Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

-- ---- --I ~ "'\ ---- - motocross--- '--- AMAIChevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship Series Round B: Unadilla Valley Sports Center Lusk would eventually finish fourth in moto two. "I kind of started off on a bad note yesterday," Lusk said. "Saturday afternoon, I had a pretty good crash. I bruised both of my thighs and twisted up my ankle a little bit, so it was pretty tough for me to try to get gOing. It .... was real tough in the left-handers, trying to put my leg out. I got a really good start in the second moto, but I was S911· a little bit tentative in some of those corners. That made it tough to try to hang with Ricky there at the beginning." Sixth overall went to Coppins, who finished 5-8 on the day. Planet Honda/Reynard Modifications' Robbie Reynard was seventh overall, with a consistent 7-7 ride, followed by Lewis, who went 8-9, for eighth overall. Honda's Nathan Ramsey was ninth overall (14-6), followed by Voss, who rounded out the top 10 with his 13-11 ride. Carmichael leaves Unadilla and heads into the next round at Washougal with a perfect score of 400 points. Ferry is second with 307 points, followed by Lusk, with 285 points. Tortelli holds fourth with 276 points, and Lewis rounds out the top five with 219 points. eN Unadilla Valley Sports Center Unadilla, New Yortl Results: July 21, 2DD2lAfter 8 of 12 rounds] just to the outside of fast starters Carmichael and Ferry. With Carmichael pulling away rapidly and Ferry in hot pursuit, laRocco was left to circulate the track alone in third for the duration of the moto. "I got my CRF450 off to a great start, but I went a little wide in the. first turn and ended up letting Carmichael and Ferry by," LaRocco said. "I wasn't quite ready for the pace. They got away from me early, but I tried to hang in there. I'll see if I can pick it up in the next moto." LaRocco completed the first lap of moto two in seventh place before quickly displacing Moto XXX teammates Nick Weyand Lewis and moving into fifth. Another quick pass on Voss and - a few laps later - Lusk, put LaRocco into third, where he would, once again, finish out the moto. "Yeah, things went pretty well today," LaRocco added. "The track was good and I felt pretty good. I still need to pick up the pace, but things are coming together. I've definitely got some work to do - with the pace that Ricky is setting. I'll keep at it." Carmichael's Honda teammate, Sebastien Tortelli, didn't have the kind of day he was hoping for at Unadilla. Coming off of a strong 2-2 performance at the previous round at Red Bud, Tortelli hoped to finally be able to mount a challenge to his Honda teammate. While Tortelli rode well at Unadilla, it was simply not to be. The Frenchman started fourth in 8 JULY 31,2002' EO U EO • D .Josh Coppins took advantage of a break In the GP series to compete at Unadilla. The Shark/Plano Honda team lent the New Zealander a bike. and he went 5-8 for sixth overall. the first moto and, after spending a majority of the race battling with Shark Plano Honda's visiting GP star Josh Coppins, that's where he would finish. Tortelli started the second moto just inside the top 10. After basically passing a rider per lap in the early going, Tortelli found himself in fifth, and that's where he would stay for the remainder of the race. "Actually, I'm not too happy," Tortelli said. "Since Saturday, I just couldn't get going. I couldn't get any momentum going on the track. I decided to change a few things today to try to make it better - I tried some different suspension. I tried to set up the bike a little different to go faster, and I still couldn't get going. On this track, momentum is everything." Finishing fifth overall was Lusk. The Georgia native completed the opening lap of moto one in sixth, and that's where he would stay for entire race, despite making a charge for Tortelli and Coppins at about the 10-minute mark. Lusk had a great start in the second moto, quickly moving past the quick-starting Voss to take over the runner-up position. As Carmichael started to pull away, Lusk fell under attack - first from Ferry and, later in the race, laRocco. n • _ s 250 MOTO 1: 1. Ricky Cannichael (Hon): 2. Tim Ferry (Yam); 3. Mike UliRocco (Hon); 4. Sebestien Tortelli (Hon); 5. Josh Coppins (Hon); 6. Ezra Lusk (KlJ:w); 7. Robbie Reynard (Hon); 8. Kyle Lewis (Hen); 9. Damien Plotts (Hon); 10. Nick Wey (Yam); 11. StephZlOe Roncada (Kaw); 12. John Dowd (KTM); 13. Heath Voss (Hon); 14. Nathan Ramsey (Hon); 15. Guy Cooper (KTM); 16. Ryan Clark (Vern); 17. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Hon); 1B. Steve l.lIImson (Hus); 19. