Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAlEA Sports Supercross Series Round 1 : Edison International Field nobody and thought, 'Hey, Ricky crashed.'· "I didn't know who went down there, either," McGrath said. "I saw a Honda, but I didn't know it was him. I really didn't know until I got lapped by Vuillemin [on the 16th lap] and then saw LaRocco behind me, I didn't see Carmichael and I was like, 'Whoaa, okay, that must've been Carmichael. ,. LaRocco quickly got back around Reed, Byrne and Fonseca and was running in second place near the halfway point. By that time, though, Vuillemin had built up a comfortable II-second lead. But LaRocco went to work and started whittling away at Vuillemin's lead, and with just a few laps remaining was within a few seconds of him. Vuillemin, however, was well aware of LaRocco's whereabouts and knew that he had just enough of a cushion to hold on and take the win. Vuillemin officially took the Anaheim victory 3.750 seconds ahead of laRocco. "I was second right off the start and Brown was taking some weird lines and kind of slowed me down a little bit,· Vuillemin said, summing up his race. "I went around him and felt Ricky behind me, so I just charged it. I thought, 'Okay, I'm going to go for it.' The whoops were really, really rough, they were all cupped out, so I just rode the track and maintained good lap times. Ricky crashed, so I was kind of alone and I got tight, because there were 15 laps to go. I was afraid to make a mistake, so I rode relaxed. "I saw LaRocco was running pretty good," Vuillemin added. "He had a great heat race and was really good in the main. He had some spots where he could catch me, but in those spots, I just rode safe and finished my race. He was catching a little bit every lap, but it wasn't a big deal - I knew I was okay. "The track was hard-packed, kind of wet and really slick, so it was very easy to make a mistake and crash, so I just rode safe in the whoops and wanted to finish the race. I wasn't tight, I've been working really hard, but a race· like that is kind of easy when you're in control of the race." As always, laRocco never gave up. "After I went down, I managed to get them [Reed, Byrne and Fonseca] back pretty quick," LaRocco said, "but David at that point had a pretty comfortable lead. It was a tough track, it was slippery, so I was a little sketchy trying to get back quickly. I made some mistakes and had a few stale laps there, but once I smoothed out again, I caught up, but obviously it was too late. "I think he knew I was there,· LaRocco said. "I felt faster than him. When I was behind him and Ricky, I 10 JANUARY 16, 2002' cue • e was taking my time and feeling realIy, really good there, so I thought I could catch them, but I made too many mistakes trying to overcome when Ricky took me out." Perhaps the best battle of the race involved Byrne and Fonseca for the final podium spot. From lap eight to lap IS, Byrne did everything he could to keep Fonseca from passing him, but on lap 16, Fonseca got him, taking third once and for all. "It was good,· Fonseca said of his duel with Byrne. "I had a lot of fun. I was trying to stay close to him, but it was hard for me to pass him, like I was never close enough to pass him. But I didn't really want to be too close to him either, just in case he made a mistake. The track was hard; the whoops were hard. "I guess I was real lucky the whole night," Fonseca said. "I didn't really have good starts, but it came out good in the end. I think consistency was the key and it paid off. There were a lot of people crashing; it was just an unusual race. You always see McGrath, Carmichael and Windham and those guys up front, tonight was just a whole different podium. It's good to see different guys win, too." After getting off to a 12th-place start, Lusk caught up to the Fonseca/Byrne battle but just didn't want any part of their scrap. "I saw them up there and knew I should be able to get those guys, but I just wasn't feeling that good and wanted to preserve myself," Lusk said. "I know it's going to be a long year. I made a few mistakes and wanted to play it safe. Knowing what happened [to Carmichael and McGrath] weighed on my shoulders, too, because I know those guys weren't getting very many points. I made it through tonight, and I'll hit it hard next week and come out swinging in San Diego. Usually, I do really well in the first race, but tonight I struggled, really. I guess it was just everything - new team, new bikes, everything. There was some weight on my shoulders there. I should've rode way better than I did, but I'm happy I finished the night with what I got. In the past, I probably would've kept trying to go fast and thrown it all away." Never really a factor in the race after getting off to a 14th-place start was Windham. He worked his way up to eighth, and that would be it. "The way the track was tonight and as slick as it was, and the fact I was getting a little pumped, I didn't want to really hang it out," Windham admitted. "People were hitting the ground left and right, even in the 125cc