Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Jeromy Buehl (5) posted only one podIum finish In Baltimore, placing third In Saturday's 125cc race. Teammate Denny Stephenson (4) took third on his CR250 on Sunday. (Above) Sunday turned out to be Mike Jones' day, as he took third in the 125cc race, second In the 250cc contest, and first In the Jump-Off. ~ ~ .c If 24 three as Rand began to distance himself from the field. Willoh was up to fifth, as he had passed Palmer, who has been struggling on his 125cc for most of the series. Rand and Antunez had now checked ou t from the remaining riders as their battle started to heat up. Hofmaster held a lonely third for some time as fourthplaced Buehl and Willoh were going at it. Palmer and Primal Impulse Suzuki's Chad Pederson were dicing for sixth and seventh when Pederson went down in a heap, scattering hay bales throughout the firsHurn sweeper on lap seven. Rand and Antunez were clear of the mess, but as Hofmaster made his way into the turn, he saw it too late and hit the hooks, allowing Buehl to sneak by for third. A lap later, Witloh attempted to make a block-pass on Hofmaster but his front wheel knifed and Willoh hit the soil. Palmer saw an opening and made a dean block-pass on Hofmaster on lap 11 of the 16-lap final, moving himself into fourth. R.and was still at the point on lap 13, bu t Antunez had other ideas as they entered the rockers on lap 14. Antunez used an odd line and moved by the surprised Rand for the lead. Throughout the next two laps, Antunez stretched his lead and crossed the line for his fifth win of the year. Rand finished a respectable second on his John Kitch-tuned KX, followed by Buehl, Palmer and Hofmaster. "Rand was riding well, but I think I had a little more at the end," said Antunez of his ride. "The track became one-lined but I stuck with him, pressured him well, and me and my Suzuki ended up on top." "It's real tough to lead 14 laps and end up second," said a disappointed but happy Rand. "He was there the whole time and made a good move. Maybe next time." Stephenson, Antunez, Pederson and Willoh were at the front at the start of the 250cc final. YZ400-mounted Ty Wallace and Palmer gave chase. Willoh blasted by Pederson early for third, while Buehl and Jones were picking themselves up after going down together. Stephenson controlled the front for several laps as Antunez, Willoh and Pederson rode in tow. Palmer made his move by Wallace and was now holding fifth. Antunez began closing in on his friendly rival Stephenson on lap six and then made his bid for the lead on lap eight with a clean block-pass. Lappers came into the fray at the halfway point of the 20-lap race, and Antunez picked them off one by one. Stephenson settled into second and Willoh into third. Palmer displaced Pederson for fourth around lap 12. Willoh was looking for more and also block-passed his way by Stephenson two laps later and was now running second. Palmer was the next to get around Stephenson, pressuring the Nebraskan for several laps before making his move. Antunez was long gone out front, riding off for his second win of the night and his sixth of the season. Willoh held second, followed by Palmer and an upset Stephenson. "I rode pretty good, took my time and put the pressure on and then got by," Antunez said. "I started doing the triple late in the race and that's how I opened it up so much." "The track was a little rough and he looked a little tired, so I went for it," Willoh said of his pass on Stephenson. Connection's Jimmy Wilson and Rand followed. Palmer got by Willoh and led briefly, but Willoh got him back before the end of the first lap. Antunez was left back in 10th after a terrible start. Willoh, Palmer and Rand settled in the top spots, while Stephenson and Jones went at it for several laps. Jones got by Stephenson soon thereafter while some riders began to roll the big double, as they couldn't get enough traction in the loose soil on their 125s to clear it. On lap seven, Palmer came upon a lapped rider who was picking up his bike after a fall. Palmer decided to go to the inside, but the rider went into his line and the two collided. Rand and Jones took'advantage and moved into second and third. Willoh, meanwhile, was checking out. Palmer got back on the gas and was on the tail of Jones within two laps and then motored by him through the rockers to take over third. The action started to heat up with two laps remaining as Rand elected not to double on lap 14, allowing Palmer to Br.ieflv~ .. . - jump over his head for the runner-up position. Jones was next to strike and he forced his way by Rand at the beginning of the rockers on the final lap for third. With only three straights to go, Rand again chose not to double. Wilson, who was on the tail of Rand, locked up the brakes, and Buehl took the high line, jumping over both riders and moving into fourth in one fell swoop. Willoh took his ninth win of the year, followed by Palmer, Jones, Buehl, an overwhelmed Rand, and Wilson. Antunez finished seventh. And why does Willoh keep winning the 125cc finals? '1 just really like this Honda 125cc," he said. "Todd Ramsey is keeping it tuned, and I feel real good on it. I'd like to get it on a 125cc East Supercross podium, too, when this is all over." "I was running good with Willoh, but a lapper crossed my line and I hit him and almost went down," Palmer said. "I really think that I might have caught Jeff if that didn't happen." "I'm happy with third," Jones said of his result. "I'm 195 pounds and these guys are around 150-ish. I'm jumping that double in second, where they are in third. I'm looking forward to the 250cc final, where I'll have some more horsepower." "l got a bad start and got slammed around out there for a while," explained Antunez. "It took me a while to get going and I rode hard - I just made no ground." Stephenson nailed the start of the - -. . SATURDAY A sellout crowd of over 11,000 people made its way into the Baltimore Arena to witness another great night of motocross on Saturday. No single rider won both of his heat races, signifying that the racing action was tight on the loose soil. Jones once again gave the crowd its money's worth as he and Antunez battled in the second. 250cc heat. Jones led all but two laps of the race and pitched his Kawasaki sideways over the monstrous double lap after lap, hamming it up for the fans, who loved every minute of it. Stephenson took the SBS Dash For Cash win and over $650, and Jones pulled out all the moves this time and was the crowd favorite - taking the Jump-Off win. Willoh again gated well in the 125cc main and was the early leader. Palmer, Nicholson's Yamaha/Sinisalo/Factory Cliff Palmer will receive a $500 bonus' from Uni Filtedor being the points leader arthe halfway . point of the series.. If Palmer wins the title. he will receive $500. for the title and another:$500 for the dominator award - that \loes to the winner.of the.first and second half. . The SB'S Dash For Cash series is shaping up to be just as close a points race as the regular series. At the halfway' point of the series. the points are as follows: 1. Denny 'Stephenson (49/5 wins): 2. BuddY Antunez (39/2): 3. Greg Rand (35/3): 4. Cliff Palmer (28/1 ):. 5.. Jeromy Buehl . (25). The overall winner will receive a $5000 bonus. . The Baltimore rounds saw the return of Mike .Jones. The showman has been in Germany for' the last few. weeks. as he is every year. loOking for another German Supercross Championship_ "I won the. overall last weekend. but the big highlight was beating Edgar Torranteras in the jump· . off." Jones said of his travels... I'll be at all the ·remaining Arenacrosses this yea",1 have nothing to lose in this series and everyHiing to gain. 1:11 give (t 100 percent for myself aod my sponsors; . and I'll give the .crowds what they: wan~ to s.ee." . Baltimore ;"'ay have been the' ,Ia~t Ar!lnacr~ss race this year for Primal Impulse Suiuki' s C~ad .. PederSon. After injuring his. hand at the Fort W"rth. Texi's. round In early January. Peder~on took two weekenQs off to let it. heal. PederSOn crashed hard on his hand the week· belore in Hampton. Virginia. and fell on It again on Friday night. "I'm going to the doc~or on Monday!o.see . what's up with 'it" Pederson said in sp-eet clothes while watching Saturqay s

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