Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

my Own Race: 125cc 1] Mike Brown The current National Champion made a comeback of sorts at Red Bud after watching Budds Creek from the sidelines two weeks earlier with a sore knee. Brown started the first mote in sixth and moved up as high as third before crashing on a downhill off-camber comer. "He landed right on his knee again and it looked like a cantaloupe after the race," Brown's mechanic Brent Myron said. "He went out for the second moto but was not at 100 percent, and that's not his style so he came in. He might just get his knee done (surgery) now" ~~ Emesto Fonseca § 1] Paul Currie ®~ Josh Woods "The Fonz" was nearly invisible in the first moto, finishing an unnoticeable 25th. "I crashed at least six times out there," he said after the moto. "I was so anxious that I kept going down. I don't know why." He obviously figured it out in the second moto. where he started in sixth, quickly moved up to fourth and comfortably held that position to the finish. His 25-4 score was good enough for 11 th overall and he still holds third in the points. The super-privateer from Florida went 14-8 at Red Bud and finished 10th overall. "The first moto was lame," the DGY/SoCal-supported Currie said. "I was catching [JoshI Demuth and (David) Pingree because they were flailing, and I ran into the back of Pingree and went down. The second moto went better and I moved into the top 20 in points, so I guess the day was all right." Currie also took second-place privateer honors from Skoal and a $750 bonus. (Above) Branden Jesseman continues to impress after finishing second overall. (Lett) Lany Ward had his best ride of the season, going 3-3 for third overall. The Team ECC/Troy Lee Designs/Spy-sponsored Suzuki rider came to his nearby homestate track to do business, and after a 19th-place finish in the first moto Woods came back out and finished a rock-solid fifth in the second moto for 12th overall. "I got a decent start and worked my way up early. I set a pace around halfway and had a good, steady ride. I'm really happy to finish fifth, especially here at Red Bud." ®1] 7J Eric Sorby The Pro Circuit/Kawasaki pilot went 9-40 for 17th overall. "I had a bad start in moto one and passed about nine 9UYS for ninth place," Sorby said. "In the second mote. I was short on a triple and hurt my back that I broke five years ago, so I pulled off." Reed's 1-22 ride was good for sixth overall, but more importantly, he lost 22 points in the title chase to Stewart and is now 27 points behind going into round seven at Troy, Ohio, next week. "I guess I showed that I had the speed," Reed added. "I've been staying with Tim Ferry down in Florida and it has really helped. I like these tracks in America, but they are a lot different than what I'm used to. I just wish they didn't water so much right before the moto." Second overall on the day was Blimpie Suzuki's Branden Jesseman. He has been on a roll lately and made the podium for the third straight time. Jesseman also put on a charge in the first moto, as he started poorly. He ended the first lap in 24th and rallied all the way to sixth. He then gated well in the second outing, as he followed only Stewart on the first lap. On the second lap, the 21-year-old closed in and made a pass on Stewart that brought the 24,000 fans in attendance to their feet. His smooth, outside-inside pass on Bubba opened some eyes, but his lead only lasted for a lap until he lost his front wheel in a comer and went down. Jesseman got up quickly, losing no positions, and slowly reeled Stewart back in but could not make another move before the finish. His strong finishes as of late put him in a solid fourth in the standings at the halfway point. "I had my work cut out for myself in the first moto and passed a lot of guys for sixth," Jesseman said. "The track was rough, and it was humid, and I did the best I could in that one. I got a decent start with James there in the second one, and he made a little mistake and I passed him. Then I fell in a turn and he got me back, but I held on for second. I've really been trying to work hard lately, and it's coming around." "Jesseman pushed me that whole race," Stewart said. "I made a mistake and he passed me, but then went down a bit later. My mechanic Jeremy [Albrecht] was telling me how much of a lead I had so I knew where he was." MotoXXX/DGY/O'Neal's Larry Ward was third overall. "Big Bird" was the overall winner at Red Bud last year, and he considers it to be one of his favorite tracks. Ward finished with a seventh and a third