Round 4: Seattle Kingdome
TOYOTA TRUCKSITHOR/PARTS UNLIMITED AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES
By Kit Palmer
Photos by Frank Hoppen
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SEAffiE, WA,jAN,30
eam Suzuki's Larry Ward wrote
the perfect final chapter in what
has been a long and rich history
of supercross racing at the soon-to-bedemolished Seattle Kingdome, For
Ward, a one-time resident of Washington, the story began some 20 years ago
when he competed in the Kingdome for
the first time as an amateur racer at the
age of 8, Nearly 10 years later, in 1990,
Ward won his first supercross race at
the Kingdome as a member of Team
Suzuki and has since found his way
onto the Kingdome podium many
times, though never again on the top
step, Until now,
.
A record crowd of 60,193 filled the
'dome in hopes of witnessing Ward who cut his racing teeth in nearby Snohomish, Washington - close out supercross racing at the Kingdome with a
win, After all, it would only be fitting,
And they got just what they were wishing for, and so did Ward,
"This is my ultimate dream," Ward
said from the Suzuki pits after Ule race,
"My first win in the 250cc class came
here in 1990, and I thought it would be
really special to win here tonight, the
last race at the Kingdome, My main
goal, though, was just to get a good
start, be smooth all 20 laps and hope to
get on the podium, I really haven't been
on top of my game lately, and to win
here, I mean, I just can't believe it; I'm so
happy,"
The win also put Ward in the record
books, No other rider holds a pair of
supercross wins as far apart - in terms of
years - as Ward,
Mike LaRocco once again turned in a
strong performance - even better than
his previous three third-place rides, The
Factory Connection/Jack in the
Box/G' eal/ Honda-backed rider spent
much of the 2D-lap feature in third trying to get arolilld a stubborn John Dowd
It was only fitting that Team Suzuki's
Larry Ward won the final supercross race
at the Seattle Klngdome. Ward's first
supercross win also came at the
Klngdome, in 1990.
of Team Yamaha, For the first 16 laps,
LaRocco ate Dowd's roost until he finally made a move'that saw the two riders
rub elbows in what was an aggressive
but clean pass by LaRocco, In the
remaining four laps, LaRocco chipped
away at Ward's lead but simply did not
have enough time to mount a serious
challenge, as Ward took the checkered
£lag 2,006 seconds clear of the Honda
