Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Western Regional 1 25cc Supercross Series Round 5: Edison International Field of Anaheim "The last four weeks have been so depressing," he said. "I've been busting my ass for the last six months and working so hard that I couldn't believe that I DNFed three out of the last four rounds. It took way too long to get back up here. I know that a third isn't a win, but it is to me right now. I'm going to keep it going by riding 125cc East." (See "Briefly...") Suzuki's Rodrig Thain was a quiet fourth. The Frenchman started in a distant eighth but worked through the field well and held third place for the majority of the race. A last-lap pass by Schnell dropped "Hot Rod" to fourth at the finish, but he certainly has to be happy with his new Suzuki home. KTM Red Bull's David Pingree was fifth, with Plano Hondal MSR's Ivan Tedesco following for sixth. Yamaha of Troy's Buckelew had his second "off-week" in a row, as he crossed for seventh. Buckelew gated poorly (for once) in the final, ending the first lap in a distant 15th. The San Diego winner picked off riders lap by lap, eventually running as high as sixth, but it was not his night, and he lost valuable points to teammate Fonseca. KTM Red Bull's South African import Grant Langston was next. Langston went down on the first lap and literally remounted in last. He, too, put on a heck of a charge for the next 14 laps to salvage any type of finish. A few weeks off may do some good for Langston, then look for him to be back on the podium later in the series. Fonseca now holds a comfortable 16-point lead over second-placed Smith, 108-92, as the 125cc West riders go into a seven-week hiatus while the Eastem Region gets going. good In the last few rounds and then start getting ready for the outdoors. I think I'll do well on it [the YZ250Fj at the Nationals, too." Getting back on the podium at Anaheim III was early series leader Danny Smith of Team Suzuki. The Middleton, Idaho, resident was on the gas all night as he finished second to Fonseca in heat race two, and then again in the main after leading for five laps. Smith is looking for that elusive first Supercross win, and he is going to get some extra laps and experience by running in the 250cc class on the other side of the country in the next few weeks. "I'm improving every week, and it's not over yet: Smith said. "Everybody up front in the points has had at least one bad week - I know that I have. A lot of things can happen in the last three races, too. A lot has already happened in the first five. I'm going to do some 250cc races out east to keep in shape and keep riding. I want to be ready for the final three rounds." There was another happy face on the podium at Anaheim, and it was that of Motoworldracing.com/Answer Yamaha's Greg Schnell. After having nothing but bad luck since the start of the new series, Schnell was very happy to be back where he consistently was one year ago. The Californian gated well in the final, ending the first lap in second. A few mistakes throughout the race saw him drop back as far as seventh, but he put things back together once the halfway flags came out, and he charged all the way back to third. Schnell was all smiles in the pits later in the night. By DAVE DERINGER PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN [C:;'or the fourth time this year, Yamaha of Troy's Ernesto Fonseca took the measure of the 125cc class of EA Sports Supercross presented by Speed Stick. And for the fourth time this year, it was at Anaheim's Edison Intemational Field, where a capacity crowd of 45,050 watched the Costa Rican extend his points lead. Aboard his four-stroke YZ250F, Fonseca came away with win number 11 of his career and he made it look relatively easy by winning his heat in dominating fashion and then taking the main-event win with three seconds to spare over the runner-up. r QUALIFYING Buckelew grabbed a massive holeshot in heat one. Pingree and privateer Ryan Clark went down in a heap in the first tum. Buckelew led (Above) Emesto Fonseca recorded hi. fourth 125cc win of the ....on, but tlrst he had to pus Tyler Enn., Greg Schnell .nd D."", Smith. "I just feel great," Fonseca said of his fourth win. "Things have been going the way I wanted lately, and I extended my lead a little tonight, too. I took my time getting to the front because I knew that Justin [Buckelew) was behind me, and I saw that I was catching the leader. I didn't want to make any dumb mistakes." "I'm going to stay out here and keep riding on this bike and training, too," Fonseca said of his plans for the Western Regional break. "I want to do (RIght) D.nny Smith put up • good fight but had to settle for second. cue I • n • _ 0& ' F!:!!!!UARY 14, 200 1 11