Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAlEA Sports Supercross Series Round S: RCA Dome Then came Vuillemin who turned an early run into 10th. "I was in fifth and 1 crash around the middle of the race,' Vuillemin said, He added that his broken ribs didn't bother him. "My ribs are all right, I crashed, so that's too bad.' eN RCA Dome Indienepolis, Indiene Resuhs:FebruerylD,2DOl HEAT 1 (8 laps, 1~4 transfer): 1. Ezr8 Lusk (Hon); 2. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 3. Timmy Feny (Yam); 4. Michael Byrne (KlIw); 5. Heath Voss (Hon); 6. Mike LaRocco (Hon); 7. Ryan Clark (Yam); 8. Todd Dehoop (Yam); 9. Mereo Dube (KTM); 10. Ted Campbell (Suz); 11. Steve Lamson (Hus); 12. Keith Johnson (Yam); 13. Kevin Belay (Hon); 14. J8mes Povolny (Hon); 15. Bony Carsten (Suz); 16. Donald Baker (Han); 17. Aaron Mcintyre (Suz); 18. Mark Wundrack (Yam); 19. Stephane Roncada (Kaw); 20. Jeffrey Baker (Yam). TIme: 6 min., 33.370 sec. HEAT 2 (8 laps, \·4 transfer): 1. Ricky Carmichael (Kaw); 2. Kevin Windham (Suz); 3. David Vuillemin (Yam); 4. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 5. Robbie Reynerd (Yam); 6. Kyle Lewis (Yam); 7. Damon Huffman '(Yam); 8. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Hon); 9. Cesey Johnson (Kaw); 10. Michael Craig (Hon); \1. Jason Thomas (Hus); 12. Robbie Skaggs (Suz); 13. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 14. Jason Frenette (Hon); 15. Tom Hofmaster (Yern); 16. Steve Andrich (Hon); 17. Michael Kann (Yam); 18. Greg Braet (Yam); 19. Brian Mason (Kaw); 20. Travis Crowell (Kaw). Time: 6 min., 32.420 sec. SEMI \ (6 laps, \-5 transfer): 1. Mike laRocco (Hon); 2. Stephane Roncada (Kaw); 3. Steve Lamson (Hus); 4. Jemes Povolny (Hon); 5. Ryan Clark (Yam); 6. Heath Voss (Hon); 7. Keith Johnson (Yam); 8. Bany Ca",ten (Suz): 9. Kevin Beloy (Hon); 10. Ted Campbell (Suz); II. Jeffrey Baker (Yam); 12. Todd Dehoop (Yam); 13. Mer!< Wundrack (Yam); 14. Aaron Mcintyre (5uz); 15. Donald Boker (Hon); 16. Merco Dube (KTM). Time: 5 min., 5.580 sec. SEMI 2 (6 laps, 1·5 tronsfer): 1. Robbie Reynard BRIEFLY. •• Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ricky Cannlcha.1 did something in Indy that hadn't been done for the nine years of the McGrath era: he became the first rider other than McGrath to win three Supercrosses in a row. The last rider to do it was Yamaha's Damon Bradshaw who had a five·race winning streak during the 1992 season. Bradshaw finished that season second to Team Honda's Jeff Stanton. (Yam); 2. Casey Johnson (Kaw); 3. Damon Huffman (Yam); 4. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Han); 5. Kyle Lewis (Yam); 6. Robbie Skaggs (Suz); 7. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 8. Jason Frenette (Hon); 9. Tom Hofmaster (Yam); 10. Brian Mason (Kaw); 11. Steve Andrich (Han); 12. Jason Thomas (Hus); 13. Greg Braet (Yam); 14. Travis Crowell (Kaw); 15. Michael Kenn (Yam); 16. Michael C",ig (Hon). Time: 5 min., 7.170 sec. LCQ (6 laps, \·2 transfer): 1. Mike Craig (Hon); 2. Heoth Voss (Han); 3. Tom Hofmaster (Yam); 4. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 5. Keith Johnson (Yern); 6. Jason Thomas (Hus); 7, Todd Dehoop (Yam); 8. Robbie Skaggs (Suz); 9. Ted Campbell (Suz); 10. Berry Cersten (Suz); 11. Jason Frenette (Hon); 12. Steve Andrich (Hon); 13. Brion Mason (Kaw); 14. Greg Broet (Yam); 15. Mark Wundrock (Yom); 16. Jeff Baker (Yam); 17. Aaron Mcintyre (Suz); 18. Doneld Seker (Hon); 19. Travis Crowell (Kaw); 20. Kevin Beloy (Hon); 21. Michael Kann (Yam); 22. Mereo Dube (KTM). Time: 5 min., 10.560 sec. MAIN (20 laps): 1. Ricky Carmichael (Kaw): 2. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 3. Ezra Lusk (Hon); 4. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 5. Tom Feny (Yam); 6. Mike laRocco (Hon); 7. Kevin Windham (Suz);B. Robbie Reynard (Yam); 9. Stephane Roncada (Kew); 10. David Vuillemin (Yam);11. Michael Craig (Hon); 12. Casey Johnson (Kew); 13. Steve Lamson (Hus); 14. Damon Huffmon (Yllm); 15. Kyle Lewis (Yam); 16. Jezln Sebastien Roy (Hon); 17. Michael Byrne (KllW); 18. Ryan Clark (Yam); 19. Heath Voss (Hon); 20. James Povolny Jr. (Hon). Time: 16 min., 42.170 sec. Winner's Average Lap Time: SO.l 08 sec. Mergin of Victory: 12.200 sec. Second Place Average Lap Time: 50.718 sec. AMAlEA SPORTS SaPERCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 6 of 16 rounds): 1. Ricky Carmichael (142/4 wins); 2. Jeremy McGrath (136/2); 3. Mike laRocco (Ill); 4. Kevin Windham (97): 5. Ezra Lusk (86); 6. David Vuillemin (85); 7. Stephane Roncada (77); 8. Nick Wey (62): 9. TIm Ferry (58); 10. Sebastien Tortelli (55); 11. Nathan Ramsey (51); 12. (TIE) Michael Byme/Michael Craig (42); 14. Robbie Reynard (38); 15. Steve Lamson (34); 16. Kyle Lewis (32); 17. Heath Voss (29); 18. Casey Johnson (26); 19. lseiah Johnson (22); 20. (TIE) Demon Huffman/Michael Brown. Upcoming Rounds: Round 7 - Atlanta, Georgia, Fel'lruary 17 Round 8 - New Orleans, 'Louisiana, March 3 Kawasaki KX65. The family rides together on Friday evenings' at Bitlow and other tracks near their off·season home in Orlando, Florida. Griffey said the riders his son knows best are fellow Floridians Ricky Carmichael and James "Bubba" Stewart. As to whether he had a future in racing, Griffey Jr. said of his son, "If he says. 