Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

In the musical-chairs game that is the summer team-signing period for the next racing season, the music is currently playing, as all participants await the next move by Jeremy McGrath, Sebastien Tortelli and Stephane Roncada. McGrath, whose deal with Yamaha is up this year (though his contract with Bud Light continues) is known to have talked with Kawasaki and Suzuki, and after dicing in practice at Mammoth Mountain with a KTM-mounted Ryan Hughes, he is even thought to be openminded about the idea of riding for that Austrian manufacturer. Kawasaki isn't expressing much enthusiasm about the concept ("People like young people," said Chevy Trucks Kawasaki manager Bruce Stjernstrom). KTM would have a problem with the Bud Light aspect (Anheuser Busch makes an energy drink - 180 - that competes with KTM title sponsor Red Bull), even though McGrath's team would be separate. At any rate, the team has its hands full organizing its premiere in-house U.S. 250cc effort (Grant Langston will head it up, probably with GP rider Joaquim Rodriguez as a cohort). Suzuki could also have the beverage-conflict problem, since its in-house team's title sponsor is SoBe, though its budget is expected to have be freed-up substantially assuming a departure by long-absent Kevin Windham. The phone lines are hot at SaBe Suzuki, as Tortelli, whose deal with Honda is up at season's end, is also known to be in discussions with the men in yellow, but the 125cc Blimpie Suzuki squad is taking shape. At Red Bud, team manager Roger DeCoster resigned Danny Smith and Branden Jesseman (he had a verbal agreement two weeks prior, but was delayed by his stint in the hospital for a bleeding ulcer), and although it's not yet a done deal, he expects to put current 250cc rider Sean Hamblin on the 125cc team in '03. The fourth rider is up in the air. Heath Voss (Hon); 40. Barry Carsten (Suz). Ezra Lusk continues to ride well and moved into third in the standings" Time: 35:26.890 250 MOTa 2 (20 minutes, plus 2 laps): I. Carmichael: 2. Ramsey; 3. LaRocco; 4. Lusk; 5. Dowd; 6. Ferry: 7. Hamblin; 8. Lewis: 9. Wey: 10. Voss; 11. Lamson: 12. Clark; 13. Decker: 14. Oehlhof; 15. Roncada; 16. Stiles; 17. Thomas; 18. K.R. Johnson; 19. Tortelli; 20. Brandes; 21. Cooper; 22. K.S. Johnson; 23. Brockmlln; 24. Silva; 25. Carsten; 26. Karnow; 27. Kowalik: 28. Metz: 29. Wllllace; 30. Baker; 31. Stapleton; 32. Ordelman; 33. VuJllemin; 34. Stratton: 35. Reynard: 36. Graves: 37. Evans; 38. Plotts; 39. Crine; 40. Skaggs. Time: 36:02.680 250 O/A: 1. Carmichael; 2. Ramsey; 3. Lusk: 4. Ferry; 5. laRocco; 6. Dowd: 7. Hamblin; 8. Wey: 9. Lewis; 10. Tortelli; 11. Lamson; 12. Stiles; 13. Clark; 14. Reynard: 15. Vuillemin; 16. Voss; 17. Oehlhof; ]8. Decker; 19. Cooper; 20. Roncadtl; 21. Thomas; 22. K.S. Johnson; 23. K.R. Johnson; 24. Brandes: 25. Plotts; 26. Brockman; 27. Silva; 28. Carsten; 29. Karnow; 30. Kowalik; 31. Metz: 32. Wallace; 33. BlIker; 34. Stllpleton; 35. Ordelman; 36, Stratton; 37. Graves; 38. Evans; 39. Crine; 40. SkliggS. AMA CHEVY TRUCKS NATIONAL C'SHIP MOTOCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 6 of 12 rounds): 1. Ricky Carmichllel (300/6 wins); 2. Timmy Ferry (233): 3. Ezra lusk (214),4. Sebastien Tortelli (198), 5. Kyle lewis (166): 6. John Dowd (156): 7. David Vuillemin (118): 8. Sean Hamblin (114); 9. Robbi~ Reynllrd (I] 1); 10. Mike LaRocco (94), 11. Heath Voss (86), 12. Paul Carpenter (67); 13, Craig Decker (64); 14. Stephane Roncada (59), 15. Keith S. Johnson (54), 16. Guy Cooper (52): 17. Ryan Clark (46), 18. Clark Stiles (41): 19. Damien Plotts (40), 20. Nicholas Wey (39). Upcoming Rounds: Round 7 - Troy, Ohio, July 14 Round 8 - New Berlin, New York, July 21 BRIEFLY••• Red Bud marked the return from injury for several riders. including Scott Sheak. Michael Byrne (ankle). David Vuillemin (ankle). Nathan Ramsey (concussion/elbow) and Mike Brown (knee). Still out of action are Travis Pastrana (wrist. expected back for last three races). Kevin Windham (femur, not expected back this year) and Grant Langston (knee expected back in three to four weeks). We're only midway through the 2002 National Series. but Chevy Trucks Kawasaki is already preparing to begin its 2003 supercross testing. as it will be working with a long-awaited all-new platform next year. The new KX 125 and 250 are now at Kawasaki's Irvine, California. U.S. headquarters, and both Ezra Lusk and Stephane Roncada have already ridden them (manager Bruce Stjernstrom says they love the bikes - especially the chassis). While Stjernstrom said it's possible that we could see team riders on the '03 units toward the end of this season. don't bet on it (homologation has not yet been completed. and such a public debut would be risky). Ron Tichenor was on hand in Michigan. keeping an eye on client Tim Ferry. For the past month or so. Tichenor has been assisting his fellow Floridian with technical advice. "I'm just trying to help him close the gap." Tichenor