Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

"I got a g rea t s ta rt - the best s ta rt I' ve h ad all ye ar - and rode right there w ith t hose g uys, " sai d Fe r ry . "Those two fou r-strokes w e re in fron t of me a t th e b eg in n in g, so th a t w as pretty to u g h . I g uess I d id okay, but I reall y wan t to get up th ere again at Mill vill e." M c Grath see med to wea r d o wn w hi le trying to overcome th at te rrible start. H e wo uld fin ish n inth , ba ttli ng with th e Kawasaki of H uffma n th roughout th e second hal f of th e mota. "These g uys a re rid in g really fast, a nd it was p r e tt y to u g h to move up o ut t h ere ," McG ra th sa id. " I rode ha rd a nd I had a g re a t time, a nd I ca n' t wait to come back a t Millvill e and d o be tter ." At the hal fw ay mark Button made a s u rpri s ing a ttac k o n W a rd' s lead p osition and m a d e a pa ss fo r th e lead . Ward responded by going righ t bac k after th e Yamaha rider , but he in turn had to rid e w it h a d e fe nsive m ind , as Wi n d ha m a pplied heavy pressure fro m third. The three rid ers would s pen d th e rest of th e m ota frei ght-training a ro u n d th e tr ack, a nd a s it became m ore a nd more a ppa ren t that Button mi ght fin ally tast e vic tor y , the blue -cl ad Ya ma ha m e chanics became more a nd m ore animated. Wi th rwo laps to go, Ward went all o u t in his o wn a ttem p t to win a m ot a for the firs t time of the ye a r. However, Bu tto n w a s able to check hi s eve ry m o ve . As th e two cam e a ro u nd t h e fast left- h a n ded sweeper fo r the finish lin e, Ward tri ed a wide-o pen p a s s fr o m theins id e , bu t Bu tto n had just enou gh power to cross t he fini sh li n e first, w i th a half b i ke length to s pare . "Jimmy rode real good in the middle of the ra ce a nd t ha t w as jus t enough," said Ward afterwards. "The four-stro kes were working rea lly good o n this track to day, wi th Doug win ning th e first m ot a a nd Jimmy in th e second . A ll I cou ld t h in k a bout a t th e e n d was tr y i n g to Catch Jimmy. I went fo r it a t th e end , so I hope everyo ne e njoyed that fin ish. I wish I w ould' ve just s tarted charging a little ea rlier." Third-placed Windham sa id , "U n fo rtunately, 1 d idn' t get the s ta rt I wanted tha t time, n o t the start that I'm used to getting . I th ink I rode good , bu t I d idn't get the o ve ra ll." That ho nor w ent to Button. "Tha t la st lap was th e longest lap of m y life," sa id Bu tt o n a fter bouncing across th e finish lin e an d nearly riding through a fe nce, defe n d ing hi s lead fr om Ward . "T h a t la st la p seem ed abou t 10 minutes lo ng to get a ro u nd, but I held o n and I got it I' m s toked. Hopefully no o ne is going to cr iticiz e m e about being o ut of s ha pe, either. Ten years I worked fo r th is; even got s hi p ped o versea s a t o n e poi nt. I ca me back, I n ev er quit a n d it finally paid off. " . eN Was houga l MX Park Washo ugal , Was hington Results: August 1, 1999 (Ro und 9 of 12) M OT O 1: 1. Doug Henry (Ya m); 2. Kevin Windham (Hon); 3. Jimm y Button (Yam); 4. Greg Albertyn (Suz); 5. jeremy McGra th (Yam); 6. Larry Ward (5u z); 7. Mike LaRocco (Hon): 8. Tim Ferry (Ya m); 9. Robbie Reynard (Su a): 10. Akit a Narita (H on ): 11. Takeshi Koiked a (Yam) ; 12. Damon Huffman ( K aw ): 13 . A n t ho ny Amara dio (Yam); 14. Yoshit aka Atsu ta IHon ): 15. Spu d w alters (Ya m) ; 16 . Steve Lam son (Ya m ); 17 . T ed Campbell (5uz); 18. Anthoy Whipple (Ya m); 19. Tyler Evans (Suz); 20. N.lth o1n Woods (Yam); 21. Scott Davi s (}(aw); 22. Dan Moor e (Suz ); 23. Ty Kady (Ya m ); 24. Cha rlie Dunaway (Yam); 25. Terry Lee Ham ness (Kaw); 26. Takateru Atsuta (Suz); 27. Josh Kellogg (Yam); 28. Robb Floth (Yam) ; 29. Shinichi Kaga (Ho n); 30. Don "' r BiSl.t.."glia ( H~m); 31. E; .r,l Lu~k (Hon) ; 32. Rya ~ Huf~an (Ho n); 33. Jimm y Lam.lstus (KTM); 34. Austm Squ ires 'cki (Suz); 35. Ryan Tt.