Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMA/Yamaha/Maxxis Western Four-Stroke Nationals Round 4: Washougal Motocross Park STORV AND PHOTOS BV CLAV LIGHT WASHO(]GAL, WA, MAY 26 hen the smoke and dust had cleared after a riveting round four of the AMA Western Four-Stroke Nationals at Washougal Motocross Park, American Honda/White Brothers-backed Paul Carpenter was able to finally sit back and breathe a sigh of relief. After all, it had taken the highly heralded New Yorker more than a third of the 10-round series to garner his first overall win. advantage on the rest of the field early on), shuffled, as Smail, Walters, McAlister, Hagseth, Woods and Lacey were involved in a close six-way swapfest - a battle that would ultimately be controlled by Smail. Eventually, Smail broke free from the pack and chased down Abrigo. Once past Abrigo, Smail then set out to catch Carpenter, who had clicked off a string of nearly flawless laps and built a commanding lead. Then Carpenter got cross-rutted and fell, allowing both Smail and Walters to overtake him. (Above) At round four of the AMAI YamahalMallXls Westem Four-5troke Nationals, Paul Carpenter scored his first overall win of the series via 2·1 finishes. Carpenter sits second in the series points standings. third, well behind Carpenter. Hagseth quickly remounted to salvage fourth, followed by Abrigo, Nelson, Woods, Thomas, Karlsen and McAlister. "I had a really nice, easy race: Carpenter said. "I got out front right away and didn't use much energy just rode cautious. Wish I could've gone 1- 1, but I'll take the win any way I can get it." Walters' third-overall finish was enough to maintain his points lead in the series. "I came into the round not knowing how I'd do, since I'm coming off an injury: Walters said, "but it was good to salvage the points lead going into one of my favorite tracks next week, Gorman [in California]." CN (Left) Spud Walters finished third overall at Washougal Motocross Park but, more Importantly, maintained his series points lead over his teammate Carpenter, 181-169. A record 83 riders came to qualify for the 40-rider National field. Oregon's Ryan Terlecki, in his series debut, won the first of the two morning qualifiers, ahead of Tony Graves. Unfortunately for Terlecki, though, he took a hard tumble on the opening lap of moto one and went 40-12. Brad Hagseth and Tiger Lacey finished one-two in the second qualifier, while Ryan Abrigo won the LCQ. Beaudry /Motionsports-backed Chaun McAlister from Idaho was the fastest gun at the start of the first 40rider moto, as the KTM rider grabbed the lead, followed by Abrigo (in his National debut) and Carpenter. Abrigo quickly pounced on the veteran McAlister shortly into the opening lap, taking the point position and leaving McAlister to battle Carpenter, while Lacey, Lance Smail, Spud Walters and Nathan Woods filled out the top six positions at the end of one lap. Carpenter got around McAlister and then set out after Abrigo, but it would be two more laps before Carpenter would outpower Abrigo's painfully stock Honda on "Horsepower Hill" and take the lead. As the lead changed hands, positions shuffled behind the lead duo (who had opened up an astonishing "Man, I was riding hard with a big lead," Carpenter said. "I went into a rut a bit wrong and it kicked me sideways, then spun me around in a circle. I got right back up and finished really close to Lance. He [Smail] had a really good ride. I couldn't catch him." Smail narrowly eluded Carpenter's last-ditch attempts to regain the lead to net a popular Victory in front of the large crowd. Walters, not far off the pace, finished third, followed by Hagseth, Abrigo, Woods, Dustin