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 20. Michael Brandes (Suz); 21. Kevin Crine (Hon); 22. Keith R. Johnson (Yam); 23. Clark Stiles (Hon); 24. Wally Silva (Yam); 25. Kip Sandell (Yam): 26. Ben Riddle (Suz): 27. Bruce Stratton (Hon); 28. Craig Decker (Yam); 29. Gerrit Ordelman (YlIm); 30. Travis Hodges (Yam); 31. Scott Mell (Hon); 32. Jon Boruff (Hon); 33. Craig Truglio (Yam); 34. Michael Koch (Yam); 35. Tyler Evans (Hus); 36. Joseph Oehlhor (Hon); 37. Jason Thomas (Yam); 38. Keith S. Johnson (KTM); 39. Brian Mason (Kaw); 40. Ty Wailace (Yam). Time: 36:01.100 250 M.OTO 2: 1. Carmichllel; 2. Ferry: 3. laRocco; 4. Lusk; 5. Tortelli; 6. Ramsey; 7. Reynard; 8. Coppins; 9. Lewis; 10. Lamson; 11. Voss; 12. Roy; 13. Cooper, 14. Clark; 15. Plotts; 16. K.S. Johnson; 17. Wallace; lB. Sl!1es; 19. Povolny Jr.; 20. Thomas; 21. Stretton; 22. Decker; 23. K.R. Johnson; 24. Brandes; 25. Silve; 26. Roncada; 27. Hodges; 28. Cone; 29. Meson; 30. Koch; 31. Truglio; 32. Dowd; 33. Orderlman; 34. Sandell; 35. Boruff; 36. Wey; 37. Mell; 38. Evans; 39. Riddle; 40. Oehthor. Time: 36:37.040 250 O/A: I. Cannichael; 2. Ferry; 3. laRocco; 4. TortelU; 5. Lusk; 6. Coppins; 7. Reynard; 8. Lewis; 9. Remsey; 10. Voss; 11. Plotts; 12. Llimson; 13. Cooper; 14. Roy; 15. CllIrk; 16. Wey; 17. Roncadll; 18. Dowd; 19. Johnson; 20. Wallace: 21. Povolny Jr.; 22. Stiles; 23. Thomlls; 24. Brllndes; 25. Strlltton; 26. Decker; 27. K.R. Johnson; 28. Silvll; 29. Hodges: 30. Crine; 31. Meson: 32. Koch; 33. Truglio; 34. Ordelman; 35. Sandell; 36. Boruff; 37. Metzi 38. Evens: 39. Riddle; 40. OehJhof (Hon). AMA/CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. MOTOCROSS C'SHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 8 or 12 rounds): I. Ricky Carmlcheel (400/8 wins); 2. Tim Ferry (307): 3. Ezra Lusk (285); 4. Sebastien Tortelii (276); 5. Kyle Lewis (219); 6. John Dowd (178); 7. (TIE) Robbie Reynard/Mike laRocco (170); 9. Heath Voss (128); 10. David Vuillemin (118); II. Sean Hamblin (114); 12. Paul Carpenter (92); 13. Guy Cooper (76); 14. Craig Decker (73); 15. Nathen Ramsey (72); 16. Stephane Roncada (69); 17. Keith S. Johnson (68); 18. Nick Wey (67); 19. Ryan Clark (64); 20. Damien Plotts (62). Upcoming Rounds: Round 9 - Washougal, Washington, JUly 28 Round 10 - Millville, Minnesota, August 18 World MX Grand Prix contender Josh Coppins competed at Unadilla as a guest of the Shark/Plano Honda team. Coppins, who hails from Motueka, New Zealand, is currently ranked second in the FIM 250cc World Championship and has been the only rider to keep the pressure on the points leader and reigning World Champion Mickael Pichon. "We had a month break in the GPs," Coppins said shortly after Saturday's practice sessions. "It just made sense to come out and give it a go. I feel pretty good and the track's good - I'm sure I can do okay here. The main goal is just to stay safe and have fun. Since I'm currently second in the championship, I don't want to get hurt or do anything stupid. My regular team (Vismara Berni Honda] was nervous about me coming, but I promised them that I would be all right. I've got a goal, but I don't want to say 'I'm going to come here and do this and that,' because this is my first U.S. National. I can't really say what I'm going to do. I feel good and the bike's good, so I think I'll be okay." Coppins competed aboard a PianO Honda outfitted with factory Honda parts brought over from Europe. Speaking of Coppins, the Kiwi is also looking forward to resolving the controversy surrounding the doping charge that he currently faces in Europe. Coppins will appear before the International Disciplinary Court on August 5 in Switzerland. "Well, it's been pretty tough for me," Coppins said. '1 went to a pharmacy and bought some anti-histamine tablets. They told me they were okay, as far as- doping-control. I took them and ended up testing positive. For me, it was just a terrible time. Now, the phannacy has written a letter to say that it was their fault and that they made the mistake. We've got to just sort of go from there. Hopefully, I can win the case." In any event. Coppins has not ruled out the possibility of racing in America full-time in the near future. "There's a fairly good chance," Coppins said. "I want to do 250cc outdoors, but I have a lot to learn for 125cc supercross. It's kind of tricky, because not many riders do 125cc indoors and 250cc outdoors. I'm sure I can do well outdoors, though, so it's a possibility, for sure. I haven't signed with anyone for next year, yet. I want to wait and see how my case goes before 1make any decisions." Joining Coppins at Unadilla was fellow New Zealander Ben Townley. Townley, who also competed at the Budds Creek National back in June, recently scored his first ·ever 125cc Grand Prix win in Sweden. "I wouldn't say Budds Creek was really my best performance," Townley said moments after winning his Saturday qualifying heat. "This [racing in AmericaI is all sort of new to me and I expect to do better than that. The racing is very intense here and it's a lot dlffeyent than In Europe; it's very fast and competitive. In Europe, it's a different pace and it's more about technique, choosing good lines and using your head. Here, it's more wide·open, but I'm getting used to it. I feel very comfortable here at Unadilla, because it's nice and rough. The roughness makes it more technical and more like the tracks we race in Europe. I was close to the top five last time (at Budds Creek] and I think, if I ride well tomorrow and I'm able to withstand the pace, then I'U be in the top five. It's very competitive out there, but that's the type of finish I'm looking for."

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