Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

my Own Race: 125cc ~~ Ernesto Fonseca 1] ® Brock SeUards ®7.l Danny Smith ®® Matt Walker 1] @ Larry Ward ~® Travis Preston Team Honda's Costa Rican posted a 4-5 tally for fourth overall, but lost third place in the points standings. "I got a good start in the first moto but then crashed on my own," Fonseca said. "But the second time out, Sellards took me out over a jump, and it slowed me down. What can you do but to try to make the best of it and go right back to work? I know I could have gotten second or third, but bad luck cost me today. I have to keep my head down and keep working. It's going to go down to the wire every time now." A thlrd-plac:e finish In the sec:ond moto landed Danny Smith a spot on the podium. His 7-3 tally gave the Suzuki rider third. This home-state rider finished fifth overaU on his Red Bull KTM. "I cramped up the first moto because I had a pretty bad stomach ache," said Sellards. who won this national two years ago. "I had the lead, but I've been struggling with my health. but I came back and rested between motos. Second time, I went back out and battled the whole moto. I ended up catching Antunez and Sorby right at the end and got myself a sixth. But, the first moto, definitely could have been better." Continuing a recent trend among Blimpie Suzuki riders, Smith finished third overall. "Right now, I have my starts down decent," he said. "I'm pretty happy with the way those are going lately. I just need to have a little more speed early. I have the stamina. That is never really an issue with me. This weekend was decent but it was tough for me to get a real fast pace going. I just need a little bit more speed. I feel like I'm in good enough shape to run the motos fine. I'm just not fast enough right now. There are a lot of good riders in our class. It's tough to be up here every weekend. It you don't get the start it's hard passing, especially here." When asked at the post-race NPG press conference what it would take good for seventh overall and 22 to beat Stewart, Jesseman replied, "It's going to take a start to be up there with them from the get-go, and ha's Larry Ward was the top privateer you definitely have to be able to sprint the first eight laps to get behind him and stay on him. Hopefully, you can pressure him into a mistake - jf that's possible - and try and capitalize on it. He has picked up the pace where you have to sprint a little scary, a little on the edge." "I started off a little' rocky with the first moto," said Smith, who followed points on the day. Moto XXX Yamawith a 6-14 day after fading in the second moto with brake problems. CN hllWllltby's MetoenIss Parll TI8J, D~I. 1IlIsuIts: July 14. ZDOZ 125 MOTO I (30 minutes. plus 2 laps): I. James Stewart Jr. (Kaw); 2. Branden Jessemen (SUI); 3. M.alt Walker (Kaw); 4. Emeslo Fonseca (Han); 5. Brock Sellards (KTM); 6. Larry Ward (Vam); 7. Danny Smith (Suz); 8. Eric Sorby (Kaw); 9. Josh Demuth (Vam); 10. Casey Johnson (Han); 11. MIchael Byrne (Han); 12. Greg Schnell (Vam); 13. Joshue Woods (Suz); 14. Trevi, Preston (Hon); 15. Paul Currie (Suz); 16. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 17. Steve Boniface (KTM); 18. Rodri9 Thain (Vam); 19. Ivan Tedesco (YDm): 20. David Pingree (Han); 21. Justin Buckelew (Suz); 22. Damon Huffman (Suz); up an okay seventh in the first moto with a solid third in the final stanza. "I 23. Chad Reed (Vam); 24. Travis Elliott (Han); 25. Jeff Gibson (Vam); 26. Andrew Short (Suz); 27. Randy Valade (Suz); 28. Turbo Reif (Suz); 29. got a good start the first time but just faded back. ( shook it off and came Joshua Summey (Yam); 30. Paul Veracka (Hus); 31. back in the second moto and pulled the holeshot. I just need to pick it up a little bit because my fitness has been awesome, and that's what has been saving me. I need to step it up one more level, and I will be right there." As for the start of the second moto, Smith laughed, "You know, Branden and I were drag-racing the whole way down the straight, and I kept waiting for him to shut off, but he kept going and going, then I just said, 'Shoot, I'm turning!' I hit the brakes, went inside and got the holes hot. It was pretty cool because the Suzukis were flying down that straightaway. " Finishing behihd the two Suzukis in the overall results was Team Honda's Fonseca, with Red Bull KTM's Brock Sellards finishing fifth. Pro Circuit/Kawasaki/Chevy Trucks' Eric Sorby had a good day, finishing eighth-place in both motos to capture sixth overall and move into the top 10 in the rankings. Reed's 23-2 was Steve Andrich (Yam); 32. Christopher Whitcraft (Vam); 33. Chad Sanner (Kaw); 34. levi Reid (Vam); Ninth on the day went to this Pro Circuit/Kawasaki/Chevy Trucks rider, who was a very impressive third in the first moto but threw away a sure third-overall finish with just over a lap to go in the second moto when he crashed in a deep rut while holding on to fifth. "My team has worked hard, and lowe it all to them," Walker said. "The credit goes to them; I just rode the thing. But I did have to work for that one. I didn't get a good start, but I lucked out and passed a couple of people. Fonseca was behind me, and I knew he was staying with Cannichael (in F1oridal, so I figured he would be In a little bit better shape, but he got tired there at the end and , outlasted him." After going 6-14 for eighth overall, a concise Ward, of Moto XXX/OOY, said, "This is my 15th year. I'rn 32, what can I say? I was on the podium last week!" This Amsoll/Dr. Martens/Joumeys Honda rider. who went 14·10 for 11th overall, was also to the point: "' rode like a wuss today," he said. "My feet were off the pegs all day because I'm so tall and the ruts were so deep." 35. Roy Horton Jr. (Han); 36. Jeff Northrop (K

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