Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMA Pacific Northwest Championship Series Round 1: Washougal Motocross Park . (Left) Tiger Lacey (221) grabs the lead in the first 250cc Pro moto at the opening round of the AMA Pacific Northwest Championship Series. Lacey and Jason McCormick (76) traded moto wins, with Lacey winning overall. STORV AND PHOTOS BV CLAV liGHT WASHOUGAL, WA, JULY 7 espite the adverse weather condiLV tions at the opening round of the AMA Pacific Northwest Championship Series at Washougal Motocross Park, Oregonians Ryan Huffman and Tiger Lacey were the dominant riders in the 125cc and 250cc Pro classes, respectively. Both riders seemed to be at home, either in the dry conditions of moto one or the muddy conditions of the second motos. Huffman, riding a Yamaha YZ250F, was the undisputed king of the quarter-liter class, posting a pair of wins to snare the lion's share of the purse and finishing ahead of Suzuki-mounted Lacey (2-2) and the top-placing Washingtonian, Suzuki rider Bryan Clevenger, whose 5-3 placings netted the rider from Centralia third overall. National number 76, Jason McCormick, looked to be a contender in the 125cc class but, while running second to Huffman in moto one, McCormick suffered a flat front tire and did not finish. McCormick came back strong in the 250cc class, splitting moto wins with fellow Suzuki jockey Lacey. However, Lacey was too much for McCormick in the muddy conditions of moto two and won both the moto and the overall. McCormick (1-2) trailed Lacey, while Huffman's 3-3 tally earned the rider from Roseburg, Oregon, third overall. Some 682 riders were on hand for the series' opener, drawing riders from all over the West, as the series pays contingencies from all the major manufacturers. Huge numbers of Pro riders were on hand, the majority using the event as a warm-up before the upcoming AMA 125/250cc outdoor National. One such rider, Oregon's Tony Graves, topped the Over 25 and Over 30 Pro classes. Another of those professionals, Lacey, grabbed the lead at the unleashing of the first 250cc Pro moto, followed by McCormick, Don Bisceglia, Huffman, and Idaho's Derek Mahoney. By the end of two f"i'\ 58 AUGUST 7,2002' cue •• laps, Lacey enjoyed a tremendous lead on McCormick, as the former Honda support rider, who enjoyed stints with a variety of teams including Team FMF and Planet Honda, had Huffman to deal with. McCormick broke free to join Lacey in a battle for the point position and, by the midway point, he had reeled in Lacey. McCormick made a pass stick with two laps remaining to take the lead, although he was unable to shake off Lacey, the second-place finisher. Huffman finished third, some 10 seconds back of the lead duo, while Oregon's Mike Corder, who was involved in a first-turn pileup, charged from well behind to finish fourth. Mahoney, Idaho's Leighton Lillie, Clevenger, first-year Pro Tyler Fick, Bisceglia and Murphy rounded out the top 10. McCormick nabbed the holeshot at the start of moto two, but Lacey took command out of two, setting up one of the day's top battles. The two Suzuki riders spent the entire moto in a side-by-side configuration, but it was Lacey who came out on top after giving McCormick all he could handle. Huffman ran a solid third, while Graves and Kawasaki rider Konnrad Kuest filled out the top five at moto's end in the DNF-marred race, in which there were only 16 finishers due to the messy conditions. Huffman pulled the trigger fastest to lead the first 125cc Pro moto, a position that he would not relinquish. McCormick and Lacey went at it again, squabbling over the number- (Right) Oregon's Ryan Huffman dominated the 125cc Pro class in Washougal, Washington, topping both motos. two position, as Huffman disappeared. McCormick broke free from Lacey and began to reel in Huffman, but just as quickly, McCormick developed a flat