Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

(Left) Kevin Windham was hoping to win his second National in a row but had to settle for third. (Above) Mike laRocco gave the CRF450R a try at Millville. His results were about the same, but he liked the bike. loser and I definitely don't want to do that again." Fourth overall at Millville was Amsoil/Dr. Marten's/Journey's/Competition Accessories-backed Mike LaRocco. The Indianan made his debut aboard Honda's revolutionary CRF450R four-stroke and rode well all day aboard the new bike that he had only ridden a few times prior to Millville. LaRocco had good things to say about the bike that was vacated by the injured Ryan Hughes. The longtime motocross veteran rode to a 4-5 score and will ride the bike at the remaining two rounds. "This bike is good and it's fun and easy to ride," LaRocco said. "I learned a lot today. We made a few changes after the first moto and it felt good. I tested it for about four days, but when I rode it yesterday, I felt a little awkward. It went much better today. I'll sum it up by saying that I really learned a lot." And when asked about his future plans for the bike, LaRocco said, "I'll test and compare both bikes this fall and there is a chance I could ride it next year, but I'll choose whichever bike I feel more at home on." Team Yamaha/Fox-sponsored David Vuillemin was next on the leaderboard. The native of France rode to a 6-4 score on the sandy circuit and was somewhat pleased with his ride. Vuillemin has had a rough season with several injuries, and he now feels that he is back to 100 percent. He has re-signed a contract with Yamaha for the '02 season and will have several changes that he is looking forward to, as well. "I am progressing every weekend and I'm feeling better," Vuillemin said. "I was kind of sick in the first moto, but took some medicine and felt better the second time. I felt like I rode okay today." Team Honda's Sebastien Tortelli had a quiet day even though he was in the thick of things for most of it. After finishing fifth in the first moto, the Frenchman gated poorly the second time out and ended the first lap in 20th. He worked up to sixth by the moto's end and also took sixth overall for the day. "I got poor starts and then everybody was gone," Tortelli said. "I need to work on my starts, but I felt that I rode aII right." Cernics.com/PCWorldwide.com/ KTM-mounted John Dowd finished seventh overall. The 30-somethingyear-old grabbed the holeshot in the first moto aboard his 520cc machine, but it was not enough to hold off the young lions that now rule the sport. Still, an 8- 7 for seventh overall is respectable for one of the sport's icons that goes at it every week. "I got good starts today, but I'm just not quite keeping up with the front-runners these days," Dowd said matter-offactly. "I don't have a lot of pressure out there and I'm just doing what I want to do. I mean, I'm giving it effort, but I'm slowing down. [But] I think I'll give it another shot next year." Thousand Oaks Yamaha/Pete's RV /Reynard Modification's Robbie Reynard was eighth (9-8) and Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Stephane Roncada was ninth (7-13). Roncada had one of his rougher outings as of late and said, "I really sucked today. I rode real good at Washougal, even with a flat tire, but today was bad. No excuse, I was terrible." over Ferry. Two laps later, the speedster had a 10-second advantage and had obviously checked out. Vuillemin held a solid third for most of the moto, but he began to slip in the closing laps. Windham was on his tail just as the two entered Spring Creek's infamous sandwhoops on the 11 th lap. He got by the Yamaha-mounted Vuillemin and was in the third position as they exited the section. "I was running third, but had a bad stomach ache," Vuillemin said. "I'll take some medicine and try again." LaRocco and Tortelli would strike the wounded Vuillemin next, and they moved into fourth and fifth, respectably, over the next two laps. The man on the move, however, was Windham. Passing Vuillemin must have lit a fire under the Suzuki rider, because, with only two laps remaining, Windham was closing in fast on the second-place rider, Ferry. He tracked down the Yamaha rider and, with the white flag waving, Windham made his pass for second in the sand whoops with half a lap remaining. Carmichael took the checkers for his 12th moto win of the year, followed by a distant Windham and Ferry. LaRocco held off fellow Honda rider Tortelli for fourth and Vuillemin was next in sixth. Roncada, Dowd, Reynard and Husqvarna's Travis Preston rounded out the top 10, in that order. "I didn't hit my shifts the way that I wanted to out of the gate and Ricky took off," Windham said. "I am glad to work up to second." Honda-mounted and supported Atsuta Yoshitaka rounded out the top 10 with a 12-9 ride. Team Honda's Ezra Lusk had a day that he would just as soon forget. A crash late in the first moto and a mechanical failure the second time out saw the Georgian ride to a 19-27 score. At the end of the day, he simply said, "Bike problems." Carmichael can now sew up his second National title next week if he stays ahead of Windham in both motos. It would also be the second straight time that he would seal the win one week ahead of schedule. MOTO ONE Dowd grabbed the lead off the start aboard his booming KTM 520 SX in front of Carmichael and Ferry. Vuillemin, Windham and LaRocco pursued. "I got out of the gate good that time," Dowd said. "A lot of people say it's the bike, but there are a few others out there, too." "That definitely wasn't the start I was looking for," LaRocco said. "It wasn't my worst start, but I was expecting a much better one than that, that's for sure." Carmichael jumped into the lead halfway through the first lap. Ferry, Reynard and Vuillemin filed in behind Carmichael by the end of the first lap. RC and Ferry pulled a gap on the field during the opening laps. Windham was in sixth early on, but he had little trouble moving forward quickly. LaRocco and Tortelli both followed in his wake. Carmichael began to slowly pull away from his good off-track friend, Ferry. Reynard started to slip back and opened the door for Vuillemin, Windham, LaRocco and Tortelli to move up. By the sixth lap, Carmichael had a four-second lead cue I e MOTOTWO Everybody was looking for a LaRocco holeshot aboard his big four-stroke, but it was again Dowd who grabbed another huge start ahead of local Minnesota rider James Povolny, Windham and Carmichael. Lusk, Ferry, Vuillemin and LaRocco gave chase. "That thing is loud and it's hard to hear yourself and the ot,her riders," LaRocco said "I'll need to work on that." n e __ S • AUGUST 29, 2001 7

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