Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAlEA Sports Supercross Series Round 2: Qualcomm Stadium Many were impressed with Travis Pastrana's poise in the 250cc class last eek at Anaheim, but while the kid once again displayed glimpses of utterly amazing speed at San Diego. he also showed a few more of the glitches that one would expect from a 17-year-old. Pastrana slid out while running near the front in his heat race, then cased a jump and fell. After advancing to the main through his semi, Pastrana gated poorly and then went down hard in the whoops, hitting his head and knocking himself unconscious for several seconds. The Suzuki rider was noticeably wobbly as he was escorted off the track. "He hit neutral and the front end just went," said Pastrana's mother, Debbie. "He didn't have a chance." Pastrana's helmet did its job and was ruined in the crash, while the rider himself was okay apart from a bad headache. And while most of the spectators were disappointed to see their hero exit the main so early, Pastrana's mother said that the mishap may have been a blessing in disgUise (now that he's further out of the points lead, the likely decision to move Pastrana down to the 125cc class for the Eastem Region will be easier). "There's no doubt he's fast - none whatsoever," Debbie said. "But he's 17, and he's only done eight Supercrosses his entire life." Even with his San Diego DNF, Pastrana is an amazing 10th in points. Mike laRocco continues to Impress, especially after passing McGrath late in the race for second place. Huffman (Vam): 8, Doug DeHaan (Hon); 9. Mlcheel Craig (Hon); to. Donald Upton (Suz); 11. Steve Andrich (Hon); 12. Tim Beatty (Yam); 13. Michael Kann (Vern); 14. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 15. Robb Floth (Hon); 16. Erik Anderson (Hon); 17. Michael Byrne (Kaw); 18. Ted Campbell (Suz); 19. Damien Plotts (Hu.); 20. Steve Lamson (Hus). Carmichael took the victory, throwing his head back in elation Time: 6 min .• 57.610 sees. over tne finish-line double, and McGrath (Yam); 2. Kevin Windham (Suz); 3. Mike HEAT 2 (8 laps. 1-4 transfer): 1. Jeremy LaRocco (Hon): 4. Tim Ferry (Yam); 5. TraviS Pastrana (Suz); 6. Nichola. Wey (Yam): 7. Michael Brown (Kew); 8. Robbie Reynard (Yam): 9. Kyle lewis (Yem); 10. Cesey Johnsoo (Kew); 11. Tekl.lse Tanakl.l (Kew); 12. Isah~lh Johnson (Yam); 13. Jason LaRocco headed McGrath across in second. Gentleman Jeremy immediately Thoma. (Hu.): 14. Matt Shue (Su,): 15. Ty Kady (Suz): 16. Billy Binckley (Yam): 17. Dustin Nelson (Vam): 18. Jason Wood (Yam): 19. David Demangos (Hon); 20. Anthony Amaradio (Yam). rode up to Carmichael and congratulated him, then did so again on the McGrath (left) and Cannichael put on a great show at San Diego, entertaining not only the crowd but also each other. Time: 7 min., 6.040 sees. SEMI 1 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): 1. Heeth Voss (Hon); 2. Michl.lel Byrne (Kaw): 3. Nathan Ramsey (Yam); 4. Michl.lel Craig (Hon); 5. Damon Huffman (Yem); 6. Donald Upton (Suz); 7. Demien Plotts (Hus); 8. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 9. Michael Kann (Yam); 10. Erik Anderson (Hon); 11. Steve Andrich podium. "You can't take nothing away from him: McGrath said. "He rode a great race ...We'lI have to go get him next week." (Hon); 12. Robb Floth (Hon); 13. Doug DeHaan (Hon): 14. Tim Beotty (Yam); 15. Ted Campbell (Suz): 16. Steve Lamson (Hus). ~ Time: 5 min., 28.590 sees. Completing every single lap in fourth place was Lask, one spot SEMI 2 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): 1. Nicholas Wey (Yam): 2. Travis Pastrana (Suz); 3. Michael Brown (Kaw); 4. Casey Johnson (Kaw); 5. Robbie Reynard ahead of Windham, who had slipped from third. Vuillemin was sixth, with (Yam): 6. Kyle Lewis (Yom): 7. Jason Thomas (Hus): 8. Isaiah John.on (Yom): 9. Matt Shue (Su,): 10. Takase Tanaka (Kaw): 11. Dustin Nelson (Yom): 12. Billy Binckley (Yam); 13. Ty Kady (Suz): 14. Jason Wood (Yam): 15. Dovid Demangos (Hon): 16. the big four-strokes of Yamaha of Troy's Nathan Ramsey and Team Yamaha's Timmy Ferry following, Anthony Amaradio (Yam). Time: 5 min.. 24.230 sees. lCQ (6 laps, t -2 transfer): 1. Isaiah Johnson and Thousand Oaks Yamaha/Pete's RV/Reynard Modifications rider Rob- -riiCholas Wey (Yam); 11. Michael Byrne (Kaw); 12. Cesey Johnson (Kew); 13. Demon Huffman (Yam); 14. Michael Brown (Kaw); 15. Stephl.lne Roncada (Kaw); 16. Heath Voss (Han); 17. Jason Thomas (Hus); J 8. Isaiah Johnson (Yam); 19. Michael Crelig (Hon); 20. Travis Pastrana (Suz). Time: 17 min., 30.850 sees. Margin of Victory: 1.009 sees. Winner's Average Lap: 52.542 sees. AMAlEA SPORTS SUPERCROSS SERIES 250cc POINTS STANDINGS (Alter 2 or 16 rounds): I. (TIE) Ricky Carmichael/Jeremy McGrath (45/1 win each): 3. (TIE) Mike LaRocco/Ez.. Lu.k (40); 5. DllIvid Vuillemin (30); 6. Kevin Windham (29): 7. Nothan Ramsey (24): 8. Nicholas Wey (23): 9. Slephane Roncada (20); 10. Travis Pastrana (17); 11. Casey Johnson (17); 12. Damon Huffman (14): 13. Timmy Ferry (14): 14. (TIE) Michael Byrne/Michael Craig (13): 16. Robbie Reynord (12): 17. Craig Decker (9): 18. (TIE) Michael Brown/Isaiah Johnson/Steve Lamson/Heath Voss (7); 22. Kyle Lewis (5): 23. Jason Thomas (4). Upcoming Rounds: Round 3 - Anaheim, California, January 20, 2001 Round 4 - Phoenix, Arizona, January 27, 2001 (Yam): 2. Jason Thoma. (Hus); 3. Kyle Lewis (Yam); 4. Donold Upton (Su,): 5. Ted Campbell (Suz): 6. bie Reynard was ninth. Another Yamaha - the YZ250 of Yamaha of Jimmy Wilson (Yem); 7. Michael Kenn (Yam); 8. Troy rider Nick Wey - made it Beatty (Yam); 13. Matt Shue (Suz): 14. Erik Anderson (Hon); 15. Doug DeHaan (Hon): 16. Robb through in lOth. Billy Blnckley (Yam): 9. Ty Kady (Suz): 10. Du.tln Nelson (Yam); 11. Takase Tanaka (Kaw); 12. Tim CN Floth (Hon): 17. Damien Plotts (Hus); 18. Juon Wood (Vam); '19. Steve Andrich (Hon): 20. David Qulcomm Stadium Demangos (Hon); 21. Anthony Amaradio (Yam); 22. Steve Lamson (Hus). Time: 5 min., 29.750 sees. MAIN (20 lap.): I. RK:ky Carmichael (Kaw): 2. s.n liege, C11lifwmia Results: Janary 13, 2001 Mike laRocco (Han); 3. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 4. HEAT I (8 lap•. 1-4 tran.rer): I. Ricky CarmK:hael (Kaw): 2. Ezra Lusk (Han): 3. Stephane Ezra Lusk (Hon); 5. Kevin Windhlllm (Suz); 6. Devid Vuillemin ('Yam); 7. Nathan Ra.msey (Yam): 8. Ronceda (KDW); 4. Davkf Vuillemin (Vern); 5. Nathan Ramsey (Yam): 6. Hellth Voss (Hon); 7. Damon TImmy Ferry (Vam): 9. Robbie Reynard (Yam): 10. After falling in practice last week at Anaheim and injuring his left shoulder, Team Honda's Sebastien Tortelli flew to Arizona with Dr. Jeff Spencer to have an MRI performed. Tortelli then flew back home to France to see his French doctor, who discovered that the shoulder was slightly dislocated and was able to manipulate it back into place. Tortelli had full movement at that point, but was still experiencing pain from the inflammation. He flew back to California on Thursday before San Diego, and rode on his own track (in pain) on Friday moming (San Diego's Friday practice was called due to rain). Tortelli showed up at the race and, after getting taped up by Spencer and Sara Stanton (Jeff Stanton's wife), went out for the first practice session. Unfortunately, the pain was too much for Tortelli in the whoops, and Honda made the decision to pull the Frenchman from the night's racing in order to give him some time to let the swelling go down. "We're very proud of him," Honda motorsports manager Chuck Miller said. "There aren't many people who would take it upon themselves to do all that traveling and put in so much effort in such a short amount of time just to try and get ready for a race." Tortelli was expected to see a doctor on Monday after the race to have an investigative arthroscopic surgery performed. 8 JANUARY 24. 2001 • co U co • • n ..... s The excitement of such a fantastic McGrath/Carmichael clash at San Diego was not lost on ESPN2 Supercross and motocross analyst David Bailey, who, like clockwork, could be found in the broadcast booth, delivering his usual, highly respected take on the action. Afterward, when asked if this event reminded him at aU of what was perhaps the most spectacular Supercross race of all time, the Anaheim Stadium clash between himself and Ricky Johnson in 1986, Bailey responded candidly, putting it aU into perspective. "Four or five more laps like that, and it would have been exactly the same," Bailey said. "And you know what makes that great is that Ricky [Carmichael] really wants to beat Jeremy while Jeremy is Jeremy. And Jeremy still is that way right now. Ricky had to come from behind and fight it out. He was tougher tonight. He wanted to win more than Jeremy." Bailey said that, from his perspective. the battle was a week in the making. "What may have set this race up is that Ricky was a little frustrated with the way that last week went," Bailey said. "For Jeremy everything went so easy, and he might have thought, 'I'm in control of things.' But when these guys stepped it up it was hard for him to make that adjustment. And the track didn't suit Jeremy's style all that well, I don't think. It did suit Ricky and [Mike] LaRocco's style." Bailey said that Carmichael's determination reminds him of another Ricky, one who went on to become a two-time AMA Supercross Champion. "They [Ricky Johnson and Ricky Carmichael] are the same," Bailey said. "Carmichael's heart is huge, and that's what we saw tonight. When he passed Jeremy through the whoops, that was his way of saying, 'I'm either going to pass this guy right now or die trying.' It sent a message, and as soon as he did that, McGrath went to Plan B. Then LaRocco passed him, and that was two more points. But it might all come down to two points at the end of the season." Regardless, Bailey is predicting a blockbuster Supercross season like no other. "' think it'll be the best ever," Bailey said. "I was a little disappointed at Anaheim that no one really stepped up and challenged Jeremy. Lusk ran around there in second and probably figured that was pretty good for him after not riding for a while. That won't beat Jeremy McGrath, but this will."

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