Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

---------------- Motocross Round 2: Praries City SVRA Park MAZDA TRUCKJAMA 125cc NA TlONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MX SERIES armichael han 5 it out By Matt Freeman SACRAMENTO, CA, MAY 16 MF/Honda's Tallon Vohland started a war last weekend at Glen Helen Raceway during round one of the 125cc National Championship Motocross Series when he ran down and pass,ed defending series champion Ricky Caqnichael in the second moto to take the lead. Though the lead was shortlived due to a Vohland washout in a comer, the pass fired off a shot that was heard 'round the world of motocross. As the series came to Vohland's stompmg grounds of Northern California, the cards seemed to be stacked in Vohland's favor - even more so after he won the opening moto. But with pride at stake, SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Carmichael came back from a second-place finish m moto one to totally dominate the final moto, giving Vohland no chance at the win. The victory marks Carmichael's second in as many rounds. ."It's killd of a bummer that I didn't win the first moto, but the overall sure feels good," Carmichael said. "I would have liked to have gotten some more points. That's the way it goes." VOhland, a seasoned veteran when it comes to racing, seemed equally as pleased with his second-place finish and his results thus far m the young series. "I had a few close calls m the back section, and that scared me, but that F . '" '" '" rD ~ N iii' :=;: 14 goes to show how much I've matured," said Vohland, who became content with second place in moto two once he saw that Carmichael had built up a sizable lead. "When [ was younger, I wouldn't be mature enough to go on and get my points like I did today. It was a hard fight. We were going about the same speed the whole way. I would have liked to have won here, but [ won the first moto, and I'm looking forward to going to the next race. You just have to accept it in a moto when a guy is going better than you." Finishing third overall and improv: ing every week was Vohland's teammate Brock Sellards. Sellards put together a strong 5-4 moto tally to mark his best finish in a National ever. Fourth, with a score of 4-8, was Yamaha of Troy's Casey Johnson, who is still nursing a tender arm that was broken the first weekend of February. ''I'm recovering and getting ,better and better," Johnson said. "My arm bothers me a little bit. The first moto I can get through pretty good, bu t I seem to struggle the second moto." Johnson did struggle in the second moto, falling from third at the start to eighth. "The track was so rough, and I was kind of holding on too tight," Johnson said after the second moto. "My arms were pumping both motos, and the second moto I just kU1d of ran out of steam. I started fading back a little bit." Regardless, Johnson put in a brave effort ahead of fifth-placed Planet Honda/Pro Grip rider Jason McCormick, who turned his day around when he wen t from 11th in the first moto to third in the second. Roundlng out the top 10 were FMF/Honda's Danny Smith (6-6), SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Nick Wey (9-5) and Nathan Ramsey (7-7), Primal Impulse Suzuki/BilVs Pipes' Michael Brandes (314), and SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Scott Sheak. MOTOONE The prlvateer Yamaha of Carlo Coen came out swinging with the holeshot, followed closely by Sellards, Yamal1a of Troy's. Casey Lytle, Johnson, Primal Impulse Suzuki/Bill's Pipes' David Pmgree, Vohland and Brande~. Before the race was a lap old, Pmgree went down, finishing his day with a possibly broken collarbone. Meanwhile, Sellards worked his way to the front past Coen, who dropped back to 25th by moto's end. "I hung in there for 2 1/2 laps," Sellards said of his lead. "I got a little nervous. I don't think I have ever led an outdoor for that long - maybe for a turn or two. Then a couple guys got past me and I started relaxu1g. Casey Oohnson) passed me, and 1 stayed with him." The first rider to pass Sellards was Vohland, followed by Carmichael a lap later. "I didn't know where Ricky (Carmichael) was, but after half the race, Ricky Carmichael continued his quest for a third straight 125cc National Championship by finishing 2-1 on the day. In classic Carmichael fashion, he ran away with the second moto. I realized it was him," said Vohland about the awesome race for tbe lead. "Then I just rode my race, and rode strong and smooth. Every time he rode a little faster, I picked up my speed and went a little fasteI:, too." Even Carmichael admitted to riding Vohland's race mstead of !:tis own. "I just got tense," Carmichael said. "Once I passed Brock (Sellards), I got tight and rode Vohland's race and not mine. My lap times even slowed down. I didn't have a problem catching him, but I rode his race, not mine." . Before Johnson cou,ld make his way through the pack, Brandes passed Sellards to take over third. Johnson followed, ,Passing Sellards a few laps later. "The first lap it was real slippery, so I came out killd of cautious and my teammate Casl1Y Lytle got around me," Johnson said about his first couple of laps. "He was killd of hard to pass because he had all the same lines as I did from practice, because we rode together. I relaxed a little bit too much and a couple guys got around me, like Tallon (Vohland) and Ricky (Carmichael) and Brandes, but once I got gomg and passed Lytle, I felt pretty good. All the guys up front were already gone, and they were run-

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