Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

~I AMA EA Sports Supercross Series Round 1 2: Edward -Jones DOme BRIEFLY••• Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ezra Lusk crashed hard in the first 250cc practice and flew into the announcer's tower scaffolding headfirst. Lusk relaxed back in the team semi for some time before deciding to take a trip to the hospital for observation. "I had a really sore neck and just wanted to get it checked out," the Georgian said. "Everything came back frne. and they said that I had a case of whiplash. I decided to ride and almost made it in the heat. but ended up winning the semi. I felt good in the main, but my equilibrium was way off, and I went down again in the final. I decided to just ride and get points." Lusk finished eighth in the main. The same jump also almost claimed some other big-name riders. and did claim privateer Randy Valade. Making a retum to racing was Team Honda's Sebastien Tortelli. Tortelli has been in and out of the series all year due to injuries and last raced at New Orleans, where he bruised his back. "He's at 100 percent now and is just getting back into it." team manager Erik Kehoe noted. "We've begun testing for outdoors, but he should be at all of the last few supercrosses." Tortelli finished the night in 13th. Also retuming was MotoworldRacing.com Suzuki's Ben Riddle. The Kentucky native actually has not raced a supercross all year and decided to ride a 250. "I broke my leg at Washougal last year and finally started riding in January." he said. "My arm then started bugging me. and it was determined that the plates and screws in my arm were not needed anymore. I got them in when I was 12, and the bones just grew. I had to have them [the plates. not the bones] taken out." Rid· die failed to qualify and finished eighth in the 250cc LCQ. During the week before St. Louis. Boost MobilelYamahalTroy Racing's Chad Reed signed a two-year deal with Team Yamaha to ride in the 250cc class next year and beyond. His early-season 250cc results and his dominating 125cc season show the true potential of the 18-year-old Australian. "It's been a dream come true this year. and I can't wait to race against the best riders in the worid," Reed said. "I'm really looking forward to riding the 250 all year long." When asked if he would ride a 250 next week at Pontiac. Reed smiled. but would not give a definite answer. Also signing a new contract was Frenchman Eric Sorby. At the suggestion of good friend David Vuillemin, Sorby came to the States to try out for Pro Circuit/Chevy Trucks/Kawasaki boss Mitch Payton, and he has done quite well. making the podium in both of his races so far. "I signed a contract for the 125cc East and West Supercross and the 125cc Nationals." Sorby said. "After Houston, I rode with Vuillemin in Califomia because we are good friends, and he is a great rider. I like my bike, but I'm not perfect yet because I rode Hondas in France. I like it here America is more professional. .. Team ECC was running with only one rider at St. Louis, and that was Josh Woods. Team manager Mike Craig has basically hung up his leathers and said that he will have a full four-man 125cc team at Glen Helen. "We hired Chris Wheeler and will be an all-125cc team when the Nationals start," Craig commented. Woods finished fifth in the 125cc final. Now comfortable nlnning near the front in the premier class, Emesto Fonseca notched another podium finish in the Edward Jones Dome. Vuillemin was only up to sixth, battling with the likes of Ferry and Ramsey. McGrath held Fonseca at bay for a few more laps, but then Fonseca saw an opportunity and retaliated at Vuillemin was now up to fifth, as he had passed Ramsey and Ferry, and next was Roncada. After passing his fellow countryman, it took him two laps to catch up to and challenge McGrath. Though it took some time, Vuillemin passed McGrath in the whoops on lap 15. Carmichael now had a six-second lead on Fonseca, and Vuillemin was the end of lap 12. "He [McGrath] came up a little short on the finish-line landing, and I just dove inside in the next corner," Fonseca explained. Jeremy McGrath looked to be on his way to his second podium finish but just missed out in fourth. With only one rider (Billy Payne) currently pitting out of the Shark/Plano Honda semi, team boss Kenny Watson said that the entire team will be up and running at Glen Helen in early May. "Scott Sheak, Casey Johnson and Travis Elliott will all be ready," he said. And what about Justin Smith, who was seriously injured at San Diego? -He's about 75-percent now," Watson said. Jimmy Button, who was hanging out nearby, corrected Watson: "He's doing @#I$% incredible. Somebody's really looking over him." A record 27 riders attempted to qualify for both classes at St. Louis. With the large number of 250cc·c1ass riders injured and not competing, many 125cc regulars seized the oppcrtunity to try out the quarter-liter division. Only one rider actually pulled off the feat of qualifying for both frnals. LCRRacing.com/Fly/Speed Stick's Ryan Clark qualified for the 125cc class by finishing ninth in the second heat and qualified for the 250cc division by finishing third in the frrst semi. In the mains, Clark frrst took seventh after running toward the front of the 125cc ranks (a crash set him backJ, and he then rode the 250cc frnal and frnished 18th. Clark is known on the tour for his great P.R. work. and he wore the helmet camera for ESPN2 all weekend as well. It was the first time this year that Clark has tried to qualify for both classes. On a side note, lronman Jeff Gibson, who has done double-duty in the last five races, didn't qualify for the 250cc final. Maybe the extra energy helped. Gibson finished fourth in the 125cc main. Pro Circuit/Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Shae Bentley was in attendance at St. Louis, and although he was walking around with a limp, Bentley was in good spirits despite his long stretch of bad luck. "We all have to pay our dues, I guess, and I've paid mine for the last two years," Bentley said while signing autographs in the pits. And what are his future plans? "I'll start riding in a few weeks and may miss the first two Nationals, but should be back after that," he said. Now that the Arenacross Series is completed, two of the series regulars decided to give the big show a try. Pro Source's Tommy Hofrnaster and Bonzeye's Tom Kelley each gave it a shot. Hofmaster only contested the 125cc ciass, riding a VZ250F for the frrst time. He finished 11 th in the 125cc final. Kelley tried both classes and missed the 125cc main by two positions: in the 250cc class, he finished 16th in the LCQ. Hofmaster will finish the remainder of the series and ride the entire National circuit, while Kelley will race select supercrosses and nationals. The Powerade Holeshot awards went to Team Honda's Ricky Carmichael in the 250cc class, while Moto XXX/DGY's Kelly Smith eamed the award in the 125cc class for the fourth time this year. Carmichael and Smith earned $1500 and $1000, respectively, for their main-event holeshots. The winner of the Asterisk Medic Card was Lancaster, Ohio's Steve Andrich. The Yamaha rider collected $125 for taking fifth in the 125 last-chance qualifier, the top position to not qualify for the main. Taking the Racer X Cas Card was Fast By Ferracci Husqvama's Tyler Evans. The $250 award goes to the third-place frnisher in the 250cc last-chance qualifier, the top rider to not qualify for the main. Millville's infamous Whoop Monster was in attendance at a supercross for the second time this year. Now sponsored by Hansen's Energy drink and "working on a few others," the camoufrage-costumed fan waiked around and talked with riders and promoted the drinks wherever he went. Needless to say, the airhom- and chainsaw-wielding Monster was not allowed on the track at any time, though he will be seen (or more to the point, heard) at the Millville National KTM Junior Supercross Challenge results: 1. Korey Teson: 2. Kaegan Gomer: 3. Chris Brauch; 4. Damon Johnson; 5. Tyler Nutter; 6. Chelsea Gibson; 7. Austin Huggins; 8. Kelby Gann; g. Logan Smith; 10. Justin Hunt; 11. Kyle Gibson; 12. Zach Wellman; 13. Colt Nichols; 14. Marshall Pilgram; 15. Caleb Haynes. 36 APRIL 1 7. 2002· c y a • e n e _ s

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