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LaRocco, the only rider to make the podium at all of the first three rounds, said, "I was disappointed [by the crash], because I thought I could have had that one. I know I [subsequently] covered the distance that there [had been] on me. It was a decent point race for me, but I wanted to win that." Though Vuillemin admitted to thinking about LaRocco in the closing stages ("Everybody knows Mike is very good on the last lap"), the Frenchman backed off slightly and pulled his best Rick Johnson nohander over the finish jump. "I will start nqw for next week," said Vuillemin, who dedicated his win to teammate Jimmy Button (see "Button Injured" sidebar). "I will not say all the week, 'Hey, I won, I won.' I'll just forget about it and think about next week." Sounds a lot like What Jeremy Would Do. eN Qualcomm Stadium San Diego, California Results: January 22, 2DUD [Round 3 of 1&J Kevin Windham bottoms his suspension on his way to a third-place finish, equaling his result of the season opener. experiencing what it feels like to be shoulder and my arm was sound asleep." LaRocco had been following so closely that his attempts at avoiding the fallen Kawasaki rider resulted in a human, toiling away in frustration for lap after lap while the pit board relentlessly informs you of the leader's expanding advantage. "It was weird watching those guys, because we were going so slow it wasn't even funny," said McGrath. "It crash, but he was so quick at remounting that only Windham passed him. Since Ward's stinger had put him out of the race, LaRocco didn't lose a sin- 250 HEAT I (8 laps. 1-4 transfer to main): 1. Dllvid Vuillemin (Yam); 2. Mike laRocco (Hon); 3. Damon Huffman (Suz); 4. Jean ~stien Roy (Hon); 5. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 6. Kyle Lewis (Suz); 7. Phil Lawrence (Yam); 8. Timmy Ferry (Yllm); 9. Dustin Nelson (Yam); 10. Shaun PeroHa (Kaw); 11. James Povolny Jr. (Hon): 12. Heath Voss (Hon); 13. Joson Thomos (Yom): 14. Ty Kody (502): 15. Todd Downs (Hon): 16. 5tephane Ronclldll (YlIm): 17. David Demllngos (Hon); 18. Bruno leBlanc (KlIw): 19. Zeb Armstrong (Yam): 20. Jimmy Button (YlIm). Time: 7 min., 19.56 sec. 250 HEAT 2 (8 laps, )-4 transfer to main): 1. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 2. LlIrry Ward (Kaw): 3. Ricky Carmichllel (Kaw); 4. Kevin Windhllm (Hon); 5. Greg Albertyn (Suz); 6. John Dowd (Kow): 7. Brock Sellllrds (Hon): 8. Tyler Evans (Suz); 9. Kelly Smith (KTM): 10. Shayne King (KTM); 11. Cory Bauder (Yam): 12. NichoJ8s Wey (K8W); 13. Joseph Oehlhof (KTM); 14. BUly Binckley (Yom); 15. Erik Anderson (Hon); 16. Gr8yson Goodm8n (Hon): 17. Someone going the opposite of slow - as he has thus far this season was LaRocco. Despite a huge postcrash gap on Windham, he hammered away relentlessly until passing the factory Honda pilot three circuits from the end. "You've got to expect that out of Mike," said Windham, third for the second time in three weeks. "I made explaining, simply, "brain fart," but not everyone was so eager to assist McGrath. It took him ages, for example, to get around the likes of Heath Voss, Damon Huffman and John a little bobble in the whoops, and Mike took advantage of it...We'li just take what we can get and keep it off the ground. It seems like there are a lot of riders getting injured right now." Dowd, riders he normally overtakes in his sleep. In short, McGrath was part-time riders.' joked team co-manager Tony Strangio. who also said that the team would nonetheless make an appearance at the Phoenix race to sign autographs. BRIEFLY••• After his Anaheim II crash. Strategic 3's Phil Lawrence was banged up enough that he opted to stay off the bike for a week, but he still contested San Diego. "I feel pretty good," said Lawrence before the race. -MotoWorld said I broke my collarbone. but I'm alright." The blunder nearly proved prophetical. as Lawrence crashed and dislocated his shoulder in San Diego's LCQ. "I've been working really hard. and it's really discouraging." said Lawrence. "Just like [teammate] Jeff [EmigJ, He was working really hard too. " incredibly. Strategic 3's third member, 125cc rider Bryan McGavran. was injured just days before San Diego, Ricky Carmichael and David Vuillemin suffered pretty hard crashes on Friday's practice. but both were able to race on Saturday. Vuillemin's wrist had some nasty bruising on it. and his back was sore. but as he put it. "I don't want to use my injuries as an excuse." As for Carmichael. he has been training hard midweek to make up for the pre-season conditioning he missed while recov- ering from a broken collarbone. Female racer Stefy Bau. from Italy. sprained both ankles in a practice crash on Friday before the race. Bau has been following the early part of the series, hoping to qualify for a night's 125cc program. spraining his ankle in a practice crash. McGavran sat out round three, and with Lawrence planning to miss round San Diego Supercross star sightings of road racers four. that leaves the entire squad out of action (Emig broke both wrists before round one). "We're looking for Tommy Hayden and Ben Bostrom and San Diego Chargers star Junior Seau were reported. 