Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Round 4: Seattle Kingdome TOYOTA TRUCKSITHORIPARTS UNLIMITED AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES Isaiah Johnson ran fourth the whole race, while the other Casey - Lytle - ran fifth most of the way after passing Wheeler on the seventh lap. Sixth went to Clark, who started off in ninth, while seventh went to Wheeler. Preston, on the Moto XXX Suzuki, had a strong ride, finishing eighth after a 12th-place getaway. _ Seallie Kingdome Seallle, Washing10n January 30, 1999 (Round 4 of 7) would run away with the second heat race after jumping out to an early lead, but previous-round winner Ramsey wasn't about to let that happen. Ramsey went after the Yamaha rider right away, nearly passing him on the first lap. T.wo laps later, Ramsey tried again, and this time he found success. He got around Johnson, who shortly thereafter clipped a bale and went down. From there, Ramsey cruised to victory ahead of Isaiah Johnson, Vallejo, R&S Kawasaki's Ryan Clark and Casey Johnson. Primal Impulse Suzuki's David Pingree, who was involved in a multi-rider crash in his heat race, rode to victory in the last-chance qualifier, scoring the win ahead of Motoworld Yamaha's Greg Schnell, Honda rider Akira Narita, and KTM-mounted Kenny Bartram. "I've had more bad luck in the last month than I can even understand," a frustra ted Pingree said following his LCQ win. "Tonight, I had the holeshot in the heat race, then somebody hit me from behind and spun me out. I came back up to 10th, but they only take the top nine." MAIN EVENT 12 Isaiah Johnson took the holeshot in the 15-lap feature, but the other Johnson - Casey - took the lead before the first lap was over. With Ramsey back in fifth, Johnson took advantage of the situation' by sprinting away from the back and buying as much insurance as he could. By the time Ramsey threaded his way into second - on the second lap - Johnson had already built up a cushion of approximately five seconds and, for a while, Ramsey had a hard time doing anything about it. But he kept trying. , Around the lO-lap point, lappers were beginning to be a factor for the leaders, and suddenly Ramsey had cut Johnson's lead down to about three seconds. But Johnson still looked in control despite coming up a little short over a double earlier in the race and having his knee "pop out." Just when it looked as though Johnson was going to pull off his third win of the season, the Yamaha rider suddenly went down coming out of a rutted tum. Michael Brandes put together another third-place ride in the 125cc main. Ramsey was close enough to pounce and rode right past the downed rider and easily rode away with the win. Johnson got up right in front of the third-placed Brandes and pulled away from him, but he had no chance of catching Ramsey. 125 KEAT 1 (6 laps, 1-9 transfer to main): 1, Charley Bogilrd (Suz); 2. Casey Lytle (Yam); 3. Michael Brandes (Suz); 4. Chris Wheeler (Yam); 5. Ryon Huffman (Hon); 6. Keith Johnson (Yam); 7. Rodrig Thain (Hon); 8. Cia Tedesco (KTM); 9. Travis Preston (Suz); 10. David Pingree (Suz); 11. Steve Andrich (Suz); 12. Greg Schnell (Yam); 13. Doug Parsons (Suz); 14. ick Hansen (Suz); 15. Justin Homan (Suz); 16. Andy Harrington (Yam); 17. Andreu Labrador (Yam); 18. Cory Francis (KTM); 19. Mali Maximoff (Han); 20. Danny Carlson (Yam). Time: 6 min., 0.070 sec. 125 HEAT 2 (6 laps, 1-9 t.ransfer to main): L Nathan Ramsey (Kaw); 2. Isaiah Johnson (Yam); 3. Erick Vallejo (Kaw); 4. Ryan Clark (Kaw); 5. Casey Johnson (Yam); 6. Tyler Evans (5U2); 7. Brad Hagseth (Han); 8. Ryan Duff (Yam); 9. Stephan Demartis (Hon); 10. Daniel Blair (Yam); 11. Akira Nilrila (Hon); 12. Darcy l..'lnce (Kaw); 13. Kris Papworth (Suz); 14. Kris Rourke (Suz); 15. Ronnie Clark (Yam); 16. Stan Sloboda (Suz); 17. Jefi Hedden (KTM); 18. Kenny Bartram (KTM); 19. PauJ Conner (Yam); 20. Billy Payne (Kaw). Time: 6 nUn., 1.050 sec. LCQ (4 laps, 1-4 transfer to main): 1. David Pinsree (5uz); 2. Greg Schnell (Yam); 3. Akirn arita (Hon); 4. Kenny Bartmm (KTM); 5. Steve Andrich (Su'l); 6. Kris Rourke (Suz); 7. Daniel Blair (Yam); 8. Darcy Lange (Kaw); 9. Andy Harrington (Yam); 10. Nick Han&en (SU2); 11. Doug Pnrsons (Su'l); 12. Paul Conner (Yam); 13. Ronnie Clark (Y"m); 14. justin Hom,m (Suz); '15. jeff Hedden (KTM); 16. Andreu Labrador (Yam); 17. Danny Carlson (Yam); 18. Cory Francis (KTM); 19. Stan Sloboda (Suz); 20. Kris 'Papworth (5uz); 21 Matt Maximoff (Hon); 22. Billy Payne (Kaw). Time: 4 min., 9.150 sec. 125 MAIN (IS laps): 1. athan Ramsey (Kaw); 2. Casey johnson (Yam); 3. Michael Brandes (Suz); 4. Isaiah johnson (Yam); 5. Casey LytJe (Yam); 6. Ryan Oark (Kaw); 7. Chris Wheeler (Yam); 8. Travis Preston (Suz); 9. Charles Bogard (Suz); 10. Erick Vallejo (Kaw); 11. Gio Tedesco (KTM)j 