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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SFX/lFMA Freestyle MX Series Rounds 13/14: Gund Arena land, and was back jumping (unbeknownst to his doctor) for the first time since breaking his wrist late last year. Vines, who grew up racing in the area, didn't want to let his fans down by not competing. "I wouldn't be jumping tonight if we were somewhere else," he said. STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOEY CASEy/PRACTICE TRACK MAGAZINE CLEVELAND, OH, FEB. 16·17 inter X Games Gold Medallist "Mad" Mike Jones probably isn't too mad about his '01 season. So far, the "Grandfather of FMX" remains undefeated this year following a pair of wins in Cleveland, Ohio's Gund Arena. The St. Louis Powersports Kawasaki rider started his streak at the European Extreme Games in Germany, and recently won a gold medal at the Winter X Games. Jones brought the crowd to its loudest both nights with an arsenal of tricks that looked impossible to land, including almostupside-down one-footed tabletops, and his newest trick, the "kiss of death." Jones was as consistent on Friday as he was in front of Saturday night's sellout crowd, scoring 94 on both nights. It was SFX's third sellout so far this year. For only the second weekend in competition, Sheps Yamaha's Kenny Bartram was aboard the new YZ250F. Bartram's biggest tricks were his patented "Bart Attacks" and his double seat-grab indian airs. His run was "I'm not 100 percent yet." Vines missed the final on Friday by one position and became the first- good enough to finish second on Friday. Saturday night saw Bartram stall the 2!2.-0F in the main, with everyone looking on eagerly to see if he could refire the hot four-stroke motor in time to continue his run. Four kicks later, he was on his way again, but the mistake still cost him a spot on the podium (he finished fourth). Metzger Motorsports' Drake McElroy was on fire all weekend, finishing runner-up to Jones on Saturday, after a third place on Friday. Drake's no footed, tabletopped nac nacs are getting bigger every weekend. He throws his bike into a tabletop while doing a no-footed nac-nac. Ironically, his teammate, best friend, and rival, Dustin Miller finished right behind him on both nights. One of Miller's high-scoring tricks is the "switchblade," a trick where he turns his body all the way around backwards and holds the bike off to his side. He also was doing look-back Hart attacks, Tommy Clowers-style. Miller's run on both nights was scored at 90.5, good enough for fourth on Friday, and an improvement to third on Saturday. Sobe Yamaha's Trevor Vines made his return to competition in Cleve- cue. _ ever recipient of the Practice Track Puckered Starfish Award, a $50 dollar prize similar to Racer X's $250 Supercross Gas Card, gong to the rider who just misses making the main. Vines faired much better on Saturday, though his score doesn't show it. On his last jump, he came up a couple of feet short on the landing and crashed while attempting to land a sterilizer. Vines' sixth-place finish would have been much higher had he landed his final trick. Sixteen-year-old high school sophomore Nate Adams made both mains in Cleveland after coming off his second win of the series in Cleveland. Adams, who is already performing the kiss of death, finished seventh with a score of 83.5 on Friday. The Suzuki rider upped his Saturday-night score to an 89.5, and the crowd booed when it wasn't good enough to get him into the hot seat (some felt his run was the best one until Miller, McElroy, and Jones took to the course). I:N &undAnlna Cleveland, Ohio Results: february 18-17, ZOOl FRI: 1. Mike Jones (Kew); 2. Kenny B'Hlrem (Vern); 3. Drake McElroy (Hon); 4. Dustin Miller (Hon); 5. Jake Windham (SU1); 6. Robert Distler (Hon); 7. No... Adorns (Suz); 8. Don Postor (Hon). SAT: 1. Mike Jones (Kew): 2. Dreke McElroy (Hon); 3. Dustin Miller (Hon); 4. Kenny Bartrem (Yam); 5. Nate Adems (Suz); 6. Trevor Vines (Vern); 7. Jimmie McGuire (Yam): 8. ~n Pastor (Hon). SFX/IFI'lA FREESTYLE SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 14 of 22 rounds): t. Dustin Miller (545); 2. Droke McElroy (542): 3. Note Adorns (522); 4. (TIE) Joke Wondhom/Dove Tuner (464); 6. Robert Distler (436); 7. Mike Jones (400); 8. Jimmie McGuire (394): 9. Jeff Dootzer (37B); 10. Kenny Borttllm (337); II. Don Postor (305); 12. Andy Bell (254); 13. John Distler (234): 14. Jeff TIlton (187); 15. Brion Downing (148): 16. Jesse Olson (143); 17. Joson Thome (129); lB. Chris O'Neol (87): 19. Ronme Renner (82): 20. Rudy Woller (76). n _ _ :s • MARCH 7, 2001 41