Nelson, Lacey, Matt Karlsen and McAlister. "I knew I'd have to keep up the pace on the last lap or [Carpenter would] get by me," said Smail, a three-time AMA Western Four-Stroke National Champion. "I was able to relax and just loosen up a bit during the moto, although I do wish I'd have got a better start." Oregon's Lacey grabbed the lead at the unleashing of moto two, followed by McAlister, Carpenter, Hagseth and Woods. Lacey's lead, though, was short-lived, as the Yamaha rider fell on lap one and McAlister took command. Carpenter was nipping at McAlister's rear wheel, and midway though the opening lap Carpenter stole the point. Hagseth, Woods and Abrigo ran in the top five early on, while Smail ran 18th. Walters was also buried in the pack, although both riders moved up quickly through the field and were well inside the top 10 by lap four. By then, Carpenter had checked out, placing huge ground on a large freight train of riders vying for second: Hagseth, McAlister, Abrigo, Waiters, Brandon Thomas, Smail, Ryan Huffman and Lacey. Hagseth broke free from the pack and settled into second, while Abrigo, who eventually displaced McAlister for third, had Walters all over him. The Washington rider gave the Champ fits; Walters pushed Abrigo for several laps before eventually getting around the up-andcoming teenager, and then he picked up the pace in an attempt to reel in Hagseth. Smail had also stepped up his tempo and had followed Walters after dropping Abrigo to fifth. Carpenter, aboard the White Brothers/Honda/ Axo/Dunlop/HJC-backed CRF450R, maintained a huge lead to the finish to post his first win of the series, while both Walters and Smail got a bit of a break late in the moto. Hagseth fell with slightly over one lap remaining, and the duo capitalized to finish in close formation for second and WadmaplM~PaN Washoupl, WashlngtDn Resalts: May 2B, 2002 [ROUDd 4 of 10J O/A: 1. feul Cerpenler (Hon); 2. Lence Smail (KTM); 3. Spud Wolters (Hon): 4. Brod Hogseth (Yllm); 5. Ryen Abrlgo (Hon); 6. Dustin Nelson Yam); 7. Nathen Woods (Yem); 8. Matt Karlsen Yem); 9. Chaun McAlister (KTM); 10. Ty Cllrson KTM); 11. Ryon Dudek (KTM); 12. Fronkle Mecono Yem); 13. Brllndon Thomes (Hon); 14. Tiger Lecey Yam); 15. Tony Graves (Hon); 16. TelT)' Hllmness Yllm); 17. Ryan Terlecki (Yam); 18. Beau Baron (Hon); 19. Rory Sulllvon (KTM); 20. Brondon Uoyd (Yam); 21. Jason Matthews (Hon); 22. Michael Stanton (Hon); 23. Ryan Huffman (Yem): 24. Shewn MacDonold (Hon); 25. Croig Dovis (Yom); 26. Nick Foister (Yam); 27. Sven Stillmock (Can); 28. Joe Boiley (Yom); 29. John Beol (KTM); 30. Rick Hon.sen (Hon): 31. Jock Meodows (Yom); 32. Beou Boynton (Yom); 33. Steve Merty (Hon); 34. Adorn Ftehtelmon (Hon); 35. Brian M.organ (Yam); 36. Garrett Certer (Yam); 37. Trevor Brooks (Yam); 38. Cliff Cook (Hon); 39. Jell Simes (Yom); 40. Merk TIlley (Vom). AMA WESTERN FOaR-STROKE NATIONAL MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 4 of 10 rounds): I. Spud Wolters (181{2 wins); 2. Paul Carpenter (169/1 win); 3. Dustin Nelson (126): 4. Molt Korlsen (120): 5. Nothon Woods (lIS); 6. Lonce Smoll [87); 7. Choun McAUster (83): 8. Brondon Thomos (67): 9. Corter Gurnee (58); 10. Ty Carson (57); 11. Beau Baron (54); 12. Fronkie Mecono (44): 13. Seon Homblln (43/1 win): 14. Craig Decker (42): IS. (TIE) Erik Anderson/Robert Noughton (40): 17. Bred Hogseth (36); 18. Croig Truglio (34); 19. Ryon Abrigo (32); 20. Merk TIlley (27). Chaun McAlister (23) snared the holeshot In mota one, followed by Ryan Abrlgo (402), Carpenter (42), Tiger Lacey (221) and the rest of the pack. cue I • n E! _. • JUNE 12, 2002 51

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