National Arenacross Series
Rounds 7-8: Metro Centre
By
DAVE DERINGER
PHOTOS BY RAY GUNDY
ROCKFORD,IL, DEC. 6-7
efending Arenacross Champion
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Josh Demuth is proving to be,
once again, tough to beat. The
Shogun Yamaha/Thor/Yoshimurasponsored rider is looking to win his
second arena cross crown, and, at the
Rockford Arenacross - the fourth stop
of the 2002-2003 National Arenacross Series - the possibility of
back-to-back titles just got a little bit
clearer for Demuth, as he reeled off
two more wins.
Demuth grabbed his first win in
Friday's 125cc final and then the second win in Saturday's 125cc final. A
second-place finish in Friday's 250cc
final and a third-place showing in the
250cc final on Saturday has "The
Sheriff" sitting comfortably in the driver's seat as the series heads into the
new year. Demuth has not missed a
podium finish since finishing fourth at
round two, and he was the only rider
at Rockford to make the podium in
every race. He has accumulated nine
wins out of 16 main events so far this
season.
"The track was tight and real
tough this weekend, but we came
through all right," Demuth said after
all was said and done. "I had to work
a little harder for the win on Saturday,
but my four-stroke Yamahas are
doing the job, and I can't thank my
team, sponsors and my mechanic
enough."
Demuth now has a 41-point lead
over Darcy Lange going into
Demuth's hometown race in Fort
Worth, Texas, after Christmas.
Richmond Kawasaki/Fox/Pro Circuit's Lange also had a strong outing
at Rockford. The Canadian took a big
win in the 250cc final on Friday by
D
(Above) Josh Demuth is building
momentum toward a second
Arenacross title. The Yamaha rider
recorded his eighth and ninth wins at
the Rockford AX and enjoys a
comfortable lead in the series. Here
he leads Buddy Antunez (100).
(Left) Darcy Lange (2) came away with
one win Friday night.
holding off Demuth and company. A
second in Saturday's 125cc final and
a fourth and fifth in the remaining
races helped Lange move up one
position in the points standings going
into the Christmas break.
"I got a decent start and rode my
own race up front and got another
win," Lange said of Friday's 250cc
race. "I had some problems Friday in
the 125cc main, but I came back to
get second behind Josh on Saturday.
I'm back in second now and want to
stay there or move up one more spot,
so that's what I'll be working on."
Suzuki/RG3/Axo's Evan Laugh-
26
JANUARY
8, 2003'
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