·rll- (Suz); 36. John Dow~ (Ya m); 37. Jeff Emig (Kaw); 38. Gnog TirhciJ!ler (Yam); 39. Donald Up ton (I-Ion ); 40. Todd Down s (Yam). _ MO TO 2: 1. Jim my Button (Yam ); 2. Larry Ward (Suz); 3. Kevin Wind ham (Hon); 4. GR. ; Albe rtyn (Suz); ' 5.~Ti m Ferry (Ya m) ; 6. Do u g He nr y (Yam ); 7. Mik e LaRocco (H o n) ; 8. Joh n Dowd (Ya m ); 9. Je r e m y McGra th (Ya m); 10. D.lman Hu ffm a n ( Ka w ); 11. Jeff Em ig (Kaw); 12. Stev e Lamson (Yam); 13. Akira Narita (Hon); 14. Robb ie Reyn ard (Suz ); 15. Yoshitaka Atsuta (Han); 16. Anthony Amara dio (Yam ); 17. Ryan Terlt."Cki . (Suz) ; 18. Tak~hi Koikooa (Ya m ); 19. Shinichi Kaga (Above) Cha pa rra llMazda Yam a ha's Jerem y McGrat h, he re chatting with team manager Larry Brooks, got the itc h to go racing again and showed up at Was ho ugal to do just th at. His s pe ed was th ere but his endura nce was not. Mike laRocco (3) was burned by bad starts. (Han); 20. Takateru Atsuta (Suz): 21. Ezra Lusk IHon): 22. Donal d Upton (Hon): 23. Ryan Hu ffman (Han) ; 24. Scott Davis, (Kaw): 25. Ted Cam pbe ll (Suz): 26. Austin Squirt:'!' (Sua) : 27 . T od d Downs (Yam ); 28. Charle s Dunaway (Ya m ); 29 . Anthony Whip ple (Yam ); 30. Tyson Kady (Ya m ); 31. Robb Fla th (Ya m) ; 32. Don Bisceglia (He n ): 33. Dan Moore (Suz): 34. Ter ry Lee Hamness Jr. (Kaw ); 35. Jimm y Lamastus (KTM); 36. Josh Kell ogg (Yam) ; 37. Spud Wal ters (Yam) ; 38. Nathan Wood s (Yam); 39. Tyler Evan (Suz); 40. Greg Tirheimer (Yam ). O /A : 1. Jimm y Butt on (Yam ); 2. Kevin Windham (Han ); 3. Doug Henry (Yam ); 4. Larry Ward (Suz ); 5. Greg A lbertyn (Suz ): 6. T im Fe rry (Ya m ); 7. Mike : ... flI"Y.... Brle Lak occo (He n): 8. Jeremy McGra th (Yam); 9. Dam on H u ffman (Kaw): 10. Aki ra Na rita (Hen): 11. Robb ie Re y na rd (Suz) ; 12. Ste ve La mson (Ya m ); 13 . Jo hn Dowd (Ya m); 14. Yoshi taka Atsuta (He n): 15. Anthony Ama radio (Yam ); 16. Takeshi Koikeda (Yam); 17. Jeff Emig ( Ka w ): 18 . Spud Walte rs (Ya m ); 19 . Rya n Te rlecki ISuz): 20. Ted Ca mpbell (Suz) : 21. Anthon y Whipple (Ya m) ; 22. Sh in ichi Kaga (H on ): 23 . Tyler Evans (Su z); 24. Ta kat eru Atsu ta (Su z]: 25. Na than Woods (Yarn). AMA M AZDA T RU C KS N ATI O N AL C'SHIP 250cc MX S ERIES POI N T S T A ND IN C S (Aft e r 9 o f 12 ro u nd s ): 1. Gr eg A lber tyn (344 / 1 win ); 2 . Kevin Windham (318/ 3 wins); 3. Mike l...Rocro (306/ 1 win) ; 4. l Ezra Lusk (286/ 1); 5. Sebas tien TorteUi (245/1) ; 6. Doug Hen ry (241/ 1 wi n ); 7. Jd f Emig (235); 8. John Dow d (216); 9. Jim my Butt on (212 /1 win); 10. Larry Ward (212); II. Tim Ferry ( 84) ; 12. Robbie Reynard (75); 13. Damon Hu ffma n (157); 14. Iea n-Se bestien Roy (128); 15. Steve Lamson n18); 16. Ta keshi Koikeda (% ); 17. He- th a Voss (57); 18. Mick... l Pichon (55); 19. Jeremy McGrath c (52); 20. Josh Demuth (42). Upcoming Rounds : Round 10 • Millville, Minnesota, August t 5 Round 11 • BinghamlOn, New York, August 29 many Japanese riders attending theWashouqalround was becausethe Japanese NationelSenes is on summer hiatus. "It's ' really hot over the";' . I right now. so they don't any major races for about si~ weeks '- :said· _ • • • • .