Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

(Above) Nicholas Wer had ret another strong ride to finish fourth. Among those he beat was Yamaha of Troy teammate Nate Ramser. (RIght) Finishing In the runner-up spot for the second-consecutive time was Mike Brown, who continues to impress with his strong riding. (RIght bottom) Tallon Vohland chased his teammate Brown across the line In third after a poor start. (Below) Mike Brown, Travis Pastrana and Tallon Vohland (left to right) celebrate on the podium. sey and Brown, the pair haVing gotten away cleanly. Pastrana made the pass on Brown and went after Ramsey, who fell down in front of him within sight of the finish jump on the second lap. By the time Ramsey got up, he was in 10th place, and Pastrana was long-gone. When Pastrana completed his first full lap as the race leader, he had about a 3.7-second lead, and he nearly doubled it the next lap. The race, barring a. mistake or misfortune for Pastrana, was over. "Everyone was going great, but I like diversity so much and this track is so unique, that I didn't put it on cruise control," Pastrana said. "But just riding like a practice, I was able to keep pulling every lap. Not to say that I had more or take anything away from anybody, because they were great riders out there. Tallon Vohland and Mike Brown were both flying, and if Ramsey would have stayed up, I'm sure it would have been a much better battle, but I just like this track so much. It suits. " Brown led Vohland for the first four laps, Vohland coming by over the start-finish jump to start the fifth lap, and holding the spot for the next nine, though under intense pressure from Brown. "It was tough in the beginning, but then he hounded me, so we were going back and forth," Vohland said. "We're racing at such a fop level, it's like any sport, that just one little mistake can cost you. And that's what happened." Just after the finish jump on the final lap, Brown moved by Vohland for second and held him off to the flag. "Hopefully I can win one of these," Brown said. "I was wanting to win this one, but I guess I was the fastest rider today not to win. Better than being last." Vohland said he knew Brown was pressing him. "We were going back and forth," Vohland said. "It was a tough race all the way, and I lost it on the last lap. That's the way it goes. My goal was to hit the podium today, and I did." After crashing in front of Pastrana, Ramsey had some ground to make up, and he did it methodically, mov- ing up one spot in the order five laps in a row on the booming YZ250F four-stroke. That put him in fifth, behind teammate Wey, on the seventh lap. It's as far as he would get, though not for lack of effort. Behind the top five, the race was mostly processional, positions six through 11 not changing from the eighth lap on to the 15th. eN Dayton. Inlllmlrtloul SpeetlwloJ DaJtan. IIacb, Asri'" llesulls: Ibn:IIl D, 2101 125

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