'Daddy. I want to race: maybe. This is just kids his age going out and riding. It's a chance to take it more seriously," Griffey said. Griffey and his family were waiting in the Team Chevy Trucks KaWasaki semi·trailer to congratulate Carmichael on his victory. Also waiting was extreme athlete Shaun Palm.r who was on the cell phone with Oakley's Johnny O'Mara, Carmichael's advisor, when Carmichael arrived. East Coast dirt: That was the subject of speculation prior to the Indy race. The West Coast tracks tend to be hard·packed and slick, with softer dirt, which ruts up, once the tracks come east. Mazda Yamaha's Jeremy McGrath has won everywhere, including Indy, but it was thought that the track would favor Carmichael. "There were a couple of sections out there that were pretty rutty, " Carmichael said. "It's not like it used to be. Dirt Wurx did a good job of prepping the track. They've all been to my liking. I've been having a good time at the races, adapting well. " The announced crowd of 55,912 was a 7.3·percent improvement on last year's count of 52,102. As all riders do, Carmichael thank.d his t.am after the race. but backed it up with specifics: "When I get a good start I feel comfortable. This year I feel like I can ride the pace to win and not be out of control and that's the kind of problems I had two years ago and my bike's working a lot better this year. That makes a big difference. You have to have a really good bike to win one of these things. Your bike can't be off at all because these guys run a good pace and they run strong the whole 20 laps. " The upcoming Indianapolis tradeshow forced a change in the pit structure. Instead of working out of their semis in one of the large exhibition halls, the teams had to work in assigned areas just off the dome floor. their semis parked nearby. Tbe hall the team used last year, which was mobbed with fans before and after the races. was being set up for the annual dealer trade show, the largest industry gathering of its kind. Former Supercross champion .......n"Mich.1 Bayl. was in Indianapolis. continuing to work with fel· low Frenchman Sebastien Tortelli of Team Honda. "He's already good. [Butl everybody can Improve," Bayle said. "It's nothing special, it's not a miracle. I just try to answer his questions. Give my point of view on any questions." Bayle said he'd be working with Tortelli for the current Super· cross season, but not the outdoors. He also said he had no plans to continue his road race career. Last season Bayle rode for Suzuki France In a number of World Endurance Championship events. "It's nothing I really want to do," Bayle said. "After, I think, a 500cc GP factory bike, it's not so fun." Mike Gos. .laar, who works on Ezra Lusk's Honda, showed up at Indy on crutches, the result of a riding accident at Glen Helen Raceway during the week. Gosselaar said he wasn't pushing his Honda CR250 when he landed badly, and felt something snap In his lower right leg. "They X-rayed it. I have a feeling it's something in the tibia·fibula area," Gosseler said, though he didn't know exactly what the injuries were. "I never even crashed." It wasn't the first time he'd broken the leg, which caused some confusion in the initial diagnosis. "You've got serious damage in here," he was told. He plans to visit a specialist when he retums to Califomia this week. Before tuming his talent to wrenching, Gosselaar was a successful road racer in southem Califomia. It was only the lack of backing which kept him from pursuing It further. Trey Griffey, the seven·year·old son of Cincinnati Reds' AlI·Star Ken Griffey Jr.. sat out the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge after a pair of crashes dUring an earlier practice session. The first spill was harmless and Griffey remounted. The second was more serious; he hit his head when he crashed, and spent some time on the track. Griffey Jr. said before the race that the whole family rides. "I cruise. There's a difference between riding and what I do," Griffey Jr., who rides a Honda CR250, said. Griffey's wife. Melissa, rides