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AMA/Chevy Trucks 250cc U.S. Motocross Championship Series Round 1 2: Steel City R ay my Own Race: 250cc f2,@ Nathan Ramsey The Team Honda rider went 4-8 for fifth overall and ended the series in 10th after missiIJ9 several rounds at the beginning of the season. Ramsey sald, "The first moto went well and I battled up to fourth at the end. In the second one, I was trying to get around Dowd and fell and it put me back. It was an okay series; I'm pumped for next year, and things here at Honda are really good.' []®cB Blair Morgan Ezra Lusk Several pro and amateur motocross racers visited University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for fitness testing before the race. In order to collect baseline research to create new motocross training programs in the future. riders were invited to compete in oxygen level (V02 MaX> tests. as well as strength tests. Both riders and doctors were said to be happy with the testing. Much of UPMC's interest in motocross comes from their work with Branden Jesseman. as the Western Pennsylvania-based SoBe Suzuki rider has been working with the hospital all season for health advice. Jesseman was a busy man at Steel City, not only competing in a battery of UPMC tests the Friday before the national. but in press day on Wednesday. He was also featured on the Moto Tees event T-shirt. "Yeah. I was busy. but it was okay." Jesseman said. James Povolny Team Solitare's Ryan Clark topped all the UPMC-tested motocrossers in the V02 Max test. Clark credits much of his success to the guidance of his hard-training mechanic Cody" Fat Cuz" Schulz. Jeremias Isreal ChiIean Jeremias Isreal, who rides for the Canadian Blackfoot Honda team, went 21-20 on the day and earned a coveted poInt toward another two-digit National number. "I got a point today," laughed Isreal. "1 got a few points outdoors and a couple in supercross. so I think I'll have a number again." §@@ Team Green's top amateur prospect Gavin Grayck was on hand, but has yet been issued an AMA Pro license. so he could not compete at Steel City. Grayck said that he'll most likely race the National Arenacross Series next year for KawasakI. Blackfoot Honda's Blair Morgan said that he, Jean-Sebastien Roy and Marco Dube will make up Team Canada at the MX des Nations. and that he is real excited about the race. "I actually have a few things coming up like the des Nations in a few weeks and the U.S. Open in October. where I'll be running the number·one plate in the four·stroke class." Sebastien Tortelli Nielsen/Subway Fly-sponsored James Povolny put in another strong ride bn his Honda CRF450R. Povolny went 9- I 8 for 15th overall and said afterward, "I had a great start and ran in fourth for a bit in the first moto, but I made a few mistakes and hung on for ninth. In the second moto. started pretty good but got totally pooped out by the, end. I'll take that 18th over a DNF any day." ®@ Gene Stull and Brian Gray made their Pro debuts at Steel City. Stull was impressive in Sat· urdayand Sunday's qualifiers. but had some problems in the National motos. going 31-32 for 34th overall. Gray went 25-25 for 29th overall. The upcoming MX des Nations in California is fast approaching and was the talk of Steel City. Ricky Carmichael noted that his Honda teammate and good friend Ernesto Fonseca will be riding for the Costa Rican team. and he jokingly said, "Emesto will be riding for them; so we're no longer friends." Fonseca will be aboard a CR250. and so will his teammates. "Honda has been really good about this. and they are going to give us the bikes and support at the race," Fonseca said. "One of the guys already rides a Honda. and the other will be given a bike at the race. Ifs just more Hondas out on the track in California, so