-cHolley. ~ho has worked with several J apanese riders over the Years along The Washougal National was highlighted by the return'of slX:tlme AMA U S . . with his so n Jim Honey. a former Yamaha factory racer." It's also monsoon J Supercross Champion _ eremy McGrath to outdoor raCl~g. McGrath rode . seaso n. so they just shut everything dowri for a little while. and a lot of the . the first round of the 1999 AMAIMazda National.MX Champi nship Series riderslike 10 come here and compete." The top finishing Asian was Honda . o before his highly·publicized decision to park his Chaparral/ Mazda Yamaha. . rider Akira Narlta..Who also scored top privat er honors in the classfrom . e "l'vebeen normal guy at home for a couple of months: so .I·was definitely. . the U.S. Tobacco Compan y, Fellow Honda rider Yoshitaka Atsuta placed . 14ih overall : and Holley's regular rider Takeshi Kolkeda directed his ready to come back.".said McGrath from the Chaparral team truck. "I've rnissed the sce ne - missed racing. I've bee n watching these guys from home Yamaha to 16th overall. Shlnlc;hi Kaga also scored points .and finished every weekand l"want to be out there agai"'·Takingtime off made me realize 22nd on the day. Meanwhile, back 'in Japan. American Kyle· Lewis continthat" Iwant to race again, it made me realize that I liked it 'and missed it more " ues to lead the Japanese National Championships. than I thought I would. Being away .made me hungry' again." McGrath rode s · hard in both motes. though the former '95 AMA 250cc National Champion. .. Before the fir t 125cc rnotoof the afternoon,Ted DeVol and his son rode a . lap around the Washougai course in honor of the late .Bra ndo n Layton, a was not his usual aggress ive se if: He finished eighth overall via 5-9.scores ; .. ... .. . . . . . northwestern minii:ycl" prodigy who moved to California with his family and Jere":'y McG"';'th said afterwards.that he wi l attend the next round of th'e . later died alterco lliding ~th another riderwhile practicinqon his motorcycle . > l ·innesota.·for s ure. though he was still ·uncertain as .ro" . . . , ... ... ' . '. . ' . '. .. se ries at Millville. M whether or not he'll compete at the remaining rounds at Binghamton (New . FMF/Honda's Tallon Vohland made his ret~m to racing after missing tne York) and Stee l City (Pennsyhianial. . · . .previous round at Troy. Ohio. due to a rib injury sustained at Unadilla·on J uly .. . . . .... . 18. The 27·year·old Vohland said that the pain in the nbsis not thatbadbut . ' Also making his return to racing at Washo~9a1 was former se ries r.;gular . rather breathing deeply is.the big problem: -, think the biggest proble m w ill. "Factory" Phil Lawrence. The veteran racer has spent hissurnmer com- > be my. conditioning during.the· 35-minute rnoto..: Vohland said before the peting o n the Australian circuit with Jeff Leisk·s .KTM .team. but decided to day's .events. ' The deep breaths are what may hold me back. but adrenaline · tag along with.his friend McGrath for the Washougal race. "I've been having ' ·may kickin tooil . get a gOod start. so we'll see.