Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

led for another seven laps until Pastrana moved by halfway through the final lap. In the end, he lost three more vital points to Pastrana and was upset with himself for letting this get away. "I knew that he was coming and I knew he was close, but I'm a little disappointed because I didn't see the white flag," Ramsey said. "I mean, ('m happy with second, but I really wish I could have won. It's my fault; I should have looked at the flags. ( would have been more aggressive to pass him back but, right after he passed me, I was just like 'Don't do anything too harsh yet.' I saw the checkers on the next lap and was like 'Oh man.' I couldn't believe it. We are both digging deep right now and I'd really like to end the season with a win." Red Bull/KTM/Thor's Kelly Smith finished a respectable third. Earlier in the night, he finished a strong second behind Pastrana in heat-race two and looked very comfortable. After grabbing the main event holeshot for the second time in a row, Smith led for over six laps at the stadium that bit him two years ago. Only Ramsey and Pastrana would get by in the fmal, and it was easily his best ride of the year. "I led for a while and then I got a little tight and my arms pumped up," Smith said. "After Nathan got by me, I stayed with him for a bit and hung on to third. I'm happy to be up there. It helps my confidence. Next week it's at my house [Pontiac)." SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Tallon Vohland was fourth. The Citrus Heights, California, resident started in seventh and slowly worked his way to the front. It was somewhat of a quiet ride for Vohland as all the action on the track was either in front of or behind the likable veteran. Vohland had a rough start to this year's series, but his hard work and strong results since then have him in a solid fifth going into the final round. Team Fast by Ferracci/Husqvarna/DKNY-supported Christopher Gosselaar took his best finish of the year, as he crossed in fJfth. Gosselaar had a big night as he also took the win in heat race number one. Plagued with injuries and bad luck for quite some time, Gosselaar feels that he is back to where he was at this time last year. "Things have been getting better and have been going my way a little more," Gosselaar said. "I didn't get the greatest of starts and I've been sick all week, so I had a hard time breathing at the end, but I felt good all day." SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Mike Brown was sixth after being involved in a first-tum crash. It was his worst finish of the year. Brown has had a great Supercross series so far this year and he holds a solid third in points going into the final round. .'Ied In'" P b_. for bolla 1215 and 250cc ...... --1Iut, . ~ win 125cc cUM, PaIb_ c ' - not tID ecwi. . . . 250cc: ........ In'" four-stroke rider for a lap until the white flag came out. Ramsey somehow did not see the white flag, though. Pastrana pulled alongside Ramsey on a trick step-down jump. The two went into the next comer together and Pastrana took Ramsey high and took over the lead. Ramsey hung with Pastrana for the remainder of the lap, but it was too late. The checkers were flying as they came over the finish line. "I saw an opportunity, but I just didn't take it," Ramsey said. "I didn't know that it was the fmal lap." Smith was a distant third ahead of Vohland, Gosselaar and Brown, who had come up from the first-tum crash to sixth. "This is it, next week is the fmal race," Pastrana said from the podium, "It's going to go down to the wire and this race really put me to the test.· r... w8ltil . . . SLa--.-. ......, ...... 