AMAlEA Sports Eastern Regional 1 25cc Supercross Series
Round 1 : RCA Dome
By DAVE DERRINGER
PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN
INDIANAPOUS, IN, FEB. 9
nce again, the highly anticipated
125cc Eastern Regional opener
turned out to be another action-filled
event, and for the first time in U.S.
supercross history, an Australian had
the honor of winning the main event.
Boost Mobile/Yamaha/Troy Racing's
Chad Reed took his first-ever 125cc
victory in what was also his first-ever
125cc supercross race, in front of
57,803 fans.
To prepare for his 125cc debut,
the 19-year-old from Newcastle, Australia, had ridden the 250cc class at
the first three western rounds, with
highly impressive results, and it sure
seemed to help.
"I've dreamed of coming to America to do this my entire life," Reed
said from the podium. "I've been racing a 250 since I was 12, and didn't
really give the 125cc class a lot of
thought, but it's what the team wants
me to do. I actually enjoy riding the
250cc more, but I expected to win
tonight."
Current 125cc National Motocross
Champion Mike Brown had a near-
perfect day at Indianapolis, and it
may have been completely so if it
weren't for Reed. Brown came out
fighting early as he took the first
heat-race win of the night. After a
great second-place start in the final,
the Pro Circuit/Kawasaki/Chevy
Trucks-backed Brown took over the
lead on the second lap and set sail,
leading for over nine circuits until
Reed passed him as they jumped
over a triple together. Several laps
later, a red-cross flag was waving
over one of the triples for downed
rider Michael Byrne, and Reed doubled while all the other riders rolled
the jumps. There was some controversy after the race, but the decision
stood, and Reed was awarded the
win. Brown wants nothing more than
another championship, and he
thought that Reed's actions may have
given him a win.
"I got a little bit of arm pump out
there tonight, but that's the way it
goes," Brown said. "I've been training
with RC [Ricky Carmichael] again and
Brown (3) readies to tuck in behind
early leader Kelly Smith (34) at the
start of the 125cc main. Those two
are being chased by Michael Byrne
(35) and Buddy Antunez (100).
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FEBRUARY 20,
2002 13