ifs not a bad deal for Honda either... The Team Honda rider fell in the opening stages of the first moto and came around the track nearly dead last. He battled for the entire moto and worked up to 17th. He then started inside the top lOin the second moto and motored up to thlrd at the finish. His 17 -3 was good enough for seventh overall, and he finished out the series in fourth, 37 points behind Lusk. cD® The Women's Motocross League held their final two Pro motos of the year at Steel City on Saturday and Sunday. and Team Green's Jessica Patterson was the big winner on Sunday. with Stefy Bau and Tania Satchwell finishing second and third. respectively. Bau took the title over Patterson by just eight points though and will carry the number·one plate next year. The U.S. Smokeless Tobacco privateer awards were given away for the final time this year after Sunday's racing. and Moto XXX/DGY's Nick Weyand Blackfoot Hond~'s Blair Morgan were the two reCipients in the 250cc class. and Moto XXX/DGY's Larry Ward and Boost MobilelYamahalTroy Racing's Josh Hansen were the top two 125cc privateers. Weyand Ward each collected $1500. and Morgan and Hansen each took home a $750 check. Chevy Trucks Kawas.aki's Ezra Lusk had an up-and-down day, as he landed on Mick Wey and was flung to the ground early in the first moto. He pulled off and was credited with 40th place, but he regrouped and came out swinging in the second moto, pulling off a fifth, which netted him 13th overall. Lusk was hoping to catch and pass Tim Ferry for second place in the series, but his first-moto getoff ended that. Lusk ended up settling for third in the year-end standings. 1] ® Team Yamaha's Tim Ferry was quick to point out after the race that the selection for the U.S. team for the des Nations was a good one. Carmichael. Ferry and laRocco ITeam USA memo bers) were all sitting together at a post-race press conference. and Ferry said. "I guess this goes to show that we have a good team going to the des Nations. We finished on the podium one. two. three: I don't think that we could have a better team... Extreme sports legend Shaun Palmer was on hand at Steel City to watch Ricky Carmichael go for the record. Palmer hung out all weekend and simply said, "I had to be here to witness it.·· _ The multi-time Snocross Champion showed that he is certainly multitalented. Morgan went 13-7 on the high-speed track and really opened some eyes in the second moto, as he crossed the finish line in front of some big names, such as Ramsey, Dowd and Wey. Aboard his Blackfoot/Thor Honda,. the Canadian finished ninth overall. "I have a sprained back, and it's been bugging me for the last few weeks," Morgan said. "Dr. Augustine worked on it this moming, and it feels the best it has in a long time. I just flowed in the second moto, and it was fun." Morgan will ride for Team Canada in the MX des Nations and will be carrying the number-one plate in the four-stroke class at the U.S. Open in October. 1] 1] BRIEFLY••• Roger DeCoster confirmed several reports regarding the 2003 factory Suzuki teams. Sebastien Tortelli and Stephane Roncada will join Travis Pastrana (who's back in the hospital. keeping his injured knee under observation) on the 250cc squad. DeCoster also said he believes Kevin Windham is .. done." The 125cc team will. once again. feature Danny Smith and Branden Jesseman. as well as this year's 250cc rider Sean Hamblin and Frenchman Mathieu Lalloz. In addition. DeCoster says Tortelli will ride an RM250 at the Motocross des Nations. Evan Laughridge The fast Suzuki up-and_comer was pitted again in the Motoworld of El Cajon pits and impressed some with his 18- 15 rides for 18th overall. In the last three Nationals, laughridge, who just recently turned pro, has earned 20 points toward a national number and says he has, "Nothing on the table yet for next year." Graves (Hon); 33. Ty Wallace (Yam); 34. Robbie Reynllrd (Hon); 35. Justin Brayton (Hon); 36. Mike Treadwell (KTM); 37. Travis Hodges (Yam); 38. