Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

BRIEFLY••• Mike LaRocco (5 1 and Ryan Hughes b attled hard at Glen Helen, taking f ou rth and fifth- overall, respect ivel y . Sophomore jinx; Frenchman David Vuillemin hoped that the misfortune he experienced in the Supercross Series was behind him. but his bad luck at Glen Helen was like something out of The Twilight Zo ne. In the first rnot o. the Team Yamaha rider was leading when he suffered a flat rear tire. forcing him to stop for a wheei replacement. In the second outing. Vuillemin was riding well unti l crashi ng wh en he hit a spectator w ho w as leaning too far o ut on to the tr ack . "l'rn disappointed. because every time I get on top. something happens." Vuillemin said. Contrary to what many assumed at Glen Helen, this was not the f irst National win for Timmy Ferry. The Floridian won the Mt. Morris. Pennsylvania, 125cc Nationai back in 1995 when he was a mem be r of Team Su zuki. Incid ent ally . that victory also came via 2-2 mot o fini shes. A large number of four -s tro kes we re co mpeting at Glen Helen. but alt ho ugh YZ4 26F-mou nted Timmy Ferry took the ove rall 250cc win. no ne of the m ot a wi ns went to a and then s omeo ne would come by m e an d I'd get c o v er e d." pec te d overall win . "Carmichael sprinted at the second p a r t of t h a t Hug hes p u ll ed over for n e w gog - moto . I knew I di dn 't have t o pass g les, bu t l o s t se veral spots i n the hi m t o get th e overall. I was a lready a p roc ess . H e g ot g o in g again , o n ly to stall the b ig H onda b ef ore the midwa y littl e bit t ir ed because that f irst m o t o w as o ne o f the tou g hest m o t os I've p oint. "I was stupid, " he sa id . "I le ft it eve r raced. I couldn 't re ally keep up in gear t o try to start it. Once I put it w ith [C a rmic h ae l] wit h o ut ta kin g a lot in n eut r al , I got it on a b o u t the se c- of c h an c e s . I en ded up staying pretty ond k ick ." con s i st en t. W in d h am kept m e prett y M oto-one -w inner Tortelli was al so havi ng t roubles, as he had gone down afte r tap pi ng Ferry on lap one, and was worki ng his way up after los ing several positions . "I h a d too m u c h m om en tum , and I h it h is rea r t i r e and flew over th e b erm without the b ike, " T orte IIi expla ined . C arm ic h a el h ad about five seconds on F err y at th e en d o f la p three , bu t he d idn't extend the advantage as m u c h as he's b e e n k nown t o d o . F erry conti nued r id i n g strong , with W in d ham o nce again doing li k e w is e not far back in third. " Ric k y' s rea l good at s p ri n t ing th e f irst couple of laps, but once he w as out there , I really wasn't lo sin g t im e to him or Ferry , " Win dham sa id . Beh i nd hi m was a three -Hond a battle between LaRocco and factory riders Ezra Lusk a n d Tortelli. " T h a t wa s kind of a pain in t h e b utt, " laughed LaRocco . " I was stu ck i n t h e mi dd le, going frontward and backward ." T h e trio went at it hard for f our laps, trading p ositions back and forth u ntil To rtelli crashed on lap eight , allowing Vu illem in b y . " I ca me too h ar d in the t ig h t cor ne r , a nd I h it t h e hay ba ils ," To rtell i said . "T h at t hrew m e off again ." T h i s mad e t he order Carmichael , Fer ry, Wi nd ham , LaRocco , Lusk , Vuille min and To rtell i , bu t T o r t e lli w e nt o n a tear after h is m i st a k e , overtaki ng both Vu ill em in and Lusk to assu me fifth . T hat' s the w a y they'd stay until the 13th a nd final lap , wi th L usk f o ll o wi n g T o r t ell i in sixth a nd Vuillem in taking se venth . '" did w h at I needed to d o in that m oto ," Carm ich a el said . "I p u t in an honest." eN G Helen Raceway len San Bemardino, Califomia Results: May 12. 