Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128148
'l Speed Stick National Arenacross Series • Rounds 28-30: B.C. Place the 125cc mains, whHe Tuf Racing/ Thor/Kawasaki Team Green/ Richmond/Gowland/Maxxis rider Darcy Lange dominated the 250cc mains, each pulling off two wins, as well a win each in the Dash For Cash. Both riders have been dominating the series since Damon Bradshaw was injured in Hampton. Each weekend, both riders have fought it out, but it all came to an end this weekend. Demuth came into the Vancouver round with a 124-point lead. The Yamaha rider came into the weekend cool and relaxed, knowing that he could take the title this weekend if he didn't make any mistakes. After winning the Dash For Cash on Friday, it looked as though he was on the right track. In the 125cc main, he pulled the holeshot and led the whole race. After a poor start in the 250cc main, which prevented him from making the podium with a fourthplace finish, Demuth was still able to clinch the title. On Saturday, Demuth was able to puJl off another win in the 125cc main after Lange led most of the race. Despite having his race bike stolen during the week, Lange, a native Canadian, pulled off a Dash For Cash win on Saturday. "My bikes ran great this weekend, even though they were new bikes," Lange said. "Last weekend, my 125 and 250 bikes were stolen, but my mechanic did a great job putting two new bikes together. It felt great racing in my own town, seeing my family and friends out there cheering for me. I am happy with the outcome of the weekend." After a hard Friday night, Pro Source/Thor/Enzo/Barr's Competition/Yamaha rider Tom Hofmaster was able to come back with two third -place finishes in both classes on Saturday night. He currently sits third in points with one round to go. "( got out in third in the 125cc main and stayed there the whole race, right behind Josh and Travis," Hofmaster said of Saturday night's race. "I just paced them both for most of the race. In the end, I was able to hold on to third. Jeromy Buehl was all over me the whole race, showing me a wheel. "I started out fifth in the 250cc main and' was able to pass Brad Hagseth and then Buehl." Newcomer to the series, Suzuki/A~/RG3/Bill'sPipes/Silkolene rider Phil "Factory" Lawrence STORY AND PHOTOS BY RAYMOND P. GUNDY VANCOUVER, B.C., MAR. 15·16 r;\ new era has begun. After a fiveWyear span that saw Buddy Antunez win five Arenacross crowns, Josh Demuth has picked up where Antunez left off. After pretty much dominating this year's series, Demuth clinched the 2002 title at the S.c. Place in Vancouver, Canada, after posting 24 wins so far (there's still one more round in the series). Demuth actually wrapped up the title after placing fourth in Friday night's 250cc main. "( feel great winnjng the championship," Demuth said. "But it really hasn't hit me yet that ( won it. I think next weekend in Tacoma it will hit me." In Vancouver, Demuth, on the Shogun Motor Sports/Thor/Pro Circuit/HJC/EVS YZ250F, dominated (Right) Josh Demuth was so happy after winning the 2002 Speed Stick NatIonal Arenacross Championship that he could hardly open his eyes. (Below) Demuth (4) leads Jeromy Buehl (25), Rusty Holland (8), Jeff Willoh (2), Denny Stephenson (6), Darcy Lange (7) and the rest of the pack at the start of one of the weekend's 125cc mains. Demuth won both of them. 60 APRIL 3. 2002' cue I _ n __ s