Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

250 SEMI 1 (6 laps, 1·5 transfer): 1. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 2. Damon Huffman (Yam); 3. JeanSebastien Roy (Hon); 4. Dustin Nelson (Yam); 5. Jason Thomas (Hus); 6. Isaiah Johnson (Yam); 7. Robb Floth (Hon); 8. Bryan Piccerelll (Han); 9. Dax Kastrin (Yam): 10. Ronnie Ramiscal (Hon); 11. Isaac Funk (Han); 12. Tim Hawthome (Yam); 13. Todd Robertson (YlIm); 14. Nick Walsh (KlIw); 15. Jeff Hedden (SU1); 16. Tiger Lacey (SU1) Time: 5 min., 53.960 sec. 250 SEMI 2 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): 1. Heath Voss (Hon); 2. Robbie Reynard (YlIm); 3. Casey Johnson (Kaw); 4. Travis Elliott (Hon); 5. Thomas Hofmaster (Yam); 6. Marco Dube (KTM); 7. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 8. Ted Campbell (SUt); 9. Jason Frenette (Hon); 10. Jeremias Israel (Hon); 11. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 12. Brian Mason (Kaw); 13. Joel Nelson (Yam); 14. Brandon Hickman (Yam); 15. Kyle Williams (Yam); 16. Earl Ray Kephart (Kaw); 17. Doug Dehaan (Hon); 18. Chris Shellenberger (Han). Time: 5 min., 56.160 sec. 250 LCQ (6 laps, 1-2 transfer): 1. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 2. Brian Mason (Kew); 3. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 4. Robb Floth (Hon); 5. Marco Dube (KTM); 6. Jeremais Israel (Hon); 7. Isaiah Johnson (Yam); B. Jeff Hedden (SU1); 9. Da. Kastrin (Yam); 10. Bryan Piccirelli (Hon); 11. Joel Nelson (Yam); 12. Ronnie Ramisca! (Hon); 13. Tim Hawthorne (Yam): 14. Todd Robertson (Yam): 15. Nick Walsh (Kaw); 16. Brandon Hickman (Yam); 17. Kyle Williams (Yam); 18. Ted Campbell (Sut); 19. Jason Frenette (Hon); 20. Isaac Funk (Hon). Time: 6 min., 19.790 sec:. 250 MAIN (20 laps): I. Ricky Carmichael (Kaw); 2. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 3. Mike laRocco (Hon); 4. Ezra Lusk (Han); 5. Kevin Windham (Suz); 6. Tim Ferry (Yam); 7. Sebastj~n Tortelli (Han); 8. Damon Huffman (Yam); 9. Heath Voss (Hon); 10. Michael Byrne (Kaw); 11. Kyle LewIs (Yam); 12. Casey Johnson (Kaw); 13. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Hon); 14. Robbie Reynard (Yam); 15. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 16. Jason Thomas (Hus); 17. Thomas Hofmaster (Yam); 18. Dustin Nelson (Yam); 19. Brian Mason (Yam); 20. Travis Elliott (Hon). Time: 19 min., 4.580 sec. Winner's Average Lap Time: 57.220 sec. Margin of Victory: 2.820 sec. AMA/EA SPORTS 250 SOPERCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDING (Arter II of 16 rounds): 1. Ricky Carmichael (267/9 wins); 2. Jeremy Ezra Lusk rode well again, but a small slip cost him a would-be third place" The Honda rider ended up fourth. McGrath (235/2 wins); 3. Mike laRocco (211); 4. Kevin Windham (179); 5. Ezra Lusk (174); 6. David Vuillemin (135); 7. Tim Ferry (132); 8. (TIE) Sebastien Tortelli/Stephane Roncada (106); 10. Michael Byrne (82); 11. Damon Huffman (81); 12. (TIE) Robbie Reynard/Kyle Lewis (71); 14. Heath Voss (66); 15. Nick Wey (62); 16. Mike Craig (60); 17. Steve Lamson (56); 16. JeanSebllsti~n Roy (52); 19. Nathan Rlimsey (51); 20. Casey Johnson (46). Upcoming Rounds: Round 12 - St. Louis, Missouri, March 31 Round 13 - Pontiac, Michigan, April 7 BRIEFLY••• Team Suzuki's Travis Pastrana came to the Houston Supercross intending to compete in the 250cc class. since the Houston stop was a round of the Western Regional 125cc Supercross Series. Pastrana, who is currently leading the Eastern Regional Series, ended up injuring his ankle and did not compete. Pastrana injured the ankle when he landed from a triple jump wrong and rolled his ankle over the edge of his footpeg. Pastrana was still hopeful that he could ride on Saturday. but after completing the first practice session, he decided not to ride. He said that he probably could've ridden Saturday night but chose to play it safe. "If this was an East round," Pastrana said. "I would be riding tonight." Pastrana added that the ankle he injured at Houston was the same ankle that he hurt last year dUring the Nationals. "It's been kind of an ongOing thing." Next week at the St. Louis Supercross. Travis Pastrana is hoping to ride both 125 and 250cc classes. "I've been wanting to ride both classes since I was five years old," Pastrana said. -The guys at Suzuki are a little bit nervous because there is more of a chance of getting hurt. but I feel confident that I can do it. " The big rumor in the Houston pits centered around retired Supercross Champion Jean-Michel Bayle. Word from Europe has It that Bayle might come out of