Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128092
• " .,... '" . / ~'" ~~ .:: "_.S~ "h~ ~.- ..;"<" INDIANAPOLIS. IN, FEB. 10 _t ' EasteJ"'n Regional 1 25cc SupeJ"'cf"'Oss SeJ"'ies Round 1 : RCA Dome By DAVE DERINGER PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN '" s with any new series, the ../"'l.,excitement of new riders, teams and bikes, made the trip to Indianapolis for the opening round of the Eastern Regional 125cc Supercross Series very worthwhile. So did watching Travis Pastrana ride. The Team Suzuki/No Fear/Spysponsored 17 -year-old motocross magician certainly made his trip worthwhile, as he dominated the first round of East Coast competition. In front of 55,912 fans, Pastrana rode his Lee McCollum-tuned RM125 to a relatively easy victory on a well-prepared track. Pastrana said that he wants to win every round of the 125cc East class this year, and after watching his performance on Saturday, his goal does not appear to be unrealistic. "I love being up on the podium," Pastrana said after the race. "1 started out riding the 250cc out West and those guys are super fast. It was a good experience." "I feel that I'm at 110 percent now," the teenager said of his recent head injury. "I'm not getting dizzy, I feel good and I'm having a great time. My RM125 is unbelievable and this is just awesome." Finishing second on the night was Yamaha of Troy/Fox/Alpinestarsbacked Nathan Ramsey. The 1999 125cc Western Regional Supercross Champion is on an entirely new ride this year, and his performance was reminiscent of his season two years earlier. Ramsey now rides for Phil Aldertons' Yamaha of Troy squad (he was on SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki last year), and he is on a totally new bike, too. He rides one of those loud and powerful YZ250F four-strokes that turkey, 1 might not have been able to handle certain situations as well, and it gave me a lot of confidence coming into the 125cc class." SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Mike Brown made his return to America worthwhile, too, as he finished out the night in third. Brown, who hails from Piney Flats, Tennessee, has been racing 125cc Grand Prix races overseas for the last two years and making the podium at Indy was quite impressive. For the soft-spoken Brown, his night at Indy was very promising, as he won his heat race (which was onesecond faster than Pastrana's) and briefly led the final before being overtaken by Pastrana and Ramsey. Pro Circuit boss Mitch Payton hired Brown for the 2001 season mainly for his outdoor prowess, but it looks like he may be getting a little bit of a bonus. "I've been gone for over two years and it feels good to be back," Brown said from the podium. "My arms got a little tired out there, but each race should get a little better. I'm having fun right now." Michigan Mafia member Nick Wey crossed the line in the final in fourth. The Yamaha of Troy/Fox-supported speedster powered his YZ125 to a strong start and stayed at the front of the pack for the entire race, not gaining or losing a position at all. Wey, who was also formerly of the SplitFire squad, is looking for his first Supercross win for his new team and sponsors, and it is only a matter of time until he gets it. "I hurt my foot pretty bad on Friday and pulled some ligaments, but I'll be 100 percent for Atlanta," Wey explained. "I have some wins to pull out of my sleeve this year, that's for sure." Red BulI/KTM/Thor-teammates Kelly Smith and Brock Sellards finished fifth and seventh, respectively. Smith, who also calls Michigan home, started in eighth and steadily made has been doing well out west. Yes, Ramsey is on a four-stroke too, and he, like his teammate Ernesto Fonseca, loves the new bike that has been the talk of motocross enthusiasts everywhere lately. "Second place is all right for the first one, but I'm going to go home this week and do some homework and get ready for Atlanta," Ramsey said. "Riding the YZ426 out west helped a lot. Just the experience was good. If I had just come in here cold (Above) Travis Pastrana's hopes of his first 125cc Supercross title got off to a good start with a win in the East Coast opener. (Right) Nathan Ramsey (28) took the early lead In the main, bu1 ended up second to Pastrana. Nick Wey (23) finished fourth. eye I • n _ _ so • FEBRUARV21,2oo1 11