- And why exactly'is he rae1 a ·good time racing down there and the riders are pretty fast. " s aid . ing at all "I'm a racer. I've worked hard.this year and I'd still like to get sec- . ? Lawrence. who won·one major race Down Under at Manjimump. the site of end in the series for a personal goal.. \ just want to do my bes t and.it's not the 1992 Motocross des Nations. "' planon doing the Se percrossSenes going to happen in bed." : . n!'", year. but I haven't worked out a'dee l yet. " . . : The Winners of Sunday's moming qualifiers were Slephane Roncada and THQ. the electronic games sponsor of the AMAIMazdaTrucks National Jason McConnick in the 125cc heats, and Robbie Reynard and Tim d Championship MXSeries. continues to payout holeshot money to the ri ers Fe.;y in the 250cc heats , Motowoi1d ol B cajon's Greg Schnell took the who make it to the first"tum in each of the four ~ 125/250cc motes . The . 125cc · LCQ: while Yamaha-mounted Nathan : Woods l oo k the 250cc 125cc ··c1ass winners of the $500 cash were both FMF/Honda riders consi . Christopher Gosse""'r (first motol 'a nd eventual overa'," winner Brock Sellards (second rnoto).. ln the. 250cc class. it was .a pair of Yamaha riders . Was'hou~1 se« the return of a number"f riders.that have been imay hom that claimed the cash..as DOug Henry nailed down the start in the firSt the tracks recentlyfor some reason or another. Besides.the aforementioned. moto. and eventual winner Jimmy Button earned the $500 ·the second . McGrath. lawrence and Vohland. Planet Honda's Ryan Huffman made · time out: " . .' . his return froma knee injurY sustained at Southwick. Speaking of Southwick. Pro Circuit/SpiitFi"" s SCott Sheak. made his return after hitting his head A .surprise visitor to the Washougal race on Sunday was .mult-time 500cc· on a tree limb-.Sheak was released bY his doctor.the Thursday before the i World Road Racing Champion Mlck DoOha n . The pavement superstar eveni and wanted to get back out on.the track..as did Primal Impulse Suzu· attended his fi rst,ever AMA Motocross National while taking a break from . ki's Jiri Dostal and KTM's Lance Smail. . · the rehabilitation of the injuries he suffered earlier this spring while preparing .. ' . . for anOther title defense . "It's a pleasure to come out and see those guys . Primal Impulse Suzuki's Branden ·Jesseman was also back on the track race: es pecially.on a day when Jeremy McGrath comes back ouno ride.··. · after his scary heat·stroke incident the week before at Troy: "They just gave said the Australian. As far asnis own comeback goes, Doohan· said that he : me an IV to rehydrate me, and I was out of .the ·hospital later tnat n·ight."'plans being in the United States for 10 more days before heading to Europe.. Jessem,m said. "It was no big deal." : . . . . . . .. He intends to ride at the upcoming Czech GP. Whether or not he' will be · 'ready to race at that Pcint remains to be seen: ".If not in the Czech Republic: The .U:S . TobaccofTeam Rooster privateer awards ·were given to Mote . .' . . . . XXX's Travis Preston and Motoworld'of EI Cajon's Greg Schnell in the then definitely Italy."sai d Doohan. .'. 125cc class and Honda·mounted Akira Narita and Yoshitaka AtSuta in A reco rd five Ja panese ride rs 'qualified for S~n daY· s .250cc· National 'at the 25Occ· class. One·thousand dollars went to preston and Narita for top Washougal.There was also one Ja panese rider to ·make the finallfeld fOr the . p rivateers in their re spe ct ive classes. wh ile . Sc hneH and Atsuta received ' . '. e 125cc National. According to AI Holley. of Holl y Racing, the reason for so. $500 k>r seconO:highest privateer.rides. · have • en en en 25

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