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AMAlEA Sports Eastern Regional 1 25cc Supercross Round 4: Daytona International Speedway Grant Langston (111) led early on until he and Reed (103) tried to occupy the same line at the same time. Langston went down, while Reed went on to win. (Right) Mike Brown was fast but couldn't catch the speeding Aussle. He ended up second. the first seven laps. "So I just thought, 'This is going to be fun - the three fast guys in the class.' I just kind of sat there to see what they are all about, what they were doing different than I was. I was just pacing myself. Grant was going really fast, so I thought I should get around Mike to see what Grant was doing different. I did that and got on to Grant. I learned a little bit from both of them and put it all together. I got right behind Grant and then felt that I'd had enough of eating his dirt, so it was time for me to pass and let him DNF'd one race, is tied for seventh with 47 points. MAIN Langston nailed the holeshot at the start of the 125cc main, while Brown and Reed tucked in right behind him. The three riders immediately started pulling away from the rest of the pack as they sized each other up. Reed made his move on Brown on the third lap after getting a better drive through a triple jump/whoop section. Once into second, Reed went after Langston. For the next four laps, the two heat-race winners went at it tooth and nail, with Reed matching Langston's every move. Deciding that he had had enough of Langston's roost, Reed made an attempt to pass the South African in a left-hand turn. Reed out-braked Langston going into the turn, cut to the inside of him, and the two came out of the turn nearly side by side, though Langston had about a wheel on Reed. Reed's front end appeared to come off the ground as he accelerated out of the turn, and he drifted into the side of Langston. The bump was just enough to send Langston off the track and onto the ground, while Reed managed to stay up and keep on going. End of race. "I was third out of the start, and I saw Grant and Mike," Reed said of 18 MARCH 20, 2002' cue I eat some. "Unfortunately, when [ passed him, we came together, and he crashed. I went into the corner really hard on the outside trying to square him [Langston] off. He pretty much knew what [ was trying to do, and he gassed it, and our lines came together." Langston didn't seem to hold any grudges against Reed for what had happened. "I kind of messed up the turn and he squared up the inside," Langston said. "He jumped into my line, and we both kind of landed in the same place at the same time, and [ came out second-best. I hit the haybales and went down. It was a risk on his part, because when we hit, we both could have gone down. Unfortunately, e n eVIl's the way my luck is going, I'm the one who went down." The race for the win was a yawner after that, as Reed opened up a huge lead and went on to win, lapping the field up to seventh place. "It's unfortunate," Reed said. "I was really looking forward to it [racing Langston], and you know, it's really fun when you're racing. It seems like the three of us [Reed, Langston and Brown] have been a step above everybody. I think for the rest of the year, it's just going to be mainly us up there. You just have to get good starts with these two guys and do your best. I was really looking forward to doing 15 laps with Grant, [and] I'm sure it will come over the next few weeks." Brown was all alone when he took the checkered flag in second, while Langston just couldn't recover from his earlier incident with Reed. "I just lost my rhythm completely when I got up," Langston said. "I struggled, and there was no way I was going to