Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Westef"'n Regional 1 25cc Supef"'Cf"'OSs Se"';es Round 2: Qualcomm Stadium riders down and the fire in the belly of the 250F out once again. For Fonseca, twice, San Diego was all in the start. The YZ 125-mounted Buckelew never even came close to having a problem during the main event, as he appeared to cruise effortlessly around the floor of the Q, building a lead of just over four seconds at the checkered flag to claim his first career AMA Supercross win. Just like Fonseca had been the week before, Buckelew was undefeated all evening. He also picked up the $500 SFX Holeshot Award for the second weekend in a row. "We're just very prepared this year: Buckelew said. "Everyone on the team put in a lot of hard work during the off-season, and so far it has been a great season for me and the team. I'm very happy. My mentor is 11982 AMA Supercross Champion] Donnie Hansen, and he taught me a lot of starting technique. I've been getting a lot of holeshots this year, and that's great. I was just running some good lap times. My mechanic was showing me the times lap after lap. It seemed like a long 15 laps, though." The victory gave Buckelew the points lead as the series heads back to Edison International Field in Anaheim for round three. Buckelew leads Team Suzuki's Danny Smith by one point, 45-44, with Thain 10 points back, in third. "That's great, that's what I figured, but it's still a long series to be thinking about that [points chase]: Buckelew said. "I'm just pumped that I could win one tonight here in San Diego in front of this great crowd." The laps weren't long enough for Smith and Rodrig Thain, the Team Suzuki associates racing each other for the runner-up spot, a position which Smith grabbed for the second consecutive week after passing the Frenchman through the whoop section on lap nine. But rather than be disappointed that he had once again come up the bridesmaid, Smith was quite pleased with his performance, and once again looked forward to getting 'em next week at Anaheim II. "I just have to get off of this plateau I'm on right now, but I'm still happy to be in the points chase," Smith said. "I didn't feel like I was on pace here. I was making a little bit of mistakes here and there. But, shoot, if I can get second doing that, wait till I ride a really perfect race. I think I'll have it handled." Despite yielding to Smith, Thain's third-place finish was a marked improvement over his series-opening seventh at Anaheim "My Suzuki is very great," Thain said. "This [third place] is good for me for the championship, and I like going to next week. My teammate Danny Smith is really fast. He has a Suzuki also, and he can win the championship also." GlUALIFYING Yamaha of Troy's Justin Buckelew nabbed the holeshot in the opening heat, leading Thain and the defending series champion, Pro Circuit/Kawasaki/SplitFire rider Shae Bentley, around the first turn and over the plateau jump to the first triple on the course. Smith had suffered a lackluster start, but he wasted no time in getting with the program, as he shot past a bobbling Bentley and Pro Caliber Suzuki-mounted Jasnn McCormick in the rioht-hander before the 10ng--whoOp section that ran parallel to the start chute. From that point, the top three were pretty much set, but some great racing took place among McCormick, Bentley and Langston. Determined to improve upon his heat race finish of one week ago, the South African and reigning 125cc World MX Champion took it to Bentley and McCormick, pulling clear of them for fourth on the front straightaway during lap three. IRIghtI Buckelew (38) leads 125cc Wortcl Motocross ChampIon Grant Langston (111). (Below) Suzuki teammates Thain (32) and smith (29) battle It ou1 for runnerupho-..s. Buckelew cruised to the win, while Smith punctuated the race with a last-lap charge that brought him right to Thain's rear fender. Thain held on for second, and Smith was third, while Langston maintained his impressive fourth-place drive to the finish. Heat two would ultimately prove to be the closest contest of the evening, rivaling even the Carmichael vs. McGrath clash that took place in the 250cc main. Bill's Pipes/Oakley/Suzuki-backed Ty Lacey led the pack into the first tum, while Fonseca was stuck in the middle of the pack after pulling a huge wheelie off the gate. It took him only two laps to bull his way up to fifth place. He then passed Plano Honda/MSR/Pro Circuit's Jiri Dostal for fourth on lap two. Team Red Bull KTM's David Pingree .......,.

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