Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

'D 30 YEARS ABO••• JfAY 16, 1972 Gal)' Jones and Sun Weinert raced each other across the cover of Issue #18 at "Histo- ry's Biggest Motocross" - Evel Knievel's Snake Canyon MX. Weinert won the 250cc class, while Jones won the 500cc class. Brad ~. Lackey was reportedly in a paying position in the $25,000 event but stopped to help an injured spectator, giving up his money in the process... The other image on the cover was a drawing of a motorcycle helmet with a padlocked chain as a chinstrap. Inside, we urged our readers to write to their representatives so as to keep the mandatory helmet law fr"m going into effect. The law passed the State Assembly vote with eight in favor, two against, and live not voting at all, either by absence or choice... Roger DeCoster (Suz) swept both motDS at the 500cc Austrian MX GP, while Wdlie Bauer (Mai) and Ake Jonsson (Mai) rounded out the top three overall. Sporting an openface helmet, and mounted aboard his semi-factory Yamaha, Rick Johnson flew across the cover of Issue #18. The cover line deemed him "The Too Hipp Kid." The fact that, halfway through the 250cc National season, he trailed fullfactory star (and watercooled YZ-riding) Broc Glover by only four points in the championship aboard a lesser, air-cooled YZ250. As a joke, Johnson wore a shirt that sported the word "Unemployed" on the front. He was unlikely to remain so for long... Scott Parker (H-D) took his first-ever National Half Mile win at Ascot Park in Gardena, California. Terry Poovey (H-D) and Ricky Graham (H-D) followed him home in second and third, respectively... Mark Barnett (Suz) topped Honda riders Johnny O'Mara and Donnie Hansen in a close race to win the Kansas City Supercross, round 10 of the AMA/Wrangler Supercross Series. Hansen still held a commanding series lead after the event. Vance & Hines Yamaha's Jamie James raced across the cover of Issue #18 on his way to victory at round three of the AMA Superbike Series in Charlotte, North Carolina. Scott Russell (Kaw) finished second and took over the series points lead. The 250cc Grand Prix class was won by CoOn Edwards II, over Kenny Roberts Jr. and Rich Oliver... The CR250 frames that belonged to Jean-Michel Bayle and Jeff Stanton, and were protested by Team Yamaha at the previous week's Las Vegas Supercross, were deemed legal by the AMA. With that ruling, Bayle led Stanton 268-266 in the points standings, while Damon Bradshaw (Yam) was third with 262 with only three rounds remaining... At the World Mini Grand Prix in Las Vegas, Kevin Windham (Kaw) topped the Supermini (0-16) class, over the Kawasakis of Robbie Skaggs, casey Johnson and Rk:ky Cal'lTllchaeI. Craig Decker was dominant in the 125 and 250cc Intermediate ranks, and Damon Huffman won five of eight Pro motes he entered. hen you work in this industry, many things can become commonplace, and it's not uncommon to take many things for granted. I don't quite enjoy going to races as much as I used to, and I don't get caught up in many of the rumors or latest happenings that many fans are so fond of. However, after the final race of this 125cc West Region Supercross Series, I am left with a very good feeling that something right has happened. I also learned a few things. Most people (including me) will not argue that James Stewart Jr. is bound for great things and should win many titles before his pro career is over. He has learned a valuable lesson, one that Ricky Carmichael has already learned very well - oftentimes, the fastest rider on the track doesn't win the race or the series. Patience and consistency are valuable traits in the tough sport of supercross. Carmichael has learned this and will not "go crazy" or ride out of control just to win a heat race. He has learned what is most important. Stewart seems to have a large desire to win, and this hunger can sometimes wipe out a bit of the common sense that riders need to have. Racers should not take out a competitor on the second lap of a heat race, in which a win is relatively insignificant. Many think this over-aggressive attitude is what caused Travis Pastrana to land on Mike LaRocco - putting a very trying end to one of the season's best stories of perseverance. Stewart lost the West Region title to an extremely resilient, patient and consistent rider named Travis Preston. Many people aren't too aware of who Preston is Uokingly referred to as the "other" Travis P., he's sometimes mistaken by fans for Travis Pastrana - though defmitely not when it comes time to compare freestyle routines). I'm fortunate not to be one of those unfamiliar with this 24-year-old journeyman 125cc racer (eight years older than Stewart). Through my job, I get to sponsor many great amateur and pro riders, and I have the opportunity to know their families. It's been nearly nine years since I met Travis and his family, and I learned on the amateur circuit that they're a very tight-knit clan. Preston's sister often traveled with him to distant races, but they didn't have an abundance of race and practice bikes or an unlimited travel budget. Nevertheless, the Prestons were always willing to help W haul an EZ-Up or scooter for me. This was before it was common for riders to be receiving factory rides at 16 or 17 years of age, but it was obvious that Preston had a future ahead of him. He was in a strong group of California Intermediate and Pro riders who were all quite fast and successful on the local and national levels. These guys (including Jeff Willoh, Shaun Perolio, Dustin Nelson and Michael Brandes - the last of whom became a roommate of Preston's) were all good kids and good riders, as subsequent 125cc SX race-wins by Willoh and Brandes have proven. None, however, have won a championship - until now. Travis Preston I have to admit that, as much as I like Travis and his family, I didn't think it was possible for him to win a title before some of the others in that aforementioned group. To be honest, Preston seemed to have the least natural talent of the entire bunch. Not only that, but he's also got a large stature and an extra 20 to 30 pounds on many of the other 125cc riders - a fact that didn't seem to benefit him at all (he's definitely going to be ready for a 250 soon, and based on what he has shown us, we can expect to see him patiently learn and succeed in that realm as well). Still, Travis made the most of the opportunities given him. Those opportunities weren't always obvious, as he was often on teams CDInIng Up In that weren't exactly top-rung. He was a 'part-time" rider (a status that was determined by results) for the fledgling Chaparral team - pre-Jeremy McGrath era. He spent time with Demarini, Moto XXX, Husqvama, and as an outright privateer. In each of these situations, he made the best of what he had to work with and eventually progressed. He was not on the fast track to stardom and really had to pay his dues. At one point a few years ago, Preston was completely out of motocross and working a regular job (absolutely unheard of for most supercross champions these days), but in a true Cinderella story, he won a couple thousand dollars in the lottery and bought a bike to get going again. Travis never gave up and continued to work hard, and eventually, his perseverance paid off. After a good - but not eye-popping 2001 season with Husky, Travis landed a ride with the powerhouse Factory Connection-organized, Hondamounted Amsoil/Dr. Martens/ Journeys/Competition Accessories team for this year. Finally, he had the ultimate in equipment and organization, and he could actually be confident with his situation. I have yet to speak with one of Preston's pro competitors who doesn't feel excitement for Travis' success this season. While I was speaking with West Region racer Brock Sellards of KTM Red Bull, he mentioned how cool it was that someone who had quit the sport and returned from out of nowhere had actually won the title. I join these guys in wishing Travis, his family and his longtime mechanic, Shawn Ulikowski, kudos and congratulations on his accomplishment, and I hope it's followed by others. This isn't your average success story, and as I alluded to at the beginning, I think we can all can take something from it and use it to help us - I'm sure Stewart has learned a lesson. There are many times when people opine that a struggling rider should move on, give up the dream, get on with life and land a "real job." Travis has proved that the only person who can and should make such a decision is the rider himself. Sometimes success tastes all the sweeter when it takes a little longer to achieve. eN Clark works as a rider rep for Wiseco pistons. • Las Vegas SUpercross finale • Jerez MoIa6P • Soa8Ina AU Saperblke • Ills.... Hare SCnunbles gIIIIa CIIJ &P cue. _ n _ _ · r. 55 • MAY 8, 2002 107

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