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AMA/Yamaha/Maxxis Western Four-Stroke Nationals Round 8: Airway Heights By LEE liVESEY PHOTOS BY PIXEL THIS PHOTO. COM SPOKANE,WA,AOG.4 hunderstruck. That's what the more than 5000 fans were at round eight of the Western FourStroke Nationals at Spokane, Washington 's Airway Heights. If you weren't there, you missed some of the best racing to hit the Pacific Northwest in a long time. The list of 50 premier riders looked like a who's who of modern motocross, including Paul Carpenter and Spud Walters, who were there with White Brothers/ American Honda backing on the CRF450s. Having finished eighth at Washougal Outdoor AMA 250cc National one week before, on this day Carpenter was first to the checker in both main motos. It wasn't easy, as Carpenter was challenged by 39 other riders in both motos, each racing for a share of the $11 ,500 purse -the largest ever in four-stroke history. Beaudry Motorsports' Jimmy LaMastus had the fastest lap times of the day, at 2:07. LaMastus outdistanced the pack for the entire first qualifier with some added showmanship, to the delight of the big crowd. Running on his home track, LaMastus busted some sick-flat whips and monster wheelies. By the end of the five-lap qualifier, LaMastus was 20 seconds ahead of Mattawa, Washington's Wesley Parker. Everywhere, there was a sea of orange shirts worn by fans of McAlister and LaMastus. Beaudry Motorsports and Motion Sports had passed out 200 to people who were willing to show up. What a show of support! "Paul is going to be hard to beat, coming off that great showing at Washougal," said last year's series champion, Walters, in an interview just before the first moto; it turns out Walters was correct. In moto one, Chaun McAlister had the power to the ground, shooting the KTM way out in front by the first turn, with Carpenter, Nathan Woods, Robb Floth and Billy BinckJey rounding out the top four. Walters, who came into this round in the series lead, was lagging at the back of the pack, apparently with mechanical troubles. Carpenter wasted little time catching up with Coeur D'Alene's McAlister by going wide into the tight "noose" turn and then squaring it up and cutting inside. By lap two, Carpenter was in first and starting to pull away, with McAlister second and Greg Crater third. By lap three, Carpenter had managed to (Above) Nathan Woods took another podium finish. His Yamaha Powemousel MaximaiRKlExcellNortexITroy Lee DeslgnslWhlte Brothers-backed Yamaha USA ride Is currently running third overall In the championship after the Spokane, Washington, round. (Left) In an incredibly even start, Erik Anderson (59), Nathan Woods (2), Chaun McAlister (23), Robb Floth (285), Walters (1), Brandon Thomas (137), Scot Steffy (284), Jason Thomas (196) and Ryan Dudek (812) are about to hit tum one. 52 AUGUST 21.2002' "" U "" I • n e _ OS build a four-second lead. Woods was second, followed by McAlister, Frankie Mecono and Derek Mahoney. LaMastus had dropped back to 37th, followed by Walters. Carpenter had begun to lap riders by round six, but there was still some great racing between Mecono and Mahoney; the latter came by for a pass and the two tangled in a spectacular get-off. "He [Mahoney] just moved in on me and our handlebars tangled," Mecono said. "I was on the edge of the track, with nowhere to go. We tangled yesterday in practice, too, and crunched my pipe and silencer." Mahoney ended up on his back, on top of Mecono, against the fence. Both riders eventually got up and finished the moto. Woods, Binckley and McAlister took advantage of the pileup to gain the top spots. LaMastus had pulled off by lap eight and was just waiting for a finish. Walters had the bike running better and moved up five places between laps eight and 10. By the last turn, Carpenter had almost lapped his American Honda teammate Walters, who had himself moved up to 15th. Woods, Floth, Binckley and McAlister were the top five, with Brandon Thomas, Derek Mahoney, Konnrad Kuest, Erik Anderson and Michael Stanton rounding out the top 10. McAlister nailed the holeshot in moto two as well. Woods, Floth and Carpenter gave pursuit. Woods caught McAlister halfway through the second lap and blasted past, with Floth and Carpenter right behind. Carpenter squared it up through a sweeper and moved past Floth into second. Coming into the Beaudry Bowl, Alan Olsen gave Carpenter the attack sign, but Woods was staying on the throttle. Carpenter hit the back-side tabletop and flew past Woods in the air. Woods stayed wheel to wheel with Carpenter until the final two laps. Walters had a tough second moto, which included a trip through some hay bales and a fall, but he had skillfully moved his way up to third by the two-lap signal. There wasn't enough time for Walters to catch the leader, and Carpenter took it across the finish line first, with Woods only five seconds off the pace. Walters was third, followed by Floth, Mahoney, McAlister, Binckley, Thomas, Kuest and Anderson. Overall, the podium spots went to Carpenter, Woods and Floth. This was the first podium finish for Floth in his entire life. This was also the first time in this series that Walters had not been on the podium. Carpenter has won eight motos of the series, with Walters getting five top spots. Lance Smail, Tim Weigand and Sean Hamblin have taken the other moto wins. eN Spokana Washington Airway Heights Spokane,Washington Results: Augus14, 2002 [Round 81 O/A: 1. Pliul Carpenter (Hon); 2. Nathan Woods (Yom); 3. Robb F10th (Hon); 4. Billy Blnckley (Y.m~; 5. Derek Mahoney (Hon); 6. Ch.un McAlister (KTM ; 7. Brllndon Thomas (Hon); 8. Spud Walters (Hon); . Konnrad Kuest (Hon): 10. Erik Anderson (Hon); 11. Michael Stanton (Hon); 12. Creig Truglio (Yam): 13. Kyle Versteeg (Hon): 14. Jimmy LeMestus (KTM); 15. Gregory Creter (Hon): 16. Adem Dehner (Vern); 17. Ke;,h K.dell (Hon); 18. Joe Bolley III (Y.m): Ig. Ryen Dudek (Yam); 20. Beau Judge (Hon). AMA WESTERN FOUR·STROKE NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 8 of 10 rounds): 1. Paul Corpenter (330/3 wins); 2. Spud Wolters (323/4 ....Ins): 3. Nethan Woods (222): 4. Dustin Nelson (205); 5. Matt Karlsen (188); 6. Ch.un McAlister (177); 7. Brandon Thom.. (126); 8. Erik Anderoon (l01); 9. Ryan Dudek (96); 10. Frankie Mecono (90); 11. Lonce Sm.i1 (87); 12. Robb F10th (86); 13. Brad H'gseth (78); 14. TIm Weigand (74); 15. Ty Corson (61): 16. Rory Sulliv.n (60); 17. (TIE) Michael Stanton/Derek Mahoney (59); 19. Carter Gurnee (58): 20. Jimmy LoMas'us (53).