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National Arenacross Series Round 7: Lazy E Arena By KAT SPANN FRIDAY Antunez got the weekend's Pro mains going with a holeshot in the GUTHRIE, OK, JAN. 12·13 125cc class, but settling in close usty Holland captured the first behind him were Gibson, Tuf National Arenacross win of his Racing/Honda/Thor/Parts Unlimitedcareer when he crossed the finish line backed Jeff Willoh and RG3/Lynnwood in first place following Saturday's Yamaha's Brad Hagseth. 250cc main at the packed Lazy E As it tumed out, Antunez had little Arena. Holland rode his Tuf trouble with tlUs one. The Suzuki rider Racing/Parts Unlimited/Thor Honda led from start to finish in the 12-lap around Travis Hodges on the sixth race, with Gibson holding on to second lap, and then he took over from there through out. for the long-overdue win. "Buddy had some really good lines," In sharp contrast, winning was Gibson said. "The first couple of laps I nothing new to Buddy Antunez who was able to click into it, but I made a recorded his 14th and 15th wins of few mistakes and my arms pumped up the year. The defending champ put a bit." his American Suzuki/AXO/Bills "I saw Jeff [Gibson] right off the bat Pipes/RG3 RM125s into the winner's and we really worked together and put circle both Friday and Saturday in the our heads down to get away from 125cc mains, extending his already everybody," said Antunez. large series lead. Willoh, who had at one point This leaves one more winner over dropped off the pace a couple of secthe weekend, and that person was onds, regrouped and charged after GibSuzuki rider Jeff Gibson who won Frison, but he was unable to reel him in day's 250cc main, claiming his third and had to settle for third at the checkvictory of the season. ered flag. The Lazy E Arena track was the Willoh came back in the 250cc Pro longest of the season thus far, with main and charged to the front, but a the track featuring a unique rejuvenated Gibson swept by Willoh for uphill/downhill whoop section (affecthe lead on the first lap. tionately named the Dragon Backs). "We went over the quad double The new obstacle proved quite a before the finish and were flat groundchallenge for everyone. ing it when Jeff jumped a little short," n • _ s 12 JANUARY 31,2001 • c u e • • PHOTOS BY CONNIE JOHNSON R Buddy Antunez won both 125cc mains over the weekend, moving his win total to 15. Here he sets up series number-two man Jeff W1l1oh for a pass In Saturday's 125cc main. Gibson said of his pass on Willoh. "I jumped as far as I could and put a block pass on him." "It took me a little while to get my rhythm and the Suzuki's were going a little faster," Willoh said. Antunez, meanwhile, got off to a terrible eighth-place start. "I got boxed in between two riders off the gate and had to shut down," Antunez said. Nick Metcalf gated third and held that position for two laps before Tommy Hofmaster edged his tire in front of Metcalf at the end of a long rocker section after a bar-to-bar battle. A lap later, Metcalf made a couple of errors that cost him two more positions, giving way to Gonzalez and Antunez who were locked in their own scuffle for fifth. On the seventh lap, Antunez finally got the best of Gonzalez through the Dragon Back section and had control of fourth. "Pedro was riding a pretty tight line and I'couldn't find my way around him," Antunez said. "Pedro's a veteran rider of the series and racing, and he knows how to ride so I waited for a good pass." Once into fourth, Antunez began to charge after Willoh, who reeled in Hofmaster for second. Willoh eventually passed Hofmaster on the ninth lap. A lap later, Hofmaster lost another position to Antunez. Antunez continued to charge forward past Willoh. "I knew I had to get around Willoh as fast as possible, because he's the guy I've got to beat for the championship," Antunez said. Hofmaster took a deep breath and aimed his Pro Source/Thor/Smith Yamaha at Willoh, but when he reeled him in to try a pass through the Dragon Back, Hofmaster lost his rhythm and went down. This gave Gonzalez fourth and Team Green/Carrollton Kawasaki/Pro Circuit/Thor's Josh Demuth fifth. Pedro Gonzalez continued to improve after his appendectomy, racing to fourth in Friday's 250Cc main and winning that day's Dash For Cash.