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/128141
AMAlEA Sports Supercross Series Presented by Speedstick Round 5: Edison International Field (Left) Travis Pastrana (199) was again riding strong until crashing back to Beventh. Behind him, Ricky Cannichael(4) moves by Heath You (40) on his march to the front. (Above) Emesto Fonseca speaks with Honda's Cliff White in the Anaheim III pits. The Cos1a Rican rode Impressively in his heat race, but had trouble finding traction on the sUck course In the main. Kann (Yllm): 14. Jeremios Israel (Hon); 15. Jason Wood (Hon): 16. Ryan Dudek (KTM): 17. Dave Castillo (Yllm); 18. Joel Nelson (Yam); 19. Shllwn Wynne (Hon); 20. Chris Barrett (Hon); 21. Erik Anderson (Hon); 22. Andreu LabrtJdor (Vern). Time: 5 min.. SO.60 sees. 250 MAIN (20 laps): 1. Ricky Carmichael (Hon): 2. Stephene Ronceda (Kaw); 3, DllVid Vuillemin (Yam); 4. Mike LeRocco (Hon); 5. Nathan Rllmsey (Hon); 6. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 7. Travis Pastrana (502); 8. Michael Byme (Hon): 9. Emesto Fonseca (Hon): 10. Ezra Lusk (Kaw); 11. Nicholas Wey (Yam); 12. Jean-Sebllstien Roy' (Hon); 13. Damon Huffman (Suz); 14. Heath Voss (Hon); 15. Ryan C1l1rk (Y8m); 16. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 17. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 18. Isaiah Johnson (Suz); 19. Kevin Windham (502): 20. Daniel Blair (Vam). Time: 18 min., 36.26 sees. Winner's Average Lap: 55.813 sees. Margin of Victory: 3.68 sees. AMAlEA SPORTS SUPERCROSS SERIES 250cc BRIEFLY••• He's leadinglhe points. has won two rounds, and remains the only rider to have made the podium at every round thus far. but it's been anything but easy for David Vuillemin. Already suffering from a sore knee that required a quick trip back home to France a couple of weeks ago. the Team Yamaha rider crashed earlier this week while practicing on his VZ125, and he was riding with bruised ribs at Anaheim III. Still. he finished third. a performance that would seem to deserve better than the negatiVity and indifference many apparently xenophobic fans have been directing at him lately. "At Phoenix. I was asleep a little bit, so I rode a 125 to get some aggressivity back. - Vuillemin said at night's end. gritting through the pain caused by some over-active heating gel he had applied to the ribcage. Quote of the night: - Better get a pillow." by a smiling Ricky Carmichael. when the microphone at the post-race press conference was passed to Brock Sellards, the articuiate and verbose KTM Red Bull rider who won the 125cc class. Despite a strong showing at the first few rounds, Boost Mobile/YamahalTroy Racing's Rodrig Thain sat out the Anaheim III round. and will do so for the remainder of the series. The Frenchman has been haVing trouble with a dislocated shoulder. and he decided to get it operated on in order to be completely prepared for the outdoor series. The operation, which was performed in Temecula. California. included the removal of several bone chips. and the tightening up of some ligaments. Thain will most likely sit out the remainder of the Supercross Series. As we reported last week. Jeremy McGrath thinks to have his arm-pump problem traced to a kink in his back incurred in a crash just after the U.S. Open. McGrath had the back worked on prior to last week's Phoenix round. but in order to keep his arms from building up too much pressure. he only rode once during the week before Anaheim III. McGrath matched his best finish of the year with a sixth place, leading the first 10 laps before once again fading with arm pump. "My arms feel perfect. now." McGrath said in the pits after the race. "I might try to ride a little bit more this week and get some more work done. " Team Yamaha's Timmy Ferry was a no-show at Anaheim III. as he stayed back home in Flonda nursing a bruised lung that he suffered in a crash last week. According to Yamaha's Keith McCarty, the VZ426F rider is week-to-week. Josh Hansen. son of former moto great Donnie Hansen. rode his first EA Sports Supercross round at Anaheim III. Despite missing Thursday's practice session (he signed up too late). Hansen led much of his Saturday-afternoon qualifier, eventually finishing second to KTM Red Bull's Billy Laninovich. Hansen didn't make it into the main event. Escondido Cycle Center's Mike Craig, who injured his foot last week. said he expects to return to racing next week in Indianapolis. The Anaheim III track featured a BMX-styie start hill, as well as several table-single combinations that encouraged creativity (no rider invented as many options as Travis Pastrana). There was also a "lI!) I=rDDIIADV" ~ ?nn? • - .