12. Gre!? Schnell (Yam); 13. Stephan Demartis (Hon); 14. Dnvld Pingree (Suz); 15. Ryan Duff (Yam); 16. Tyler Evans (Suz); 17. Ryan Huffman (Han); 18. Kenny Bartrnm (KTM); 19: Rodrig Thain (Hon); 20. Akira Narita (Hon); 21. Brad Hagseth (Han); 22. Keith Johnson (Yam). Time: 15 min" 27.660 sec. Maq;in ofYictory: 17.009 sec. USee WESTERN REGIONAL SUPERCROSS SERIES POINT STANDINCS (After 4 of 7 rounds): 1. Casey Johnson (94/2 wins); 2. Casey LytJe (78); 3. Michael Brandes (76); 4. Nathan Ramsey (73/2); 5. Isaiah Johnson (61); 6. mE) Travis Preston/Ryan a.,k (49); 8. Charlie Bogard (48); 9. Tyler Evans (40); 10. Alessio Chiodi (34); 11. Erick Vallejo (32); ]2. David Pingree (30); 13. Greg Schnell (29); 14. Billy Payne (27); 15. Keith johnson (25); 16. Cio Tedesco (24); 17. Stephan Demartis (17); 18. Chris Wheeler (14); 19. Scott Sheak ()2); 20. Brad Hagseth (11). Upcoming Rounds: Round 5 - Anaheim, Califomia, February 6 Round 6 - Dallas, Texas, February 27 Brieflv... This week's winner .of the Racer X $250 Gas Card Award was Tim Ferry. The money i~ offered to the top finishing privateer in the 250cc There were two other riders on the Kingdome track Saturday night who were also on the track nine years 'ago wher] Larry Ward won his first 250cc supercross race, ar]d both of them joined' Ward on the podium: Mike laRocco and John Dowd. In 1990, LaRocco finished ninth on a Suzuki as Ward's teammate. and Dowd finished 17th on a Kawasaki. In that race. there were 37.309 spectators on hand. 'as compared to the 60.193 who watched Ward's latest win. Team SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Nathan Ramsey was still beaming afW recording his ,first 125cc supercross win the previous week at Phoenix. "I can't explain how excited everybody was." Ramsey said from the Seattle pits.. "I think once you have that taste in your mouth, it's hard to 99 back to anything else. It's like the best dessert you've ever had and then you have to go back to green peas. " ~ With Seattle's Kingdome scheduled for demolition at the end of the year. whe(e will the next Seattle Supercross be held? Evjdently. PACE Motor Sports has not yet locked up a venue. even though the new baseball-only stadium being built next to the Kingdome is nearly completed.. According to PACE's Pat Shutte. PACE is serious about nailing down a venue in the Pacific Northwest. especially after just filling the Kingdom" with more than 60_000 spectators. PACE is hoping to retwn to downtown Seattle as soon as possible. whether or not ifs in the new baseball stadium or in the football stadium, which is set to be erected where the Kingdome now stands. The KingrJome first hosted a supercross race 'in 1979 and has seen 33 races since then. Evidently. Team Yamaha's John Dowd and Jimmy Button are quite popular in Seattle. There were so many fans seeking their autograph$ in the pits that fire marshals foeced Qowd and Button to stop signing. Dowd. however. sneaked out to sign a few more and was told by the fire marshals th.at if he signed one more autograph. he would be kicked out of the facilitY. Larry Ward took home some extr.. cash following his win at the Seattle Supercross. He earned $1000 from the 1-900-PRO-RACE Holeshot Award foe being the fastest rider out of the first tum in the 250cc main. In the 125cc class. Isaiah Johnson pocketed the $500 up for grabs after taking the holeshot in the main event. main. Ferry finished ninth in Seattle's main event. This year's Dirt Wurx-prepared track was one of the best ever seen at the Kingdome. 'Tbe track's laye.ut is great." said Primal Impulse SUZiJki rider David Pingree following practice. "The dirt's a little bit soft. and it's rutting up pretty good. Where the ruts are is the technical spots, so that's where the mistakes will be made. ~nd whoever can handle the ruts the best will win the race. .. . Tea"m Honda's Ezra Lusk. who hails from Bainbridge, Georgia. wore a new custom-painted helmet in the 250cc main event. It featured the colors and logo of the Atlanta Falcons NFL football team. Team Suzuki's larry Ward. who won the 1990 Seattle Supercross. has been racing at the Kingdome for 20 years. "I remember being 7 years old. sitting in the stands and watching Jeff Ward and stuff, The first time Iever saw a supercross was here, so it feels like home to me when I come back." . Washington's Tyler Tracer.'15. had a big day on Friday. January 29. Tracer. who is fighting a heart condition. hooked up with the local chaptee of the Mak.-A-Wish Foundation in hopes of meeting his hero, Jeremy McGrath. Tracer got his wish and spent the whole day hanging out in the ChaparrallYamaha camp with McGrath. cruising the pits. taking pictures on the. track and generally enjoying a day behind the scenes.

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