Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAlEA SPOl'"'ts 1 25cc Westel'"'n Regional Supel'"'cI'"'oss Sel'"'ies Round 2: Qualcomm Stadium • um. Next weekend I'll come out swing in'." Stewart had more aggression in store for leader Thain on lap two as well, as he caught the booming fourstroke in the stutter section just before the right-hander that led to the finish line jump. Stewart then made the crowd roar with approval when put another textbook block-pass on Thain in the corner and came out with the lead to start lap three. Meanwhile, Anaheim winner Travis Preston was working his way forward aboard his Amsoil/Dr. Martens/Journeys/Factory Connection Honda, battling through the field from way down in 15th. Preston began passing two to three riders per lap before dogging Team Suzuki's Shane Bess for eighth place by lap four. Preston had the spot a lap later, and he went to engage Decker and Elliott in what turned out to be a three-way battle for fifth on laps eight through 10. Preston locked into the spot by lap 10 an~ never looked back. "I told myself aU week that as far as 1 was concerned, [Christopher] Gosselaar had won [Anaheim], because he was leading it at the end, and I just got really lucky," Preston said. "But that was last week and this is this week. I really earned my fifth tonight, and I rode way better than I did last week, so I think if I can get a good start, I can definitely win." Preston's teammate, Christoper Gosselaar, eventually made his way past Decker and Elliott late in the race to finish sixth. Up front, Stewart had amassed a seven-second lead on Thain when he suffered his only scare of the race, on lap nine. Stewart mis-timed the jump that led out of the long whoops section and almost endoed over the hay bales in the right-hander, coming to stop with his front wheel parked between them. He lost three seconds to Thain, but he never lost the lead. "That [near crash] scared me a little bit, but it actually helped me, because then I said to myself, 'You need to go out and ride your own race now.' It was good after that." The top three - Stewart, Thain and Tedesco - remained separated by about four seconds to the finish. Tedesco appeared to be much more relaxed at San Diego than he was at Anaheim. "Last weekend I had some trouble with that first-turn pile-up and ended up seventh, but I rode good," Tedesco said. "This is definitely an improvement, and hopefully next week I can improve even more and win. The first couple laps were really crazy tonight. Me, Pingree and Travis Elliott were going every which way, but then I just settled down and started catching the leaders. There just wasn't enough time. I feel like I have 12 JANUARY 23,2002' eye the speed to win. I just need to be up there at the beginning." Thain was also pleased to be near the front once again. His runner-up finish certainly keeps him in the hunt for the 125cc West title. "I feel good that I was consistent for all the race, but I made a mistake in the second part of the whoops, and I hit in my stomach," Thain said. "It took me about three laps to recover, but I'm still very happy about tonight." Thain said he saw Stewart nearly crash. "I got excited a little bit that maybe I could still win, but I was a bit far behind him," Thain said. "But it was good. Second place for the starting of the season is good. I want to try to consistent like that all season, and it should be good for me." Stewart is clearly the odds-on favorite for the championship, however. Although anything can happen, and many of his competitors said that they are confident they can run him down, he is clearly the man of the moment. "That first race [Anaheim] didn't go the way that I wanted it to, but second was all right," Stewart said. "I was really confjdent from last week when I came in here, and I felt good tonight. I had two last laps out there, waving to the crowd, and when I went over the finish line and saw those red things [flames] go off, I was so happy. I • n e _ s Next week, I need to just go out and have fun, and I think I can win." Perhaps none were happier with Stewart's San Diego performance than his parents, who were