Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

early on and hitting the turf hard. The Frenchman lost valuable ground to Carmichael in the title chase, and now sits 17 points in arrears. "It was a good night for me," Carmichael said. "I'm really happy with the way things are going. We've got five more races, and I wish we didn't have a week off. It's going to seem like forever, just putting myself through torture, here, and breaking out in rashes. I'm ready for it to be over." McGrath was fifth, after running in third for much of the race. He has only made one 2002 podium thus far, and with only five rounds remaining, he's running out of time to notch a victory on the season (the Bud Ught Yamaha rider has never gone a complete SX series without winning). "I felt great," McGrath said. "I was riding pretty loose in the beginning, and then same old story - it seems like the last 10 [laps]. 1 got a little bit tight. 1 have to calm down, or I'm just not going to be able to pull it off - I'll go off the back worse than I already did. Up until that point, I felt fairly good. They were inching away barely at all. I'm just badly in need of a big break. I don't know if a week's enough for this injury. I just need to be off a motorcycle." MAIN Riding his factory Yamaha YZ426F, Tim Ferry pulled his third holeshot in three tries since returning from injury, but it didn't last long, as he made a couple of mistakes and saw Ramsey put his own thumper into the lead right away. Lusk was second ahead of Carmichael, with Vuillemin fourth and McGrath fifth. The top three were going at it hard, when Lusk dropped his KX on lap three. "We were doing that little step-off thing there, and I tried to hug the very, very inside," Lusk said. "It got harder and harder as the night went, and got a little slicker, and I just lost the front wheel real quick." As he was picking it up, the battling Yamaha duo of Vuillemin and McGrath went by, one on each side. Each had just put a block pass on the other, and as they went by Lusk, they made contact, with Vuillemin losing out and taking a hard fall. "Jeremy went inside and just completely jumped on me," Vuillemin said. "I couldn't do anything, and I crashed pretty hard. I bruised my arm, and I hurt my leg. I'm okay, but I'm kind of bummed out - especially from a Yamaha guy. I wouldn't mind if it was a Honda guy." "It was an accident, really," McGrath said. "The corner before that, he didn't do me any favors - he drifted way out and shut me off hard. It really wasn't my fault. Ezra was down. I went on the inside and jumped. I already was in front of him, so he kind of pushed a bad line. We have it on video. It's unfortunate, because he's actually a teammate. I would never do that to him - especially with the position he's in - but I also feel that I've got to race. It was the early stages - I would never do that at the end." "As I picked my bike up, David and Jeremy came around me," Lusk said. "Those guys hit - just a big fiasco. Jeremy went to the inside of me, and David went to the outside of me, and they just faded into each other. It was really nobody's fault; I guess it was my fault for being in the way." With Lusk now out of the lead group, Carmichael hounded Ramsey with tenacity, and the two Hondas circulated the track as one, with McGrath back a few seconds. "I know he's strong, and I know he's fast," Ramsey said of his teammate. "If I stay out there ahead of him, I know we're putting some time on the field." Carmichael was trying everything to get around, but Ramsey wouldn't be intimidated. "We left each other enough space so that the race would go on," Ramsey said. "It wouldn't be over [like] if we just clocked each other off the track. That's just dangerous, and it makes it real tough. We were clean, and having fun looking at each other over the triple and all that good stuff." The champ went for an unsuccessful block-pass by the mechanics' area, and he got out of shape in the whoops one time. "I was riding up on the PJl Tuffblox tonight," Carmichael said. "I couldn't get by Nathan anywhere, and when I would try to push it, I would make a mistake. After