Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Byrne despite several attempts , C a r m ic h a e l cased a jump in the rhyt hm section, allowing McGrath to close considerable ground . "I was actually surprised, because there was a perfect spot for [Byrne] to move over a litt le bit , and no one was behind h im ," Carm ichael said. "But that just made me a stronger person." "It seemed like I was staying pretty even with him, even though he had a gap on me , " McGrath s a id . " O f course , when I saw him make the mistake right there , I was like , 'Oka y, this is my chance; I need to get close to h im.' Th en in that far corner down there , I took a bad line . and he gapped m e again. " O f co urse Carmichael a nd Mc Gra t h b o t h did manage to get around Byrne, and the gap between the two stayed at jus t ov e r two seconds unt il near the finish , when Carmichael punched his fists in the air over the la st do uble as an impres s ive p yrote c h n ic s s ho w commemo rated t he occasio n. McGrath was a sa fe sec ond, ne a rly ha lf a minute up on Ferry in third p la ce . "I' m really hap py with my race ton ig ht , e ve n t ho ugh I di d n 't win ," McG rath sa id, a lready thinking about next season. "I' ve got to take it in ba by s teps, We m a d e some good strides with the b ike th is week , and it's m uc h -im pro ved over last week. " Ferry was happy with his performance, as well as that of McGrath "I'm reall y pumped to see McGrath come out here this weekend and ride really good to prove that he 's a worthy c ha m p ion," Ferry said. Next we re Fr enchmen Ron cada and Tort ell i, w it h Team Suzu k i's Kevin Windham spending th e las t hal f of the race in six th . After crash ing and completing lap one dead last, Am soil/ Dr. Martens/Journeys/Com petition Accesso ries r id e r Mike La Roc co could climb no higher than s even th b y night's en d, fi nishi ng ahead of Byrne and Moto XXX/D GY/Atom ic 22's Kyle Lewis . Blac kfoot Honda's Jean -Sebastien Roy completed the top 10 . eN Sam Boyd Stadium las Vegas, Nevada Results: May 5, ZOOI 250 HEAT 1 (8 laps, 1 ~4 tra nsfer): 1. Je remy McGra th (Yam ); 2. Mike la Rocco (Hon) ; 3. Da vid Vu ill emi n (Ya m ) ; 4 . Sebasti en T ort elli ( Ho n) ; 5 . J ason McCorm ick (Suz); 6. TImmy Ferry (Yam) ; 7. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw) ; 8. Dam on Huffm an (Yam); 9. Jimmy Wil son (Yam); 10. Dustin Nelso n (Yam ); 11. Ja son Thomas (Hus) ; 12. J am es Povoln y Jr . (Hon); 13. Matt Shue (Suz): 14. Ty Kady (5uz); 15. Brian Mason ( Ka w) ; 16 . B rian Edw ard s ( K a w); 17 . Ra ymond Sm ith (Ya m) ; 18 . T hom a s Ho fm aster (Ya m) ; 19. Matthew Bateman ( Ya m ); 20 . Ky le Williams (Yam) . lime: 6 mi n., 40. 29 0 sees. BRIEFLY••• W ith Universa l Studios' The M ummy Retunls opening at number one over the race we ekend , Team Honda ' s Seb astien Tortelli .was used as a promotional tool for the bloc kbuster. His factory Honda CR250R sported all black plasti c with giant scorpions, and his Thor apparel matched the all-black theme, making things a bit warm for him in th e hot sun during pract ice. Fortun ately, the gear wa s vented, and Tortelli had no troubles after the sun we nt down . " It w as super-exciti ng," To rt ell i said of th e prom oti on al deal. Tortelli' s mechanic, Shane Drew, was n't so fort unate. as his spec ial black s hirt was not ve nted , At a race durin g th e outdoor series - probably Red Bud - Tortelli' s teammate Ezra Lusk will don a them e prom oting th e upcoming Jura ssic Park III, Las V egas marked the Anal round of the Va n s Triple Crown of Supe rcro ss. and Ricky Carm ichael walked away with $2 5,000 for scori ng the most point s in the three eve nts . The time s they are a-changing: KTM qualified fo ur riders for the Dave Coom bs Sr. 