class, so I knew it was going to be a crazy night. The two main guys that everybody's been talking about weren't up there, but I think those n e _ s (Above) Ricky Cannichael 14), here leading Kevin Windham, was R1nning second in the main before crashing and hitting his head. After the race, Cannichael went home to Rorida to recoup and is planning to race next week In San Diego. (RIght! Jeremy McGrath could not overcome a bad case of the jitters. He pumped up in the main, got lapped, and finished 13th. He's says that won't happen again. guys will definitely have races where they will be back. It was a crazy night; I think Vuillemin and Mike did a good job tonight. They seemed to be ready and were able to deal with the opening race. I think everybody was having the opening-race jitters and weren't hanging it out. It's a long series and the points are so scattered, it's going to be an interesting year." CN Edison IntematiolUll field Anaheim, Califomia Results: JanlUl" 5, 2002 [Round 1 of 161 250 HEAT I (8 laps, top 4 transler): 1. Mike laRocco (Hon); 2. Travis Pastnma (Suz); 3. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 4. Emesto Fonseca (HOD); 5. Chod Reed (Yam): 6. Steve Lomson (Hus): 7. Stephone Roncada (Ka ....); 8. Nathan R8msey (Hon); 9. Damon Huffman (Suz); 10. Mike Brown (KllW); 11. Jean· SebasUen Roy (Hon): 12. Ryon Terlecki (Suz); 13. James Povo)ny Jr. (Hon); 14. Joshua Summey (Yam); 15.....thony Amarodio (Yom): 16. Jeremias Israel CHon); 17. Brian M.cson (Kaw); 18. Ethan Bates (Suz): 19. Robb F10th (Hon): 20. Scott Sheak (Hon). TlJYIE OF RACE: 7: 16.440 250 HEAT 2 (8 laps, top 4 transler): I. Ricky Carmichael (Hon); 2. David Vuillemin (Yam); 3. Ezra Lusk (KllIw); 4. Kevin Windhem (Suz); 5. Michael Byrne (Hon); 6. Nick Wey (Yam); 7. Kyle Lewis (Hon): 8. Ryon Clork (Yom); 9. Heoth Voss (Hon): 10. Ted Campbell (Suz); 11. Tyler Evons (Hon); 12. Clark Stiles (Yom): 13. Kelly Smith (Yom): 14. Erik Anderson (Hon); 15. Dieter Temmerrnen (Yam); 16. Andreu Lobrador (Yam); 17. Zeb Armstrong (Yom); 18. Kevin Townsend (Hon); 19. billy BinckJey (Yem); 20. Michael Croig (Suz). TIME OF RACE: 7: 19.250 250 SEMI I (6 laps, top 5 tronsler): I. Chod Reed (Yam): 2. Nathan Ramsey (Hon): 3. Stephane Roncada (Kaw): 4. Mike Brown (Kaw); 5. Damon Huffman (Suz); 6. Scott Sheek (Hon); 7. Jean· Sebastien Roy (Hon); 8. Steve Lamson (Hus); 9. BrizlO Mlison (Kaw); 10. Ryan Terlecki (Suz); 11. Anthony Amaradio (Yam); 12. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 13. Jeremias Israel (Hon); 14. Ethan Bates (Su,): 15. Robb Floth (Hon): 16. Joshua Summey (Yom), TIME OF RACE: 5:34.790 250 SEMI 2 (6 laps, top 5 transfer): l. Michael Byrne (Hon); 2. Heath Voss (Hon); 3. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 4. Tyler Evons (Hon); 5. Nick Wey (Yom); 6. Michoel Craig (Su,); 7. Ryan Clark (Yam); 8. Kelly Smith (Yam); 9. Zeb Armstrong (Yam); 10. Andreu Labrador (Yam); 11. Kevin Townsend (Hon); 12. Erik Anderson (Han); 13. Clark Stiles (Yam); 14. Dieter Temmerman (Yom); 15. Ted Campbell (Su,): 16. Billy Binckley (Yom). TIME OF RACE: 5:45.750 250 LCQ (6 laps. top 2 tronsler): 1. Jeon· Sebastien Roy (Han); 2. Steve Lamson (Hus); 3. Michael Craig (Suz); 4. Ryan Clark (Yam); 5. Ryan Terlecki (Su,): 6. Ted Campbell (Su,): 7. Scott Sheok (Hon); 8. Kelly Smith (Yam); 9 .....thony Amllrlldio (Yam); 10. Jeremias Israel (Han); 11. Joshuo Summey (Yom); 12.....dreu Lobrodor (Yom); 13. Ethan Bates (Su,): 14. Robb Floth (Hon); 15. Erik Anderson (Hon): 16. Clark Stiles (Yam); 17. Kevin Townsend (Hon); 18. Brian Mason (Kaw); 19. Dieter Temmerman (Yam): 20. Jemes Povolny Jr. (Han); 21. Zeb Armstrong (Yem): Billy Binckley (Yom). TlJYIE OF RACE: 5:44.790 250 MAIN (20 laps): I. Dovid Vuillemin (Yom); 2. Mike LoReeco (Hon): 3. Ernesto Fonseco (HOD): 4. M;chael Byme (HOD): 5. Ezra Lusk (Kow): 6. Chad R~ (Yllm); 7. Nick Wey (Yam); 8. Kevin WindMm (Suz); 9. Stephene Roncede (Kew): 10. Jean· Sebllstien Roy (Hon); 11. Damon Huffmen (Suz); 12. Heath Voss (Hon): 13. Jeremy McGrath (Yom); 14. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 15. Mike Brown (Kaw); 16. Steve Lomson (Hus); 17. Nathan Ramsey (Hon); 18. Tyler EVllOS (Hon); 19. Trevis Pastrena (Suz); 20. Ricky Cllrmichael (Hon). TIME OF RACE: 18:33.530 WINNERS AVERAGE LAP TIME: 0:55.676 MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0:03.750 SECOND PLACE AVERAGE LAP TIME: 0:55.864 AMAlEA SPORTS 250cc SUPERCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 1 01 16 rounds): 1. David Vuillemin (25/1 win): 2. Mike laRocco (22); 3. Emesto Fonseca (20); 4. Michoel Byme (18); 5. Ezro Lusk (16): 6. Chad Reed (15); 7. Nick Wey (14); 8. Kevin Windhom (13): 9. Stephone Roncada (12); 10. JellO·Sebastien Roy (11); 11. Demon Huffmtm (10); 12. Heath Voss (9): 13. Jeremy McGrath (8): 14. Kyle Lewis (7); 15. Mike Brown (6); 16. Steve Lamson (5); 17. Nllthen Ramsey (4); 18. Tyler EVllns (3); 19. Travis Pestrana (2); 20. Ricky Carmichael (I). Upcoming Rounds: Round 2 - San Diego, California, January 12 Round 3 - Anaheim, California, January 19

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