Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

"I got a good start, like top five in the first corner,' Vuillemin said. "Somebody stuck me on the outside of the second tum, so 1 had to go on top of the berm and a lot of people passed me on the inside and 1 was like around 15th place. 1 was like struggling with - kind of like - not too fast guys [that] did not jump triples. I lost a lot of time in the beginning. 1 tried my best and I came back sixth, and when I was sixth, Roncada was like 10 seconds ahead and I tried to catch a little bit, and I caught up to like six, seven seconds. I was like, I could not get him anyway.' Ferry ended up seventh, with Lamson a Husky-best eighth. "I'm really pumped with it: Lamson, whose previous best on the bike was an 11 th, said. "It feels good to be in the top 10: eN lieargill Dame &eel'llill AIIenta, Fe........., Z4, ZODI llesalt:l: HEAT 1 (8 laps, 1-4 transfer): 1. Sebestien Tortelli (Hon): 2. Robbie Reynord (Vom): 3. Mike LaRocco (Hon); 4. Stephane Roncada (Kew); 5. Dovid Vuillemin (Vom): 6. Cosey Johnson (Kow): 7. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 8. Jason Thomas (Hus); 9. Jomes Povolny Jr. (Hon): 10. Steve Lamson (Hus): 11. Ryan Clark (Yam); 12. Jean·Sebestien Roy (Hon): 13. Jimmy Wilson (Vom): 14. Robb Floth (Hon): IS. Donold Upton (SUl): 16. Michael Konn (Vom); 17. Kris Swoney (Vom); 18. Jeff Burkett (Vom); 19. Hons Neel (Hon): 20. Thomos Kelley (Sul). 11me: 7 min.• 26.720 sec. HEAT 2 (8 laps, )·4 transfer): 1. Ricky Carmicheel eKe...,); 2. Ezra Lusk (Hon); 3. Kevin Windhem (Suz); 4. Tim Ferry (Yam); 5. Heath Voss (Hon); 6. Michael Craig (Hon); 7. Michael Byrne (Kew); 8. Damon Huffman (Yam); 9. Kyle Lewis (Vom); 10. Robbie Skoggs (SUl): II. Kevin Crine (Hon); 12. Jeffrey Boker (Vom); 13. Thomos Holmoster (Vom): 14. Clork Stiles (KTM): 15. Kevin Beloy (Hon): 16. Billy Wood (Vom): 17. Nick Wolsh (Kow); 18. Chuck Shirley (Vom): 19. Jered Block (Vom): 20. Barry Corsten (Sul). McGrath and Carmichael shake handsat the end of the evenlngo TIme: 7 min., 20.720 sec. SEMI 1 (6 laps, 1-5 tnmsfer): I. Devid Vuillemln (Vom): 2. Jeremy McGrath (Vom); 3. Cosey Johnson (Kaw); 4. Steve Lamson (Hus); 5. Jeen·Sebastien Roy (Hon); 6. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 7. Jason Thomos (Hus); 8. Ryon Clork (Vom): 9. Donold Upton (SUl): 10. Jimmy Wilson (Vom): II. Michoel Konn (Vom); 12. Robb Floth (Hon): 13. Thomos Kelley (SUl); 14. Hons Neel (Hon); IS. Kris Swoney (Vom): 16. Jeff Burkett (Vom). TIme: 5 min., 28.070 sec. SEMI 2 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): 1. Michael Byrne (Kow); 2. Michoel Croig (Hon): 3. Heoth Voss (Hon); 4. Kyle Lewis (Vom): 5. Domon Huffmon (Vom): 6. Kevin Crine (Hon); 7. Robbie Skaggs (Suz); 8. Jeffrey Baker (Vom): 9. Clork Stiles (KTM); 10. Thomos Hofmoster (Vom): 11. Jered Block (Vom); 12. Nick Wolsh (Kow); 13. Kevin Beloy (Hon): 14. Chuck Shirley (Vom): 15. Billy Wood (Vom); 16. Borry Corsten (SUl). TIme: 5 min.• 48.030 sec. LCQ (6 laps, 1~2 transfer): 1. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 2. Juan Thomes (Hus); 3. Jimm{; Wilson (Vern); 4. Kevin Crine (Hon); 5. Ryan Clark Yam); 6. Donold Upton (SUl): 7. Robbie Skoggs SUllo 8. Jeffrey Boker (Vom): 9. Clork Stiles (KTM); 10. Thomas Kelley (Sul): 11. Michoel Konn (Vom); 12. Robb Aoth (Hon): 13. Devin Beloy (Hon): 14. Nick Wolsh (Kow): 15. Hons Neel (Hon): 16. Kris Swaney BRIEFLY With his Wln In Atlanta, Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ricky Carmichael extended an Impressive winning streak. Going back to the final six outdoors of 2000. Carmichael has won 11 of 13 races. If you throw in the Motocross des Nations and U.S. Open, the number jumps to 13 of 15. The win, which extended Carmichael's streak to four Supercross wins in a row, also snapped McGrath's Atlanta win streak at three. In addition to win· ning the past three, McGrath had two other WinS in Atlanta. Sebastien Tortelli was almost fully recovered from a lingering right shoulder injury at