catch the front two." When Jesseman crossed the finish line a distant fourth, he was closely followed by Woods, who ran a strong and consistent race, as did sixth-place Schnell, who climbed up from 13th. Another rider who rode hard was Dowd, who gated way back in 17th place. The KTM rider only seemed to get stronger as the race went on, eventually passing Andrew Short three laps from the end to take seventh. Moto XXX's Larry Ward had a promising start to the race, gating fifth. Unfortunately, his ride came to a sudden end on the second lap when his chain reportedly broke. Team ECC's Turbo Reif was also running well, in seventh, when he dropped out on the 13th lap. eN DaytolUl latematillUll Speedwl' Daytonl Beach, Fioridl Results: Mlrch 9, ZDDZ [Round 41 125 HEAT 1 (5 laps. 1·9 to main): 1. Gront Langston (KTM); 2. Mike Brown (Kow); 3. Steve Boniface (KTM); 4. Kelly Smith (KTM); 5. Tyson Hadsell (Yam); 6. Troy Adams (Yem); 7. Joshua Summey (Yam); 8. Joshua Woods (Suz); 9. John Down (KTM); 10. Andrew Short (Suz); II. Turbo Reif (Suz); 12. Derrick Fisher (Suz); 13. Branden Jesseman (Suz); 14. Michllel Blose (Suz); 15. Johnny Marley (Hon); 16. Ryan Lockhart (Hon); 17. Jeffrey Bowman (Han); 18. Robbie Horton (Hon); 19. Jeremy Cook (Yam): 20. Steve Andrich (Yem). Time: 7 rnins., 55.150 sec. 12S HEAT 2 (5 laps. 1-9 to main): 1. Chad Reed (Yern); 2. Greg Schnell (Yearn); 3. l.l!Irry Werd (Yam); 4. Billy Leninovich (KTM); 5. Buddy Antunez (Yam); 6. Jeff Gibson (Yam); 7. Ryan Clark (Yam); 8. Keith Johnson (YlIim); 9. Steve Mertens (Hus); 10. Danny Carlson (Suz): 11. Randy Valade (Suz); 12. Paulo Cezar Stedile (Yam); 13. Bradley Ripple (Yam); 14. Paul Perebjinos (Yam); 15. Colt Humphrey (Suz); 16. Shawn NUll (Hon); 17. Tony Graham (Hon); 18. Kurt Jennison (YlIim); 19. Whlspem Smith (Yam); 20. Chase Reed (Yam). Time: 8 mins., 9.760 sec. 125 lCQ: 1. Brzlnden Jesseman (Suz); 2. Andrew Short (Suz); 3. Turbo Reif (Suz); 4. Johnny Marley (Hon): 5. Randy Valllide (Suz): 6. Derrick Fisher (Suz): 7. Micheel Blose (Suz); 8. Steve Andrich (YlIim); 9. Ryan Lockhart (Y8m); 10. Paul Perebijnos (Yam): 11. Jeffrey Bowman (Hon); 12. Danny Carlson (Suz); 13. Colt Humphrey (Suz); 14. Bradley Ripple (Suz); 15. Jeremy Cook (Yam); 16. PauJo Cezar Stedile (Yam): 17. Shawn Nutt (Han): 18. Tony Graham (Hon); 19. Chase Reed (Yam); 20. Whispem Smith (Yam); 21. Robbie Horton (Hon). TIMe: 6 min., 46.710 sec. M.argin of victory: 15.249 sec. 125 MAIN (15 laps): I. Chad Reed (Yam); 2. Mike Brown (Kaw); 3. Grant Leangston (KTM); 4. Branden Jessemen (Suz); 5. Joshu8 Woods (Suz); 6. Greg Schnell (Yam); 7. John Down (KTM); 8. Andrew Short (Suz); 9. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 10. Ryan Clark (Yam); II. Kelly Smith (Yam); 12. Tyson Hadsell (YlIm); 13. Steve Bonif8ce (KTM); 14. Joshua Summey (Yam); 15. Keith Johnson (Yam); 16. Jeff Gibson (Yam); 17. Johnny M8rley (Hon); 18. Steve Mertens (Hus): 19. Turbo Reif (Suz); 20. Billy Laninovich (KTM); 21. l.8rry Weard (YlIm); 22. Troy Adams (Yam). Time: 23 mins.. 32.640 sec. Margin of victory: 19.970 sec. 125« EASTERN REGIONAL C'SHIP SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 4 of 8 races): 1. Chad Reed (100}4 wins); 2. Michael Brown (84): 3. Steve Boniface (62); 4. Buddy Antunez (59); 5. Kelly Smith (50); 6. Larry Ward (48); 7. (TIE) John Dowd/Grant l.l!Ingston (47); 9. Brllinden Jesseman (46); 10. Greg Schnell (45); 11. Joshua Woods (35); 12. Jeff Gibson (34); 13. (TIE) Ryan Clark/Robbie Horton (29); IS. Paul Currie (24); 16. Tyson Hadsell (19); 17. Joshua Summey (16); 18. Billy Payne (15); 19. Keith Johnson (14); 20. Johnny Marley (8). Upcoming Rounds: Round 5 - New Orleans, Louisiana, March 16 Round 6 - 51. Louis, Missouri, April 16