2001 250 MOTO 1 (30 minutes. plus 2 laps): I . Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 2 . Timm y Ferry (Yam) ; 3 . Kevin Windham ( Suz); 4 . Mike LaRo cco (Ho n) ; 5 . Ry an Hugh es (Hon) ; 6. Ezra Lusk (Hon) ; 7. Stephene Ronc ada (K aw ); 8 . Rick y Ca rm ichael (Ka w) ; 9. Jo hn 250 MOTO 2 (30 minutes, plus 2 laps): 1. Ricky Carm ichael (Kaw); 2. Timmy Ferry (Yam ); 3 . Kevin Windh am (Suz) ; 4 . Mike LaRocco (Hon) ; 5 . Sebastien T ort elll ( Hon) ; 6 . Ezra Lusk (Hen ) ; 7 . David Vuillem in (Yam) ; 8. Stepha ne Roncada (Kaw); 9 . Ryan Hughes (Hen ); 10. Kyle Lewis (Yam ); 11. Joh n Do wd (KTM) ; 12. T ravi s Prest on ( Hus ); 13 . Spud Walters (Yam) ; 14 . Robbi e Reynard (Yam); 15. Demien Plott s (Hus); 16. Jason Thomas (Hus ); 17. Ted Campbell (Suz); 18. Bru ce Stratton (S uz) ; 19 . Scott Ca rter (Suz ) ; 20 . Ty Kady (Suz); 2 1. Ry an Clark ( Yam); 22 . A nthony A mara dio ( Yam); 23 . Jesse Bat h (Yam ) ; 24 . Zeb A rms trong (Ya m) ; 25 . Chris Sprenke l (Hen ); 26 . Shewn Wynne (Hon) ; 27 . Dus tin Nelson ( Yam ); 28. Aaron Dieter (Yam ); 29 . Josh Ke llog ( Yam); 30 . Krl s Papworth ( Kaw) ; 3 1. Scott Metz (Suz) ; 3 2. Denn is Stap leton (Hon ); 33 . Jimmy Wilson (Yam) ; 34 . Jaso n McCo rmick (Suz) ; 35 . Scott Davis (Kaw) ; 36 . Ja mes Povoln y Jr . (Hon) ; 37 . Sha un Palm er ( Ho n ); 38 . J i m my Lamastu s (KTM); 39. Ray Crumb (Hon); 40. Tlm Beatty (Yam). 250 O / A : 1. Tim m y Ferry (Yam); 2. Sebastie n Tortelli (Hon) ; 3 . Kevi n Win dham (Suz); 4 . Ric ky Carm ichael (K aw); 5. Mike LaRocco (Hon) ; 6. Ezra Lu sk ( Hon); 7 . Ryan Hugh es ( Ho n) ; 8 . Ste pha n e Ron c ada ( Kaw) ; 9 . John Dowd ( KTM ) ; 10 . Sp ud Walters (Yam ); 11. Robbie Reyn ard (Yam ); 12. Dav id Vuillem in (Yam) ; 13. Tr avi s Preston (Hus); 14 . J ason Th o m a s ( Hus) ; 15 . Ky le Lew is ( Yam ) ; 16 . T e d Cam pbell (Suz); 17. Anth ony A ma radio (Yam) ; 18. Dam ien Plotts (Hus); 19. Scott Carter (Suz): 20. Ryan Clark (Yam ); 21. D ustin Nelson (Yam ); 22 . Bru ce St ratton (S uz); 23 . Chris Sp renket (Ho n) ; 24 . T y Kady (SUI ): 25. Jesse Bath (Yam) ; 26. Zeb A rmstro ng ( Yam) ; 27 . Sh aw n Wyn ne ( Hon); 28 . Aaron Diet er (Yam ); 29 . J osh Kellogg (Ya m); 30 . Kr i s Pap wor t h (Kaw); 3 1. Sc o tt Me tz (S uz) ; 32 . Denni s Stapl eton ( Hon ); 33. J immy Wilson (Yam) ; 34 . Ja son McCorm ick (Suz); 35 . Scott Davis (Kaw) ; 36. J am es Pov oln y J r. ( Hon ); 37 . Shau n Palme r (Hon) ; 38. Jimmy Lam astus (KTM) ; 39 . Ray Crumb (Han ); 40 . Tim Beatty (Yam) . AMA CHEVY TROCKS 250« NATIONAL C'SHIP MOTOCROSS SE RIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 1 of 12 ro unds) : 1. Ti m my Ferry ( 44/1 w in ) ; 2 . Sebastien Torte lli (41); 3 . Kevi n Windh am ( 40); 4 . Ric k y Carm ichael (3 8) ; 5 . Mik e LaRocco (36 ); 6 . excellen t rid e and s howed t he g uys w hat I got. That first moto made me Preston / David Vu illemi n (1 5) ; 14 . J ason Th oma s e ven w a n t t o w i n more , an d I ju s