Atlanta. according to American Honda's Chuck Miller. °It's not a factor anymore in hiS riding, - Miller said, adding that Tortelll hadn't altered his training schedule throughout the convalescence. He continued riding. ° 0 Even though rain caused Friday practice to be cancened, American Honda's Ezra Lusk and Sebastien Tortelli were able to get some track time. The local CBS and NBC affiliates came to the Dome to film segments on hometown hero Lusk and his teammate, as well as Team Mazda Yamaha Racing's Jeremy McGrath. McGrath didn't ride, but the Honda team did. getting about 15 minutes of riding on a track no one had ridden on. The pair concentrated on mastering a speCific few very technical sec· tions. so that when practice began on Saturday they were clearly the fastest. Team Pro C"cult/SplitFire's Shae Bentley, the defending 125cc Western Regional Champion, showed up for the Atlanta race, but only as a spectator. Bentley is still on the mend after breaking hiS arm during round four of the Western Regional Senes at PhoeniX. "He's go'"g to get his cast off in two and a half weeks,o Team Pro Circull/SplitFire team owner Mitch Payton said Our goal is to let him heal up 100 percent so he can be ready for the outdoors" 0 Nicholson Yamaha/Mr. Roof/SoCal's Jimmy Wilson finished third in the 250cc Last Chance Qualifier. eaming the $250 Racer X Gas Card. The award is given by Racer X magazine to help the final racer who didn't make the main with gas money to the next race, In thiS instance. New Orleans in a week's time. Yamaha of Troy's Nathan Ramsey earned the $500 SFX Holeshot Award by leading the 20·rider 125cc peck into the first turn at the Georgia Dome. The $1000 250cc SFX Holeshot Award went to Team Mazda/Yamaha Racing's Jeremy McGrath. It was the third time this season that McGrath has won the award. Jeremy McGrath honored the late NASCAR great Dale Eamhardt with a special Bell Helmet painted by Troy Lee. The helmet featured a mostly black paint job with Earnhardt's distinc· tive 3 painted in chrome on both sides of the helmet and 'In memory of the Intimidator' on the back. 01 called Troy Lee on Monday after [the] Daytona [50Q] and I was like, 'Hey, what about this?" McGrath. a seven-time Supercross champion. said. °It's just a (Vom): 17. Chuck Shirley (Vom); 18. Jeff Burkett AMAlEA SPORTS SUPERCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 7 of 16 rounds): 1. Ricky (Yam); 19. Jered Bleck (Yam); 20. Thomas Holmoster (Vom): 21. Billy Wood (Vom); 22. Borry Cermicheel (167{5 wins): 2. Jeremy McGrath (158/2); 3. Mike laRocco (129): 4. Kevin Windham Carsten (SU1). Time: 5 min., 49.750 sec. !'lAIN (20 lops): 1. Ricky Cormichoei (Kow): 2. (109): 5. Ezro Lusk (108): 6. Dovid Vuillemin (100); 7. Stephone Roncodo (93); 8. nm Ferry (72): 9. Nicholos Wey (62); 10. Sebostien Tortelli (56); II. (TIE) Michoel Croig/Nothon Romsey (51): 13. Michoel Byrne (49); 14. Steve Lomson (47); 15. Robbie Reynord (44): 16. Kyle Lewis (36); 17. Heoth Voss (34); 18. Domon Huffmon (32): 19. Cosey Johnson (29): 20. Jeon·Sebostien Roy (28). Jeremy McGroth (Vom): 3. Ezro Lusk (Hon): 4. Mike LoRocco (Hon); 5. Stephane Roncodo (Kow): 6. David Vuillemin (Vern): 7. Tim Ferry (Yam): 8. Steve Lamson (Hus); 9. Kevin Windham (Suz); 10. Demon Huffmen (Yllm): 11. Jeen-Sebestien Roy (Hon); 12. Micheel Craig (Hon); 13. Jeson Thomes (Hus); 14. Michael Byrne (KllW); 15. Robbie Reynard (Yern); 16. Heoth Voss (Hon): 17. Kyle Lewis (Vom); 18. Cosey Johnson (Kew); 19. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 20. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon). Upcoming Rounds: Round 8 - New Orleans, Louisiana, March 3 Round 9 - Daytona Beach, Florida, March 10 Time: 19 min., 9.600 sec. Winner's Average Lap TIme: 57.480 sec. Margin of VICtOly. 