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Buddy Antunez (100) got Into trouble with Pedro Gonzalez (47) in the 125cc main on Friday night. Then Antunez got into trouble with the series officials. (Above) Lange (2) and Demuth (1) were about this far apart for the duration of Saturday's 250cc main. celebrate a win knowing that kind of stuff is going on, but 1 know he is in good hands." The 250cc start mirrored the 125cc start in that very few of the riders made it through unscathed. After getting the 125cc main red-flagged, many riders, including Antunez, thought the officials would red-flag this race also. It didn't happen, and Antunez was caught out at the back of the pack. Hofmaster squirted through, leading Brayton, WiUoh and Keith Johnson on the borrowed KTM through the whoops. Brayton jumped the triple and passed Hofmaster for the lead, but it didn't last past the halfway point. Demuth, cautious from his running over Holland in the previous main, came out in the back of the pack but charged right away. Just past the halfway point, Demuth became the first person to quad what was meant to be a triple he jumped the whole section. Moments later, Brayton stalled it on the landing from the finish-line double. Hofmaster barely missed mowing him down and took the lead. Lange got caught up in Brayton's rear wheel and allowed Demuth to scoot into second. With less than a lap to go, Demuth was on fire and eventually stuffed Hofmaster a few turns away from the flag for the win. Lange also swooped around and finished the battle with a well-deserved second place. Hofmaster settled for third, as Hagseth and Brayton held on for fourth and fifth. "I got off to a bad start and had to work my way up," Demuth said. "I just put my head down and charged the whole way. With Christ on my shoulder, 1wasn't worried." "Me and Josh went down in the first turn, and we started dead last," Lange said. "We kind of worked together and worked through to the front. It isn't too much of a loss; he's a great rider. Tommy [Hofmaster] rode great too." SATURDAY The 125cc main was all Hofmaster from the drop of the gate to the checkered flag. Chris Whitcraft and Dave Oettel got great starts but succumbed to the relentless pressure of the regular Arenacross crew of Demuth and Hagseth. Demuth gingerly picked his way through, allowing Hofmaster to speed off with the lead. Halfway through the race, Hofmaster looked to be getting a bit tired, and Demuth seemed intent on making time, but Hofmaster got his second wind and sprinted to the checkered flag ahead of Demuth and Hagseth, who managed to miss every crash that took place in front of him. Whitcraft and Oettel took fourth and fifth, respectively. "This is my second Arenacross win and I'm real happy," Hofmaster said. "I got off to a good start but I could hear 'JD' coming. I just tried to hold my line, and it worked out for the best." "I got off to a great start that time," Demuth said. "I was able to get to the front, but Hofmaster got away from me and pulled out." Lange grabbed the 250cc holeshot, with Demuth, Hofmaster, Antunez, WiJloh, and Hagseth all battling it out into the whoops. On the third lap, Antunez fell in the whoops, allowing Hagseth to take fourth with Isaiah Johnson in fifth. As the riders jockeyed for position, Hagseth was the only one who was making visible progress and by the later stages of the race had gotten around Isaiah Johnson and WiJloh, who faded back as Hofmaster bailed hard in the whoops and was slow to get up. When the checkered flew, Lange crossed the line first, followed by Demuth, Hagseth, Johnson and WiJloh rounding out the top five. "It's frustrating; I wanted to get the holeshot, and I got that, but 1 could hear Josh behind me the whole time, and I rode my own race," Lange said. ''I'm just glad to be on top of the podium." "The team was working real hard to get me here," Hagseth said. "They're putting me on good bikes. I'm just having fun out there, 1 mean, both of my bikes are equally good; I've never had bikes that worked this good before and the team is behind me 100 percent." eN TIle Centrum Worcester, Massacllusetts Results: Nove ber 15-16, 2002lRound Sind 6) Friday 125 MAIN: 1. Josh Demuth (Yom); 2. Dorey LlIng~ (Kaw); 3. Tom Hofmllsle:r (Yam); 4. Brad Hagseth (Kaw); 5. Buddy Antunez (SUI); 6. Justin Brayton (Hon); 7. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 8. Chris Whitcraft (Hon); 9. Barry ClIrsten (Suz); 10. Tom Kelley (Suz). 250 MAIN: I. Josh Demuth (Yom): 2. Dorey Lange (Kaw); 3. Tom Hofm!lster (Yam); 4. Brad HlIQseth (Kaw); 5. Justin Brayton (Hon); 6. Jeff Willoh (Suz); 7. Evan Laughrldge (Suz); 6. Phil Lawrence (Yam); 9. Chad Johnson (Kaw); 10. Buddy Antunez (Suz). Saturday 125 MAIN: 1. Tom Hofmaster (YlIm); 2. Josh Demuth (Yam); 3. Brad Hagseth (Kew); 4. Chris Whitcrart (Yam); 5. David Oettel (Hon); 6. Tom Kelley (Suz); 7. Kelly Smith (Yom); 8. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 9. Isaiah Johnson (Kaw); 10. Chlld Johnson (KllW). 250 MAIN: I. Darcy Longe (Kow); 2. Josh Demuth (Yam); 3. Brlld Hagseth (Kaw); 4. Isaillh Johnson (Kaw); 5. Jeff Willoh (Suz); 6. Tom Hormaster (Yem); 7. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 8. Phil Lawrence (Yam); 9. Kelly SmIth (Yem); 10. Ched Johnson (Kew). NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 6 of 28 rounds): I. Josh Demuth (222/7 wins); 2. Tom Hofmester (194/2 wins); 3. Dlircy Lange (188/2 wins); 4. Buddy Antunez (153); 5. Brad Hagseth (138); 6. Jeff Willoh (114); 7. Kelly Smith (113); 8. Pedro Gonzalez (111/1 win); 9. Phil Lawrence (107); 10. Justin Breyton (102); 11. Evan Ul:ughridge (87); 12. Isaiah Johnson (78); 13. Rusty Holland (64); 14. Chris Whitcro~ (60); 15. Tom Kelley (58). BRIEFLY••• Concerning the Buddy Antunez incident. John Gallagher. the Director of Arenacross for CCE. said. "It appears to me that Buddy is disappointed that we called a red flag for the 125cc race and didn't call one for the 250cc race. I didn't feel there was a safety issue as in the 125cc race. We had riders that were tangled up. and we had one rider that was pretty injured and laying on the track. He lAntunez] is disappointed in that. and he decided to take action." Antunez spun a big donut and roosted heavily on Gallagher. Billy Whitley. his team manager and a few reporters. "He won't be racing tomorrow [Saturday] night - he has a one-race suspension." Gallagher continued. After much verbal banter. secret meetings. and pleading by Whitley and the Suzuki mechanICS. Antunez's penalty was reduced to a $1 000 fine. Keith Johnson (right) made an appearance at the Worcester Arenacross. only a few miles from his house. on new KTMs. "Yeah. you know. I rode all the Outdoor Nationals with Dowd on the Cemic's team," Johnson said. "I picked up a couple of bikes from John [DowdJ this week and decided to come out and race them. It's only an hour from my house. so I figured I'd come out and have some fun with the boys. " Tuf Kawasaki's Rusty Holland suffered a broken wrist in a firsttum pileup on mday night. He will be out indefinitely. cue I e n e _ S • DECEMBER 4, 2002 17