Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

~ • ~ -==:::;:;;. -====. ~ San DIego. CalifornIa. ..January 22. 2000 AI'v'lA,/'EA S p o r t s VVestern Regional 1 2 S c c S u p e r c r o s s Series Round 3 Qualcomm Stadium By ERIC JOHNSON ith 18-wheel trucks, handsomely paid riders, meticulously prepared motorcycles and expansive factory technical assistance and support at their behest, the 125cc satellite support teams of the EA Supercross Series have made the AMA 125cc Supercross Championship Series their own private battleground. Since the inception of the 125cc East/West Supercross Series in 1985, the Big Four factory teams - Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki - have created purpose-built 125cc race programs to help market and brand their eighth-liter motocross bikes. However, those same prolific efforts were sent reeling here on Saturday night when Southern Californiabased privateer Greg Schnell rode his Motoworld of EI Cajon Yamaha YZ 125 to victory in suburban San Diego. "My main sponsor, Motoworld of El Cajon, is just 10 miles down the road from here," beamed Schnell, surrounded by the friends and family whom congregated around the team's modest trailer which was situated in the privateer hinterlands of the Qualcomm pit area. "It felt really good to win before the hometown crowd because I only live about an hour away from this place. I'm really happy. J never could imagine how it could feel to win a supercross." "I always knew I could win - it was just a matter of putting everything together," he continued, shaking his head and smiling. "I've been working really hard and training, and I've been getting stronger and stronger as these races go on. I was able put a block pass on him [Vohland] and just pulled away. You know what? I can't believe this. I've been working my butt off and it finally paid off and I'm so happy." Following Schnell home and flashing beneath the finish line jump approximately four seconds adrift, was Anaheim II winner Tallon Vohland of the wellestablished SplitFire/Pro CircJJit/Kawasaki team. The victim of a smooth pass executed by Schnell on lap 11 of 15, Vohland couldn't answer the privateer's call to action, content to hold down second and the windfall of championship points that came along with it. "Out there, I can only do the best that I can and tonight I did the best that I could," reasoned the Californian from inside the Pro Circuit 18-wheel mothership. "I told Schnell on the podium that my hat is off to off to him and that I didn't really have anything for him. In my opinion, he was riding very, very well tonight. I know that a lot of his sponsors are from here in San Diego, and that was probably a little extra motivation for him. He was on his game tonight. He went by me and made a few mistakes, but I finally missed that triple once and he got out far enough in front of me, and that was pretty much the race. I didn't want to take any chances and did the \V best I could. I got second, and I know it's going to be a long championship." After an injury-ravaged 1999 campaign, Vohland's teammate Shae Bentley also had reason to smile on Saturday night as the Atlanta, Georgia, native rode to a career-best third overall finish. After methodically working his way up after a mid-pack start, Bentley found himself in a podium position on lap 12, and he held it to the end. "I felt really good," explained Bentley. "I was really loose at the beginning of the race, then towards the middle, I felt like I was catching those guys and tensed up and got excited; I felt like I couldn't control my nerves. I tightened up big-time. I won't get tired, but it's hard for me to keep my arms from pumping up. But I felt real good and now have some confidence. I'm pretty happy with this third place." For the second-consecutive Saturday night in Southern California, Team Bill's Pipes/Suzuki/ AXO/Motorious.Com rider David Pingree was sabotaged by an early-race shunt. Racing along at the sharp end of the field on the first lap, "Ping" was shoulder-checked off the track by Schnell on lap two, sending him to the back of the 125cc class bus. Nonetheless, Pingree kept at it, charging all the way through the pack to an impressive sixth-place score at the end. Fifth overall at Qualcomm fell to new French immigrant Rodrig Thain. Supported by the KTM Sport USA team, Thain was in the mix all night, proving that podium level results from the Austrian motorcycle manufacturing firm are imminent. • • • • • • • Although both Vohland and Schnell positioned themselves as pre-race favorites after impressive heat race wins, it was FMF/American Honda/ THOR rider Casey Lytle beating everyone out of the hole and through the first turn. Pulling to an immediate two- second lead, Lytle looked smooth and confident out in front, as Thain, Vohland, Schnell and Pingree all sorted themselves out behind the fleeing Honda's wake. However, at the nine-lap mark it all went wrong for Lytle, as he