t Antho ny Amaradio (9); 18. Damlen Plott s (6) ; 19 . (TIE) Ryan Clark / Scott Carter (5 ); 2 1. Dustin Nelson cou ld ri d e. " " I actu a lly had to pass a lo t of r e al l y go od r i d e r s t o g e t t o sec o nd pla c e," sa id F erry fo llow in g hi s unex - ca. M otoworldRa cing .com / An swer's Damon Huffman and Greg Schnell. M oto XXX/ DGY/Ato mic 22' s Larry Ward and M ichael Brande s . E-Z Wider' s Keith Johnson. and Lance Smail. Kyle Lewis rode well on a Moto XXX VZ426F. and Ryan Hughes of course gave Honda' s CRF450R its National debut. John Dowd put in a strong ride on his KTM 520 SX for ninth overall. Just behind him was White Brothers racer Spud Waiters, who put in an amazing 10-13 ride for 10th on his VZ426 F. Glen Helen was featuring an exciting new look for this year's National. with a second huge uphill joining now-traditional Mt. St. Helen's. The new sectio n - called Yamaha Mountain - was preceded by a b;g step-up jump that only the 250cc-c1 ass riders were cleari ng. The fo llowing descent was so steep that the rocks and dirt clods knocked loose by the bikes would frequently pass the riders as they braked down the hill. The soil was near-perfect. and riders and fans alike expressed enthusiasm for the new layout (though Ricky Carmichael did say the track was a bit fast for his liking). Glen Helen has been the roughest National the last couple of seasons, and this year's track was brutally choppy by day 's end. Lap times were in the three-minute range. which made for 13-lap motos. • Dowd (KTM); 10. Spud Walters (Yam); 11. Robbie Reyna rd (Yam); 12 . A ntho ny A ma radio (Ya m) ; 13 . J ason Thom as (Hus) ; 14 . Ted Cam pbe ll (Suz); IS . Travis Preston (Hus) ; 16 . Rya n Cla rk (Yam) ; 17 . Du sti n Ne lso n (Yam) ; 18 . Scott Carter (Suz ) ; 19 . Chris Spre nke l (Hon ); 20 . David Vuillem in (Yam); 2 1. Bruce Str atto n (Suz) ; 22 . Darnlen Plotts (Hus); 23 . J im my Wilse n (Yam ); 2 4. J esse Bath ( Yam) ; 25 . Scott Davi s ( Ka w); 26 . Zeb A rms trong (Yam); 27 . Josh Kellogg (Yam) ; 28 . Kri s Papworth (K aw) ; 29 . Denni s Stapleton (Han ); 30. Aa ron Dieter (Yam) ; 3 1. Scott Metz (Suz); 32 . Shawn Wyn ne (Hon) ; 33. Kyle Lewis (Yam); 34 . Ti m Beatt y ( Yam ); 35 . Ty Kad y (Suz); 36 . Jimmy Lama stus (KTM); 37 . Ray Crumb ( Ha n) ; 38 , Jason McCor m ic k ( Su z) ; 39 . J am e s Povolny J r. (Hen ); 40. Sheun Palmer (Han) . Ezra Lusk (30); 7. Ryan Hughes (28); 8. Stephane Roncede (27); 9. John Dowd (22); 10. Spud Walters (19); 11. Robbie Reynard (17); 12. (TIE) Travis foc u se d to w in an d ride the best th at I thumper. This was surprising. as the huge uphills made the added power of the four -stroke s advant ageous , and the 125cc class was stac ked wi t h st ro ng rid er s on YZ 25 0F s . Among them were Yamaha of Troy' s Nathan Ramsey and Ernesto Fonse- (13); 15. (TIE) Ted Campbell/Kyle Lewis (11); 17. (4); 22. Bruce Stratt n (3); 23. Chris Sprenkel (2); o 24. Ty Kad (I) . y Upcoming Rounds: Round 2 - Sacram ento, California, May 20 Round 3 - Mt. Morris , Pennsylvania, May 27 Weather c onditio ns w e re made to orde r fo r the Nation al, as light rains moistened the area prior to race day. and fog kept the temperatures In control through the morning. The haze burned off just as the first 125cc mot a was abo ut to start. res ulting in warm te mperatures fo r the rest of the day. A fter missing the