retirement and join the factory Suzuki team for the outdoor Nationals. Although Team Suzuki manager Roger DeCoster would not confirm nor deny the rumor. he did say he has talked with the Frenchman and has brought Bayle on to help the team's testing program. Bayle won the AMA Supercross Championship in 1991 then went to Europe in 1993 to pursue a career in road racing. Bayle is sixth on the all-time 250cc Supercross win list with 16. (Jeremy McGrath holds the record with 73,) Healing Heels: Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Stephane Roncada was a no-show at Houston. Roncada was expecting to compete after sitting out the previous round in Minneapolis with bruised heals. Roncada suffered the Injuries at the Daytona Supercross when he landed short over a triple jump. Roncada thought about competing at Houston but wanted to wait one more week; he should return to action next week in St. Louis. Blackfoot Honda Canada's Doug Dehaan struggled through Saturday's practice sessions with a sore wrist. Dehaan said he jammed his wrist. as well as injured the arches of his feet. when he cased his Honda over a jump. Dehaan said he was in a lot of pain but was intending to ride, however "it's going to be a long night," he said. Dehaan chose not to race after all. After putting in another consistent ride among the leaders and finishing fourth in the 250cc class. Ezra Lusk says he's feeling like his old self again. "I really feel like I'm back, and I'm really happy about that, - Lusk said. "I consider myself now one of those top three or four guys. I've got to keep doing what I'm doing and build off of it each weekend." Team Suzuki's Danny Smith was forced to miss the 125cc round of the West Series at Houston because of a broken wrist. Smith actually broke the wrist before the March 3 New Orleans Supercross. but he didn't know It. Smith got suspicious that something was wrong when. after a week went by. the wrist still hurt. Further Investigation revealed the dreaded broken navicular, which usually takes a long time to heal. However, the crack in the bone is a small one. and he's" hoping to make the next West Coast round in Dallas, Texas, April 21. The Honda team pits were a little busier than usual on Saturday, at least for a little while. Camera crews were in and out of the team's semi. filming a commercial for Honda and the company's CR motorcycles. The commercials are scheduled to air in April during extreme-sporting programs. Also. the team mascot. Woocry Woodpecker, was entertaining the kids around the Honda pits. Extreme athlete Shaun Palmer Is apparently taking his National MX debut at Glen Helen seriously. He's been hanging out and training with Ricky Carmichael at his home in Florida. "It's like boot camp down there." Palmer said. "We do nothing but train all day. Right now I am riding on Ricky's outdoor track with Brock Sellards." The Mazda Yamaha Team has been hard at work dialing in the suspension on Jeremy McGrath's VZ250. According 10 team manager Larry Brooks. McGrath's suspension settings have been too stiff, and they made changes. "We have changed to last year's suspension," Brooks said. "Jeremy did a lot of testing before the season. and we just forgot about last year's suspension, but as it turns out. this is the best setup yet." McGrath said, "Yeah. we've got the bike working real good now. but I just have to start getting more aggressive on it. " Speaking of McGrath, the seven-time Supercross champ has had many good times at the Houston Supercross. He has more Houston wins than anybody does with five. This year's Houston track was praised highly by most of the riders. The large track featured a long start chute, an over/under bridge, many technical sections and one of the longest - and largest - whoop straights so far this year. The 16-whoop section gave many riders fits all night. including Ricky Carmichael. Ernesto Fonseca and Justin Buckelew. who were among many of the riders who went down in it. Little-known fact: Ever since Ricky Carmichael came from behind to beat Jeremy McGrath at Anaheim III. Carmichael has led 98 of 100 250cc main-event laps. going into the Houston Supercross. After Houston. it's now 113 out of 120. The 250cc class has the Racer X Gas Card; now the I 25cc class has the Medic Gas Card. The Racer X Gas Card is a $250 cash award that goes to the "first- non-qualifier in the 250cc class. or in other words. the rider who finishes third In the LCQ. Now, the top non-qualifier in the 125cc class will get $100. sponsored by Supercross Series medic, Dr. John Bodner. Yamaha's