Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128100
Hilton-WestlYamaha Dealers Arena-Motocross Championships turnout wasn't quite what they were probably expecting, the 2000 spectators and numerous top So-Ca I pros who showed up for the show didn't go home disappointed. Among the riders entered for the brand-new event were Yamaha of Troy's Justin Buckelew, Red Bull KTM's David Pingree, Fast By Ferracci Husqvarna's Bryan McGavran, MotoworldRacing.com's Kevin Johnson, Plano Honda's Ivan Tedesco, and five-time defending National Arenacross Champion Buddy Antunez. Add to that a mix of super-fast local So-Cal hot shoes, place the riders on a track on which you can't pass without "getting physical," and you've got a serious recipe for excitement. 12Scc MAIN Buckelew, who's known for his holeshots, made good on his reputa- BY STEVE Cox PHOTOS BY MIKE BASSO COSTA MESA, CA, MAR 31 n 2001, Southern California was the site of four EA Sports Supercross events (heck, Orange County hosted three of them), and it will be the site yet again - of the opening round of the Chevy Trucks National Motocross Series come May (still on Mother's Day!), so what can the spoiled-rotten motoheads of this fine area of the country possibly have left to desire? An Arenacross, that's what. The Sf)( National Arenacross Series consists of 17 rounds, which each include two nights of double-class racing, and not one round makes a stop in Southern California. Everyone knows we have the proper facilities, including the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, and the no-longer-used Forum and currently occupied Staples Center, both in Los Angeles. Why can't we have an Arenacross of our own? Well, now we do. Hilton-West Promotions posed a question: If we waited until the 125cc West Coast Supercross Series was on hiatus, and the SFX National Arenacross Series was over for the year - and we put a lot of money up for grabs - could we get the fastest West Coast pros to show up at an Arenacross at an 'unproven venue? It seems the answer to that question is yes and, although the fan I 36 APRIL 18. 2001 • c u e • _ tion by grabbing the lead at the start of the 125cc main. Pingree started right behind the YoT phenom, while So-Cal pro Turbo Reif, Antunez and Johnson gave chase. Honda riders Michael Young and Tedesco started near the back, but were moving fast as was last-place starter McGavran, who passed Pingree on his way to winning heat two earlier in the night. By the end of lap two, McGavran had already passed up to sixth, partially thanks to sheer speed and determination, and partially thanks to his competition hitting the dirt like the Iraqi Army during Operation Desert Storm. On a course that featured very short lap times, the leaders ran into lapped traffic on the fourth circuit. However, by that time, Young had already crashed into Tedesco - who proceeded to drag Young's bike (which was presumably trying to make a baby CR125, judging by the way it ,latched on to the Plano Honda) about halfway down the start straight before the IMS Honda finally let go and Reif had already made an offtrack excursion while running third, handing the position to Antunez. McGavran made an aggressive pass on Jeremy Chaussee for fifth heading on to the start straight on (Above) Five-time Arenacross Champion Buddy Antunez (i) took the 250cc main-event win handily over the two most consistent riders of the night, David Pingree (46) and Kevin Johnson (757), in Costa Mesa, Callfomla. (Right) Ivan Tedesco (42) grabbed the holeshot and promptly fell at the start of 125cc heat two. Pingree (46) led early, but Bryan McGavran (131) passed him for the win. (Below) Justin Buckelew led from start to finish in the 125cc main, but a poor start and a fall kept him from challenging in the 250cc class. lap three, and he set out after the leaders. The running order after four laps was Buckelew, Pingree, Antunez, Johnson and McGavran, and Tedesco was gaining quickly on the top five, who were all pretty heavy into lappers. And then all hell broke loose. First, Tedesco stuffed his way past McGavran and into fifth on lap five. Then, on the following lap, a lapper fell right in front of the leaders, which allowed Antunez to dive underneath Pingree for second. Antunez began pressuring Buckelew, while Pingree got stuck behind some stubborn lappers and lost time to the leaders. As Antunez pushed Buckelew for the lead, a lapper cut over on Antunez before the biggest jump on the track and he cut left to avoid hitting the slower rider, only to contact a hay n __ s