previou s w eek 's Las Vegas Super cross with a crash -induced sore chest (that we failed to report in that story), Ezra Lusk showed up to race at Glen Helen. The Team Honda rider rode well to post a devilish 6-6 sixth overall, but admitted he'd been affected by the injury. "I bruised some ribs and tore some cartilage in between about three or four ribs," Lusk said. "It was pretty gnarly - I did everything except breaking them. It causes problems in your back and all kinds of muscle problems. I was struggling with trying to keep my back in line and to keep my upper-body strength up. It was pretty tough today." GNCC Champion S han e Watts showed up at Glen Helen and qualified for the talent-laden 125cc class without much problem. The Australian KTM rider is known for having fun when he races. and after finishing 31st in moto one, he intentionally did a huge. smoking burnout on the concrete launch pad as the 30-second sign went sideways to start moto two - a move that both amused and co nfused the other riders and mechanics. C ycle News test rider Chris Sprenkel rode the magazine's Honda CR250 test bike at the Glen Helen National. and he's planning to do so at the next five Nationals. as well. Sprenkel. who will contest the Canadian National MX Series after that point. worked his way up near the top 15 in moto one before being slowed by a fading rear shock. eventually finishing 23rd overall via 1925 finishes. Incidentally, this Is the same test bike that Australian Michael Byrne raced on at last fail's U.S. Open. A short vintag e r ace was held during intermission, with heroes of yore like Jim Holley . Marty Moates , J im Gibson, Rex Staten and dirt-tracker David Aldana doing battle. Holley took his Ya maha to the w in, eve n throwing a one-hander over a big step-up double on the . back straight. Several h e lic o p t e r s filled the sky over Glen Helen. including one that was painted red and sporting Woo dy W oodpeck er grap hics . The Briles Helicopter Service chopper is the same one that is typically hired to support Honda' s Baja race team. and that company's vice president was give n a rid e in it to th e race trac k . Many race fans capitalized on the opportunity to get a birds-eye view of the track for just $10. Incidentally. a smoke-tratlinq small plane put on a brief aerobatics display during opening ceremo nies . Though most knew that he wo uldn't be competing. many fans hoped that Supercross racer Jeremy McGrath would put in a spectating appearance at Glen Helen. The Southem California native did not attend the National. but he had a good excuse. According to his father Jack, Jeremy and long-time girlfriend Kim Maddox became engaged In the week before race day. No wedding date has yet been set. After nearly winning last year's 125cc title , Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Stephane Roncada put in a creditable ride in his 2 50cc o utdoor debut. finishing 7-8 for eighth overall. "The track was the roughest its ever been." the Frenchman said. "I had some suspension problems that I still have to wo rk on. My bike isn't set up the way I want it yet. but we're getting there. I felt really good out there. I didn't get tired. It' s a lot more work [in the 250cc classl . The bike's bigger. and there are mo re guy s going fas t. .. cue I e n e _ s MAY 23 , 200 1 11

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