125cc EastlWest Shootout - more than Honda (three), Suzuki and Kaw asaki (two each), Only Yamaha had more, with nine, Two Husqvam a riders also quahfied , and both European companies were repre~ented in the top four. Yamaha of Troy manager Erik Kehoe said at Las Veg as that former 125cc World Ch ampion Ales s io C hiod i has contac ted him about the,possi bility of riding the June 10 Sou thwic k and Jun e 17 Budds Creek National M X rounds , but he also said that noth ing has bee n final ized ye t. Ch iodi is currantl y riding for Free Time Yamaha in the W orld Championship M otoc ross Series, which has the month of J une off , Ther e we re a couple of Gary Fisher mountain bikes sitt ing in the Yamaha of Troy pits , thanks to a new sponsorship deal signed by t he team . Bo t h Just in Buckelew and Nath an Ramsey w ill ride Ga ry Fisher bicycles for train ing , but fe llow tea m rid er s Emesto Fonseca and N ic k W ey already have othe r bicycl e spon sors hip arrange ments. " W e 're goi ng to start sma ll and try and build it up , - Kehoe said of the deal. Compa ny namesake Gary Fisher is cons idered the inventor of the mountain-biking spo rt . In case yo u do n't yet believe that supercross is cross ing over into the mainstream, consi der the fo llowing list of some of the non m oto r c ycli n g- related compa n ies w it h se tups in th e Las Vega s pit s; Pioneer ste reos, Ford Ranger tru cks , EI M onte RV , Speed Stick deod orant , M ongoo se bicyc les, Skoal tobacco, and S tagg chili, The mo st popular thing in the pit s, however, wa s an M X free style exhibition put on by some of the top FMX riders. It appears that Frenchman Jean"Michel Bayle will not be cam paigning the 2001 Chevy Trucks National Motocross Series for 250 HEA T 2 (8 l aps, 1·4 transfer) : 1. Ricky Carmicheei (Kew); 2 . Stepben e Roncada (Kaw); 3 . Kevin Windh am (Suz) ; 4. Heath Voss (Hon); 5. Kyl e Lew is ( Yam); 6. Micha el Byrne { Ke w } : 7. Michllcl Craig (Hon ); 8. .Jeen-Sebestien Roy (Hon ); 9. Tra vis Hodg es (Ho n) ; 10 . Blair Morg an (Hon) ; 11. Ryan Clark (Yam): 12, Robbie Skaggs (Sua): 13. Robb Flath ( Ho n ) ; 14 . Anthony A ma rad io (Vern ); 15 . Don al d Upton (S uz); 16 . M ik e Ma son (Ho n) ; 17 . Michael Kann (Yam ); 18 . Joel Nelson ( Yam ) ; 19 ; Forrest Butler (Hon ); 20 . Scott Metz (Yam) . Time : 6 min ., 40. 950 sees. 250 SEMI 1 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer) : 1. Timmy Ferry (Ya m ); 2. Jason McCormick (Suz) ; 3 . Pedr o Gon zalez ( Kaw ) ; 4 . James Pc vol ny Jr. ( Hon ); 5. Thoma s Hofma st er (Yam ); 6 . Damon Huffman ( Yam ) ; 7. Jason Thom as ( Hus) ; 8 . Du st in Nelson (Yam ); 9 . Brian Mason (Kaw ); 10. Matt Shue (Suz); 11. J immy Wilson (Yam); 12, Ty Kady (Suz): 13. Ray mon d Sm ith (Yam) ; 14 . Bri an Ed wards ( KlJw) ; 15. M atthe w Bate man {Yam): 16 . Kyl e Willia ms (Yam), Time: 5 m in ., 12.620 sees. 250 SEMI 2 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): l. Mich ael Byrn e (Kaw): 2 . Kyl e Lewis (Yam); 3 . .Iea n -Sebe stlen Ro y (Hon); 4. Mich ael Crai g (Hon); 5. Trav is Hod ges (Hon); 6. Ryan Clark (Yam); 7. Robb Floth (Hon); 8. Donald Upton (5uz); 9, Blair Morgan (Hon); 10, Anth on y Amaradio (Yom) ; 11. Scott Metz (Yam ); 12. J oel Nel son ( Yam) : 13 . Forr est Butler ( Hon) ; 14 . Mik e Ma son ( Hon) ; 15. Robbie Ska gg s (Suz); 16 . Michael Kann (Yam). Time: 5 m in., 15.560 sees. . 