I almost yardsaled it in the whoops, I slowed it down and just started following him - trying to wear him down and put some pressure on him, and hopefully he would get tight and I'd be able to sneak by him somewhere." At the midway point, Carmichael bumped Ramsey in a corner and almost fell, but he recovered and got by on the far inside of a giant mountain-berm. "I was riding behind him, going, 'There ain't no way 1 can get by him unless he makes a mistake,'" Carmichael said. "I seen where those bales were falling down the hill, so I jumped up there, leaned the bike into the turn. I had bad feelings about coming around for the checkered flag and them black-flagging me or something, but I seen other tire marks there, so I knew other people had to be taking it." McGrath had now slowed a bit, and a charging Lusk went by him for third on lucky lap 13. VuilIemin, too, was on a charge, zapping McGrath on lap 15 and making a run at Lusk. He ran out of steam, though, and the top five were set, with Carmichael leading Ramsey, Lusk, Vuillemin and McGrath through the final few laps. eN Reliant Astrodome Houston, Texas Results: March 23, 2002 HEAT 1 (8 laps, 1-4 transfer): I. Ezra Lusk (Kaw); 2. David Vuillemin (Yam); 3. Nllthan Ramsey (Han); 4. Nicholas Wey (Yam); 5. Ryan Clark (Yam); 6. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Han); 7. James Pavolny (Han); 8. Jason Thomas (Yam); 9. Jeremias Israel (Han); 10. Tyler Evans (Hus); 11. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 12. Brian Mason (Kaw); 13. Jason Frenette (Han); 14. Tllylor Watts (Yam); 15. Zeb Armstrong (Yam); 16. Ted Campbell (Suz); 17. Brandon Schlensic (Han); 18. Kevin Townsend (Han); 19. Kris Pepworth (Kew); 20. Jeff Gibson (Vern). 250cc Qualifying YClgi's Ilil:llic: It's been a while since we've seen Ezra Lusk (right) equal to his peak, but he displayed that level of riding while winning the first heat race at Houston. The Chevy Trucks Kawasaki rider got the holeshot, and although he was quickly passed by David Vuillemin, he got the Team Yamaha Frenchman back with a park-pass midway through lap six, then gave him a long stare over a triple. VuiUemin did his best to retaliate, but made a mistake and overshot a berm, heading out onto the off-track concrete before rejoining the course and salvaging second. Team Honda's Nathan Ramsey recovered from a mistake to take third on his big four-stroke, and Moto XXX/lXlY's Nick Wey took the heat's final transfer spot. After taking over heat two's lead in the early part of lap one, Ricky Carmichael won an amazing 15 seconds faster than Lusk. The Team Honda rider was challenged early by Team Yamaha's Timmy Ferry, who eventually settled for second on his YZF. Bud Light Yamaha's Jeremy McGrath took a comfortable third, one spot ahead of a poor-starting Stephane Roncada, of Chevy Trucks Kawasaki. The first semi saw Jean-Sebastien Roy take the victory, with his four-stroke Blackfoot Honda leading every leap. The Canuck won over Max Pitts' Jeff Gibson, 3-D Racing's Jason Thomas, YSA Sports' Ted Campbell and LCR Racing's Ryan Clark. In the second semi, Team Honda's Ernesto Fonseca was the top rider, the Costa Rican requiring a few laps to get around runner-up Kyle Lewis, of Moto XXX/DGY. Completing the top five were Blackfoot Honda's Heath Voss, MotoworldRaclng.com Suzuki's Damon Huffman and Pro Caliber's Isaiah Johnson. As is often the case, the LCO was fraught with heartbreak. First Tyler Evans, Jeremias Israel and Kris Swaney saw their chances ruined by a scary first-tum pile-up, and then Jimmy Wilson's bike broke while he was running in an apparently sure qualifying position. The Edge's Brian Mason survived for the win, with Duff Shelly Kawasaki's Krls Papworth taking the night's fmal qualifying spot. TIme: 8 min., 46.64 sees. HEAT 2 (8 laps, 1-4 transfer): 1. Ricky Cermicheel (Han); 2. Timmy Ferry (Yem); 3. Jeremy McGrath (Vam); 4. Stephane Roncede (Kew); 5. Ernesto Fonsece (Han); 6. Kyle Lewis (Han); 7. Heath Voss (Han); 8. Damon Huffmen (Suz); 9. lseiah Johnson (Suz); 10. Deve Castillo (Vam); 11. Michael Koch (Vam); 12. Nick McBride (Yam); 13. Kris Swaney (Hon); 14. Shay Menney (Vam); 15. Brendan Butler (Suz); 16. Shawn Wynne (Hon); t7. Forrest Butler (Suz); 18. Ronnie Remiscal (Hon); 19. Joseph Oehlhof (Yam); 20. Eddie Ray Jr. (KTM). lime: 8 min., 31.69 sees. SEMI 1 (6IZlpS, 1-5 trZlnsfer): 1. Jeo!ln-Sebestien Roy (Hon); 2. Jeff Gibson (Yo!Im); 3. Jason Thomo!ls (Yam); 4. Ted Campbell (SUI); 5. Ryan Clark (Yam); 6. Brian Mason (Kaw); 7. Jeremias Isreel (Hon); 8. Taylor Watts (Yam); 9. Zeb Armstrong (Yam); 10. Kris Papworth (Kaw); 11. Jason Frenette (Han); 12. Tyler Evans (Hus); 13. James Povolny Jr. (Han); 14. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 15. Brandon Schlensic (Hon); 16. Kevin Townsend (Hon). Time: 6 min., 41.25 sees. SEMI 2 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): I. Ernesto Fonseeo!l (Han); 2. Kyle Lewis (Han); 3. Heeth Voss (Han); 4. Damon Huffman (Suz); 5. Isaiah Johnson (Suz); 6. Dave Cestillo (Yo!Im); 7. Michael Koch (Yam): 8. Shawn Wynne (Han); 9. Forrest Butler (Suz); 10. Brandon Butler (Suz); 11. Kris Swaney (Han); 12. Shay Manney (Yam); 13. Nick McBride (Yam); 14. Ronnie Ramiscal (Han). Time: 6 min., 37.22 sees. LCQ (6 laps. 1·2 transfer): 1. Brian Mason (Ko!Iw); 2. Kris Po!Ipworth (Kaw); 3. James Povolny (Hon); 4. Taylor Watts (Yam); 5. Zeb Armstrong (Yo!Im); 6. Jo!Ison Frenette (Hon); 7. Michael Koch (Yem); B. Brandon Butler (Suz); 9. Shawn Wynne (Han); 10. Kevin Townsend (Han); 11. Shay Manney (Yam); 12. Dave Castillo (Yam); 13. Brandon Schlensic (Han); 14. Tyler Evans (Hus); 15. Ronnie Ramiscel (Hon); 16. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 17. Jeremias Israel (Han); 18. Krls Swaney (Han); 19. Nick McBride (Yom); 20. Joseph Oehlhof (Yam); 21. Eddie Ray Jr. (KTM); 22. Forreest Butler (Suz). Time: 7 min., 1.28 sees. MAIN (20 laps): 1. Ricky Cormlchael (Hon); 2. Nathan Ramsey (Hon); 3. Ezra Lusk (Kaw): 4. Do!Ivid Vulllemin (Yam); 5. Jeremy McGrath (Yo!Im); 6. Ernesto Fonseca (Hon); 7. Heeth Voss (Han); 8. Jason Thomas (Yam); 9. Kyle Lewis (Han); 10. Damon Huffman (Suz); 11. Nicholi!ls Wey (Vam); 12. Stephane Ronceda (Ko!Iw); 13. Jean·Sebllstien Roy (Han); 14. Timmy Ferry (Yam); 15. Ryan Clark (Yam); 16. lsoioh Johnson (SUI); 17. Ted Compbell Back at the Indianapolis round, Cycle News contributor Henny Ray Abrams reported that Yamaha riders Jeremy McGrath and David Vulliemin were running a hook at the bottom of the outer fork tube. The device could be latched into the lower fork guard, compressing the front end for starts and then detaching when the rider hits a bump. Now, many more riders are using similar devices, induding all of Teams Honda, Chevy Trucks Kawasaki, KTM Red Bull, Boost MobilejYamahafTroy Racing and Amsoil/Dr. Martens/Competition Accessories. Even privateer Jason Thomas showed up at Houston running a fork hook, the handiwork of his father Frank, and according to Bill Dill, the owner of Thomas' sponsor, 3D Racing, the company will soon have a fork hook on the market. Metaltek, which makes the hook used by Nick Wey, is also said to be readying a product for the marketplace. "We've only been running it since last week," said KTM Red Bull suspension technician Kaipo Chung, "and already the riders are wondering how they used to start without it." Chevy, Trucks Kawasaki manager Bruce Stjernstrom reported that although start times in practice don't tend to be significantly better with the hook, he believes it allows a rider to avoid wheelying out of the gate when conditions are less ideal. "When you're on the line and you can't hear your bike because there's a big four-stroke booming next to you, I think it allows you to be more consistent," Stjemstrom said. Not surprisingly. the factory teams' hooks are the most sanitary, employing a springloaded button to ensure the device doesn't catch at an inopportune moment. Other units are rather more cobby, but even some of the hand-made jobs are quite ingenious. Judging by the popularity of this innovation among the pro riders, it shouldn't be long before nearly every amateur across the country is running a hook on his or her bike. eye I .. n .. _ s • APRIL 3, 2002 7

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