- C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 16 rounds): 1. David Vuillemin (112/2 wins); 2. Mike LaRocco (103/1 win); 3. Ricky Carmichael (87/2 wins); 4. Trlllvis Pastrana (80); 5. Ezra Lusk (68l; 6. Nathan Ramsey (65); 7. Stephane Roncada (63 : 8. Jeremy McGrath (61); 9. Michael Byrne (56): 10. (TIE) Kevin WindhamlNicholas Wey (48): 12. Damon Huffman (47); 13. Emesto Fonseca (46); 14. Chad Reed (44); 15. Heath Voss (41); 16. JeanSebastien Roy (35): 17. Kyle Lewis (25); 18. Timmy Ferry (17); 19. Michael Brown (12): 20. (TIE) Ryan Clark/Michael Craig (9): 22. (TIE) James Povolny Jr.{Tyler Evans (8); 24. Steve L8mson (6); 25. Isaiah Johnson (3): 26. Ted Campbell (2); 27. (TIE) Daniel Blair/Ryan Terlecki (1). Upcoming Rounds: Round 6 - Indianapolis, Indiana, February g, 2002 Round 7 - Minneapolis, Minnesota, Februrary 16, 2002 cool, whoop-covered hill. and both triples were preceded by longer runs than at the first several rounds - much 10 the delight of the 125cc riders. Fast by Ferracci Husqvarna update: According to team boss Eraido Ferracci, injured Tyler Evans will not be replaced. Evans, who broke his collarbone. thinks he may be ready as early as next week. though that would be surprising to say the least. Evans is himself a replacement for Steve Lamson. who had a rod inserted in his broken leg. and expects to be out for approximately three months. Travis Pastrana had a fun practice day on Friday before the event. After driving his shifter-kart around the pit area, Pastrana got into a just-for-fun brake-check fest with Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Stephane Roncada in the second practice session. The two also pulled tandem whips over the triples, and while airborne on a rhythm-section jump. Pastrana palled his French buddy on the back. Though he won't make his 2002 debut until the first Eastern Regional round next week. KTM Red Bull's Grant Langston participated in Thursday's special practice session at Anaheim III. The South African ciaims to be completely healed from his shoulder surgery. Anaheim III marked the debut of the new Asterisk Kawasaki Ambulance Mule. The ATV was donated by Kawasaki and modified by Asterisk in order to provide quick-response medical assistance to injured riders. Freestyle exhibition: At the end of the opening ceremony's hot lap. Travis Pastrana pulled an impressive Superman over the finish-line double. Just behind him. Jeremy McGrath pulled a textbook nac-nac. Ricky Carmichael laid out a signature whip. and David Vuillemin pulied a "nothing.One would think that enthusiasm would be wearing off by the third race in five weeks at the same venue. but there was a surprising buzz about Anaheim III. Once again, the event was a 45.050-fan sellout. and tickets were even harder to come by than they were at Anaheim II. KTM Junior Supercross Challenge results: 1. Bradly Frace (Boring. Oregon): 2. Daniel Paluzzi (Riverside, California); 3. Brandon Scharer (Gardena, California): 4. Patrick Vos (Rosmalen. Holland): 5. John Highfill Jr. ITruckee. California). The Anaheim rounds are becoming better than a Los Angeles Lakers game for celebrity sightings. In attendance at Anaheim III were actors Ben Stilier, Pamela Anderson and Vince Vaughn. as well as Sugar Ray lead singer Mark McGrath. There was only one Kawasaki in the 125cc main event. and it was the KX125 of Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's James Stewart. Travis Pastrana had been rather tight-lipped about his sore knee last week in Phoenix. but he revealed at Anaheim III that he had suffered a torn meniscus dUring that race's practice session. The SoBe Suzuki rider said he'lI eventually get it fixed. but probably not untillhe off-season. MotoworldRacing.com Suzuki's Justin Buckelew said that since he's not inside the top 10 in points. he plans on riding some of the 1250c Eastern Regional events. starting after Indianapolis in Minneapolis on February 16. His teammate Ben Riddle is having a plate removed from his arm. so Buckelew will ride in his place at many Eastern Region events.