Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAlEA Sports Supercross Series Round 10: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Unfortunately for McGrath, LaRocco and Windham, lapped riders became a serious factor, and the top five positions spread out a bit in the last few laps, denying the trio a chance at catching Carmichael. "Tonight was pretty bad for lappers," Windham said. "He got through a set better than I did with two laps to go and got like four seconds on me. That kind of took the wind out of my sails." "I needed to find a little bit of time out there, and I don't think I found it until about 10 laps into the race," LaRocco said. "Then I started getting my groove on and flowing, and that's when people started making their mistakes." Carmichael coasted to the win, with a lap-17 bobble in the whoops being the only flaw in an otherwise smooth ride. Collecting second was McGrath, happy with his ride and with his chances for an even better ride in the near future. "It was like day and night," McGrath said. "I feel really good about my race tonight, even though I got a little bit of a gift from Lusk and Vuillemin. I think I was riding more aggressive and making some passes that I haven't been doing lately. I've just kind of been riding. Tonight, I could actually charge, and I was stoked about that." LaRocco held off Windham for third, and Ferry completed the top five, saying, "I was having a hard time in the whoops, and that's where all the other guys were able to pass me. Around the rest of the track, I felt really good. I was just hanging on really tight in the whoops." Sebastien Tortelli took sixth after a poor start, Honda teammate Lusk settled for seventh, saying, "Settling's fine if that's what you have to do, but tonight I feel like I didn't have to settle. I felt like I was the fastest guy on the track." MotoworldRacing.com/ Answer Yamaha's Damo.n Huffman was eighth, and rounding out the top 10 were TheEdgeSports.com Kawasakis Michael Byme and Moto XXX/Atomic 22 Yamaha's Kyle Lewis. eN Tim Ferry (15) and Ricky Carmichael (4) vied for the main-event holeshot, with Carmichael getting the nod for the SFX money. Chasing were Damon Huffman (20), Michael Byrne (990), Mike laRocco (5) and David Yuillemln (934). SEMI 1 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): 1. Robbie Reynard (Yam); 2. Damon Huffml!ln (Yam); 3. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Hon); 4. Doug DeHaan (Hon); 5. Robbie Skaggs (Suz); 6. Jason Frenette (Hon): 7. Jeff Hedden (Suz); 8. Dustin Nelson (Yam); g. Robb Floth (Hon): 10. Kevin Townsend (Suz); 11. Shane Langdale (Yam); 12. Chris Shellenberger (Hon); 13. Cory Young (Yam): 14. Mike lzldner (Hon); 15.ISllac Funk (Han); 16. Keith Degrand (Yam); 17. Steve Drewls. TIme: 5 min., 10.430 sees. SEMl 2 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): 1. Ezra Lusk (Hon): 2. Casey Johnson (Kaw); 3. Michael Byrne (Kaw); 4. Kyle Lewis (Yam); 5. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 6. Jason Thomas (Hus); 7. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 8. Ted Campbell (Suz): 9. Todd DeHoop (Yam); 10. Mark Wundrack (Yam); 11. Thomas Kelley (Suz); 12. Brandon Hoff (Kaw); 13. Richard Wuori (KTM); 14. Ryan Pederson (Hon); 15. Vincent KlImow (Yam); 16. Greg Braet (Yam). TIme: 5 min., 2.970 sees. lCQ (6 laps, 1-2 transfer): 1. Jason Thomas (Hus); 2. Ted Campbell (Suz); 3. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 4. Todd DeHoop (Yam); 5. Mark Wundrack (Yam); 6. Robb FIoth (Hon); 7. Thomas Kelley (Suz); 8. Jeff Hedden (Su,); g. Jason Frenette (Hon); 10. Kevin Townsend (Suz); 11. Dustin Nelson (Yam); 12. Richard Wuori (KTM); 13. Shane Langdale (Yam); 14. Cory Young (Yam); 15. Brandon Hoff (Kaw); 16. Chris Shellenberger (Hon); 17. Keith Degrand (Yam); 18. Mike Ladner (Hon): 19. I.. ac Funk (Hon); 20. Ryan Pede""n (Hon); 21. Steve Drewlo (Yam); 22. Vincent Kamow (Yam); 23. Greg Braet (Yam); 24. Ryan Clark (Yam). TIme: 5 min.. 15.040 sees. MAIN (20 laps): 1. Ricky Carmichael (Kaw); 2. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 3. Mike lzlRocco (Hon); 4. Kevin Windham (SUI); 5. Tim Ferry (Yam); 6. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 7. Ezra Lusk (Hon); 8. Damon Huffman (Yam); g. Michael Byrne (Kaw): 10. Kyle Lewis (Yam); 11. Heath Voss (Hon); 12. Robbie Reynard (Yam); 13. Jason Thomas (Hus); 14. JeanSebastien Roy (Hon); 15. Robbie Skaggs (Suz); 16. Doug DeHaan (Hon); 17. Ted Campbell (Suz); 18. ..James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 19. CllIsey Johnson (Kaw); 20. David Vuillemin (Yam). Time: 17 min., 18.380 sees. Margin 01 Victory: 4.120 sees. Winner's Average Lap: 51.919 sees. AMA/EA SPORTS SOPERCROSS SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 1001 J6 rounds): 1. Ricky Carmichael (242/8 wins); 2. Jeremy McGrath (213/2 wins); 3. Mike LaRocco (191); 4. Kevin Windham (163); 5. Ezra Lusk (156); 6. David Vuillemin (135); 7. Timmy Ferry (117); 8. Stephane Roncada (108); 9. Sebastien Tortelli (94); 10. Michael Byrne (71); 11. Damon Hullman (68); 12. Robbie Reynard (64); 13. Nick Wey (62): 14. Kyle Lewis (61); 15. Mike Craig (60): 16. (TIE) Heath Voss/Steve Lamson (56); 18. Nathan Ramsey (51); 19. Jean·Sebastien Roy (44); 20. Casey Johnson (37); 21. Jason Thomas (35); 22. Isaiah Johnson (22); 23. Michllel Brown (21); 24. Travis Pastrana (18); 25. (TIE) James Povolny/Doug DeHaan/Craig Decker (9). Habert H. Ha_ph"" M~. Mia_pella, Mm-u lleults: MlIrCh 17, ZGIl HEAT 1 (8 laps, 1-4 transfer): 1. David Vuillemin (Yam); 2. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 3. Mike L8Rocco (Hon); 4. Heeth Voss (Hon); 5. DlImon Huffman (Yam); 6. Robbie Reynard (Yam); 7. Doug DeHaan (Hon); 8. JlIson Frenette (Hon); 9. Robbie Skaggs (5uz): 10. Robb Floth (Hon); II. Jean· Sebastien Roy (Hon); 12. Jeff Hedden (Suz); 13. Dustin Nelson (Yam); 14. Kevin Townsend (Suz); 15. Shane Langdale (Yam); 16. Cory Young (Yam); 17. Mike L.edner (Hon); lB. Chris Shellenberger (Hon); 19. Keith Degrand (Yam); 20. Isaac Funk (Hon); 21. Steve Drewlo (Yam). Time: 6 min .. 38.130 secs. HEAT 2 (8 laps, 1-4 transfer): 1. Ricky Carmichael (Kaw); 2. Kevin Windham (Suz); 3. Tim Ferry (Vern); 4. Sebastien Tortelli (Han); 5. Michael Byme (Kaw); 6. Kyle Lewis (Yam); 7. James Povolny Jr. (Han); 8. Ezre Lusk (Hon); 9. Casey Johnson (Kaw); 10. Jason Thomas (Hus); 11. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 12. Mark Wundrack (Yam); 13. Thomas Kelley (Suz); 14. Vincent Kamow (Yam); 15. Ted Campbell (Suz); 16. Todd DeHoop (Yam); 17. Brandon Hoff (Kaw); 18. Richard Wuori (KTM); 19. Greg Braet (Yam); 20. Ryan Pederson (Hon): 21. Ryan Clark (Yam). TIme: 6 min., 36.690 sees. 14 MARCH 28, 2001 • CO U CO I • n • _ OS After the 250cc qualifiers had been run in Minneapolis, it seemed that David Vuillemin's long slump might just be finished, as the Frenchman passed champion Jeremy McGrath in heat one to take the victory - his flrst of the season. The Frenchman's pass came just before