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 39. Kevin Crine (Hon); 40. Steel City Racewey Delmont, Pensylvenie Results: September 1, 2D02 (Round 12 of 121 Ezra Lusk (Kaw). 250 MOTO 2: I. Carmichael; 2. Ferry: 3. Tortelli: 250 MOTO 1: 1.Ricky Carmichael (Hon): 2. Timmy Ferry (Yam); 3. Mike LaRocco (Hon); 4. Nathan Ramsey (Hon): 5. Sean Hamblin (Suz); 6. Bowman (Hon); 29. Kevin Belay (Hon); 30. Jeremy 4. LaRocco; 5. Lusk; 6. Hamblin; 7. Morgan; 8. Ramsey; 9. Dowd; 10. Wey; 11. Voss; 12. Carpenter; 13. Lamson; 14. K, R. Johnson; 15. Laughridge; 16. Lewis; 17. Thomas; 18. Povolny; 19. Crine; 20. Isreal; 21. Silva; 22. Cl£1rk; 23. K. S. Johnson; 24. Baker; 25. Treadwell; 26. Roth; 27. Hodges; 28. Bowman; 29. Carsten; 30. Cook; 31. Oettel; 32. Wa.lla.ce; 33. Beloy; 34. Metz; 35. Plotts; 36. K. Johnson; 37. Brayton; 38. Dunllway; 39. GrllVes; 40. Reynllrd. 250 O/A: 1. Carmichllel; 2. Ferry; 3. laRocco; 4. H£lmblin; 5. RlImsey; 6. Dowd; 7. Tortelli; 8. Wey; 9. Morgan; 10. Carpenter; 11. Voss; 12. Lewis; 13. Lusk; 14. ltlmson; 15. Povolny; 16. K. R. Johnson; Cook (Vam); 31. Charlie Dunaway (Suz); 32. Scott 17. Plotts; lB. Laughridge: 19. Clark; 20. Thomas; John Dowd (KTM): 7. Kyle Lewis (Hon); B. Nick Wey (Vern); 9. James Povolny (Hon); 10. Paul Ctlrpenter (Hon); 11. Demjen Plotts (Hon); 12. Haeth Voss (Hon); 13. Blair Morgan (Hon); 14. Steve Lamson (Hus); 15. Ryan Clark (Yam); 16. Keith R. Johnson (Yam); 17. Sebestien TorteJli (Hon); 18. Evan lzlughridge (Suz); 19. Keith S. Johnson (KTM); 20. Jason Thomlls (Hon); 21. Jeremjas Isreal (Hon); 22. Dave Oettel (Hus):.23. Wally Silva (Vam); 24. Jeff Baker (Yam); 25. Scott Metz (Hon); 26. Bllrry Carsten (Suz): 27. Brian Roth (Vam): 2B. Jeff 18 SEPTEMBER 11, 2002' I: U I: I e n e _ s Larry Ward said he and his team. Moto XXX, will be back in 2003. but riding Hondas exclusively backed by Yoshimura. Ward says he will race a four·stroke, which means that unless Honda puts their long-awaited CRF250R into production. he will probably ride a CRF450R in the 250cc class. Red Bull KTM's Grant Langston had reason to fear the Steel City facility after losing last years 125cc championship there in heart·breaking fashion. But he says it feels no different than any other track. "The track doesn't matter to me: I just enjoy any opportunity I have to ride." he said ... My knee is not 100 percent. so I've really only ridden three times in the last few weeks. I just like to ride... Langston felt this year s Steel City course was better than last year s. and he enjoyed the flowing outside lines and wide·open layout. He was not alone in his praise for the Steel City facility. The 18,859 spectators found much easier access to the track and significantly reduced traffic compared to years past. And the course itself featured a new set of uphill step-up table·tops. which only a few 125cc riders where able to completely clear. An industry race and a mechanics race were held at Steel City as part of the amateur racing program. On Friday. Boyesen's Jeremy Garges outlasted Racer X' s Davey Coombs and Miche· lin's Randy Richardson for the Industry-class win. Coombs broke four toes on his shift foot during the race. knocking him out of ESPN helmet cam duty on Saturday (regular helmet cam man Cameron Steele was already on the sidelines with a broken wristl. With D.C. and Steele out. YSA Sports.com/Fly Racing Suzuki privateer Ted Campbell took over helmet cam duties on Sat· urday. In Saturday's mechanicsi race. Ryan Hughes. now an advisor for the KTM/Red Bull team, took the win. followed by Dunlop's Broc Glover and Blackfoot/Honda's Allen Dyck.