Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128086
Team Rosters ( 'I'I~A)I I)IU) (~IIU~tJI'I' /Kl\1\TASl\I{I/ SI)I..I'I'I~lIl1~/(~HI~VY 'I'IUJ(~KS '1'I~l\)1 (~HI~VY 'I'IUJ(~I{S ••••••rs: Mitch Payton/Jim Perry 1••II•••rt.rs: Corona, California 111I.rs 125 W.SI lw 57 Kl\1\rl\Sl\KI ••••••r: Bruce Stjernstrom H••d••• rt.rs: Irvine, California BllI.rs 258 Shae Bentley Casey Lytle ElIenwood, Georgia Saugus, California 10<125 10<125 .Tallon Vohland Mike Brown Bobby Bonds Citrus Heights, California Penny Flats, Tennessee Bakersfield, California 10<125 KX125 10<125 125 E.sl 22 100 129 ) LOWDOWN: With four eastern regional titles, five western regional titles and three National MX tities, Pro Circuit runs the undisputed king of satellite teams. For 2001, it has dropped I-SOD-Collect as a title sponsor and replaced it with Chevy Trucks (Scott replaces Spy as the official team goggle). Defending western champion Shae Bentiey was planning to be joined in his region by amateur phenom Bobby Bonds, but the rookie fractured his elbow while testing and will instead contest the later-starting Eastern Regional Series. Casey Lytle comes from the nowdefunct FMF Honda team to help out in the west. Accompanying Bonds in the east will be former GP riders Tallon Vohland and Mike Brown. Pro Circuit will also be grooming a pair of amateur riders. giving Andrew Short a spot on the team for the first three western rounds and Jpshua Woods for the first three eastem rounds. 4 21 Ricky Carmichael Stephane Roncada Havana, Florida Chambery, France _ 10<250 10<250 I.. OWDOWN: Kawasaki is going down to a two-man team for 2001, with Stephane Roncada stepping up from Yamaha of Troy to replace John Dowd and Larry Ward. The Frenchman, who is switching to O'Neal apparel and Sidi boots for 2001, will be eager to prove that he's not just a 125 rider. As for 250cc National Motocross Champion Ricky Carmichael, the kid badly wants to take the title. At the ripe old age of 21, he has basically won everything else there is (counting the last six Nationals, the MX des Nations and the U.S_ Open, he's on an eight-race win streak), and with the help of South African trainer Alton Baker (With whom he recentiy underwent a six-week "boot camp"), he is in the best shape of his life. Carmichael recentiy signed a deal with Gatorade that will see him working as a guinea pig for MX-focused product development Carmichael was recently featured in ESPN The Magazine's "Next" section. r-I----------------..... PHOTO BY STeve BRUHN 'I'Kt)1 SIJZIJKI IILA(~KFOO'1' MOTORSPRTS/ BONDl\ Cl\NADA ••••••r: Roger DeCoster 1••II•••rt.rs: Brea, California Billers 250 14 199 ••••••r:: Jason Mitchell Alberta, Canada Kevin Windham Travis Pastrana Baton Rouge, Louisiana Annapolis, Maryland RM250 RM250 125 Wesl 29 32 Danny Smith Eagle, Idaho Rodrig Thain ..•......Douchy, France , , RM125 RM125 125 E.sl 88 Ben Riddle _ Campbellsville, Kentucky LOWnOWN: RM125 Depending upon your point of view, the official 2001 Suzuki effort is either two teams in one or one team in two. Manager Roger DeCoster has brought the 125cc squad inhouse for the new year, though the tiddler riders will continue to wear Axo apparel and run Bill's Pipes (primary riders Kevin Windham and Travis Pastrana wili wear No Fear and utilize Pro Circuit pipes and motors). We called Pastrana a 250cc rider, but if the 17-year-old isn't leading the points after the first five rounds, he'll most likely ride a 125 in the east. The other 250cc rider is Kevin Windham, who leaves Team Honda, and from whom Suzuki expects big things. Suzuki's 125cc effort was recruited from FMF Honda (Danny Smith), KTM (Frenchman Rodrig Thain) and the amateur ranks (Loretta Lynn's Champion Ben Riddle). Suzuki has purchased a new semi for this season, and Danny Smith, Rodrig Thain and Ben Riddle will run out of the old one (the new rig may not be ready for round one). Another major change for Suzuki is that the team has switched to French·made Michelin tires - rare in the U.S., but popular in Europe. The squad is also sponsored by Motul lubricants. The Demarini support team is gone for 2001. 16 JANUARY 3,2001 • co U co I e n _ .... s •••d•••rl.rS: Iiders 250 37 41 74 James Povolny Jr. . Mondoto Heights, Minnesota Jean-Sebastien Roy Quebec, Canada Doug DeHaan ..•.... _ .London, Canada LOWDOWN: CR250 CR250 CR250 One of the most successful Canadian motocross racing teams has partnered with U.S. sponsors to contest the 2001 EA Sports Supercross Series. Although Stateside racing is nothing new for Canucks - from Ross Pederson to Jason Frenette - this will be the first time an international team joins the fray for the complete 250cc series. The team, which also receives major support from MSR, FMF and Michelin, consists of two Canadians and one American rider. Its 2000 accomplishments included the 125j250cc Alberta Arenacross Championship, the 250cc Alberta Motocross Championship and the 125cc West Canadian Motocross Championship. Primary sponsor Blackfoot Motosports is a giant Calgary motorcycle dealership coowned by manager Jason Mitchell, who admits that the squad's main goal is to qualify for main events in the ultra-competitive series. JeanSebastien Roy has a wealth of American experience under his belt as a former Planet Honda U.S. team member. Doug DeHaan has successfully campaigned selected 250cc U.S. Supercross rounds in the past few years as a privateer and spent a number of seasons on the 125cc Eastern Regional SX circuit. Povolny has been a privateer for a number of years.