Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

lLeft! Josh Demuth has acQusted _II to his Kawasakls, but It may have taken him a little too long to do so. Hewon Saturday's 250cc main, but sits tlfIh In points, 286 points behind Antunez. (R19htl Pedro Gonzales raced up front most of the weekend, but did not qualify for Friday's 250cc main. He got two thirds and a fourth In the other three mains, however. Morgan wasn't having much luck either. His already-sore foot was giving him pain, so he couldn't hang with the leaders. Once again, Antunez was on the move and pushing his way toward the front, as was Willoh. Willoh hung with Antunez for a while until Antunez broke away and caught up to Holland and Lange. The battle for the win was coming down to the wire when Holland bobbled, letting both Lange and Antunez by him. Antunez also got around Lange and went on to take the exciting win. Lange held on for second, followed by Holland, Willoh, and Chad and Keith Johnson. In the Dash for Cash, Gibson gated first and held the inside, while Chad Johnson tucked in behind him. Holland, Metcalf, Stephenson and Antunez held down third through sixth. But this race would be Gibson's. The Suzuki rider was in the groove and riding flawlessly. However, Metcalf was riding well, too, and he closed in on the leader. Metcalf got so close that he actually tapped Gibson's rear wheel and went down. Gibson went on to take the win and the nearly $1000 that went with it. SATURDAY Antunez picked up where he left off on Friday - out in front. He nailed the holeshot in the 125cc main and was gone. Willoh and Keith Johnson barely kept Antunez in sight, and that was about all they could do. Antunez went on to record the 102nd Arenacross win of his career and the second of the weekend. Willoh ended up second, followed by Johnson. Gonzales took fourth and Gibson fifth. Saturday night's 250cc main was undoubtedly the race of the weekend. It all started with Gonzales taking the holeshot, followed by Demuth, Brad Hagseth, Willoh, Antunez, Lacey and the rest of the pack. Suddenly, Hagseth and Willoh got together in a turn, and both riders went down, letting everyone move up a couple of positions. Up front, Gonzales and Demuth continued their duel for the lead that kept the large crowd thoroughly 'entertained. As the Gonzales/Demuth dogfight intensified, Antunez began closing in. Then things really started getting exciting. In a corner before a large tabletop, Metcalf and Johnson connected and Metcalf came up swinging. Both riders rolled around on the ground and flipped over a hay bale, putting them on a section of the track that came back the other way. The leaders just missed hitting them, as the three-way battled for the lead continued. Then more track mayhem struck (literally) again, as the frustrated Willoh knocked down Lacey and pinned his bike on top and held it there. When Gonzales came around and looked up, he had to choose a line around the fallen riders. His outside choice proved to be the wrong decision, and Demuth and Antunez both went under him. dropping Gonzales back to third. Demuth went on to take the win, followed by Antunez and Gonzales. eN 250cc MAIN (20 laps): 1. Buddy Antunez (5uz): 2. Darcy Lange (Kaw); 3. Rusty Holland (Hon); 4. Josh Demuth (Kaw): 5. Jeff Wilioh (Hon); 6. Chad Johnson (Hon): 7. Jeff Gibson (5uz); 8. Keith Johnson (Yam); 9. Denny Stephenson (Kew); 10. Nick Metcalf (Suz); II. Shawn Morgan (Yam); 12. Brian Foster (Yam); 13. Trent Hanlen (Hon); 14. Brad Hagseth (Yam); 15. Jason McConnick (5uz). KAWASAKI 65« INVITATIONAL: 1. Ricky Draper; 2. WII Hahn; 3. Aaron McClintock; 4. RIcky Lamontagne; 5. Bm. Pocuss; 6. Anthonay Griego; 7. Eric Kelly; 8. Chris Humbard; 9. Zach Larson; 10. Erie Dunn; II. Cooper Biller; 12. Chris Myers; 13. Jeff Specht; 14. Coby Meeks; 15. Jeffrey fisher. DFC (4 laps): 1. Jeff Gibson (5uz); 2. Denny Stephenson (Kaw); 3. Rusty Holland (Hon); 4. Buddy Antunez (Suz). EXTREME JUMP-OFF: 1. T.J. Russell; 2. Kevin Johnson (Yarn); 3. MIke f"\ason (Hon). Saturday 125cc MAIN (16 laps): 1. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 2. Jeff Wllloh (Hon); 3. Keith Johnson (Yam); 4. Pedro Gonzales (Kaw); 5. Jeff Gibson (Suz); 6. Rusty Holland (Hon); 7. Brandon Bartz (Yam); 8. Darcy Lange (Kaw); 9. Brad Hagseth (Yam); 10. Kevin Johnson (Yam); II'. Denny Stephenson (Kaw); 12. Josh Demuth (Kaw); 13. Mike Mason (Hon); 14. Tiger Lacey (Suz); 15. Ronnie Clal1< (Kaw). 250cc MAIN (20 laps): 1. Josh Demuth (Kaw); 2. Buddy Anl1Jnez (Suz); 3. Pedro Gonzales (Kaw); 4. Keith Johnson (Yam); 5. Darcy Lange (Kaw); 6. Brad Hagseth (Yam); 7. Jeff Gibson (5uz); 8. Rusty Holland (Hon); 9. Denny Stephenson (Kaw); 10. Tiger Lacey (5uz); 11. Ronnie Clal1< (Kaw); 12. Jeff Willoh (Hon); 13. Mike Mason (Hon): 14. Kevin Johnson (Yarn); 15. Nick Metcalf (Suz). KAWASAKI 65cc INVITATIONAL: I. Wil Hahn; 2. Ricky Draper; 3. Jeffrey Fisher; 4. Eric Kelly; 5. Coby Meeks; 6. Zeb Smith; 7. Anthony Griego; 8. Chris Humbard; 9. Ricky Lamontagne; 10. Brendan Dooley; 11. Broc Ridenhour; 12. Josh Kwepy; 13. Cooper Bitler; 14. Zech Armstrong; 15. Aeron McClintock. DFC (4 laps): I. Pedro Gonzales (Kaw); 2. Josh Demuth (Kaw); 3. Buddy Antunez (5uz); 4. Brad Ha9seth (Yam). EXTREME JUMP-OFF: 1. Josh Demuth (Kaw); 2. T.J. Russell; 3. Mike Mason (Hon). 5FX NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 12 of 17 rounds): I. Buddy Anl1Jnez (781/21 wins); 2. JeffWllloh (645/6); 3. Jeff Gibson (598/7); 4. Pedro Gonzales (566/2); 5. Josh Demuth (495/5); 6. Rusty Holland (482/2); 7. Darcy Lange (478/1); 8. Denny Stephenson (469/1); 9. Tommy Holmaster (357); 10. Chad Johnson (296); 11. Travis Hodge. (191); 12. Ty Wallace (186); 13. Nick Metcalf (183/1); 14. (TIE) Kevin Crlne/Brad Hagseth(176); 16. Mike Mason (165); 17. Greg Rand (143); 18. Brandon Bartz (134); 19. Marco Dube (130); 20. Isaiah Johnson (105); 21. Bryan Plcclrelll (83); 22. Mike Kalin (82); 23. Heath Voss (61/1); 24. Jim Chester (60); 25. Keith Johnson (49). IIenYar 1:81...... 1IenYar, CoIondo Resulb: feIInJary 11-17, 2081 Friday 125

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