Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

, . - '. things under control about halfway through the race." After finishing fourth, Lusk said, "Ricky set a fast pace early on and I started making some mistakes. I just decided to back it down a little bit, [butl this track being so fast, you can't back it down at all. I've still got a lot to work on; I'm still not there 100 percent - as far as what I used to be. That makes me want to work BRIEFLY••• The next round of the AMAlEA Sports Supercross Series should be pretty interesting. since ;t retums to Anaheim' s Edison International Field for the third time. and Anaheim is a place where Jeremy McGrath hasn't lost yet this year. And with RickY Carmichael coming off a big win at Phoenix, another McGrath/Carmichael showdown could be in the making. "He feels at home there." Carm;chael said of McGrath's success at Anaheim. "Ifs Bke when I go to Daytona and Atlanta, I feel totally at home. and if s nice to have that advantage. And that kind of d;rt [at AnaheimJ is totally Jeremy's dirt, but last weekend [at AnehlemJ I rode excellent. - hard. My heat race was fast; I just Despite finishing fifth, Vuillemin put in a good race. "I was feeling all right, but my ribs are a bit sore," Vuillemin said. "I couldn't get by him [Lusk]; I just stayed kind of stuck behind him and eN Bank One Ballpark Phoenix, Arizona Resulb: January Z7, ZOO1 250 HEAT 1 (8 laps, 1·4 transfer): 1. Ricky Carmichael (KlIw); 2. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 3. Mike l..8Rocco (Hon); 4. Nathan Ramsey (Vern); 5. Steve l.llmson (Hus); 6. Mike Craig (Hon); 7. Kelly Smith (KTM); 8. Jason ThomDs (Hus); 9. Michael Byrne (Kaw): 10. Mike Brown (Kaw); 11. Devid Vuillemin (Yam); 12. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Hon): t 3. Billy Binckley (Yam); 14. Robb Aoth (Hon); 15. Ty The local newspaper reported on Friday that Team Yamaha's David Vuillemin would not be racing Saturday night. but the Frenchman did in fact compete while Kody (SUI): 16. M;choel Konn (Yom); 17. Edk Anderson (Hon); 18. Kyle Williams (Yam); 19. J;mmy u.mostus (KTM); 20. TIm Ferry (Yom). TIme: 6 min., 42.400 sec. 250 HEAT 2 (8 laps, 1-4 transfer): 1. Jeremy McGrath (VllIrn); 2. Stephane Roncada (KllW); 3. Kevin Windhllm (Suz); 4. Nick Wey (Yem); 5. Heeth Voss (Hon); 6. Robbie Reynllrd (Yem); 7. Demon Huffmen (Yam); 8. Kyle Lewis (Yam); 9. Donald Upton (Suz); 10. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 11. Ted Compbell (SU%); 12. Tim Beotty (Yom); 13. Jason Frenette (Hon); 14. Matt Shue (Suz): 15. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 16. Isaiah Johnson (Yam); 17. Dustin Nelson (Yam); 18. Ezra Lusk (Hon); 19. Casey Johnson (Kaw); 20. Damien P10tts (Hus). Time: 6 min., 47.730 sec. 250 SEMI 1 (6 laps. 1·5 transfer): 1. Mike Craig (Hon); 2. Steve Lamson (Hus); 3. Michael Byrne (Kaw); 4. David Vuillemin (Yam); 5. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Hon); 6. Mike Brown (Kaw); 7. Kelly Smith (KTM); 8. Jason Thomas (Hus); 9. Billy binckley (Yom); 10. Robb Floth (Hon); II. Kyle Williams (Yem); 12. Michael Kann (Yam); 13. Erik Anderson (Hon); 14. Ty Kody (SUI); 15. J;mmy Lamastus (KTM); 16. Tim Ferry (Yom). Time: 5 min., '11.110 sec. 250 SEMI 2 (6 laps, 1·5 transfer): 1. Ezra Lusk (Hon); 2. Heoth Voss (Hon); 3. Kyle Lew;s (Vam); 4. Robbie Reynard (Yam); 5. Isaiah Johnson (Yam); 6. Damien Plotts (Hus): 7, Dustin Nelson (Yam); 8. Jason Frenette (Hon); 9. Donald Upton (Suz); 10. Matt Shue (SUI); 11. J;mmy W;lson (Yam): 12. TIm Beatty (Yam): 13. Jemes Povolny Jr. (Hon): 14. Casey Johnson (Kew); 15. Demon Huffmen (Yem); 16. Ted Compbell (SUl). Time: 5 min.. 9.060 sec. 250.LCQ (6 laps, 1·2 transfer): 1. Mike Brown (Kow): 2. Kelly Sm;!h (KTM); 3. Oonold Upton (SUl); 4. Matt Shue (SUI); 5. Ted Compbell (SUl); 6. Bmy Binckley (Yam): 7. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 8. Joson Frenette (Han); 9. TIm Beotty (Yam); 10. Kyle Williams (Yam): 11. Michael Kann (Yam); 12. Jimmy u.mostus (KTM); 13. Joson Thomas (Hus): 14. Robb F10th (Hon): 15. Jimmy Wilson (Yam): 16. Dustin Nelson (Yom); 17. Edk Anderson (Hon): 18. Oomien Plotts (Hus); 19. Ty Kody (SUl): 20. Cosey Johnson (Kaw); 21. Dllmon Huffman (Yllm); 22. Tim Ferry (Yom). Tune: 5 min., 19.470 sec. 250 MAIN (20 laps): I. Ricky Cormichoel (Kaw); 2. Je",my McGro!h (Yam); 3. Mike u.Rocco (Hon); 4. Ezre Lusk (Hon); 5. David Vuillemin (Yam); 6. Stephane Roncada (Kew): 7. Kevin Windham (Suz); 8. Nick Wey (Yom); 9. Heoth Voss (Hon); 10. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 11. Nethan Ramsey (Yam): 12. Robb;e Reynord (Yom); 13. Kyle Lewis (Vom); 14. Mike Craig (Hon); 15. M;ke Brown (Kow); 16. Isaiah Johnson (Yam); 17. Michael Byrne (Kaw); 1B. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Hon); 19. Steve Lamson (Hus): 20. Kelly Sm;!h (KTM). AMAlEA SPORTS SUPERCROSS SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 4 of 16 rounds): 1. (TIE) Jeremy McGrath (2 wins)/Rick Carmichael (92/2 Wins); 3. Mike u.Rocco (78); 4. Elro Lusk (67); 5. Kevin W;ndhom (63); 6. Oov;d Vuillem;n (51); 7. Stephone Roncodo (49); 8. Nick Wey (48); 9. Nathon Romsey (47); 10. T;m Ferry (30); 11. M;choel Byme (27); 12. (TIE) Mike Cro;g/Robb;e Reynard (23); 14. Sebostien Tortem (22); 15. Mike Brown (21); 16. (TIE) Kyle Lew;s/Heoth Voss (19); 18. Travis Postrono (18); 19. Cosey Johnson (17); 20. (TIE) Steve Lamson/Isaiah Johnson (16). Upcoming Rounds: Round 5 - Anaheim, Califomia, February 3 Round 6 - Indianapolis, Indiana, February 10 Another member of the walking wounded was Team Honda's Sebastien Tortelli. FollOWing the 250cc main where he hnlshed 13th (the same number he sports on his bike). Tortelli wore a huge icepack on hiS shoulder. -I did a big casing and hurt it quite a bit." Tortelli said. "I was Feeling good until I cased it; I Just stretched ;t [the musclel." As expected. Team Suzuki's Travis Pastrana didn't compete at Phoenix. Instead taking some time off to recover from the concussion ;ncurred in a fall at San Diego, though he was on hand to spectate. Pastrana will race next at the opening 125cc Eastern Regional round in Indianapolis on February 10. need to work on my consistency." Jeremy and LaRocco caught us." Supercross track announcer Erv Braun was sporting a cast on his arm at Phoenix. Braun broke the right radius when he crashed while practicing at Competition Park. in San Jacinto. California. the previous Sunday. Braun was riding with fellow Supercross announcer Teny Boyd and Dr. John Bodner (the traveling Supercross doctor) when he bailed. wearing a rib brace. Vuillemin hnally visited a doctor about the ribs ;njured in an early-season crash. and discovered that two ribs are. in fact, cracked. Vuillemin looked more aggressive than at the hrst Few rounds. eventually finishing fifth in the main. Team Pro C;rcuit/Kawasaki/SpBtFire rider Casey Lytle competed at Phoenix despite a cracked ankle bone. When Lytle d;scovered that he could put wait on the foot. he opted to race. but he was apparently less than 100 percent. finishing 18th in the 125cc main. "Casey's going to take a few weekends off, whether he wants to or not." sa;d team manager Mitch Payton. Team Yamaha's Tim Ferry saw his night come to a premature end when he went down hard in his heat race. The VZ426F pilot was making a pass attempt in the whoops when he lost the front end and went over the handlebars, smacking his head on the bike that he was trying to pass. Accord;ng to Yamaha's team manager Ke;th McCarty. Feny compla;ned of a sore neck and was taken to the hospital for precautionary tests. Feny will probably sit out round five of the series at Anaheim. Pro Circuit/Kawasaki/SplitFire's Shae Bentley. the defending Western Regional 125cc Supercross Champion. crashed in the opening moments of the 125cc main and injured his wrist. Bentley took a trip to the hospital, and x-rays revealed a fractured left arm. Ev;dently. the fracture happened where he had a screw removed from a previous injury. Bentley has returned to his home in Atlanta and will be out of action For at least Four to five weeks. Damon Huffman had his night