team manager Keith McCarty said that David Vuillemin is coming along as good as can be expected after breaking his collarbone at the Minneapolis Supercross the week before. "The break was clean. which is a good thing." McCarty said. "It's pretty much your basic collarbone break and should heal in about five weeks, We're shooting for Las Vegas [for Vuillemin to make his comebackl." McCarty added that Vuillemin went back to France on Thursday [March 22l and will retum in April. The top privateer money earner through round eight of the AMAlEA Sport Supercross Series (money has only been tallied through round eight> is Planet Honda's Mike Craig. So far, Craig has collected $8801. Second highest so far is MotoworldRacing.com's Damon Huffman with $6238. Craig is currently injured and did not compete in Houston. MotoworldRacing.com's Isaiah Johnson had his 250cc heat race end abruptly after his bike's triple clamp failed and snapped in half. Johnson landed off a jump when the clamp gave away, sending Johnson to the ground. A dazed Johnson was not hurt in the crash and walked off the track, which is more than could be said about his bike. It was hauled off In the scoop of a tractor. Johnson came back in the LCQ but failed to make the cut. A small number of 250cc riders turned out for the Houston Supercross and, as a result, no preliminary qualifiers were run during the day. There was even a small tumout of 125cc riders, but one 125cc preliminary qualifier was run. Interesting Fact: In the 22-rider 125cc main at Houston, there was only one Kawasaki motorcycle in the race. It was ridden by Mexico's Erick Vallejo, who is backed by South Bay Motorsports. He finished 11th. Ever since Ricky Carmichael came from behind to win the third Anaheim Supercross eight races ago. the Kawasaki rider has taken the Supercross Series by storm. and the once-hunter is now the hunted. "It's awesome," Carmichael said of his recent success in the 250cc class. "It's all happening so fast; it's kinda like it's passing [mel by." Even though Carmichael seems to be in complete control, he's not taking anything for granted. "Every race it's like. 'Man, I'm glad I got that behind me." I think the guys are getting faster; they're racing into shape, and they're definitely gelling tougher every weekend. I was winning by 15 seconds at Indy, Phoenix - they're gelling beller." For the first time in a long time, Jeremy McGrath transferred to the main event through a semi. after his bike blew a base gasket on the start line in his heat. McGrath said there are definitely disadvantages and advantages in having to ride the semis. "The main disadvantage Is that you don't get to ride with the fast guys and get the pace going," McGrath said. -And you don't get a good pick for the start of the main. The advantage is that you're a little warmer before the final. What I was really surprised about was my gate-pick position that I got. I would've went there had I won the [heatl qualifier. Australian Michael Byrne was obViously happy about haVing cracked the top 10 of the 250cc Supercross Series. This meant that he could participate in the opening ceremonies, when the top 10 riders are introduced. Byrne showed up at least 20 minutes early. sitting on his bike and waiting for the ceremonies to begin. KTM's Grant Langston will head to Europe to compete in the next 250cc MX GP in Holland. It will be the 2000 125cc World Champ's only GP appearance this year. However, there's a chance that he won 'tto get to ride any this year. Due to the callie epidemic in Europe right now. there's a chance that the Dutch GP will be cancelled. Just West of the Astrodome, in the parking lot. a brand"new stadium is being built. Reliant Park is what it will be called, and from the looks of things. it's going to be a very high-tech stadium. Sf)( P.R. manager Denny Hartwig said. -It will be completed for the new football expansion team, the Houston Texans." The stadium will be home to the Houston Supercross in the future. The entire SplitFire/Pro Circuit team was missing at Houston. Not even the team's semi was there. West·coast riders Shae Bentley and Casey Lytle are on the injured list. but Bentley was In attendance watching from the press box. Look for Racer X magazine editor/ESPN 2 correspondent Davey Coombs to be hosting this week's edition of Motoworld. Coombs said that he was asked if he would like to host an episode of the weekly half-hour motorcycle show and he jumped at the opportunity. cue I e newvs APRIL 4,2001 9

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