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/128127
THQ U.S. Open MGM Grand Garden Arena Carmichael pulled a textbook whip over the finish, only this time it was on a Honda. "The stuff Ezra said's got everyone fired up [see sidebar]," Carmichael said. "I've got a big target on my back." "I just wish I could have started inside tonight and showed you a little race with Ricky," McGrath said to the crowd. "I was just here to gauge things, but it would have been nice to win the dang thing - 2002 is going to be good." Indeed it is. CN THQ U.S. Open Las VlgIS, Nevada Rlsuhs:Oc1ober12-13, 2001 Friday HEAT I (12 laps): I. Ricky Carmichael (Hon): 2. Tim Ferry (Yam); 3. Travis Pastrana (Suz); 4. Josh Demuth (Yam); 5. Brock Sellards (KTM); 6. ISlliah Johnson (Suz); 7. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 8. Dlircy Lange (Kaw): 9. Ryan Clark (Yam); 10. Turbo Reif (Hon): 11. Robbie Skaggs (Yam); 12. Damon Huffman (Suz). HEAT 2 (12 laps): 1. Kevin Windham (Suz): 2. Mike laRocco (Hon); 3. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 4. Mike Brown (Kaw); 5. Nicholas Wey (Yam); 6. John Dowd (KTM); 7. Doug DeHaan (Hon); 8. Steve Lamson (Hus): 9. Kelly Smith (KTM); 10. Ryan Teriecki (Hbg). Mike LaRocco (5) and Kevin Windham (14) rode well at the Open, though neither was on the pace of Ricky Carmichael or Jeremy McGrath. LaRocco's bid for the win was damaged by a start-straight crash on Saturday, while Windham was slowed by arm pump. The two finished fourth and third, respectively. added that he still has a good relationship with the absent Kehoe. BRIEFLY••• After taking in Friday night's race, race fans Bubba and Jamie Wade forewent Saturday's show to get married at the little Chapel of the West. The U.S. Open marked the first opportunity to view elite·level MX since the September 11 terrorist attacks, and the show featured a markedly patriotic flare. American flags adorned the Grand Garden Arena; many riders sported star-spangled gear and graphics; a moment of silence was held on Friday night: Travis Pastrana raffled off his helmet to benefit the Clear Channel Relief Fund: freestyle-exhibition rider Mike Jones donated his weekend earnings; and Ricky Carmichael donated a portion of his huge paycheck to the Red Cross. And although we weren't able to verify it completely, we're fairly sure the singing of the national anthem Newly crowned 125cc National MX champ Mike Brown said at the Open that he will ride the first few 2002 supercrosses in the 250cc class for Pro Circuit/Kawasaki/SplitFire before switching back to a 125 for the Eastern Region. The premier class has traditionally been an all-two-stroke affair at the U.S. Open. but this year saw Cernic's/PC Worldwide KTM's John Dowd, Husaberg's Ryan Terlecki and Yamaha's Tim Ferry all doing battle on big four·strokes. Dowd and Terlecki were doing double-duty, also contesting the White Brothers FourStroke Challenge (neither rider made it to a main event in the headline class). raised more than the usual amount of neck hairs on end. The track layout was significantly altered from previous years, with a short, sideways start and an over-under bridge allowing nearly every inch of the arena floor to be utilized. Also new was the Friday-Saturday format (a Saturday-Sunday format was used in past years). Though a good start position became even more critical than before, most riders seemed happy with the new setup, and spectator turnout was good (Saturday said out and Friday nearly did). Erstwhile Fox·sponsored rider Tim Ferry was sporting the duds of new sponsor Thor Racing at the U.S. Open. Speaking of Scot Harden, the off-road veteran got to Vegas by riding his LC4 Adventure dual-sport bike solo from San Diego on Wednesday before race day. The 530-mile jaunt was 80-percent off·road, and after leaving at 4:30 a.m.. Harden required just 11 hours to pull it off, navigating by GPS (the longest stint between gas stops was 200 miles). Not content. Harden put in a 120·mile loop trail ride on Thursday, followed by a 