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/128195
1..IIo-,I'-'I-olQ) 2003 THQ World Supercross GP/ AMA Supercross Preview Just when we think we know what we're talking about... cross prowess. And if the past is any indication, now may be the time for a change. In ] 988, Rick Johnson won seven of the 10 supercross races and the championship. Coming into 1989, pretty much anyone who "knew what they were talking about" said that Johnson would be unstoppable again that year. Well, he was, winning five of the first six events on the calendar. But a broken wrist suffered at the Gatorback National ended his season, and more or less his career, early. Advantage Jeff Stanton. After winning a record eight races in 1991 on his way to the champi(Left! Many are predicting that Chad Reed (221 will be Ricky Carmichael's toughest competitor In this year's 5upercross series. (Below) We've heard from Ricky Carmichael's camp that the defending SX champ. Carmichael (41. Is more prepared for the '03 supercross series then ever before. The same cannot be said. however. for seven-time champ Jeremy McGrath (21. who. after having a difficult time adapting to his new ride during the off-season. is expected to announce his retirement Just before the first Anaheim race. By STEVE Cox PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN t's usually about the time that everyone thinks they have things figured out when they change drastically. Well, there were predictions by many last year that the aluminum frame on the CR250 would be too rigid for Ricky Carmichael's wild riding style and the bike would punish him, especially in the whoops. And after Carmichael's round-one fall, many of these people were smugly shouting, "I told you so!" Well, as it turns out, as far as Carmichael was concerned, nothing really changed. He still dominated, winning] ] of the] 6 races. There were even the doubters who thought that Jeremy McGrath, after his outstanding U.S. Open ride of 200], would put the diminutive redhead "in his place" in 2002. Well, that didn't happen either. Now, almost everyone seems to finally believe in Carmichael's super- 14 JANUARY 8,2003' cue I e n e _ s onship, almost nobody thought JeanMichel Bayle could be touched in ] 992. He ended up winning three races on his way to third in the series on his farewell tour. Advantage Stanton. Damon Bradshaw won a record nine races in ] 992, narrowly losing the championship to the experienced Jeff Stanton. Surely he'd put it all together and dominate the series in ] 993 ... Not many thought young Jeremy McGrath would be in the championship chase, but another new record of ] 0 wins in a season landed the rookie his first National Supercross Championship in his first attempt. Advantage McGrath. He dominated through 1996, where he won all but one event. In ] 994, many thought he couldn't repeat because he wouldn't catch the veterans by surprise again. Then in 1995, it was, "Well, nobody's ever three-peated, and McGrath won't either." Surely Mike LaRocco, Mike Kiedrowski or Doug Henry would stop him. They didn't. After his 1996 near-perfect season, it seemed the doubters had given in to McGrath's undefeated 250cc supercross credentials. They