Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMA EA Sports 1 25cc Eastern Region Supercross Series Round 5: Superdome when Langston's momentum was slowed, and the KTM Red Bull rider had to settle for runner-up. Still, it was Langston's best performance so far this year. "I'm completely pleased with my ride," Langston said. "I came from behind, caught them up - I made him work for it tonight. He's had it pretty easy with me crashing and other guys just not being up there. I think some one needs to put a stop to his win streak, and I hope that's me, next outing." KTMs and YZ250Fs are notoriously strong performers in the 125cc class, and the final podium finisher was on another one of the latter. Larry Ward's night didn't start out so welJ, as he was forced to qualify via the LCQ, but a steady, smooth ride in the main earned the Moto XXX/DGY rider a strong third-place finish. A distant fourth went to Pro Circuit/Chevy Trucks Kawasaki rider Mike Brown, who currently sits second in points 23 behind Reed. Boost Mobile/Yamaharrroy Racing's Greg Schnell completed the top five. By CHRIS JONNUM PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN NEW ORLEANS, LA, MAR. 16 had Reed rides a YZ250F, but he got the perfect 125 in New Orleans - a maximum 125 points for his five race wins without a loss. The Aussie's Crescent City win was perhaps the most difficult, as Reed struggled with the slick track and a hungry Grant Langston, but he still made it look relatively easy. That the Boost Mobile/yamaharrroy Racing rider will win the Eastern Region title is pretty much a given, so the real trick is whether or not he can pull off a flawless series (something accomplished only once before, by Ricky Carmichael in 1998). "I guess everybody wishes they could win five in a row," Reed said. "I was pretty much one of those. Fortunately, everything's going pretty well. I haven't had too much bad luck - touch wood. I've just been making the right decisions at the right time, and just put myself in not too much danger." Of course Langston, who badly wanted this title, is less than pleased with Reed's dominance, and now that the crown is pretty much out of his reach, he'd like nothing better than to play the spoiler. The South African gave it a good shot in New Orleans, passing Reed and leading much of the race, but a lapper ultimately proved his undoing. Reed capitalized C 14 MARCH 27. 2002· cue I MAIN • Moto XXX/DGY's Kelly Smith grabbed a monster holeshot, only to blow through the first corner and reenter the track in last. KTM Red Bull's Kelly Smith took over briefly, but was passed on a long straight by Reed before lap one was completed. Brann • _ s den Jesseman was in third, but one lap later, Ward (who had started quite well despite the outside gate pick that resulted from his qualifier performance) pinched him off on the same straight, almost sending the Blimpie (Abovel Kelly Smith (341 Is shown here moments after earning the Powerade Holeshot money, and moments before ftylng off the track. Fellow VZ250F pilots Larry Ward (101 and Chad Reed (1 031 lurk c:lo_ behind. (Right) Gram Langston (1111 had his stronges1 ride of the _ason, passing Chad Reed (1031 and leading him until the penultimate lap. Suzuki rider to the ground. As for Langston, he had started around fifth, but was riding aggressively, picking off a rider per lap. Langston got Jesseman on lap two, Ward on lap three, and dived by Jesseman in a corner on lap four. He then closed on Reed, and passed for the lead over a triple on lap five. "This track, I just couldn't find a rhythm," Reed said. "I just couldn't go fast. I didn't have it this weekend, so I just basically let him by. He's been having problems lately with things like arm-pump. That's a tough thing to handle when you've got somebody on you, so I just let him by and sat on him." Langsto~ actually built a small lead, but Reed then reeled him in and began pressuring him with around five circuits remaining. The duo were now far ahead of the rest of the pack, but their battle was entertaining enough. Langston was doing his best to hold off his rival, but he once again began struggling with arm pump. "He picked it up a little bit," Langston said. "Lap 11, I started pumping up, and lap 12, I was really bad. If it was a 12-lap race, I would have been fine." Still, Langston was doing a good job of guarding his lines, but a lapper slowed, him in the whoops on the

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