the sixth of eight laps, as Vuillemin (pictured) snuck undemeath McGrath in the final tum. From there, the Team Yamaha rider held the lead to the finish, securing the win over Mazd.a/yamaha's McGrath, who had taken the holeshot. Collecting a distant third ,was Amsoil/Dr. Martens/Joumeys/Competition Accessories rider Mike LaRocco, with Minnesota's own Heath Voss taking the fmal transfer in the heat. "I hope to be on the box on the main event, and to show that I am still alive," said Vuillemin. (Indeed, Vuillemin started the main event on very strong form, riding well in second place, but his glint of hope vanished when he crashed and broke his collarbone moments later.) In heat two, Team Suzuki's Kevin Windham snared the holeshot, only to be quickly overtaken by Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ricky Carmichael: Carmichael cruised to the victory, though Windham kept him honest for a couple of laps. Windham eventually settled for second, however, holding off Team Yamaha's Tim Ferry at the finish. Team Honda's Sebastien TortelU capitalized on a crash by his teammate Ezra Lusk to take fourth and transfer directly to the main. "I was feeling pretty decent out there," Carmichael said. "I got a good start, but I need a little bit better jump off the gate for the main event." Blackfoot Honda's Jean-Sebastien Roy took the lead in semi one after getting by holeshot-taker Robbie Skaggs of Malcolm Smith Motorsports. Roy led for a couple of laps before he was chased down by 11lousand Oaks Yamaha's Robbie Reynard and MotoworldRac· ing.com/Answer Yamaha's Damon Huffman. Reynard block-passed his way into the lead on lap four, and the trio went at it three-abreast through the whoop section, with Huffman getting by for second in the following tum. Reynard led to the end and forgot to mount the stage for an interview, and Huffman cruised across the line in second. Roy was a distant third, with his teammate Doug DeHaan collecting fourth and Skaggs taking the semi's flnal transfer in fifth. Lusk got the jump out of the gate in semi two, but missed a shift and gave up the holeshot to Casey Johnson. Johnson and Australian Michael Byrne made it 1lleEdgeS· ports.com one and two for the flrst lap, but Lusk recovered to make an inside move and take over second. On lap four, Lusk again used an inside line to pass Johnson for the lead, but he gave up the position briefly when he slid in a tum. He took it right back in the whoops, though, then pulled out a gap (and a rare nac nac over the finish double) for the win. Johnson held off his teammate for second, and Moto XXX/Atomic 22 Yamaha rider Kyle Lewis was fourth. Completing the top five was Blackfoot Honda's James Povolny Jr. "AU of us like to do that kind of stuff," said Lusk in reference to his freestyle maneuver. "We're just not as good as Travis [Pastrana)." The Last-Chance Qualifier actually featured a pretty good race, with Fasl by Ferracci's Jason Thomas and F&S Suzuki's Ted Campbell going at it for all six laps, and Nicholson Yamaha's Jimmy Wilson lurking behind. Campbell had the holeshot, but Thomas got by on the first lap. Campbell held on to pressure the leader, and actually got by in the whoops on lap five. Thomas tripled a rhythm section to catch up, however, then got back by il) the following corner and took the win. Campbell was the runner-up and last transfer, and Wilson earned the Racer X gas card as the fastest rider not to transfer.

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