150·mile loop on Saturday. A couple notable riders in the White Brothers Four·Stroke Challenge showed up on new machines at the Open. Former Fast by Ferracci Husqvarna racer .Jason Thomas was aboard a Team Motonetix VZ426F, and former Chevy Trucks Kawasaki racer Craig Decker was on a Mach 1 Motorsports-backed YZF. Decker will ride a VZ250F in the 125cc Western Regional SX and 125cc National MX Series in 2002. Assuming Motonetix lines up an outside-industry sponsor. Thomas will campaign a 250 two· stroke in the EA Sports SX Series. The U.S. Open marked Yamaha of Troy owner Phil Alderton's first shot as the team's manager. Former boss Erik Kehoe has left to manage Team Honda, so Alderton, who has been more closely involved with the squad over the past year or so, decided to take over himself. "I'm up for it." said an enthusiastic Alderton. who • cue • e n e Jeremy McGrath's big rig was lacking the Mazda logo that adorned it during the 2001 EA Sports SX Series, although McGrath and Troy Lee are in negotiations with at least one potential title sponsor. With logo space freed up on his bike and gear, McGrath ran American flag graphics. During both nights' opening ceremonies, the KTM Junior Chal· lenge riders were brought out in a Ford Excursion limousine, out of which they tumbled dressed as little Elvises. KTM Red Bull's Brock Sellards rode a super-trick project bike with a 200cc motor in a 125cc chassis in the Open. The bike seemed well-suited to the tight environs, and KTM's Scot Harden says a few of the bikes will likely be made and sold. OCTOBER 24,2001 The Pro Circuit 85cc Mini Invitational podium finishers got what looked like chrome Pro Circuit 85cc pipes mounted as trophies, and Davi Millsaps also received a TJ Lavin-model Specialized BMX bike for winning the event. Engine Ice 125cc Amateur Cup winner Gavin Gracyk won a Specialized mountain bike. When his shoulder is separated, he races motocross: when he has lost his voice, he does public speaking: Grant Langston was on hand with a sore throat at the U.S. Open, but he didn't let that stop him from whispering a few words over the P.A. system at a KTM Red Bull press conference. Not many understood him (although a few may have been aroused), but we learned from the South African's girlfriend, Samantha Newton, that Langston underwent surgery to both shoulders (separation and torn ligaments), and that he's to stay off a bike until January 1 (he'll switch to the later-starting Eastern Region in SX as a result), Scott Goggles legend Bevo Forti was honored by Vintage Iron with a Lifetime Accomplishment award on Friday night. In his acceptance speech, Forti thanked Vintage Iron's Rick Doughty and joked that he "could probably use some restoration - himself, what with his many years following the circuit. 8 race (after crashing on the same triple as Dubach) was Yamaha of Troy's Greg Schnell, who had planned to campaign a VZ250F. Schnell broke his left foot and two toes in the tumble, and watched the weekend's events from a wheelchair. Four-stroke veteran Doug Dubach sat out the event after a Friday practice crash CDubach had already been considering giving it a miss because of a nasty cold). Also sitting out the four-stroke _ s Planning ahead: Event organizers have already set a date for next year's race. The 2002 THQ U.S. Open will take place on October 11-13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Tickets will be on sale at the beginning of January. Seven·time Snowcross Champion and 2001 White Brothers Four· Stroke Challenge Champion Blair Morgan claims that Snowcross and motocross are very similar, but that snowmobiles are just heavier - although their significant power makes up for the extra weight. Morgan even went so far as to say that he could do all the jumps on the U.S. Open track on his Ski-Doo snowmobile. Not everyone was impressed with Morgan's snowmobile creden· tials, however. When John Dowd caught the Canadian in the fourth four-stroke mota, his mechanic wrote "Snocross?" on Dowd's pit board.