Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Once again, Nathan Ramsey made it look easy as he worked his way through the pack to a convincing win in 125cc Western Regional action. (Above) Casey Lytle continued his killer starting streak by grabbing the lead before tl)e main was a lap old, Lytle led until Ramsey passed him on lap seven of the 15-lap affair. Sebastien Tortelli (l08); 10. Greg Albertyn (99); 11. Jeff Emig (96); 12. Tim Ferry (92); 13. Steve Lamson (91); 14. Jimmy Button (75); 15. (TIE) Ricky Carmichael/David VuiJlemin (62); 17. Robbie Reynard (60); 18. Heath Voss (46); 19. Phil Lawrence (31); 20. Jean-Sebastien Roy (28). KTM JR SUPERCROSS CHALLENGE: 1. Ricardo Garcia; 2. Landon Currier; 3. Wesley 'Arrington; 4. Channin Tankersley; 5. Anthony Griego; 6. Joshua God&ey; 7. Derek Barath; 8. Cory Lancaster; 9. Garrett Franks; 10. Brock Murphee; 11. Sullivan Van Way; 12. Bryson Powers; 13. Craig Haemker; 14. Jake Welch; 15. Tyler Turner. Upcoming Rounds: Round 11 - Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 20' Round 12 - 51. Louis, Missouri, Ma,rch 27 AMA Western Regional 125cc Supercross Series, Round 7: Houston Astrodome Oneaway By Matt Freeman Photos by Chris Deutschen HOUSTQN, TX, MAR. 13 na time when aerial antics are all , the rage in motocross, Team SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Nathan Ramsey helped bridge the gap between supercross fans and NASCAR fans when he spun a car-racing-style victory doughnut in the starting straightaway after winning his fifth 125cc Western Regional main event, his la test coming at the Houston Astrodome. After . claiming round six in Dallas two weeks ago, Ramsey surprised and dazzled the· crowd by pulling the same ciicular stunt. This time, Ramsey's celebration was even more fitting, due to ABC's supercross coverage, scheduled to air after Atlanta Motor Speedway:s NASCAR rap.ng action. With all of America's motorsports fans watching, Ramsey is sure to be one . of the new heroes of motocross in the near future. But first, Ramsey has one more thing to prove, and he will get the chance to do so on March 20, in Minneapolis, Mi~nesota, when the eighth and final round of the 125cc Western Regional Series comes to what promises to be a climactic end. The biggest threat to Ramsey's anticipated crown is Yamaha of Troy's Casey Lytle, who led the main. event briefly in Houston before giving way to Ramsey. Ramsey has a mere four-point lead over Lytle (148-144), some 45 points in front of third-place point holder Michael Brandes, who finished 13th in Houston. Mathematically, Brandes cannot finish any better than third in the series, leaving the oattle for the championship between Ramsey and Lytle. Attaining the final podium position at the Astrodome was Southern Californian Greg Schnell. Schnell had a long day, making the main via the lastchance qualifier. The Motorworld of El Cajon-backed rider gated midpack in the main but steadily worked his way up through the 'pack to finish a solid third. Finishing fourth was Kawasaki of Mexico's Erick Vallejo, who has been riding hot and cold (and currently hot) all series long. Vallejo gated the main event in third and fell back to fifth at one point, giving way to the Yamahas of Isaiah Johnson and Keith Johnson. Vallejo managed to get by both Johnsons on his way to fourth. Keith Johnson stayed within the top five, refusing to give in to the pressure from sixth-place finisher Josh DeMuth. Isaiah Johnson crossed the finish line in seventh, ahead of SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Billy Payne and Moto XXX's Travis Preston. American Suzuki/Primal Impulse/Bill's Pipes-backed David Pingree finished 10th. HEATS Team'Motoworld of El Cajon's Andy Harrington showed his best-ever results by grabbing the holeshot in the first heat. Raging into the first turn behind the Yamaha piloS were Excel Yamaha's DeMuth, Lytle, Pingree, F&S Suzuki's Tommy Clowers, and Payne. Back in the pack chased tlle Suzukis of Tyler Evans and Preston. Lytle quickly had enough of riding in third,place and made his move right away. "I didn't holeshot, but I was right there," Lytle said. "Then I took over the lead and just worked on a few lines that I wan t to use for the main event. I pulled ou t a little bi t of a lead and just ran comfortable there." With Lytle well on his way to a heat win, Pingree went to work on Harri}1gton after passing Demuth on the second lap. Pingree made the pass, taking over second and leaving Harrington to dice with Demuth, Payne and Kawasakimounted Ryan Clark. As it turned out, Payne was the only rider to get around Harrington. Demuth rounded out the top five, with Clark, Evans, Preston and Clowers riding their bikes to the sixth- through ninth-place positions to claim transfer spots. Moto DeMarini Honda's Rusty Holland won the drag race to the first turn at the start of heat two. Of course, Ramsey was Flot far behind in second. Doug Parsons put his Suzuki into third, ahead of Isaiah Johnson, Vallejo and Suzukimounted Charlie Bogard. Ramsey chased down Holland and by the second lap had control of the lead. Holland continued to slip back, as Bogard moved· his Suzuki up to second but had no chance of catching the highflying Ramsey. "There were a couple of sections I was trying to work out before the main event," said Ramsey of his heat race. "I was trying a few things. I felt fast, but I had one or two bobbles." Bogard finished up in second, ahead of Isaiah Johnson, Holland, Vallejo and James Povolny Jr., who worked his way up irom a bad start. SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Scott Sheak, Parsons, and KTM-mounted Kenny Bartram rounded'out the top nine, with all of them transferring to the main. LAST-CHANCE QUALIFIER 'Brandes led Schnell to the checkered flag in the LCQ, while Keith Johnson turned a bad start into a third-place finish. Making the 22-rider feature by the skin of

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