for his best result of the year, but is only 10th in the points, where at this point last year he was in the top five. "I ate at a different restaurant and put a new visor on my helmet and it worked," Ward joked at the end of the day. "I've had some tough luck this year and have had some silly problems, so I took it cautiously on the first lap and slowly caught up. Bubba said to me on the podium that he thought that I would catch him and I said, 'Yeah right, how? You're only 20 seconds ahead of me.'" Blimpie Suzuki's Buddy Antunez was fourth overall after finishing on the podium in third in the first moto. The five-time Arenacross Champion is still having fun and the burning question on which series he will race next year continues to linger. "Yeah, I'm having fun," Antunez said. "How could you not when you finish on the podium with these guys?" Antunez looked to have another strong moto the second time out, but all that went out the window during the last few laps. "I was running in sixth for almost the whole moto but just got so tired with only four laps left. I had no energy at all and a bunch of guys caught me." Pro Circuit/Kawasaki/Chevy Trucks' Matt Walker was fifth overall (8-7) and was the team's "inspiration" on the day, said one mechanic. The Georgian has signed on with Mitch Payton's team for next year and his confidence is at an all-time high. He is currently in seventh in the points. Red Bull KTM's Brock Sellards rode to a 4-17, seventh overall, while Blimpie Suzuki's Danny Smith was eighth with a 15-6 tally. Amsoil/ Dr. Marten's Travis Preston was ninth with a consistent 11-10, and DGY/ Suzuki's Paul Currie rounded out the top 10 with a 14-8 ride. CN 125 MOTO 1: I.Chod Reed (Yom): 2. Jomes Stewart (Kaw); 3. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 4. Brock Sellords (KTM); 5. Kelly Smith (Yom); 6. Bronden Jesseman (Suz); 7. Larry Werd (Yam); 8. Matt WBlker (KllW); 9. Eric Sorby (Kew); 10. Andrew Short (Suz); 11. Travis Preston (Hon); 12. Josh Demuth (Yam); 13. DllVid Pingree (Hon); 14. Paul Currie (Suz); 15. Dllnny Smith (Suz); 16. Michllel Byrne (Hon); 17. Justin Buckelew (Suz); 18. ROOdg Thain (Yam); 19. Josh Woods (Suz); 20. Christopher Gosselaar (Hon); 21. Randy Valade (Suz); 22. Troy Adams (Yam): 23. Casey Johnson (Hon); 24. Jeff Gibson (Yam); 25. Emeslo Fonsecll (Hon); 26. ]vlln Tedesco (Yllm); 27. TraVIS EJliott (Hon); 28. Turbo Reif (Suz); 29. Damon Huffmllln (Suz); 30. Tom Welch (Hon): 31. Jeff Northrup (KlIw); 32. Kevin Johnson (YlIm); 33. Chris Whitcrllft. (YlIm): 34. Dlivid Ginolfi (Yom); 35. Mike Brown (Kow): 36. Josh Summey (Yom): 37. Greg Schnell (Yom); 38. Steve Boniface (KTM); 39. PlIul Verllckll (Hus); 40. Brendon Morgen (Hon). TIme: 37,37.010 125 MOTO 2: 1. StewlIrt: 2. Jesseman; 3. WlIrd; 4. Fonsece; 5. Woods; 6. D. Smith; 7. WlIlker; 8. Currie; 9. Antunez: 10. Preston; 11. C. Johnson; 12. Byrne; 13. Elliott; 14. Gosseleer; 15. Buckelew; 16. Demuth; 17. Sellards; 18. Huffman; 19. Short: 20. Pingree; 21. Tedesco; 22. Reed; 23. Adams; 24. Reif; 25. VlIlade; 26. Welch; 27. Schnell: 28. Whitcraft.; 29. Summey; 30. K. Smith; 31. Morglln; 32. Ginolfi; 33. Boniface; 34. Verackll; 35. Gibson; 36. K. Johnson; 37. Brown; 38. Thion; 39. Northrup: 40. Sorby. TIme: 37,36.240. 125 a/A: 1.StewlIrt; 2. Jesseman; 3. Ward; 4. Antunez; 5. Wolker: 6. Reed; 7. Sellords; 8. D. Smith: 9. Preston; 10. Currie; 11. Fonseca; 12. Woods; 13. K. Smith; 14. Byrne; 15. Demuth; 16. Short; 17. Sorby; 18. C. Johnson; 19. Buckelew; 20. Pingree; 21. Elliott; 22. Gosselaai, 23. Hufman; 24. Thain: 25. Tedesco; 26. "dams; 27. Reif, 28. Volode; 29. Welch; 30. Schnell; 31. Whiterolt; 32. Summey; 33. Morgen; 34. Ginolfi; 35. Boniface; 36. Veracka; 37. Gibson; 38. K. Johnson; 39. Brown; 40. Northrup. i\I'\}\/CHEVY TRUCKS 125<:c U.S. MOTOCROSS C'SHIP SERIES POINTS STAl'tDINGS (Mer 6 of 12 rounds); 1. Jomes Stewo" (237/4 wins); 2. Chod Reed (210/1); 3. Ernesto Fonseco (177); 4. Bronden Jessemon (172); 5. Donny Smith (162/1); 6. Buddy "ntune. (138); 7. Molt Wolker (125): 8. Doman Huflmon (105); 9. Mike Brown (89); 10. Lorry Word (86); 11. Trovls Preston (85); 12. Eric Sorby (81); 13. Gront Longston (77); 14. Josh Demuth (76); 15. Brock SeUords (74); 16. Ivon Tedesco (66); 17. Bobby Bonds (61); 18./llichoel Byme (60); 19. Poul Currie (50): 20. Greg Schnell (48). IletI Bad TIKk 'N' Tnil BueIIlDI., Mlchip. Results: Jaly 7, ZOOZ Ulauad B of 1ZJ Upcoming Rounds: Round 7 - Troy, Ohio, July 14 Round 8 - New Bertin, New York, July 21 CUD I e n e _ S • JULY 17, 2002 13

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