cut short as well. The Motoworldracing.com/Answer Yamaha dder was ;nvolved in an ugly high-speed firstturn plieup in the second 250cc semi that saw him. among others. going down hard. According to team manager Paul Lindsey. Huffman locked handlebars with another rider going into the fast tum and went fiying "like a rag doll." Huffman came out of it with a sore shoulder and ribs. The first tum at Phoen;x also claimed other Motoworldracing.com/Answer Yamaha team riders Dustin Nelson and Keith Johnson. Nelson went down in the 250cc LCQ. and Johnson ate it the 125cc LCQ. KTM Red Bull rider Kelly Smith. who will contest the 125cc Eastern Regional Series when it starts in two weeks, raced the 250cc class at Phoenix. Smith. who is known as a very competent Four-stroke pilot. rode a 250 SX two-stroke to a last·place hnish in the main. Smith is not planning to ride Anaheim III. In the Red Bull KTM team truck. manager Selvaraj Narayana showed the Cycle News reporters that he is now having his lap-top computer net· worked with the Sf)( transponder system at each round. allowing him immediate access to information such as lap times and results. Team Yamaha is also hooking in to the system. Team Suzuki manager Roger DeCoster expla;ned that part of the reason For Danny Smith's poor performance at Anaheim II was that he had h;s rear brake lever severely bent in the first tum of the main. While trying to kick the lever back ;nto place. Smith accidentally stepped on it. crashed. and broke his clutch·lever perch. Road-racing legend and Cycle News R;der of the Century Kenny Roberts was on hand to check out the action at Phoen;x. Roberts posed with his former employee, Jean-Michel Bayle, For Steve Bruhn's camera. The Phoenix track featured reddish clay that was slightly softer than the soil typically Found at the CaBFornia rounds. The circuit made full use of the roomy Bank One Ballpark floor. with two triples. a quad. two whoop straights and a couple of rhythm sections that inspired creativity. The start straight was Wide. long and Fast. with a tight. bowl-shaped. leFthand hrstturn that was the site of many a crash throughout the evening. Honorable Mention: Motoworldrac;ng.com/Answer Yamaha's Isaiah Johnson has quaBfied For all four 250cc mains so far. Despite hnishing 18th. 17th. 17th and 16th ;n the mains. though. Johnson has been unable to break into the top 20 in the series po;nts stand;ngs and has had to compete in the preBminaries just to get into the evening's program for all of the past Four races. He'lI have to do the same In the upcom;ng Anaheim III Supercross. Johnson will change gears when the senes heads back east. where he'lI compete in the Eastern Reg;onal 125cc Supercross Series. Speak;ng of the Motoworldrac;ng.comlAnswer Yamaha team. Greg Schnell, who has been campa;gn;ng the West Coast 125cc Series. might sw;tch over to the East Coast Series. Injuries and bad luck have kept Schnell from breaking the top lOin the West. so if he gets the okay. he'lI get a fresh start in the East Series. The weather was uncharacteristically cold For Phoenix. and rain showers straFed the p;t area on occasion. Officials opted to keep the convertible stadium closed For the event. though. in order to allow the smoke to escape, the rooF was opened up during the opening ceremon;es and the huge. rotating panels on the north end were periodically opened during the program. How did you do on last week's www.cyclenews.com reader poll ques" tion? By our count. Yamaha of Troy's Ernesto Fonseca took three kicks to re-light his VZ250F after falling and killing the motor in his heat race. For the second time this year. the Costa Rican had to advance to the main via the last-chance qualifier. Fast by Ferracci Husqvarna' s Steve Lamson suffered a DNF in the 250cc main. thanks to a problem with his clutch housing. Lamson. whose plan is to concentrate on the outdoor nationals this year. will nonetheless contest next week's stadium race in Anaheim. cue I _ n __ s FEBRUARY 7,2001 9

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