said. Ferry is continuing to work with trainer Jeff Spencer. One of the National MX circuit's most amazing obstacles is LaRocco's Leap, and the skyshot jump destroyed a few wheels over the weekend. About midway through the Saturday's first practice session, Team Honda's Sebastien Tortelli came up short and landed hard, ruining his rear wheel and front end so badly that his bike couldn't be readied in time for the second practice session (he watched it from the announcers' tower). Toward the end of the second session, SoBe Suzuki's Sean Hamblin landed hard. destroying his front wheel so badly that his bike could barely be rolled back to the pits. CemicslWorldwide PC's John Dowd bent up both of his special Excel rear wheels in practice and had to revert to his stock KTM wheel for the race. It. too. was wobbly by day's end (Dowd also pinch-flatted his front tire over the jump in the first mota). Although no 125cc riders went for LaRocco's Leap during Sunday's racing. several cleared it during practice. including James Stewart Jr. (who would pitch his KX nearly vertical at one point in his trajectory), Emesto Fonseca (who was clearing the jump consistently and seemingly easily), Mike Brown, Brock Sellards and Chad Reed. Jason "Wingnut" Weigandt. who normally works with Racer Productions on the GNCC Series. capitalized on that circuit's sum- mer break to attend Red Bud. where he was sporting a new cast In the pits. Weigandt. who joked that he damaged the joint overjumping laRocco's Leap. actually broke his navicular in a crash while riding at a track in West Virginia. At Red Bud. he was collecting autographs from riders who had also broken their wrists at some point in their careers. Needless to say. there was no shortage of such riders. Suzuki manager Roger DeCoster is still not 100 percent following a bout with a serious ulcer that popped up after the Southwick round. DeCoster spent about a week in the ICU after losing a lot of blood (the ulcer had perforated the abdomen). and he was told to avoid stress (not exactly an easy thing to do in his position) and caffeine. "I got a lot of cards and letters from people I didn't really expect them from." DeCoster said. "I'd like to thank all those people for thinking about an old guy still." DeCoster said that his heavy travel schedule also may have played a role in his ulcer, since it exposes him to strange bacteria. The P.R. efforts of the AMA's Larry Lawrence and NPG's Pat Schutte appeared to be paying off at Red Bud. In addition to extensive pre-race support in nearby South Bend. Indiana (where billboards advertised the race and promo pieces appeared on the local news). there were several reporters on hand from local newspapers (including one in St. Joseph. Michigan) and television stations (including one from Kalamazu. Michigan). Sporting some new grandstands. the Ritchie family's Red Bud Track 'N' Trail was in beautiful condition over Independence Day Weekend. and it's a good thing. since a Red Bud-record 24.103 fans were claimed to be in attendance, Unlike last year's race. which was marked by freakish cold weather. this one featured acres of exposed skin in the crowd. An Oakley-themed Chevy Truck was on display in the pits at Red Bud. The promotional truck featured special industrial graphics: a tailgate with rear-wheel receptacles: special motorcycle chocks and tie-down anchors: and a GPS. among other things. Also on hand was Chevy Trucks Brand Promotional Manager Jeff Haag, who made the trip down from Michigan with his family. Some of the Chevy design staff showed up as well. Red Bull KTM team manager Ron Heben said the assistance that Ryan Hughes has been lending to the squad has been extremely helpful. In addition to testing. Hughes has been doing some coaching with the team's riders. "No one ever questioned Ryno's work ethic as a racer. so people respect him." Heben said. It's possible that Hughes could playa more extensive role on the team in 2003. For the first time this year. Team Honda was running additional scoops on its bikes to force more air into the radiators. The white. plastic pieces attached behind the standard radiator shrouds. and they were no doubt useful in the scorching Red Bud heat. Mota XXX/DGY's Nicholas Wey picked up $1500 in U.S. Smokeless Tobacco money for finishing as the top privateer in the 250cc class. with teammate Kyle Lewis earning $750 for second privateer. In the 125cc class. Larry Ward and Paul Currie captured the awards. Appropriately enough for the Independence Day Weekend. the Chevy Trucks Kawasaki bikes were sporting special Factory FX American flag graphics on their radiator shrouds. Also in honor of the holiday, there was a 45-minute Saturday-night pyrotechnics display right next to laRocco's Leap. In a recent tradition. .left Stanton was inducted into the Red Bud Hall of Fame during the halftime intermission. Stanton. who currently works with Team Honda. only won one race at Red Bud (in '89) during his successful career

• Cover