8 e cue Upcoming Rounds: Round 4 - Phoenix, Arizona, January 29 Round 5 - Houston, Texas, February 5 was terrible." gle position: "[Ward] kind of took up a lot of area," he said. "We were all using that berm, and he fell right into it. I braked really hard, and I lost the back end - did a big spinout. I think if I'd have hit him I'd have went down, too." Albertyn also took a tumble while running fourth on unlucky lap 13, FEBRUA'RV 2,2000' Takateru Atsuta (Hon); 18. Jeremy Ch8ussee (Y8m): 19. Carter Gurnee (Hon); 20. Dennis Umphres (Yom). Time: 7 min., 17.36 sec. 250 SEMI 1 (6 laps, I ~5 transfer to main): 1. Tunmy Ferry (Yam); 2. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 3. Kyle Lewis (Suz): 4. Heath Voss (Hon): 5. Dustin Nelson (Yam): 6. 5tephllne Ronc8d8 (Y8m): 7. James Povolny Jr. (Hon): 8. Phil Lawrence (Yam); 9. Jason Thomas (Y8m); 10. Shaun Peralta (Kew); 11. Ty Kady (502): 12. Zeb Armstrong (Yom): 13. Todd Downs (Hon): 14. Bruno leBlanc (K8 ..... ); 15. David DeMllngos (Hon): 16. Jimmy Button (Yam). TIme: 5 min., 28.92 sec. 250 SEMI 2 (6 laps, 1~5 transfer to main): 1. Brock Sellards (Hon); 2. Nicholas Wey (Kaw): 3. John Dowd (Kew); 4. Tyler Evans (Suz): 5. Shayne King (KTM); 6. Billy Binckley (Yom); 7. Joseph Oehlhof (KTM): B. Grayson Goodman (Hon): g. Takateru Atsute (Hon); 10. Jeremy Chaussee (Yam); II. Corter Gumee (Hon); 12. Kelly Smith (KTM); 13. Dennis Umphres (Yam); 14. Cory Bauder (Yam): 15. Greg Aibertyn (Suz); 16. Erik Anderson (Hon). Time: 5 min., 33.82 sec. LAST-CHANCE QUALIFIER (4 lops, 1-2 transfer to main): 1. 5tephene Ronc8d8 (Yam); 2. Greg Albertyn (5uz): 3. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 4. Joson Thomas (Yom): 5, Kelly Smith (KTM); 6. Billy Binckley (Yam); 7. Takateru Atsuta (Hon); 8. Jeremy Chaussee (Yom); 9. Ty Kady (Suz); 10. Joseph Oehlhof (KTM): t 1. Zeb Armstrong (Yam); 12. C8rter Gurnee (Hon); 13. Todd Downs (Hon); 14. Dennis Umphres (Yam); 15. David DeMangos (Hon); 16. Bruno LeBlanc (KlIw); 17. Grayson Goodm8n (Yam); 18. Erik Anderson (Hon); 19. Shaun Perolio (Kaw); 20. Cory Bauder (Yam); 21. Phil Lewrence (Yam): 22. Jimmy Button (Yam). Time: 5 min., 35.9' sec. 250 MAIN (20 laps): 1. o.vid Vuillemin (Yam): 2. Mike laRocco (Hon): 3. Kevin Windh8m (Hon); 4. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 5. John Dowd (Kaw); 6. Seb8stien Tortelli (Hon); 7. Damon Huffman (Suz): 8. Timmy Ferry (YlIm): 9. Greg Albertyn (5uz): 10. Ricky Clirmichliel (Kew): 11. Steph8ne Roncada (Yam): 12. Brock Sellards (Hon); 13. Tyler Evans (5uz); 14. Nichol8s Wey (Kaw); 15. Heath Voss (Hon): 16. Jean Sebastien Roy (Hon); 17. Kyle Lewis (Suz); 18. Shayne King (KTM); 19. Dustin Nelson (Yam): 20. Larry Ward (502). Time: 18 min.. 9.75 sec. Winner's Average Lap: 54.487 sec. Margin of Victory: 3.007 sec. 250cc AMAlEA SPORTS SUPERCROSS SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 3 of 16 rounds): I. Jeremy McGrath (68/2 wins); 2. Mike LaRocco (64): 3. David Vuillemin (63/1 win): 4. Kevin Windh8m (53): 5. Sebastien Tortelli (45); 6. Ricky Carmichael (42): 7. John Dowd (38): 8. Domon Huffman (31); g. Timmy Ferry (30); 10. Jimmy Button (29); 11. (TIE) Larry Word/Greg Albertyn (28); 13. Brock Sellards (26); 14. Steph8ne Ronc8da (23); 15. Heath Voss (19); 16. Nicholas Wey (17): 17. Tyler Evons (16); 18. Jean Sebastien Roy (IO); 19. Phil Lewrence (7); 20. (TIE) Grayson Goodman/Jomes Povolny Jr. (6). I e n vv s [J{]@G!Jf;B@ @1] !P@D[JiJ Racing is never safe, but this young season has seen an inordinate number of riders getting injured. The unofficial list at right shows riders who have missed races so far this season due to injury. Racers like Ricky Carmichael, who have missed no rounds but have had their seasons indirectly affected by injury, are not included. There is no obvious reason for the alarming trend, and most people agree that it is simply a fluke. Hopefully. the tendency will end soon. Interesting notes: Nearly all of the injuries are above the waist, and very few were incurred during races. Stefy Bau .......•.•.•.•.•...•...•.•......both ankles Jimmy Button spinal column Ryan Clark .............•......................arm Mike Craig thigh Jeff Emig .......•.•.•.......•.•...•......both wrists Casey Johnson ...........•.....•..............elbow Keith Johnson both arms Phil Lawrence shoulder Ezra Lusk shoulder Bryan McGavran ankle Nathan Ramsey ...................• '.' wrist Robbie Reynard deltoid Danny Smith , collarbone Gio Tedesco temporary coma Chris Wheeler ...•...•...•.•.•.•. , hip Mike Young wrist/finger Jiri Dostal back