2.62 sec. Secood Place Average lap Time: 57.611 sec. tnbute thing, kind of just a way to pay my respects. He was a leg· end ,n my eyes, too. And for someone in the racing community; it doesn't matter whether it's car racing or bike racing. you know it hits home. And to have a guy like him pass away like that. it's a tragedy. Such trio umph and tragedy within 30 seconds. Earnhardt had won seven Winston Cup titles and was going for his eighth when he died on the final lap of the Daytona 500. °There was a big impact with Eam· hardt dying,O McGrath's team manager Larry Brooks said. °To o wear a helmet is a small dedication to someone this great. Brooks said it was planned as a one-race deal and that it was appropriate that Earnhardt be remembered "in the heart of NASCAR country.o American Honda's Ezra Lusk also paid tribute to Eamhardt with a round sticker of Eamhardt's 3 on his Shoei lid. 0 McGrath added, 01 think this race, after what happened in the heat race, I felt really comfortable in the main and I think it's going to help me build from there. Every week. it seems. dang. I'm get· ting second, but that time I was staYIng close, he stayed right o there In front of me. Team manager Larry Brooks said the team remains focused. °We're not in panic mode,o he said. The only visible change to the program was the addition of Hot Wheels stickers to the louvers on the front of the radiator. Hot Wheels IS one of McGrath's sponsors. After missing the 2000 Supercross series due to an Injury, Ameri· can Honda's Ezra Lusk still doesn't feel like he's up to speed. -I really feel like I'm a little bit rusty still." he said. 01 don't know what to say. I try to ride every day, every week. and I try to get better and better, and I did. I had a good race this weekend; I think I felt pretty good. I had to shake off a little bit of nerves in that heat race. but I came back and rode a pretty good main event. I'm now an Atlanta native, so I live up here. And it's just great. I'm glad to be able to get up this moming and be able to ride to the stadium. 0 Fast by Ferracci Husqvama's Steve Lamson said the Daytona Supercross would probably be hiS last one of the year. -That's the plan,o he said. "Who knows7 At first the plan was to ride the first two, then the first five. 0 Extreme athlete extraordinaire Shaun Palmer has moved to Florida to train full time with Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's RICky Carmichael as he prepares to make his outdoor motocross debut in round one of the AMAIChevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bemardino, Califor· nia. May 13. "I've always wanted to see what I can do to if I pre· pare myself for racing motorcycles,o Palmer said at the Atlanta Supercross. "I've never been able to because of conflicts with other sports and my schedule That's why I moved to Rorida to seclude myself. see how I can do. I have no idea how I'll do. I want to see how I can do on a dirt bike." At Glen Helen, Palmer will race a factory Honda CR250 out of the American Honda truck. Palmer said that he's planning on dOing the entire outdoor senes, though it likely won't be with factory equipment. After Glen Helen. Palmer said he'd still be on a Honda. For the most part, Palmer has cleared hiS schedule for the next three months to prepare for the 250cc Motocross season. 01 just put a couple of other things aside. - Palmer said. Among his other projects is a new snowboarding video game for Activision, which he plans to have ready for a Christmas release. as well as promotional wor1< on the video game's behalf. 01 have a lot of other stuff going on, but. as far as sports, I've secluded myself to see if I could get it done,o Palmer said. American Honda's racing manager Chuck Miller said Palmer had discussed wanting to ride an outdoor National and said Honda could make it happen. Miller, himself a very successful off· road racer, said he wasn't surprised by Palmer's preparation. °That's the kind of guy he is. That's the way he does stuff, - Miller said. Jeremy McGrath said that he'd stepped up his training pro· gram since getting beaten by Ricky Carmichael at the Indianapolis Supercross two weeks earlier. -I've been wor1

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