31._1 He needs to gain four points on Ramsey next week if he's going to take second in the 125cc East Series. "Well, I'm not real happy with tonight's result, but the year has been good - I'm excited," Brown said. "It's been better than any of my other 125cc years." Brown also has some big goals for the remainder of the season: •A top three at the [Las Vegas) Shootout is in my sights," he said. And when asked about the upcoming outdoor Nationals, Brown first said, "Firstl" MotoWorldRacing.com/Answer's Isaiah Johnson finished seventh with Amsoil/Dr. Martens-backed Steve Boniface and A.M.. Leonard/Sinisalosponsored Joe Oehlhof following in eighth and ninth. Team Suzuki's Ben Riddle completed the top 10, while Planet Honda's Matt Walker, Pro Source/Thor's Tommy Hofrnaster and F&S Suzuki's Charles Dunaway rounded out the top 13. Yamaha of Troy's Nick Wey had a rough night as he went down twice in the final. Wey was involved in a firstturn pileup and restarted way back in the pack. Several laps later, while making a charge through the pack, Wey was involved in another crash, this time with Randy Valade. He eventually finished 14th. After hanging in the points hunt for most of the series, Wey now has his work cut out for himself at the final round next 125 IIcat I (6 laps, 1·9 _ ...): 1. Christopher GosseIaar (Hus); 2. Bnx:k Sellards (KTM); 3. Nathan Ramsey (Vam): 4. Steve Boniface (Hon); 5. loIike Brown (Kaw); 6. Ben RkIdIe (Suz); 7. Travis Elliott (Hon); 8. Tommy _ (Yam): 9. Randy Valade (Hon); 10. Owles Dunaway (Suz); 11. Eric Kowalik (Han); 12. Paul Currie (Han); 13. Thomas Kelley (Suz); 14. Brian Stone (Kaw); 15. Jason Fonk (KTM); 16. Kenny Bartram (Yam); 17. David Oettel (Vam); 18. Cox Kastrin (Vam); 19.1'Iid1aeI Kann (Yam); 20. Ryan wallace (Hon). Tune: 05:54.330 125 Heat 2 (6 taps, 1-9 transfer): J. Travis P......na (Suz); 2. Kelly Smith (KT!'I); 3. Nick Wey week. He currently sits in fourth with 103, 14 points out of third_ MAIN Smith rocketed his K·TM off the line and into the first tum collecting the $500 SFX.com Holeshot Award. Ben Riddle, Danny Carlson, Ramsey and Plano Honda's Travis Elliott followed. Pastrana was around eighth. "I've been getting good starts on my KTM lately," Smith said_ "I holeshot the last race [Minnesota), too." Brown, Wey, Walker and Thousand Oaks Yamaha/Pete's R.V.-sponsored Jonathan Shimp were aU scattered throughout the first tum on the ground: Smith poured it on in the opening laps and put some distance on the pack. Ramsey worked quickly to the front as to not let Smith get away. Pastrana took a little longer to get going. It was not until the fifth lap that he moved into third behind Smith and Ramsey. Ramsey then pressured Smith heavily for several laps before passing him in the first tum. A lap later, in the same place, Pastrana moved by Smith for second. Ramsey had over a three-second lead on Pastrana on the eighth lap, but it slowly got smaUer and smaller during the next several laps. Behind them were Smith, Elliott, Tallon Vohland and Gosselaar. On the 13th lap, Pastrana was close to Ramsey. He hounded the cucl. (Vam); 4. Tallon Vohland (Kaw) 5. Isaiah Johnson (Vam); 6. Jonathan Shimp (Vam); 7. Joe Oehhlhof (Yam); 8. Danny Carlson (Suz); 9. Marco Dube (KTIII); 10. Travis Hodges (Hon); 11. lIIatt Shue (Su.); 12. Cory Keeney (Vam); 13. 1'Iott Walker (Han); 14. Scott Metz (Vam); 15. Josh Whitmire(Yam); 16. Charlie Degner (Hon); 17. Michael Campbell (Vam); 18. Greg Braet (Vam); 19. Jon Rudolph (Vam); 20. Mike Kalin (Yam). Tune: 05:45.no 125 LCQ (4 laps, 1-4 _ ...): I. Mall Walke< (Hon); 2. Paul Currie (Hon); 3. Charles Dunaway (Suz); 4. Cory Keeney (Yam); 5. I'Ialt Shoe (Suz); 6. Thomas Kelley (Suz); 7. Eric KwaJik (Hon); 8. Saxt !'leu (Vam): 9. Kenny Bartram (Vam); 10. Josh WIUtmire (Vam); II. 1'IichaeI Campbell (Vam); 12. Cox Kastrin (Yam); 13. Charlie llagner (Hon); 14. Brian Stone (Kaw); 15. Jason Fonk (KTM); 16. Ryan Wallace (Han); 17. David Oettel (Vam); 18. Mike Kann (Vam); 19. Jon Rudolph (Vam); 20. Travis Hodges (Hon); 2L G

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