slowed dramatically at the end of a jump-filled straight. As Vohland and Schnell whizzed past, Lytle coasted the Honda into the signaling area and climbed off, his night over. "It was a modified part that broke, and I can't tell you what it is," said FMF/Honda team manager Tom Wallace in regard to just what went wrong. "You'll have to go ask Dan Betley over in the Team Honda pits." (American Honda supports the FMF effort). So that's what this reporter did. "It was just a governor - a governor problem," stated Betley, holding the part before a slew of Team Honda personnel. With Lytle out, Schnell began moving in on Vohland, passing him a lap and a half later. Once through, the privateer began to pull about a second a lap on the Kawasaki rider. For all intents and purposes, the race became a processional affair in its closing stages, with Schnell at the point, followed by Vohland - depending on the lap - some three to four seconds behind. Bentley, after finding a way around Thain, rode in third, while the Frenchman hung tough in fourth. After the trophies were presented and the champagne had finished flowing, Vohland walked up the stadium tunnel, content with the knowledge that he now held the AMA 125cc West Region points lead with 61 ("I don't care if I'm ahead by one point or 20 points, just as long as I'm ahead"). Second in the points table is now held down by Schnell, who through hard work and consistent results, has now begun to look out at the big picture. "I hope I can win this championship," he said. "If I do, maybe Yamaha will come to me and let me ride for them, or Honda or somebody. We'll see. I've been a privateer my whole life. I would love to ride a factory bike." David Pingree is third in points with 58, while an injured Danny Smith and fast-improving Sh!le Bentley reside in fourth and fifth places with 40 and 36 points, respectively. CN ....-Stadlum Sa II..., c.Jlfenlia 1lesuIb: ......, ZZ, ZIlIlII...... 3 of 71 J 25 HEAT 1 (20 rider.s. 6 laps, J ~9 transfer to main): 1. Tellon Vohlond (Kow): 2. Rodrlg Thain (KTM): 3. Erick Vallejo (Kaw); 4. J.son McCormick (Han); 5. Travis Elliott (Han); 6. Sh.e Bentley (Kaw): 7. Brad Hagseth (Vam); 8. Mark Burkhart (KTM); 9. John Sereika Jr. (Y.m): 10. Justin Buckelew (Yam); 11. Daniel Blair (Hon): 12. Travis Preston (Suz); 13. Josh Tarantino (SUI); 14. Brendon Morgan (Yam); 15. Doneld Upton (Kaw); 16. Tim Be.tty (Hus); 17. Jerred Fisher (Suz): 18. Billy Payne (Kaw): 19. Christopher Gosselaar (Han): 20. Ray Crumb (Yam). TIme: 5 min.. 51.960 sec. \25 HEAT 2 (20 riders. 6 laps, \·9 transfer to main): 1. Greg Schnell (Yam); 2. C.sey Lytle (Han); 3. David Pingree (Suz); 4. Rusty Holland (Suz); 5. Stephen OeMertis (KTM): 6. Ry.n Terlecki (KTM): 7. Jason Thom.s (y.m): 8. Cory Bauder (Y.m): 9. Robbie Horton (Suz); 10. Jimmy Voris (Y.m): 11. &ott Davis (Kaw): 12. Ted Campbell (Suz); 13. Kuraudo Toda (Han); 14. Levi Reid (Han): 15. Mike Mason (Han): 16. Anthony Amaradio (Yam); 17. Harold Hageman (Suz); 18. Lsaieh Johnson (Hon); 19. Oscar Valdez (V.m): 20. Jiri Dostal (Han). TIme: 5 min., 4750 sec. 125 LCQ (22 riders, 4 laps. 1-4 transfer to main): 1. Justin Buckelew (Vam); 2. Travis Preston (Suz): 3. Billy Payne (Kaw); 4. Isaiah Johnson (Han): 5. Donald Upton (Kaw): 6. Christopher Gossel.ar (Hon): 7. &ott Davis (Kaw): 8. Levi Reid (Han): 9. Tim ~atty (Hus): 10. Harold Hogeman (Suz); 11. Daniel Blair (Hon); 12. Kuraudo Tode (Hon); 13. Jerrard Fisher (Suz); 14. Br.ndon Morg.n (Vam); 15. Ted Campbell (Suz); 16. Anthony Amaradio (Yam); 17. Josh Terantino (Suz); 18. Jimmy Voris (Yam): 19. Oscor Valdez (Yam); 20. Jiri Dostal (Han); 21. Ray Crumb (Vam); 22. Mike Mason (Han). lime: 3 min .• 50.77 sec. 125 MAIN (22 riders, )5 laps): 1. Greg Schnell (Vern); 2. Tallon Vohland (K.w); 3. Sh.e Bentley (Kaw); 4. Rodrig Thoin (KTM); 5. Travis Preston (Suz); 6. David Pingree (Suz); 7. Billy Payne (Kaw); 8. Jason McCormick (Han); 9. Ryan Terlecki (KTM); 10. J.son Thomas (Y.m); 11. Cory Bauder (Yam); 12. Erick Vallejo (Kaw); 13. Stephan OeMartis (KTM); 14. Mark Burkhart (KTM): 15. JUSlln Buckelew (Y.m); 16. Robbie Horton (Suz); 17. Brad Hagsetn (Yam); 18. Isoi.h Johnson (Han); 19. John Sereika Jr. (Y.m): 20. Travis Elliott (Han); 21. Cosey Lytle (Han); 22. Rusty Holland (Suz). Time: 14 mIn., 35.57 sec. Winner's Average Lap: 58.371 sec. Margin of Victory: 3.004 sec. 125« WESTERN REGIONAL saPERCROSS STANDINGS (after 3 of 7 rounds): 1. Tollon Vohlond (61/1 win): 2. Greg Schnell (59/1 Win); 3. O.vld Pingree (58/1 win); 4. Danny Smith (40); 5. Shoe Bentley (36); 6. (TIE) J.son McCormick/Rodrig Thain/Jiri Dostal (31); 9. (TIE) Robbie Horton/Billy Payne (25); 11. Travis Preston (24); 12. Chris Gosselao, (23); 13. (TIE) Casey Johnson/Justin Buckelew (22); 15. (TIE) Casey Lytle/Travis Elliott (21): 17. Ryan Terlecki (19); 18. Stephan DeMartis (15); 19. Serge Guidetty (14); 20. Erick Vallejo (II). cue I e n e _ S • FEBRUARY 2, 2000 9

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