2 5 0 LeQ (6 l ap s, 1·2 transfer) : 1. D amon Huffm an (Yam) ; 2. Jason Thom as (Hus) ; 3 . Jimmy Wilson (Yam) ; 4 . Dustin Nelson (Yam); 5 . Ryan Clark (Yam); 6. Donald Upton (50' ): 7, Robb F10th (Hon): 8. Man Shue (50'): 9, Robbie Skaggs (Suz); 10. Ty Kady (Suz); 11. Anth on y Am aradio (Yam); 12. Brian Mason (Kaw ); 13 . Scott Metz (Yam) ; 14. Jo el Nel son (Yam) ; 15. Bri an Edward s (Ka w); 16. Forrest Butl er (Hon) ; 17. Raym ond Sm ith (Yam) ; 18. Btelr Morgan (Han) ; 19 . Mik e Mason (Hon) ; 20. Matth ew Bateman (Yam ) ; 21. Kyl e Willia m s (Yern) : 22 . Mic hael Kann (Yam), Time: 5 m in., 24 .730 sees. 250 MAI N (2 0 l aps ) : 1. Ric ky Ca rmic hael (Kaw); 2. Jeremy McGrath (Yam): 3. Timmy Ferry (Yam); 4 . Stephan e Roncada (Ka w) ; 5. Seba sti en To rte lli ( Ho n ) ; 6 . Kevin Windh am (Suz) ; 7 . Mi ke La Rocco (Ha n) ; 8 . Micho el B yrne ( Kaw) ; 9 . Ky le Le wis ( Yam); 10 . .Jean -Sebe stlen Roy (Ha n); 11. Da m on Huffman (Y em) : 12. Jam es Po vo ln y Jr. ( Hon) ; 13 . Jaso n Thom a s ( H us) ; 14 . Th om a s Team Suzuki as planned . W hy not? " Bayle bailed ." laughed Suzuki manager Roger D eCo st er, who went on to explain that Bay le w ent down w hile pract icing at Glen Helen , injuring his ACL. " He was riding we ll at that point. but he would have needed everything [to be cornp etit ivel. ' D eC oster said. "He wa s a big help in out door te sting this year, and he may co me back from France and help with more te sting when he get s better. " Saving the best f or last was S t e p h a n e Roncada, whose strong fourth"place ride was his best of the series. Ho fma st er ( Yam ): 15. Pedro Gon zalez ( Ka w) ; 16. Mich ael Craig (Hon) ; 17. Tra vis Hodge s (Han); 18. Heath Voss (Hon) ; 19 . Jaso n McCo rm ick (Suz): 20 . Da vid Vuillemin (Yam) . Ti me : 16 min., 52 .950 sees . Margin of Vi ctory: 1.790 sees. Winner's Av erage Lap: 50 .647 sees. IES Af'IIA /EA SPORTS SUPERCROSS C'SHIP SER FIN AL POINTS STANDIN GS (Af . er 16 01 16 r oun ds): 1. Ric k y Carmi chael (3 9 2/1 4 wins ); 2. J erem y .M cGr ath (3 2 6/ 2 win s) ; 3 . Mike LaRocco (285): 4, Kevin Windham (260); 5. Ezra Lusk (254); 6, Timmy Ferry (221): 7. Stephane Rcncede ( 165); 8 . Dav id Vuill emin (1 5 4) ; 9. Michae l Byrn e (1 43 ): 10. Sebastien Tort elli (13 9); 11. Dam on Huffman ( 135); 12. Heath Voss (119); 13. Kyle Lewis ( 117); 14. Robb ie Reynard (97); 15. Jean -Sebastien Roy (78 ); 16. Michael Craig (76); 17. Nicholas Wey (72); 18. Casey J ohn son (66 ); 19 . Steve Lamson (5 6); 20 . J ason Thom as (53) . age , and sa id t he ne xt da y th at his hi p and s to mach w ere extremely sore. Bas ketball has the triple-double, but SX has th e quadruple t ri ple : The mos t noteworthy featu re of the Las Ve gas track was After lo oking strong in practice and winning his heat race, South Afri can Grant Langston made his KTM Red Bull bo sses nervous when he crashed hard in the whoop s during the main event. The World Champ was shaken up enough that he pulled out of the race, but although his right arm wa s bumed by his exhaus t pipe and his hip was ripped ope n by his rear tire, he didn't think he'd be affe cted for his much-anticipa ted N atio nal M X debut. a long rhythm sectio n co nsisting of 12 jump s , There was a myriad of way s to attack the section, but the fastest (and most diffi cult> seemed to be a series of fo ur trip le jumps. Eme sto Fonseca was the first rider to pull off that feat in practi ce on his VZ2 50F, The trac k also inclu ded a long whoop straight , a sand pit and two tripl es. Justin Buckelew had a scary mom ent when his VZ12 5 cut out off the face of the fintsh-line double, slowi ng his momentum and causing a trailing David Pingree to plow into the back of his bike on the landing. Though he pulled off the track, Buckelew said that he was okay, and that he would be bac k for Glen Helen. " I' m going kanga roo hunting !" That was Au stralian Michael Byrne' s descripti on of what he wo uld be doing during the outdoo r National s, as he was unable to come up with a satisfacto ry deal following the folding of TheEdgeSports.com Kawa saki . Byme will th er efore ra ce bac k hom e th rough the su mmer , bu t he was notably upbeat after