Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

"That Yamaha four-stroke works great," Buckelew said, "but I'm out to prove that my 125 two-stroke works just as good. I got that holeshot. Tonight Danny and Emesto just had a little bit more than I did, but I feel like I rode a great race, and I'm really happy with myself." CN Edison Intemational field Anaheim. Californi11 Results: J8IIlI8IY S, 2001 125 HEAT 1 (6 laps, 1-9 transfer): l.Ernesto Fonseca (Vern); 2. Tyler Evans (Hon); 3. Matthieu Lalloz (Yom); 4. Greg Schnell (Yom); 5. Cosey Lytle (Kaw); 6. David Pingree (KTM); 7. Grant Langston (KTM); B. Ryan Clark (Yom); 9. Keith Johnson (Yom); 10. Robbie Skaggs (Suz); II. Andrew Short (Kow); 12. Tyson Taylor (Hon); 13. Stephen Demartis (Yam); 14. Erick Vallejo (Kaw); 15. Akira Nama (Suz); 16. Steve Boniface (Hon); 17. Kenny Hees (Hon); 18. Harold Hageman (SUl): 19. Michael Brandes (Yam): 20. Kuraudo Toda (Hon). Time: 7 min., 1.500 sees. 125 HEAT 2 (6 laps, 1-9 transrer): 1. Danny Smith (SUI); 2. Justin Buckelew (Yam); 3. Ivan Tedesco (Hon); 4. Shae Bentley (Kaw): 5. Jiri Dostal (Hon); 6. Rodrig Thain (Sux); 7. Juan McCormick (Suz); B. Ty Lacey (Suz); 9. Gio Tedesco (Hon): 10. Pascal Lauret (KTM); 11. Jeremias Israel (Hon); 12. Sean Hamblin (Hon); 13. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 14. Todd Gosselaar (Hon); 15. Michael Portuguez (Yam); 16. Anthony Amarlldio (Yam); 17. Trllvis Preston (Hus); 18. Daniel Blair (Hon); 19. Andy Harrington (Yom); 20. Bryan MeGavron (Hus). TIme: 6 min., 42.080 sees. 125 LCQ (4 laps, t-4 transfer): 1. Andrew Short BRIEFLY. •• Last year it was Team Honda's Ezra Lusk falling in Anaheim practice and injuring his shoulder before the season even started. This year, it was Team Honda's Sebastien Tortelli going down in the whoops before the racing started. badly bruising his left shoulder. Though he had pain and limited mobility after the fall, Tortelli said he thought he could ride, but Dr. TK Spencer con· vinced the Frenchman to instead take a flight to Phoenix for an MRI. Following his Chaparral Pro/Am Championship 125cc-c1ass win at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bemardino, Califomia. one week earlier, many were expecting great things from South African Grant Langston in the Anaheim opener. Unfortunately, the 125cc World Champion had crashed hard at Penns Raceway just two days after his win. and then he went over the bars again at Elsinore Raceway two days after that. All this meant that Langston came to Anaheim banged-up and sore, and his results reflected this. The KTM Red Bull rider finished 19th In the 125cc main event. When Ryan Hughes retumed to the States following his GP-racing stint. mechanic Wyatt Seals found himself without a job. Fortunately, the likeable Texan was hired on by Amsoil/Dr. Martens/Journeys/Competition Accessories, to wrench for 125cc Eastern Regional nder Branden Jesseman. Team TheEdgeSports.com Kawasaki showed up with all-fluo, rescent-green KX250s. including the seats and fork guards. Spotted at Anaheim: Road racers Kurtis Roberts, John Kocinski and Miguel DuHamel: off·roader Shane Watts: hard·rock musician Tommy Lee; major league baseball player Ken Griffey Jr.; and Love Line's Adam Carolla. Ex-Chevy Trucks Kawasaki veterans John Dowd and Larry Ward were both missing at Anaheim. Dowd recently had knee surgery and is trying to line up a deal to race outdoor motocross, while Ward failed to reach an agreement with Factory Connection, and will sit out at least the first five rounds. There appears to be a new trend of painting large pictures of the riders on team semi trailers. Each side of the Mazda Yamaha truck features a huge picture of Jeremy McGrath doing a nacnac, though the champ appears to be riding an old KTM in the left·slde picture. It was intentionally reversed so that McGrath would be flying forward, so his kick-starter and expansion chamber are on the bike's left side. The Chevy Trucks Kawasaki trailer features Stephane Roncada on the left side and Ricky Carmichael on the right. By the way. the yellow Chevy logo on the factory Kawasakis is larger and brighter. National Trials Champion Geoff Aaron rode his Gas Gas in a Dunlop-sponsored trials exhibition in the Anaheim pits, where he performed a number of impressive manewers for the appreciative crowd. Aaron, who did a great job of hamming it up for the spectators, says he'll be performing at all three Anaheim rounds and San Diego, and says that he'll probably be performing in the stadium during an intermission for next three rounds. To honor Wheelie K,ng Doug Domokos, who recently died in an ullralight accident. officials brought his stunt ATK out onto the stadium floor before the opening ceremonies and started it one last time. (Kaw); 2. Pascal Lauret (KTM); 3. Robbie Skaggs (Suz); 4. Stephan Demartis (Yam); 5. Kevin Johnson (YtJm); 