( Palmer (Kaw); 3. Ty WaUace (Yam); 4. jeromy Buehl (Hon); S. Denny Stephell'lOn (Hon); 6. Greg Rand (Kaw); 7. Jim Chester (Suz); 8. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 9. Tom Welch (Suz); 10. Tom Ho(master ( uz); 11. Rob Abram (Yam); 12. Tony Pedone (Kaw); 13. Erik janssen (5uz); 14. Clint Exposito (Han); 15. Robert Walton (Han). DFC: I. Denny Stephenson (Han); 2. Jeromy Buehl (Han); 3. Greg Rand (!

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