Anishing out the Super cro ss ser ies ninth in po ints . " Everything happen s for a reaso n," Byme said, " I'll be back . " Ric ky Carmichael Anally doffed the orange Fox gear that he has wo m for so long for good luck, inste ad donning a set of special white apparel that Fox had made fo r him. "In a way, I was lhesitantl . but deep down . it's all what yo u do during the week, " Carmichae l said. " lt doesn't mailer what color gear yo u wear. " Still , he' s taking no c hances w it h his numb er fou r , w hich he will use o utdoors despite the fact that he is the reigning 250 cc champion . Although J eremy McGrath 's Mazda Yamaha VZ25 0 was stripped of its numb er o nes immediately after the last main eve nt of the season, Las Vegas prov ided proof that Showtime' s fans haven't forsaken him yet . M cG rath received a standing o va tio n during th e ope ning c er emonies, and his autograph line wa s co nsistently the longest throughout the day. - A s all yo u guys know, I hate losing. " M cGr ath said. " I'm going to be back next year, and I'm going to wo rk my ass off to get back up on the top of that podium. " Though it' s only M ay, the end of the Supercro ss Series provides somewhat of a seco nd wi nd for many of the ride rs, as they crank up their optimism for the approachin g Nat ional MX series . One of tho se was Gran t Langs\j)n , who - despit e having gollen KTM its fir st indo or win - is glad the stadium races are ove r. " Ther e ' s noth ing worse than racing, kncwm q that yo u can' t wi n a championship ," Langston said. " It's finished , and I'm kind of happy about that. N ow I just wa nt to come out and do we ll in the outdoors." Lang ston' s main co mpetiti on will be Travis Pastrana, w ho after strai ning his back in Las Vega s, may wish he had a bit more time before the Nationals got underway . W ith his SX injuries behind him , Sebastien Tort elli was also look ing forw ard to Glen Helen, though he adm illed that Ricky Carmichael would be ready. A s for Ca rmichael, he said that he wants to ret ain his undefeated reco rd at Glen Helen , and that back-to -back c hampionships would be " awesome," And although he was making no predi ct ions, he said he'd love to win eve ry race if there wa s no mud. Jeff Emig go t his t e le v is io n- an nouncing debut as a color co mme ntator for t he Pey -Per -Vtew broadcast. " I th ink th ey're kind of testing m e , " sa id the e rstwhi le owner o f TheEdgeSports.com Kawasaki. can get. The Ricky C armichael watc h con tinued at Las Vega s, with the Flori dian still play ing it cagey regard ing w hat his te am plans for 2002 . Alth ough he wou ld n 't divul ge w hether hell rema in on Chevy Trucks Kawasaki or move to a Honda deal (or some other arrangement, for that matter), C armichael did say that his decision is pretty much m ad e , and that only formalities remain before he mak es his anno uncemen t, hopefu lly within a month , Dr aw yo ur ow n concl usions. In only his sec ond race back from a broken colla rbone, Team Yamaha' s David Vuillemin went down yet again, slamming his side whe n he tumbled in the main event. The Frenchman took a trip to the local ho spit al to verify that there was no serious dam- Nat han Ramsey is also thi nking of his team plans for next year , as he' s 26 years old and is anxious to move up to the 2 5 0 cc class , which Yamah a of Troy doe sn' t campaign full-time . " It ' s time to do it, - he said, East S id e : N ot on ly did th e 125 cc East ern Re gion al riders up hold t heir ho no r by reta ining the Sho ot out cr own, bu t they swe pt the podiu m position s to boot. This on a hard-packed track in hot, d ry cond itions t ha t were about a s W est ern Re gi on as you c u e I ... n e vv s MAY 1 6. 200 1

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