AMA EA Sports Supercross Series
Round 1 1 : Reliant Astrodome
(Suz); 18. Jeff Gibson (Yam); 19. Brian Mason
(Kaw); 20, Kris Papworth (Kaw).
Time: 21 min., 54.06 sees.
Winner's Average Lap: 1 min., 5.703 sees.
Margin of Victory: 3.87 sees.
AMA EA SPORTS saPERCROSS SERIES C'SHIP
POINTS STANDINGS (After 11 of 16 rounds); 1.
Ricky Carmichael (234/7 wins); 2. David Vuillemin
(217/3 wins); 3, Ezra Lusk (168); 4, Jeremy McGrath
(160); 5. Stephane Roncada (157); 6. Nathan
Rllmsey (139); 7. Ernesto Fonseca (122); 8. Mike
laRocco (120); 9. Heeth Voss (118); 10. Nicholas
Wey (114); 11. Damon Huffman (105); 12. Travis
Pastrana (96); 13. Kyle Lewis (67); 14. JeanSebastien Roy (64); 15. Kevin Windham (62): 16.
Timmy Ferry (57); 17. Micheel Byrne (56); 18.
Sebastien Tortelli (49); 19, Keith Johnson (46); 20,
Chad Reed (44).
Upcoming Rounds:
Round 12 • St. Louis, Missouri, April 6
Round 13· Pontiac, Michigan, April 13
(Above leftl Nathan Ramsey (251 led much of the race before posting the first
250cc podium of his career. Ezra Lusk (111 also made the podium.
(Abovel For the first time in races he has started this season, David Vuillemin (121
finished off of the podium after a clash with Jeremy McGrath, losing ground In the
title chase.
reporter to ride for a TV piece). Travis Pastrana, who had nasalpassage surgery last week, was in bed with a bad bout of the fiu,
and in order to make his intended return at St. Louis. manager
Roger DeCoster said, "He'll have to get better quick." Blimpie
Suzuki's Buddy Antunez had considered stepping up to the 250cc
class, but DeCoster decided that in light of his off performances
in the 125cc class lately, it was better not to make that move.
BRIEFLY•••
Situated inside the huge Reliant Astrodome. the Houston
track was quite long in comparison to a typical supercross
course, with lap times of well over a minute. It included a couple
of rhythm sections, two regular tripies (plus a finish-line triple), a
Fans were also waiting to see if Chad Reed would step up to
the 250cc ciass at Houston. but the decision was ultimateiy made
not to risk his seemingly certain 125cc Eastem Region title. Reed
has become a hot commodity, with both Yamaha and Chevy
Trucks Kawasaki courting him for a 250cc ride in 2003.
whoop straight, a mountain-berm and two kickers on the start
straight. Nathan Ramsey and Tyier Evans agreed that it was the
best track of the year so far.
The original domed venue
With several of his riders out with injuries, Shark Plano Honda
manager Kenny Watson picked up Adam Mennenga to fill in at
Houston. Mennenga just missed out on the 125cc main. Scott
Sheak and Casey Johnson are both coming along well in their
recoveries. but Watson is keeping them out of action untii the
outdoor series starts. By the way. everyone was happy to see
Plano rider Justin Smith. who was seriously injured in Anaheim,
on hand at Houston. The healthy-looking Smith is still undergoing
therapy, and it was good to have him back.
The Houston round was aired on ABC the day after the race.
The Scorpion King, a spin-off of the Mummy movies, will be
the first film promoted this year under the arrangement between
Team Honda and Universal Studios. The picture will first be promoted at the Fontana round of the U.S. Superbike Series, and will
probably also be promoted at a round of the Supercross Series.
Rumor has it that ail four SX riders will feature the Scorpiontheme gear and bike-graphics (only one at a time participated last
year). Considering that the riders have four different gear sponsors (Fox, Thor, Troy Lee and Axo), this could be difficult to coordinate, but it should be interesting to see how each apparel maker
After being picked up recently by Pro Circuit/Chevy Trucks
Kawasaki, Frenchman Eric Sorby had only two weeks to get
used to his new ride before racing at Houston, but that didn't stop
him from a strong podium ride. Sorby was put into contact with
team manager Mitch Payton by fellow Frenchie David Vuillemin,
with whom he is currently rooming (to show his appreciation,
Sorby ran a "Cobra 12" Racer X sticker on his helmet).
