Supercross
Round 2: Rose Bowl
By Kit Palmer
Photos by Kinney Jones
PASADENA, CA, NOV. 20
or Team Hond a's Ezra Lusk, the U.S. round of the
three-round FIM Su percross World Cha mpionshi p
Series did not hold a lot of significance. After all, Lusk
had missed the opening round in Fran ce and wa s not in
'the title hunt, and since only a few of the top European GP
and supercross stars - most of wh om are injured - mad e the
long trip to California , the "Us-vs.-Them" rivalry simp ly did
not pan out. The one thing that Lusk did prove at t!;)e Speed ' vision-prod uced Toyota Wor ld Supercross at the Rose Bowl,
however, is that whenever he gets on a mot orcycle, he gives
it his all, becau se pride is always on the line .
The win also provided a good indication as to wh ere
Lusk , his tuner Mike Gosselaar and his race bike stand in
prepara tion for next yea r's AMA lEA Sports Supercro ss
Series.
"Mostly it [wi nni ng the Rose Bowl race] means getting
mor e tim e on the bike and getting it working the best we
can ," Lus k sa id . " It definitely is a confidence booster."
For all intents and purposes, Lusk ruled the racing on a
cool and cloudy day in Pasadena. The Georgian clicked off
the fastest time (41.419 seconds) around the tight Rose Bowl
track during practice, came out on top of the first heat race,
and then led from start to finis h in the 20-lap main event. He
really could not have performed any better, but he probably
wo uld have liked a little more breathing room over the second"R,lace rid er, Larry Ward.
"1 go t the start and Larry [Ward ] came in a little hot on the
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