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/128136
2002 SX Team Rosters Manager: Erik Kehoe Headquarters: Torrance, California Riders: 250cc 1 13 24 25 Ricky Carmichael Sebastien TorteJll Emesto Fonseca Nathan Ramsey Havana, Florida Agen, France San Jose, Costa Rica Lake Elsinore, California CR250R CR250R CR250R CRF450R Lowdown: There are changes galore at Honda. Obviously, the biggest difference is the signing during the off season of reigning Supercross Champion Ricky Carmichael, who won last year's title on a Kawasaki. Carmichael will have to adjust quickly to a new team and motorcycle if he wants to retain the SX championship, but he says he'll be ready when the gate drops in Anaheim on January 4. Emesto Fonseca and Nathan Ramsey are also new to the team. Both are former Yamaha of Troy riders and former 125cc Supercross Champions (actually, Fonseca won his second 125cc title last year). The only rider who is returning to the Red Team is former 250cc World MX Champion Sebastien Tortelli. (Ezra Lusk left Honda for Kawasaki, filling Carmichael's vacancy.) All four riders on the Universal Studios-backed team will be competing against each other in the 250cc class, and they'll be managed by former Yamaha of Troy boss Erik Kehoe. Carmichael will continue to wear Fox gear; Tortelli, Thor; Fonseca, Troy Lee Designs; and Ramsey, Axo. RICKY CARMICHAEL !Jjf]j)@@Oflil@fX]a []jJ!iJfJJ71§fl}@!l!XJ@fl}@!iJ 71§5J[ljJ [fJ[j@0@DiJ{J@@} @'iJ r?!iJ@71@!XR7 @@fl}fl}§@710@fl} Manager: J.C. Waterhouse Headquarters: Rochester, New Hampshire Riders 250cc Mike LaRocco 5 South Bend, Indiana 125cc West 29 Travis Preston Hesperia, California 90 Chris Gosselaar Juniper Hills, California 125cc East 35 Michael Byrne Toowoomba, Australia CR250R CR125R CR125R CR125R Lowdown: The Amsoil/Dr. Martens/Honda Team presented by Factory Connection, or "LaRocco's team" for short, receives factory support from Honda and is considered to be Honda's main 125cc support program. The team has grown from two to four riders for 2002. Mike LaRocco, of course, is the team's headliner, and he'll once again be shooting for the 250cc Supercross title. (He already has a 250 and a 500cc outdoor title to his name.) Chris Gosselaar is back for another term in the 125cc class, while Travis Preston and Australia's Michael Byrne are the two newcomers to the team and will compete in the 125cc class. When he's not competing in the 125cc class, Byrne will contest the 250cc class on a CR250R. Both Byrne and Gosselaar are coming off injuries (Byrne, wrist; Gosselaar, collarbone), but both should be all healed and ready to go come round one. All four riders will be clad in O'Neal gear. Manager: Kenny Watson Headquarters: Riverside, California Riders: 125cc West Casey Johnson 50 Travis Elliott 105 Justin Smith 125 125cc East 30 Scott Sheak 82 Billy Payne Tuscany Hills, California Alvin, Texas Fort Worth, Texas CR125R CR125R CR125R Chino Hills, California Simi Valley, California CR125R CR125R Lowdown: This Texas-based team (though the race shop is located in Riverside, California) should make a big impact in the 125cc class this year. Casey Johnson, who was left without a ride when the TheEdgeSports.com team folded in the middle of the season last year, is a legitimate title contender (nearly winning a championship before getting hurt a few years ago), and his teammates are very fast as well. Sheak is a former Team Honda rider and GP contender. The Shark/Plano Honda Team will be receiving factory support from Honda, while Pro Circuit will be performing all of their engine and suspension mods. The team has a new sponsor, Shark, an energy drink, and the riders will wear Pro Grip gear.