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/128196
my Own Race: ®®@ Kenny Bartram "Friday was killer. I have never qualified out of the heat for an Arenacross. even when I was racing full time," said "Cowboy" Kenny after his racing performance. "I won the Jump-Off, had a whole lot of fun, and I was really stoked. 1 knew it would be tough to beat that, but I tried and still had fun. Saturday night, I crashed in all three races. 1 was plagued with bad starts and bad luck, but that is the way my racing career has always gone. But I won the JumpOff, so that's good." ®® qualifyNeese 125 [class on Friday], and I got a second-row start in the 250s. I Jim "I didn't the in came back to eighth, so I felt like I rode good and I had some good lap times," said the Regional Arenacross Champion after his weekend of National racing. "I came out here to see where I am at, and I feel like my lap times are right up there with the fastest guys - I just have to get a start. This track didn't even have a whoop section, and that made it a little tougher if you didn't get a good start." ~ 7J Pedro Gonzalez §~ Jason Thomas "Friday wasn't very good," said the Kawasaki rider after a disappointing weekend. "I got eighth in the 125 and 12th in the 250. I did well in my heats, but I got bad starts in both mains, and 1did not ride good. I have to try to collect points every weekend. Josh really cleaned house this weekend." SATURDAY Instead of two really close races like there were on Friday, Saturday night's mains were Demuth runaways in both classes, starting with the 125s. "I was getting bad starts all weekend, and I was really focusing on it," Demuth said. "I was able to come out a get a second-place start, and it was me and Ryan Huffman together at the beginning. Then I was able to get a little bit of a lead on him, and I rode my own race the rest of the time." "This is my first weekend back, and I have only been riding for three weeks, so I wanted to see how I could do," Huffman said after coming off the injured list. "I got the holeshot in the main, and, rather than trying to beat Demuth, I just hung right in there. I was pretty tense, and I didn't want to go down, so I got behind Lawrence, had a good pace with him and rode a smart race. [Jeffl Willoh was a little close at the end, so I pinned it the last two laps and got third." "Tonight 1 got out to a really good start. Josh has been winning every race, and I was able to stay with him the whole race. If I can go out and ride real comfortable, then I think I can win," Lawrence said after riding behind his teammate to a secondplace finish. "It's just getting all the "Friday didn't go as well as I planned," said the Team TUF/Valvoline AX rookie about his comeback ride from injury. "I am still trying to work my way back into it. I struggled a little bit with starts. The championship is pretty much over for me, so all the pressure is off. Basically, all I can do is race myself back into shape and try to get out there and win some races for my sponsors. Guthrie is next, and it's supposed to be more like a supercross, so 1should do well there." (Kaw). J(Jfr\P·OFF: l. Kenny Bartrtlm (KTM); 2. Tom Kelley (Suz); 3. Robby McQuary (Yam). KX65 INV; I. Terren O'Dell; 2. Coby Adair: 3. Kerry Moore. pieces of the puzzle together, feeling my best and getting all my conditioning. Getting good starts and riding strong is the biggest thing in these Saturday 125 MAIN: 1. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. Phil Lawrence (Yam); 3. Ryan Huffman (Yam): 4. Jeff Willoh (Suz); 5. Buddy Antunez (Suz): 6. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam); 7. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw): 8. Isaiah Johnson (Kaw): 9. Darcy lange (Kaw); 10. Tom Kelley (Suz). 250 MAIN: 1. Josh Demuth (Yam): 2. Darcy lange (Kaw); 3. Gavin Gracyk (Kaw); 4. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw): 5. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam); 6. Jeff Willoh (Suz); 7. Phil lawrence (Yam); 8. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 9. Justin Brayton (Hon); 10. Chad Johnson (Kaw). DFC: 1. Darcy lange (Kaw); 2. Gavin Gracyk (Kaw); 3. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw); 4. Josh Demuth (Vam). JQMP·OFF: 1. Kenny Bartram (KTM); 2. Tom Kelley (Suz); 3. Robby McQuary (Vam); KX65 INV: 1. Terren O'Dell; 2. Kerry Moore: 3. Zeb Smith. NATIONAL ARENACROSS POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 14 rounds): 1. Josh Demuth (376/13 wins); 2. Darcy lange (313/3 wins): 3. Tommy Hofmaster (284/3 wins): 4. Buddy Antunez (262); 5, Pedro Gonzalez (208/1 win); 6. Jeff Willoh (197); 7. Phil lawrence (182); 8. Even Leughridge (176): 9. Justin Brayton (152); 10. lsaieh Johnson (146); 11. Chad Johnson (139); 12. Brad Ha9seth (138); 13. Kelly Smith (113): 14. Tom Kelley (104); 15. Rusty Holland (100); 16. Chris Whitcraft (95); 17. Gavin Gracyk (89); 18. David Oettel (43); 19. Ryan Huffman (34); 20. Barry Carsten (29). races." Demuth's biggest challenge all weekend came from Lange in Saturday's 250cc main. Demuth took the holeshot, with Lange trailing in second. Right away, Lange began to challenge Demuth. One mistake was all it took for Demuth to open up his lead and take the win, leaVing Lange to finish second, ahead of teammate Gavin Gracyk. "We were close through the whole race, and I wanted to pull a quick move on him," Lange said. "I went to go by him on the inside, and we touched a little. I jumped and got cross-rutted, so he gained about four or five seconds on me. I reeled him in a bit at the end, and I wanted to get by him because I did really bad in the 125cc race, and I didn't want him winning all four. Josh is an awesome Friday 125 MAIN: 1. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. Rusty Holllllnd (Kaw); 3. Chad Johnson (Kaw); 4. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 5. Darcy llllnge (Kaw); 6. Gavin Gracyk (Kaw); 7. Chris Whitcraft (YZlm); 8. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw); 9. Jeff Willoh (Suz); 10. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam). 250 MAIN: I. Josh Demuth (Vam); 2. Chad Johnson (Kaw); 3. Darcy lange (Kaw); 4. Evan ~u9hridge (Suz); 5. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 6. Justin Brayton (Hon); 7. Rusty Holland (Kaw); 8. Jim Neese (Hus); 9. Isaiah Johnson (Kaw): 10. Jason Thomas (Kaw). DFC: I. Josh Demuth (Yam): 2. Darcy lZlnge (Kaw); 3. Justin Brayton (Hon): 4. Rusty Holland Upcoming Rounds: Round 6 - Guthrie, Oklahoma, January 3-4 Round 7 - Memphis, Tennessee, January 10-11 Pedro Gonzalez (47). Tommy Hofrnaster (3) and Lange (hidden) battled it out for much of Saturday's 125cc main. eye I EO n e vv s JANUARY 15, 2003 31