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(Above) BUddy Antunez has definitely had better weekends this season. He was shut out in the win column, with a 5-2-2-5 score in the four mains over the weekend. He still enjoys a commanding SS-point lead over Willoh In the standings, however. Johnson, Hofmaster, Darcy Lange, Antunez, Gonzalez, Gibson, Rand, Travis Hodges and Josh Demuth. Heat winners Antunez, Gibson and Holland went off the gate slowly in the 250cc final, allowing Gonzalez to nab the holeshot. Holland, Antunez, Hofmaster, Rand and Gibson all tucked in behind and the race was on. Holland passed Gonzalez before the lap ended and looked to have the steam to carry it to the flag. The top three, Holland, Gonzalez, and Antunez, put distance on the pack and tried to stamp a position before they came around into the lappers. Gonzalez, riding like a madman, caught Holland napping off a jump. Gonzalez stuffed Holland coming off the main jumps and sped away never to be contested. Antunez, taking advantage of Holland before he could regroup, also went around, dropping Holland into the last podium spot. The race ended in that order. Fourth went to Willoh. Johnson, Hofmaster, Lange, Gibson, Hodges, and last year's Regional Arenacross champ, Brandon Bartz, rounded the top 10. "It was a pretty good race," Gonza1ez said. "This is my first win of the year and I'm, so, so happy. I had just come back from an appendix operation after it burst. So, I am so happy to win this tonight." "I didn't have such a good race in the 125s, but I felt good on the 250 and just rode strong," Antunez said. Holland said, "It felt good. I like to win but it's better than fourth, as well. I got out there clean tonight and hopefully I can do the same tomorrow." SATURDAY The holeshot went to Antunez in the 125cc final, but he was immediately passed by Gibson. Holland tucked in behind and the three warriors rode away from the jostling pack. No one really came close to challenging the top three and the race wore on with minor changes within the pack. The top three were so even- (Above) Sunday's 250cc racing gets underway. Iy matched that, lap after lap, their distance apart remained the same to the bitter end. The final order was Gibson, Antunez, Holland, Hodges, Willoh, Gonzalez, Demuth, Brad Hagseth, Hofmaster and Johnson. "I had a smooth ride and was doing the triple, so I made up time there more than anywhere else," said Gibson. "I'm happy to put my Suzuki/RG3/Bill's Pipes bike on the top spot." "I'm riding kind of banged up tonight," said Antunez. "But it's a part of Arenacross, part of being a Gladiator; you gotta come out injured or not and race." "I'd like to thank Keith Bowen most of all," said Holland on the podium. "He keeps me pumped and gets me going to do my best out there, so I'd like to thank him." Willoh again nailed the holeshot in the 250cc main, followed by Darcy Lange and Gonzalez, with Antunez in tow. Willoh was clearly a man on a mission and checked out from the drop of the gate. He rode a superb race and never faltered at all. Gonzalez and Lange battled for a few laps, until Gonzalez settled the issue. Hoiland, meanwhile, was flying through the pack and found himself in an eventual second place, his third podium of the weekend. Antunez bobbled in the whoops and lost lots of ground recovering, while Gibson took a soil sample. He tried to get back through the pack but the traffic was dense and he was unable to triple the jumps, a visible loss of his prior advantage. The race ended with Willoh not far out front, as the Holland and Gonzalez battle drew them nearer to Willoh at the checkers. Lange, Antunez, Crine, Hodges, Gibson, Demuth and RRP Racing's Ty Wallace rounded the top 10. "I love to get my Tuf/THOR/ProCircuit Honda up on top," said Willoh. "Me and my teammate, Rusty Hol- (Above) Saturday's 125cc maln-event winner, Jeff Gibson (275), goes around Greg Rand (171 In 250cc action. (Leftl Pedro Gonzalez showed that his recovery from his preseason appendectomy is nearty complete by winning Friday's 250cc main. land, put them up there, one-two. It's just great. We have been working hard together and we just want to get those Suzukis off the podium and we're there." "More than anything, more than winning," said Holland, "I just wanted to get up here with two top five finishes and I did it. Hopefully I can keep the consistency rolling." "I was a tough race," said Gonzalez. "I'd like to win, but I made sure I gained some points, that's what I'm here for." eN 250 MAIN: 1. Pedro Ganzlliez (Kaw); 2. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 3. Rusty Holland (Hon); 4. Jeff Willoh (Hon); 5. Chad Johnson (Hon); 6. Tom Hofmaster (Yam): 7. Darcy Lange (Kaw): 8. Jeff Gibson (Suz); 9. Travis Hodges (Hon); 10. Brandon Bartz (Yam); 11. Kevin Crine (Hon); 12. Gerg Rand (Yam); 13. Mike M.ason (Hon); 14. Ty W8IJace (Yam); 15. Denny Stephenson (Ka.....). Saturday 125 MAIN: I. Jeff Gibson (Su,): 2. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 3. Rusty Holland (Hon); 4. Travis Hodges (Hon): 5. Jeff WHich (Hon): 6. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw); 7. Josh Demuth (Kaw); 8. Brad Hagseth (Yam); 9. Tom Hofmaster (Yam): 10. Chad Johnson (Hon): 1 J. Greg Rand (Yam): 12. Ty Wallace (Yam): 13. Darcy Lange (Kaw); 14. Kevin Crine (Han): 15. Shawn Morgan (Yam). 250 MAIN: 1. Jeff Willoh (Hon): 2. Rusty Holland (Han); 3. Pedro Gonzalez (Kew); 4. Darcy Lange (Kaw); 5. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 6. Kevin Crine (Han); 7. Travis Hodges (Han); B. Jeff Gibson (Suz); 9. Josh Demuth (Kaw); 10. Ty Wallace (Yam); 11. Tom Hofmaster (Yam); 12. Chad Johnson (Hon); 13. Brad Hagseth (Y2Im); 14. Greg Rand (Yam); 15. Bryan Piccirelli (Han). NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 8 01 17 rounds): J. Buddy Antunez (512/15 wins); 2. JeffWilioh (426/5 wins): 3. Jeff Gibson (362/4 wins), 4. Pedro Gonzale, (338/1 win); 5. Rusty Holland (304/1 win); 6. Denny Stephenson (285/1 win); 7. Darcy L.enge (276); 8. Tom Hofmaster (271); 9. Josh Demuth (2257/1 win); 10. Nick Metcelf (174/1 win); 11. Travis Hodges (174); 12. Ty Wallace (154); 13. Kevin Crine (150); 14. Chad JohMOn (143); 15.l'Iarco Dub< (130). Baltimore Arena Baltimore, Maryland Results: January 19-20, 2001 Friday 125 MAIN: 1. Jeff Willoh (Han); 2. Chad Johnson HOn); 3. Tom Hofmaster (Yam); 4. Darcy Lenge K2Iw); 5. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 6. Pedro Gonz2IIez Kaw); 7. Jeff Gibson (Su,): 8. Greg Rand (Yam): 9. Travis Hodges (Han); 10. Josh Demuth (KGw); 11. Denny Stephenson (Kew); 12. Rusty Holland (Han); 13. Mike Mason (Hon); 14. Kevin Crine (Hon); 15. Brandon Bartz (Yam). l cue' _ n __ lIS FEBRUARY 7,2001 15