a Yamaha Raptor four·wheeler and their five-year-old daughter, Taryn, has a Yamaha PW50. Griffey said his son's involvement with motorcycles began when he asked for a motorcycle for his birthday. Now the young Griffey has a Honda XR50 and a Adding to his bounty of riches, Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ricky Carmichael took home the $1000 SFX Hol.shot Award in the 250cc class. Yamaha of Troy's Nathan Ramsey used the four·stroke power of the VZ250F to edge out Suzuki's Travis Pastrana for the $500 Sf)( Holeshot Award in the 125cc Eastem Regional race. Motoworld Racing.com/Answer's Damon HuRman made a return to racing after sitting out the Anaheim III round last week. Huffman injured his shoulder at Phoenix in an ugly crash, but finished the night out with a 14th in the Indianapolis 250cc final and said, "I felt OK today. I rode good this week, but wasn't up to race speed tonight. These little things keep holding me back, but I'll keep working at it . it'll come. " During the week before Indianapolis, Planet Honda and Califomia's Tyler Evans parted ways. Evans, who has been in the media's eye since an incident at the Millville National last summer, had been having a so·so year in the 125cc West wars, but many other things were going on than what was visible. Team manager" Jungle" Jim Chamberlain was a little reluctant too talk about the situation, but he finally gave in and said, "No matter what he thinks. I like Tyler a lot. I put my neck on the line for him and I'm really bummed and disappointed. He is so talented and has so much potential, but I don't know if he really wants it. We hired him because of that. but things just didn't work out. He said the bikes were not that competitive and there were many other things, too, but we just mutually agreed to split and I hope he finds what he really wants. Albuquerque, New Mexico's Ryan Clark became the first rider of the year to qualify for both the 125 and 250cc main events. The Santa Fe MotorsportslTroy LeelTorco-sponsored privateer decid· ed to give both bikes a try at Indy and the trip was well worth it. Clark made It out of the semi in the 25Occ, but had to go to the last chance in the 125s where he took the absolute final qualifying position in fourth. Clark finished 17th and 18th in the 125cc and 250cc finals, respectively, and carries the new title of " Ironman. " Speaking of lronmen, Pro Source YamahalThorlSunstar·backed Tommy Hofmaster just missed out on being one also. Hofmaster has been racing with success in the Arenacross series this year. but decided to switch to the Supercross series just days before Indy. The Pearl City, Illinois, resident qualified for the 125cc final in his heat, but finished In the first non.qualifying position (third) in the 250cc LCQ. He was this week's recipient of $250 from the Racer X Magazine Gas Card fund, though. Hofmaster finished 16th in the 125cc final. Fast by Ferracci/HusqvamalTroy Lee/DKNY's St.ve Lamson rode at Indy after some speculation that he may not race in the Eastem rounds. Lamson rode well and finished 13th in the 250cc final and said, "Daytona will be my last Supercross, then I'm going to start testing for the 125cc Nationals after that. " With the large number of riders showing up for the first round of SX on the Eastem side of the coun· try, a number of day qualifiers had to be run. SplitFire's Mike Brown, MotoworidRacing.com's Isaiah Johnson and Planet Honda's Matt Walker all won their respective 125cc heats, while TheEdgeSports.com·s Casey Johnson, MotoworidRacing.com's Keith Johnson and Pro Source's Tommy Hofmaster took the measure of the 250cc heats. Lemond's Charlie Dagner. lineman's Vin· cent Kamow and SplitFire's Bobby Bonds each won a 125cc LCQ and Blackfoot Honda's Jean· Sebastian Roy. Brenny's Greg Braet and Honda's Kevin Beloy all won the 250cc LCQs. Yamaha's David Vuillemin said he'd completely recovered from the injuries he suffered just before the San Diego Supercross. Vuillemin broke ribs in the practice crash, but continued to ride and race. At the San Diego race, he couldn't sit down. "I had to race to get some points," said Vuillemin, whose father has reportedly retumed home to france. What hurt the most were the land· ings. For the two weeks prior to the most recent Anaheim race, he's been mostly resting, training on his bicycle, and the improvement has been noticeable, he said. Since Anaheim, he's been able to train nearly full time. '1 trained this week, kind of. For the first time I trained pretty good. This week I rode a lot because it felt pretty good. " 10 FEBRAURV21.2001· cue •• n • _ s

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