on hand to witness their son make history. It was a big payoff for the years and effort spent traveling to amateur events all over the country. "We've been waiting for this for a long time, ever since he was four years old," James Stewart Sr. said. "This is his dream, and it finally came true for him, and for a parent, that's something that you have to experience to have the feeling of it. There's just no other feeling like that in the world. It's a big relief. This is what he wanted, and we're in the hunt, I eN think." Qul_ SbIdiuDl So 01..., Califemia IIesuIts: ......., 12, 2DD2 [Round Z ef 8J 125 HEAT 1 (6 laps, 1-9 transfer): 1. James Stewart. Jr. (Kaw); 2. D8vid Pingree (KTM); 3. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 4. Ivan Tedesco (Yam); 5. Shane Bess (Suz); 6. Bobby Bonds (Kaw); 7. Justin Buckelew (Suz); 8. Joseph Oehlhof (Yom); 9. Micheel Breodes (Suz); 10. Bryan McG8vfen (Yam); 11. Michoel Youn9 (Yom); 12. Cosey Lytle (Yom); 13. Christopher Gosselaar (Hon); 14. Brandon Morgan (Hon); 15. Gerrit Ordelmen (Yam); 16. Tim Wei90nd (Hon); 17. Horold Hogemon (Suz); 18. Levi Reid (Yam); 19. Tommy Harrison (SUI); 20. Tiger Locey (Suz). TIME OF RACE: 5:42.510 125 HEAT 2 (6 laps, 1-9 transfer): 1. Brock Sellords (KTM); 2. Rodrig Thoin (Yom); 3. Croig Decker (Yam); 4. Travis Preston (Han); 5. Josh Coppins (Hon); 6. Matt Walker (Kaw); 7. Travis Elliott (Hon); 8. Isoiah Johnson (Suz); 9. Erick Vollejo (Suz); 10. Danny Smith (SUI); 11. Casey Johnson (Hon); 12. Keith R. Johnson (Yom); 13. Adom Menneng" (Hon); 14. Turbo Reif (SUI); 15. Steve Eugenio (SU2); .]6. Logan Darien (Yam); 17. Billy Laninovich (KTM); 18. Steve Mertens (Hus); 19. Daniel Blair (Yem); 20. Andrew Short (SOl). TIME OF RACE: 5:46.700 125 LCQ (4 laps, 1-4 transfer): 1. Christopher (Above left) Brock Sellards won his heat race but ran into trouble and lost his front fender earty in the 125cc main. (Above) Ivan Tedesco was strong all night and ended up on the 125cc podium in third. Gosselaar (Han); 2. Bryan McGavr21n (Yam); 3. Keith R. Johnson (Yam); 4. Denny Smith (SUl); 5. Casey Lytle (Yam); 6. Turbo Reif (SUl); 7. Billy Leninovich (KTM); 8. Andrew Short (Suz); 9. Horold Hogemon (SUI): 10. C"sey Johnson (Hon); 11. Brandon Morgan (Hon); 12. Steve Eugenio (SOl); 13. Gerrit Ordelman (Yam); 14. Steve Mertens (Hus); 15. Tommy Harrison (SOl); 16. Adem Mennenga (Han); 17. Logan Darien (Yam); 18. Tim Weigand (Hon); 19. Daniel BI"ir (Yam); 20. Levi Reid (Yam); 21. Tiger Lacey (SuI); 22. Michael Young (Yem). TIME OF RACE: 34:46.490 125 MAIN EVENT (15 lops); I. Jomes Stewort Jr. (Kaw); 2. Rodrig Thain (Yam); 3. IVllO Tedesco (Yam); 4. David Pingree (KTM); 5. Trllvis Preston (Hon); 6. Christopher Gosseleer (Hon); 7. Craig Decker (Yam); 8. Travis Elliott (Hon); 9. Danny Smith (Suz); 10. Keith R. Johnson (Yom); 11. Erick Vollejo (Suz); 12. Shone Bess (Suz); 13. Michoel Brondes (Suz); 14. Justin Buckelew (Suz); 15. Brock Sellords (KTM); 16. Bryon McGovron (Yom); 17. Isoioh Johnson (Suz); 18. Bobby Bonds (Kow); 19. Josh Coppins (Hon); 20. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 21. Joseph Cehlhof (Yom); 22. Mott Wolker (Kow). TIME OF RACE: 14:41.860 WINNERS AVERAGE lAP TIME: 0:58.790 MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0:03.550 SECOND PLACE AVERAGE lAP TIME: 0:59.027 AMAfEA SPORTS SOPERCROSS SERIES 125« WESTERN REGIONAL POINTS STANDINGS (Arter 2 of 8 rounds): 1. Jllmes Stewllrt Jr. (47/1 win): 2. Trllvis Preston (41/1 win); 3. Rodrig Thain (38); 4. Christopher Gosselaar (35): 5. Ivan Tedesco (34); 6. David Pingree (33); 7. Travis Elliott (26); 8. Brock Sellords (24); 9. Keith R. Johnson (23); 10. Michoel Brandes (19); 11. Justin Buckelew (17); 12. Craig Decker (14); 13. (TIE) ISllillih Johnson/Erick Vollejo/Oonny Smith (12); 16. (TIE) Shone Bess/Michoel Young (9); 18. Andrew Short (7); 19. Casey Lytle (6); 20. (TIE) Bryon McGavron/Tiger Lacey (5); 22. (TIE) Kevin JohnsonfTommy Harrison (4); 24. Bobby Bonds (3); 25. Josh Coppins (2); 26. Cosey Johnson (1). Upcoming Rounds: Round 3 - Anaheim, California, January 19 Round 4 - Phoenix, Arizona, January 26

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