Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

2001 Perris Invitational Supercross Presented by Temecula Motorsports Team KTM Red Bull fielded two riders In the Perris 125cc Invitational Supercross, and they finished onetwo. Billy Lanlnovich (132), the rookie, ran away with the first moto, but Brock Sellards (18) caught and passed him late in moto two for the overall. That they did. On the restart, however, Decker still came through the first turn with the holeshot, though Kelly Smith, who has been replaced on KTM Red Bull's team by upstart Laninovich, was close enough to go by on the ensuing straightaway aboard his YZ250F. Smith led for the first couple of laps, while Decker was doing everything he could to get by his fellow Four-Stroke National Champion. In the meantime, Laninovich had sneaked into third, ahead of Sellards, Escondido Cycle Center's Michael STORY AND PHOTOS BY STEVE COX PERRIS, CA, DEC. 16 rrn hen KTM Red Bull signed Brock t:.tJ Sellards, they probably had a really good idea what they were getting. After all, Sellards had just come off a 1999 season that saw him second in the 125cc National points standings, with a win, and a 2000 season that saw him finish a close second in the 125cc East Supercross standings and win yet another outdoor National. But as for Sellards' newfound teammate, Billy Laninovich, his winning abilities on this level had not yet been proved. At the 2001 Perris Invitational Supercross, however, both the KTM riders proved their worth by trading the top two spots in each moto. It was Sellards' second-moto win that gave him the overall, though, ahead of his spunky new teammate. Keeping them honest in both motos was Mach 1 Motorsports' Craig Decker, aboard a YZ250F. The 2000 AMA Westem FourStroke National Champion finished a not-so-distant third in both motos in his comeback 125cc-class ride. MOTO ONE At the start of moto one, a slew of riders got stuck in the gate, but Decker had a clear holeshot. "The gate kind of flinched a little bit and everyone went," Decker said, "and I think I got over it better than everyone else. I looked back and saw everyone was stuck in the gate, and I knew they were red-flagging it." 48 JANUARY 9, 2002' cue • e neVIl'S Brandes and Motoworldracing.com's Justin Buckelew. At the end of lap two, five-time National Arenacross Champion Buddy Antunez had just made a pass on the Metal Mulisha's Tyler Evans for the 10th spot, and Evans showed his appreciation by slamming Antunez in the next corner. Antunez answered back quickly, but it would be his undoing. "Evans decided he wanted to play a game of take-out with me," Antunez said. "I just said, 'You know what? I'm just going to end it right now and hopefully put him down and be on my way.'" Antunez did just that, using Evans as a berm as he blew past. Although he was slow to restart, Evans showed his sportsmanship a couple of laps later by waiting for Antunez and trying to take him out again, ultimately ruining the AX champ's moto. However, up front, things were heating up in a different way. On lap three, Decker went inside Smith for the lead in the tightest part of the track, only for Laninovich to show his savvy and pass them both at once. Essentially, Decker's pass from second landed him in second. Decker chased Laninovich valiantly while Smith faded and the Sellards/Brandes freight train made its way forward. "I got in a stuffing match with Brandes," Sellards said, laughing. "He rammed me off the track, and me and him were going at it - it was pretty fun. We pretty much stayed together the whole time." When the two-to-go mark came out, Decker had lost touch slightly with Laninovich and Sellards was pressuring him for second, with Brandes just a tick behind on his new RM. As Decker turned his focus from catching Laninovich to holding off Sellards, Laninovich pulled away. Sellards finally made his move as the two headed for the white flag, jumping alongside Decker in the rhythm section and completing the pass two corners later, but Decker wouldn't give up without a fight.

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