Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127982
Round 6: Raymond James Stadium TOYOTA TRUCKSITHOR/PARTS UNLIMITED AMA U.S. SUPERCROSS SERIES By Kit Palmer Pho~os by Frank Happen TAMPA, FL, FEB. 12 evin Windham became the fourth different rid er in six weeks to win a 250cc main event in the AMA U.S. Supercross Series, and he did it without leaving any question in anyone's mind as to who was the fastest rider on the track at Tampa's new Raymond James Stadium. The 20-lap main event quickly settled into a four-rider affair, with Windham pulling up the rear of that pack. Ahead of him were some of the series' fastest riders: defending champ Jeremy McGrath, three-time '99 eries winner Ezra Lusk, and Ricky Carmichael. Windham had his work cut out for him. These four riders quickly broke away from the rest of the field on what was a very tricky, hard-packed and slick Tampa track. As 34,177 spectators looked on, Carmichael set the early pace; then, near the halfway point, both McGrath and Windham slipped past Lusk and set after the leader. A few laps after that, both McGrath and Windham charged past Carmichael in succession, setting the stage for a late-race McGrath/Windham duel for the win. Mt'Grath looked to be in control as he led Windham around the jump-filled track for six laps, but the champ just couldn't break free from the Honda rider. Then, with three laps to go, Windham turned it up a notch and blitzed by 'McGrath, but McGrath quickly countered and took the lead back. On the next lap, Windham tried to pass McGrath again in the exact same place, but this time he made the pass stick. Windham quickly put a few bike lengths on the champ as they weaved their way through lapped traffic, and Windham - on the Alley Semar-tuned factory Honda CR250 - held on to take a close, and one of the more exciting, wins of the '99 season. McGrath, who was one of the first on the scene to congratulate his friend after the race, took secon on the Mazda/Chaparral/Yamaha YZ250. '1t was a great race," Windham said. "We had a blast. [ told McGrath, 'Man, I . know you really wanted to win, but that was fun no matter which way you look at it: He gave me five. It was just one of those nights when 1 was in the groove." "Kevin and 1 are friends," McGrath said. "He doesn't ride dirty or anything.. It was a good, fun race. We were screaming and hollering at each other all over the track and stuff. 1 wasn't trying to ride him in the bales, and he wasn't doing that to me - it was good. I'd rather win, of course, but it was all right:' Windham's first win of the season also ca'me as a big relief to the Team Honda rider. Two weeks ago, at Seattle, he came from behind (much like he did· at Tampa) and passed for the lead, only to run into the proverbial wall and fade back to eighth. But at Tampa there was no such wall. "1 was just relaxed the whole race, the whole night," Windham said. "[ didn't even think about winning. [ just ill . 8! 8