Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Cycle News 1999 02 03

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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Arcnacross Rounds 15-16: Hampton Coliseum PARTS UNLIMITEDfTHOR/AMAlPJI NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES weekend, but that 250cc win felt good," Antunez said of his results. Carrollton Kawasaki/MSR/Shoeisponsored Cliff Palmer and Thor/Pro Circuit/Tuf Racing's Honda-mounted Jeromy Buehl also both had con· istent rides, with Palmer fini hing no worse than fifth and Buehl no worse than sixth. Palmer took rus only win in Friday's 250cc final, with Buehl finishing second. Palmer also got two fourths and a fifth, while Buehl took two thITd and a sixth. After] 6 rounds, Palmer holds the points lead by ]9 points over Antunez, 495-476. WiUoh and Buehl are in third and fourth with 464 and 430 respectively. FRIDAY By Dave Deringer Photos by Karl Ockert HAMPTON, VA,JAN. 15·16 n front of a jam-packed crowd during , both nights of PJ] Arenacross racing, Thor Honda/Tuf Racing/ Azonic Bicycles-backed Jeft Willoh took two huge 125cc main-event wins, notcrung his seventh and eighth wins of the season by way of strong starts and smooth riding through the deep Virginia ruts at the Hampton Coliseum. A small cra h during Friday's 250cc final relegated Willoh to a ]Oth-place finish, but he showeQ the rughly enthusiastic crowd that he can ride a half-liter machine quite well, a he placed thITd during Saturday's 250cc main. "[ do feel better on the ]25:' Willoh !!Ii said afterward. "All [ have at home is a IIliii 250, so maybe 1 just look forward to ridIII ing the ]25 more." Primal Impulse Suzuki/Bill's • Pipes/Shift- upported Buddy Antunez ~ also had a strong weekend, as he podiumed three out of the four races. • Antunez fini hed second to WiUoh in both of the ]25cc finals and came back _ to win the 250cc final on Saturday. ... Antunez's worst finish was a fifth place ~ in Friday's 250cc final. With rus consis~ tent finishes, Antunez holds second ~ place in the series points standings after ]6 rounds. 14 "We've ju t had some bad breaks this "I :! o 8! (Above) Jeff Willoh again came away with two main-event wins at the PJl National Arenacross Series round In Virginia. (Below) Defending champ Buddy Antunez pulled off a 250cc main-event win on Saturday night. Palmer came out swinging, winning both of his heat races. Antunez and Willoh had one of the be t races to date during ]25cc heat number two. The two riders swapped positions several times, and Antunez ended LIp with the win by a wheel. Antunez then came back to win the $750-plus SBS Dash For Cash, and Willoh won the jump-off conte t with a ridkulously flat pancake-wrup. In the ]25cc main, Willoh nailed the start in front of Carrollton Kawasaki's Greg Rand, Acerbis/RRP's Ty Wallace, Primal Impulse Suzukj's Chad Pederson and Palmer. Wallace had a spectacular crash over the triple on the first lap, slowing down the rest of the pack. "I got together with someone in the air and got the wor t part of that one," Wallace said later. By the end of the first lap, Willoh already had a good-sized lead that he would never surrender. Behind rum was where the action was taking place. Rand, Antunez, Pederson and Palmer situated themselves throughout the next few laps while Willoh pulled away. On lap six of the ]6-lap final, Willoh was facing lappers, but he had an ad vantage of several econds over Rand and Antunez, while Pederson was picking himself up after a small miscue. Rand and Antunez battled for two laps until Rand cased the triple, moving Antunez into second for good. WiUoh had checked out by lap ]0, with Antunez solidly holding second. Palmer was now in third but was experiencing heavy pressure from Buehl,

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