Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAlEA Sports Supef"'Cf"'OSS Sef"'ies • Round B: Supef"'dome "I seen that rut there on the parade lap," said LaRocco. "I knew it would be tough. It was really deep, with marks from frames dragging. I think a couple 125s went down there. It helped me out; it gave me an extra spot." Carmichael now led over Windham and LaRocco, were quite spread wasn't too far back LaRocco isn't known and all three out. McGrath in fourth, but for relinquish- ing a position once he takes it. With the trailing riders smelling blood, McGrath had his hands full repelling attacks by Roncada and Vuillemin. Carmichael rode the final few laps flawlessly and cruised down the final straight with a huge lead, then pulled a one-handed whip over the finish double. (Right) Mike laRocco finished third In the main after capitalizing on McGrath's crash. laRocco continues to hold down third In the points standings. (Below) Stephane Ronc:ada rode strong and, after running third earty In the race, he came back to challenge McGrath for fourth later on. A late-race pass by David Vuillemin dropped Roneada to sixth at rac:e end. "It definitely gives me a cushion, but unfortunately, we've got a lot of 20 laps left," Carmichael said. "There's a lot of things that can Vuillemin came through in fifth, happen, but I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing." Windham was nearly 10 seconds ahead of fellow Frenchman Roncada, while Team Honda's Ezra Lusk was seventh after crashing off the track. back in second, deservedly happy on "I made a couple the early laps, and but he was the podium. of mistakes in you can't let that happen with those guys," Windham said. LaRocco took third to match his position in the' points standings, and McGrath held on for fourth. "I'm working so hard at home," McGrath said. "It's in my head - it's not like I'm tired or nothing. I'm just getting a little '" was trying to pass somebody, and got a little squirreled out," Lusk explained. "I ran into a little bit of mud from where the roof was leaking. I came back pretty good, but my grip was a little twisted in my throttle hand from going down on the concrete. I guess I'm living nervous out there, and a little pumped up." inside than I have been, and I Jim Holley filled in as color commentator for the television program. and Jimmy Button filled in for Holley on the webcast. BRIEFLY••• With the exception of a slight wiggle down one sideline straightaway, the Superdome course was fairly typical in layout, with the start straight running straight down the middle, a challenging whoop straight on one side, and a pair of triples thrown in to assure good airtime. That doesn't mean it was easy. however, as evidenced by Ricky Canmichael and David Vuillemin both going down hard while learning the track during practice sessions. The Dirt Wurx crew included three very technical rhythm sec:tions, all of which could be attacked in a variety of ways. The sections rewarded bravery and creativity, but punished any lack of precision. "The track's really good tonight," Jeremy McGrath said. 'The guys did a good job." Thundershowers struck the New Orleans area on Friday night. and there were even flood and tornado watches in the vicinity (in fact. the pits were quite flooded on Saturday morning). The event was protected from precipitation by the domed roof from which the Superdome takes its name, though even that developed a few leaky spots. Even with the leaks patched, it couldn't k_p out the humidity. An indoor pit area was provided for those who wanted to use it. but many of the factory teams preferred to worlk out of their semis. That decision made for more than a few riders and mechanics getting soaked between the rig and the stadium. ESPN's David Bailey was a no-show at New Orleans, as the fonmer champ was under the weather with an intestinal problem. 10 MARCH 14, 2001 • c u e • e and learning again. It's my first year all oYer." Despite a late crash, Team Yamaha's Tim Ferry was eighth, saying: "I tried to [start] more n e dale) rode his 3-D Racing/EZ Wider Yamaha in the 125cc category. Neither Johnson qualified for his respective main. Following Saturday's first practice session. Mazda Yamaha mechanic Skip Norfolk and the Team Yamaha crew were spotted swapping the motor on Jeremy McGrath's VZ250. Team officials weren't too forthcoming on the reason for the switch, other than to say that it was a "failure." Travis Pastrana was sporting a new helmet paint job at New Orleans. The creation of Pro Art Worlks, the lid featured a variation on Pastrana's signature "swirl" design, added to which was a pair of bullet-filled bandoleers across the top, along with a spearwielding muscleman on the back. It turns out that the scary-looking 125cc start-straight crash at Atlanta resulted in a broken thumb for AmsoillDr. Martens/Journeys/Competition Accessories rider Branden Jesseman, who is expected to be out for approximately five weeks. Fortunately, Jesseman's injured teammate Steve Boniface is expected to return at the Minneapolis round in two weeks. Privateer hero Heath Voss was absent from New Orleans, and trophy-girl sister Heather reported that he was suffering from sore wrists and an ear infection. Race chaplain Steve Hudson was celebrating his birthday at the New Orleans Supercross. Santa Fe Motorsports rider Ryan Clark qualified on his Yamahas for both main events at New Orleans. Clark finished 18th in the 125cc final and 19th in the 250cc main. Johnson & Johnson: There was aiso a Keith Johnson competing in each of the two classes. but in this case, it was two separate riders (though both were on Yamahas). Albuquerque, New Mexico's Keith Johnson rode his Motoworldracing.com/Answer Yamaha in the 250cc division, while Pembroke, Massachusetts' Keith Johnson (the same one who raced last year for Cannon- _. Rookie Bobby Bonds has shown the occasional burst of speed, but he's having some difficulties adapting to the consis· tently fast pace at the pro level. In the 125cc main, the Pro Cir· cuit/Kawasaki.lSplitFire rider started near the back but then climbed steadily to as high as seventh, only to experience an amazing series of mistakes that dropped him all the way back to 17th by race's end. Tim Ferry had a scary-looking crash in his heat race, cross-rutting in a fast rlhythm section and sailing off the track into the concrete infield. Fortunately, the Team Yamaha rider found the only soft place to land - an inflatable Thor billboard. "Something cushioned my fall, because man, I should have really got hurt," said a scraped-up Ferry afterward. With Ricky Carmichael heading into Daytona - the site of his first Supercross victory - on a five-race win streak, it's naturai to assume that the Florida race will be a gimme for the Floridian, but Jeremy McGrath is actually looking forward to the event. "I'm excited for a change," said the Mazda Yamaha rider, who has been doing some outdoor practice in the desert. •After a while, Supercross gets kind of monotonous, so it's good to break it up."

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