6. Tmvis Preston (Hus); 7. Daniel Blair (Hon): 8. Erick Vallejo (Kaw); 9. Akin!l Narita (Suz); 10. Anthony Amaradio (Yam); 11. Sean Hamblin (Hon); 12. Tyson Taylor (Hon): 13. Andy Harrington (Yem); 14. Michael Portuguez (Yam); 15. Jeremias lsutel Time: 16 min., 36.170 sees. Wumer's Average Lap: 1 min.. 6.411 sees. Margin or Victory: 3.000 sees. AMAlEA SPORTS 125cc WESTERN REGIONAL SQPERCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 1 or 8 rounds): 1. Emesto Fonseca (25/1 win); 2. Danny Smith (22); 3. Justin Buckelew (20): 4. David Pingree (18); 5. Ivan Tedesco (16); 6. Shlle Bentley (IS); 7. Rodrig Thain (14); B. Tyler Evans (13); 9. Casey Lytle (12); 10. Andrew Short (II); 11. Jiri Dostal (10); 12. Matthieu LalJoz (9); 13. Jason McCormick (B); 14. Keith Johnson (7); 15. Stephan Demortis (6); 16. Ryan Clark (5); 17. Ty Lacey (4); lB. Gio Tedesco (3); 19. Grant umgston (2); 20. Greg Schnell (I). (Hon); 16. Steve Boniface (Hon); 17. Todd Gossel..r (Hon): 18. Kenny Reess (Hon); 19. Harold HlIgeman (Suz); 20. Michael Brandes (Yam); 21. Bryan McGavran (Hus); 22. Kuraudo Toda (Hon). TUlle: 4 min.. 42.080 sees. 125 MAIN ~5IaPS): 1. EmestD Fonseca (Yom); 2. Danny Smith Suz); 3. Justin Buckelew \Yam); 4. David P'angree ( M); 5. Ivan Tedesco (Hon ; 6. Shae Bentley (Kaw); 7. Rodrig Thain (Suzl; Tyler Evans Hon); 9. Casey Lvtle (tUIw); 10. Andrew Short (Kaw); \ 1. Jiri Dos~1 (Hon); 12. Matthieu Lalloz (Yam): 13. Jason McCormick (Suz); 14. Keith Johnson (Yam): 15. Stephan Demartis (Yam); 16. Ryan Clark (YlIm); 17. Ty Lacey (Suz); 18. Gio Tedesco (Hon); 19. Grant e. Upcoming Rounds: Round 2 - San Diego, Camomia, January 13 Round 3 - Anaheim, Califomia, January 20 Langston (KTM); 20. Greg Schnell (Yam); 21. Robbie Skaggs (Suz); 22. Pascat Lauret (KTM). There were aiso people at the exit gates after the event. collecting funds to benefit Domokos' son. Jeremy McGrath's Troy Lee·painted Bell featured a sort of disco theme, with polka dots and small squares inspired by a disco ball. Lee said he got the idea while in a Las Vegas with McGrath. Just after the main event. a streaker found his way out onto the stadium floor and ran across the track as the riders were filing off. The nudist made his way to a jump before being chased down by three security guards, who tackled him and roughed him up before wrapping him in a banner and escorting him away. Motoworldracing.com/Answer Yamaha's Greg Schnell came to Anaheim with a fractured rib, which he aggravated by crashing twice in the whoops. Schnell is getting the rib checked out and is day to day. Moto XXXlDGY/Atomic 22's Michael Brandes suffered a scarylooking crash when he came up short over a triple in the first 125cc heat race. Brandes was camed off the track by medics, then left in an ambulance to get an ,njured ankle checked out. Also injured in the crash was Japanese rider Kuraudo Toda, who reportedly hurt his back in the fall but iater resisted treatment. Also injured was Blackfoot Motorsports/Honda Canada's James Povolny Jr.. who split open an old scar in a crash. Given the above injuries, it should come as no surprise that claims for the rider insurance offered by the AMA are seriously outweighing the premiums paid. Starting next year, it's likely that riders will be required to have a primary carrier, or at least pay a penaity if they don't. At Anaheim's press day two days before the race, Sf)( presented Jeremy McGrath with a championship ring for his 2000 season. It was the seventh such nng that McGrath has won. This marked the seventh time that Jeremy McGrath has won the Anaheim Supercross in his career. Two of his wins came last year, and with three Anaheim rounds in 2001, he'll have a chance to raise his total to nine this season. Given that winners of the Anaheim opener have gone on to win the title 10 times in the past. this victory serves as a good omen for McGrath. Edison Dye, the father of American motocross. was presented with the Mickey Thompson Award of Excellence at Anaheim in an emotional moment. Dye was the one who first brought over the European bikes and stars and put on promotional races, thereby jump-starting MX in the U.S. Emesto Fonseca was not the only rider on a YZ250F at Anaheim. Frenchman Matthieu Lalloz was also campaigning a thumper with assistance from FMF, while Kevin Johnson was racing one with help from Motoworldracing.com/Answer Yamaha (Lalloz finished 12th in the main, while Johnson failed to qualify). When the series heads to Indianapolis, Yamaha of Troy's Nathan Ramsey will begin racing the VZ250F in the eastem region. Ramsey was also in action at Anaheim, racing a VZ426F to 11 th in the 250cc class (Fonseca may do likewise in the east). "I like it." Ramsey said of the 426. "It's a little bit of a handful. I've just got to not give it 100 much gas." Just before Anaheim, Fast by Ferracci Husqvarna picked

• Cover