rear tire and began a gradual descent to the tail of the pack before pulling off entirely. Lacey's late-race barrage was impressive: The rider from Wolf Creek, Oregon, reeled in Huffman and made a lastditch attempt to pass him for the lead, falling a wheel short at the finish. Huffman held the advantage over Lacey in moto two to post a 1-1 sweep of the class, despite the incredibly muddy conditions due to a heavy thundershower. Lacey's impressive day ended with his second podium finish, while Clevenger proved himself quite a mud rider and finished third, which was good for third overall. Jeremy Scism, Richard Page and Garrett Seek rounded out the top six. Ryan Villopoto and fellow Yamaha rider Dale Ainslie were also quite impressive in the sloppy conditions. Villopoto snared a pair of overall wins in the 85cc (12-13) and Supermini (12-15) classes, winning all four motos he contested, challenged mainly by Oregon's Shawn Haberlock and Idaho's Sam DeAtley. Ainslie, who won the 125cc and 250cc B classes overall, won three Ryan Yillopoto (615), Sam DeAtley (180) and the rest of the Supermini class battle for positions in their first moto at Washougal Motocross Park. Yillopoto won overall. n e vw s of his four motos, losing only to Oregon's James Hamilton in the 125cc B class. CN WahDug81 MDtDcrolS Parll WDshDugDI, WDshingtGn Raults: July 7. 2002 [RDund 1) 51 (4·8) OIL-INJ: 1. Jordan Thibedeau (Vam); 2. Sennett Ferris (Suz); 3. Andy Courtwright (Yam). 51 (4-6) STK: 1. Matthew BisceQlia (Cob); 2. Matthew Shirley (Pol); 3. Jason Doene (Cob); 4. MliX Harris (Pol); 5. Wyatt Aguirre (KTM). 51 (7-8): 1. Kyle Huffman (KTM); 2. Brody Thorn (Cob); 3. Taylor Feller (Cob); 4. Conner Elliott (Cob); 5. Tanner Berry (KTM). 65 (7·8): 1. Ben Baldollisano (Hon); 2. Trent Jones (Kaw); 3. Chris Consi (Kew); 4. Rook Jewell (Kew); 5. Chase Underhill (Kew). 85 BEG (7-11): I. Kyle Brown (Kaw): 2. Chris Whitlow (YllIm): 3. Trevor Coltrane (Kew); 4. Kody Clark (KllIw); 5. Mitchell Anderson (Kaw). 85 BEG (12-15): I. Anthony Roberts (Vam); 2. Eathyn Wilson (Han); 3. David Porter (Kaw); 4. Jordan Mitchell (SUI); 5. Ryan Schneider (Han). 85 (7·11): I. Matt DeAtley (Suz); 2. Jake Anstett (Yam); 3. Alec Watts (Suz); 4. Jared Wood (Yam): 5. Joey Ruminer (Yam). 85 (12·15): I. Ryon Villopoto (Vam); 2. Shawn Haberlock (Yam); 3. Sam DeAtley (SUI); 4. Jesse Wuori (SUI); 5. Jon Niemi (SUI). S/MINI (9-11): I. Alec Watts (Suz): 2. Jake Anstett (Yam); 3. Jared Wood (Yam); 4. Beau Jess (SUI); 5. Arlie Southard (Yam). S/MINI (12-15): I. Ryan Villopolo (Vam); 2. Shewn Haberlock (YlIm): 3. Sam DeAtley (SUI); 4. Kyle EVlllns (Kaw): S. Jesse Wuori (SUI). 125 PRO: I. Ryan Huffmon (Vom): 2. Tiger L8cey (SUI): 3. Bryllin Clevenger (SUI); 4. Jeremy Scism (Yam); 5. Richard Page (Yam). 125 B: 1. Dale Ainslie (Yam); 2. Philip Ehnat (Yam); 3. Ryan Huege (HOnj; 4. James Hamilton (Han); 5. Tony Sherman (Yam. 125 C: 1. Michllel Simpson (Yam); 2. Adam Metzler (Suz); 3. Ryan Simms (Han); 4. Ricky Yorks (Yam); 5. Eric Greene (Han). 125 0: 1. James Popham (SUI); 2. Bill Baldwin (Yam): 3. Matt Fouts (Kew); 4. Dan Brink (Kew); 5. Jecob Larson (Han). 250/0PEN PRO: I. Tiger Lacey (SuZj; 2. Jason McCormick (SUI); 3. Ryan Huffman (Yam; 4. Derek Mahoney gHon); 5. Tony Graves (Han). 2501 PEN B: I. Dale Ainslie (Vam); 2. Bob Melloy (Han); 3. Bryan Thibedeau (Kaw); 4. Scott Sherrell (Han); 5. Devis Didier (Yem). 250/0PEN C: I. Adam Metzler (Suz); 2. Robert Wutlbrandt (Suz); 3. Kris Drew (Suz); 4. Alex Wirkus (SUI); 5. Miles Werren (Hon). 250/0PEN 0: I. Andrew Byme (Vam); 2. Denny Heugen (Han); 3. Bill Baldwin (Yam); 4. Lance Trlleen (Han); 5. Frenk Beker (Yem). WMN B/C: I. Emily Norton (KTM); 2. Jayme Woodmen (Yern); 3. Jennifer Jordan (Han); 4. JlIedean Jess (Kaw); 5. JessiclI McVittie (Yern). BTH B: 1. Ryan Huoge (Hon); 2. Matt Willi

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