Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128169
AMAIAir Nautiques Amateur and Youth National MX C'ships 250/0PEN PRO SPORT: 1. Jeff Emig (K.w); 2. Joshull Hensen (Yam); 3. Clark Stiles (Hon); 4. Michael Blose (Suz); 5. Derek Rose (Hon). JR 25.: 1. Kevin WZllker (Yam); 2. James Evans (Yam); 3. Tr8vis Blackburn (Kaw); 4. Bred Jeroninski (K.w); 5. Larry Gessner (KTM). D.... VET 30+: I. Kevin Wlilker (Yam); 2. Keith Bowen (Suz); 3. Todd Downs (Hon); 4. Matthew Crown (Hon); 5. Brian Carroll (Yam). VET 35+: 1. Keith Bowen (Suz); 2. Matthew Crown (Hon); 3. Mike Roth (Hon): 4. Robert Motsinger (Kaw); 5. Eo,I Moy (Kaw). SNR 40+: 1. Steven Burdette (Yam); 2. Tim Schmelyun (Kew); 3. James DIebel (Hon); 4. Larry Witmer (Hon); 5. David A Mack (502). SR 45.: 1. l...zmy Witmer (Hon); 2. Fred Vertucci (Hon); 3. Johhny Borders (Hon): 4. David Bowmlln (So2); 5. Tim Milier (Kow WMN 105·125 UP: 1. Jessica PllUerson (KllW); 2. Sereh Whitmore (YlIm): 3. Tania 5lltchwell (Yam); 4. Ashley Wheat (Suz); 5. Shelly Harens (Yam). WI'\N (12-15): 1. Leoh Contrell (Su,); 2. Mariso Hampshire (Kaw); 3. Philo Petrlcig (Suz); 4. Amber Farley (Kaw); 5. Jacqueline Ross (Kl'w). 4/STRK 201-650: 1. Robert Kyle Famell (Hon); 2. Todd Downs (Hon); 3. Clinton Shealy (Unk); 4. Steven Haughe[stlne (Yam); 5. Andrew Bflkken (Yom). ............... on his bike. as 'Fro was seen in line at the bike wash station with all the other riders after muddying his bike in practice. Regardless. Emig had so much fun that he's already guaranteed to retum and defend his 250cc Pro Sport title next year. BRIEFLy•••• MX Sports has long dubbed the AMAIAir Nautiques Amateur National Championship the "World's Greatest Motocross Vacation." For past champions. like Ricky Carmichael. James Stewart, Ezra Lusk and more. Loretta Lynn's Ranch remains a vacation destination. even though they can't compete in the amateur classic. With two weeks off from the AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. National Motocross schedule. all three top pros retumed to their amateur stomping grounds (Stewart actually showed up to camp with his family four days before the race even startedl> Other past Lorella Lynn's Champions on hand included Jimmy Button. Denny Stephenson and Kevin Foley. who now works for Yamaha Motor Corporation. Ricky Carmichael took a few hot laps on an '03 CRF450R four-stroke. while James Stewart was joined by another former Loretta's champion, Ezra Lusk. in a demo for the '03 KX line. All three riders raved about their bikes, although Stewart had to deal with the embarrassment of crashing when he hit a slick spot on the track. However. Stewart did enjoy being the first person to beat Ricky Carmichael since the Pontiac Supercross in mid-April when his team defeated Carmichael's in the annual Gatorade Celebrity Basketball Toumament. While Jeff Emig expected his retum to amateur racing to be a relaxed affair, stiff competition piled on so much stress that the popular rider had a tough time dealing. "I wish I could have been more reiaxed here." said Emig. "These guys were really fast. and I was kind of stressed out about the racing the whole time. I don't feel like I was able to put in a good ride all week." Perhaps some of Emig's stress was created by the extra work he needed to do 32 AUGUST 28. 2002' 0 U 0 I e n _ A heartbreaking moment occurred in the 51 cc (4-6) AMA Class 1 Division, when Georgia's Nick Gaines lost a sure three-mota sweep and the overall when his Cobra qUit running just a few laps from the end of the final moto. Tyier McSwain inherited the lead and the overall win in the class. Cooper Webb won the Oil Injected 51cc Class with a 1-1-2 score, and Justin Starling took the (78) 51 cc class on a Cobra. Another tough tum of events occurred in the four-stroke class. Florida neighbors and friends Kyle Farnell and Jeremy Shuttleworth came into the final moto dueling for the national class title. Unfortunately. Shuttleworth went down in the first tum was left with a painful broken upper left arm. But after Famell ran away with the third·moto win, Shuttleworth demanded to not be airlifted to the hospital until Famell had completed his race and he could congratulate him on the championship. More excitement came in the 65cc Stock (7-g) class, when the talented Ian Trettel failed to finish the first mota, and then won motos two and three. Eli Tomac. the son of mountain bike star John Tomac. looked to have the title in hand. but he got a bad start and then crashed coming through the pack. Then Blake Baggett. the next in line, crashed in the final mota as well. opening the door for Landon Currier. who went 3-6-3 for the overall. Austin Stroupe won the Modified 65cc class with a three-moto sweep. and he also finished a close second behind Suzuki's Nicco Izzi in the 85cc Stock <7-1ll class. Trent Pugmire won the 65cc Stock C1 0-lll class. vv .. Innovative wakeboard·boat manufacturer Air Nautiques served as the first-ever outside-the-industry title sponsor of the AMA Amateur Motocross Nationals at Lorella Lynn's. Several Air Nautiques boats were displayed on the grounds. The company was not alone in their outside-the-industry assistance. Kicker Stereo Systems also has a display at Lorella's, as did Ogio bags. and Gatorade served up thousands of gallons of free product to racers and fans alike. Who said California motocross was dead? The coveted AMA State Trophy, which is on display at the AMA's Ohio offices and honors the state that produces the most national champions. went to the Laughridge- and Alessi-led Golden State of Califomia. Trackside Software was at Loretta's to equip every racer with a helmet-mounted transponder and collect lap times. Surprisingly. the week's fastest lap was set by a rider who didn't win a championship - Yamaha rider Troy Adams. who dipped under the two-minute mark while running away with the second 250cc/Open A Pro Sport mota. The 125cc B classes at Loretta's were topped by Cole Siebler. in the 125cc Mod division. and Sean Collier. who won the 125cc Stock class when Teddy Maier crashed in the final mota. Ryan Sipes won all three motos of the 250cc B Stock class. and Eric Nye put together a consistent week to top the Modified division. Both Women's classes at Loretta's came down to the wire. In the (12-15) Women's class, Leah Cantrell passed Marisa Hampshire on the last lap of the final mota to go 1-2-1 and take the title. In the 105cc Plus Women's class. fonmer champion Jessica Patterson battled to the final tum with Sarah Whitmore to go 1-4-1 and take the LL National title.