Main-event lap leaders thus far; Ricky Carmichaei (111 laps), David
Vuillemin (4OJ, Jeremy McGrath (20), Travis Pastrana (18), Nathan
Ramsey (9). Mike laRocco (6), Kevin Windham and Tim Ferry (5),
Sebastien Tortelli (4), Emesto Fonseca and Michael Byme (1).
interprets the assignment.
Quote of the night; "I sign so many autographs. I have to run
a remote reservoir on my pen!" by everMjacular Sunstar rep Lou
Lopez (soon to be a Parts Unlimited hotshot).
The Team Yamaha hauler was involved in an accident while
making its way from New Orleans to Houston. While driving down
the interstate, driver Pat Muras was passed by a vehicle that suddenly swerved into him. Muras hit the brakes hard, avoiding the
vehicle as it spun out of control and off the road. Interestingiy, the
police officer who responded to the cail was a good friend of
Louisiana native Kevin Windham. According to Yamaha team
manager Steve Butler, the couple admitted to being invoived in
When word got out that SoBe Suzuki was talking with Nicholas
Wey about coming on-board the factory team, everyone was
waiting to see what colors he'd show up in at Houston. Ultimately, Wey decided to stay on with Moto XXX/DGY Yamaha. "I
would only do it if I could keep the sponsors happy who were with
me when no one else wanted me," Wey said..Had he gone with
Suzuki. the deai would have been for the remainder of the year
(including outdoors).
Former Team Honda rider Steve Wise was on hand at Houston.
Wise, who is now a preacher, finished third in a TT in the
Astrodome. Texas road race~ Doug Polen was aiso on hand.
The top five in the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge
were Brandon Summervich, Dyllon Beasley. Jacob Baumert,
Nathan Griffin and Chase Kellam.
The winners of the Powerade Holeshot awards were Team
Yamaha's Timmy Ferry in the 250cc class and Pro Circuit/Chevy
Trucks KawasakI's Eric Sorby in the 125cc ciass.
The Racer X Gas Card award went to 250cc rider James
Povoiny of Nielsen Enterprises, and the Asterisk Medic Card
award went to 125cc rider Kevin Johnson, of LCRRacing.com.
Each was the top rider not to transfer in his class.
Pro Caliber rider Isaiah Johnson and Max Pitts rider Jeff
Gibson qualified for both classes at Houston, with Johnson
going 16-21 in the 250 and 125cc divisions, respectively, and
Gibson going 18-22.
Thanks to SX chapiain Steve Hudson for the 250cc ciass headline idea, which we liked so much that we ran it despite the fact
that iast week's headline also included the word southern. Not
totally coincidentally, Hudson is from North Carolina.
As expected, Team Honda's Sebastien Tortelli sat out the
Houston round with a sore back.
Mike LaRocco was on hand to watch his first supercross since
breaking his arm earlier this year. '" have three more weeks in
this," LaRocco said, indicating his cast. "The rehabilitation will
depend on strength and mobility. I'm optimistic about riding a couple of days before Las Vegas [May 4], and I'm hoping to make it
for Glen Helen [May 12), although I obviously wouldn't be 100
percent. I was originally scheduled [to return] at Southwick [June
91. so I'm doing my best to knock a month off it. but it's tough."
who was charged with reckless driving - lost control.
With no Wey (pun intended), SoBe Suzuki was again without a
250cc rider. Broken-femur victim Kevin Windham was on hand.
limping around without the aid of crutches (he even taught a local
During the intermission, dirt-tracker Willie McCoy did a couple
of blasts down the start straight on his ATK, promoting the April
27 F-USA Drag Specialties Dirt Track round to be held in Baytown, Texas.
8
APRIL 3,
2002·
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some extracurricular romantic activity at the time that the driver -
s
KTM Red Bull's Billy Laninovich tweaked his knee when he
went down in the first tum of the first 125cc heat race. "It was
due to an AMA-overwatered track," said team manager Ron
Heben. "They water the track and make it totally different from
practice, and then they don't give them a parade lap. You can't
ask these guys to take it easy in the first tum. '
This wasn't Ezra Lusk's first bout with food-poisoning. Back in
1996, he was stricken by the malody just before the Pontiac
round, and after a trip to the hospital, he returned to race. His finish? Third p.lace.
