Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMA 1 25cc Western Regional Supercross Series Round 1 : Edison International Field of me or anything, which is fine with me. Everybody's focused on Bubba, and that's good, so I figure that's what they're cheering for." But Preston put together a nearflawless main-event ride. After a David Pingree holeshot, and with Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Stewart mired in 17th following a bad jump off the stating line, Preston quickly moved his way into the lead and then set sail. Usually, when a rider builds up a few seconds on the field, he'll put it on "cruise control," but not Preston. The Amsoil/Chaparral Honda rider rode hard for almost the entire main event, as if he was running from a ghost. And the hard riding paid off in the end. Stewart moved into seventh at about the same time Preston moved into the lead on lap three, and Stewart was slicing through the pack. Motoworld's Andrew Short was running a somewhat distant second as he held off Preston's teammate Chris Gosselaar, who crashed out of a potential win on the last lap in the 2002 running of this event. Stewart was in fourth on lap seven, then second on lap 10. With only seven seconds to spare over his rival, many thought Preston was a goner with five whole laps left, but he was keeping tabs on the Kawasaki juggernaut and didn't give up a second to him until two to go. "I could see Bubba every lap landing from the triple as I went through the whoops, and I was just thinking that I didn't want to pull a Gosselaar in the lead on the last lap," Preston quipped. Stewart would gain on part of the track, but lose whatever he gained in a table-top section by the right-field foul pole. Preston slowed with a cou- David Pingree (51) had a solid holeshot, but he messed up and doubled a triple on the first lap, dropping him back. Notice Preston (1) over Pingree'S right shoulder buried in the pack. pie of laps to go, and Stewart closed, but it wasn't his night. Stewart kept his perfect Anaheim winless streak intact, while Preston proved to the doubters that he is truly going to be a force to be reckoned with again this year. "I think this is my favorite stadium, even though I haven't won here," Stewart said. "I've got two more tries to try to get it... I'll try to come back in Phoenix, then come back the next week and try to win in Anaheim. "Last year at this time, I think I would've threw it away a couple of laps into it. I think I've gotten a lot smarter, and I'm just starting to take my time." "I still don't know if the crowd's behind me, because I know James is behind me [on the track], and they're probably cheering for him," Preston said. "And then I get scared because, what if I stuff somebody? Then everybody would start booing me, and then I'd get my feelings hurt. "I just feel really good out there. I'm flOWing. I'm right there. I really like my bike, so coming into the main, I knew I'd be on the box." eN Edison Interalltianal field anaheim, Califamia Results: January 4, 2003 lRaund 11 HEAT 1 (6 laps, 1·9 transfer): 1. James Stewert Jr. (Kaw); 2. Matt Walker (Kaw); 3. Tiger Lacey (Yam); 4. David Pingree (Suz); 5. Shane Bess (SU2); 6. Billy loninovich (KTM); 7. Akira Narita (Suz); 8. Turbo Reif (Hon); 9. Josh Woods (KTM); 10. Craig Anderson (Yam); 11. Troy Adams (Yam); 12. Sean Hamblin (SU2): 13. Jeremy Chaussee (Yam); 14. Andrew Short (Suz); 15. Ryan Abrigo (SU2); 16. Jesse Cassillas (Yam); 17. Tommy Harrison (Suz); 18. Tim Weigand (Hon); 19. Michael Sleeter (Yam); 20. Jason Murrell (Yam). Race Time: 6: 13.366 Margin of Victory: 23.662 sec. HEAT 2 (6 laps, 1-9 transfer): I. Chris Gosselaar (Hon); 2. Danny Smith (Suz); 3. Tyler Evans (Suz); 4. Josh Hansen (Yam); 5. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 6. Travis Preston (Hon); 7. Ryan Morais (Suz); 8. Kuraudo Toda (Hon); 9. Levi Reid (Suz); 10. Travis Elliott (Yam); 11. Pascal Leuret (Below right) Andrew Short has long been touted as a rider with great potential. He realized some of it with his first podium finish at Anaheim I. (Left) Stewart came through the pack impressively, but he had trouble cutting Into Preston's lead once he got into second. He is 04 at Edison International Field. 14 JANUARY 15, 2003' cue' e n e _ s (KTM); 12. Logan Darien (Yam); 13. Steve Lamson (Suz); 14. Steve Mertens (Yam); 15. Bjorn Anderson (Kaw); 16. Scott Davis (Yam); 17. Justin Mace (Kaw); 18. Bryan McGavrlln (Suz); 19. Dylan Lord (Su,); 20. Eric Sorby (Kaw). Race Time: 6: 19.964 Margin of Victory; 7.105 sec. LeQ (4 laps, 1·4 transfer): I. Short; 2. Crajg Anderson; 3. Hamblin; 4. McGavren: 5. Lamson; 6. Adams; 7. Elliott; 8. Weigend; 9. Chaussee; 10. Casillas; 11. Abrigo; 12. Sleeter; 13. Davis; 14. Bjorn Anderson; 15. Mertens; 16. MlIce; 17. Derien; 18. Leuret: 19. Lord: 20. HlIrr1son: 21. Murrell: 22. Sorby. Race Time: 4:06.212 Margin of Victory: 10.039 sec. !'lAIN EVENT (15 laps); I. Travis Preston (Hon); 2. James Stewart Jr. (Kaw); 3. Andrew Short (Suz): 4. Chris Gosselaar (Hon); 5. Danny Smith (Suz); 6. Billy Laninovich (KTM); 7. Matt Walker (Kaw); 8. David Pingree (Suz); 9. Craig Anderson (Yam); 10. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 11. Sheline Bess (Suz); 12. Josh Hansen (Yam); 13. Tiger Lecey (Yern); 14. Turbo Reir (Hon); 15. Akif(~ NlIrita (Suz); 16. Levi Reid (Suz); 17. Kuraudo Toda (Han); 18. Bryan McGavran (Suz); 19. Tyler Evans (Suz); 20. Ryan Morais (Suz); 21. Sean Hamblin (Suz); 22. Josh Woods (KTM). Race Time: 15:14.289 Margin of Victory: 4.118 sec. AMA 125cc WESTERN REGIONAL S(lPERCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Arter 1 of 8 rounds): 1. Travis Preston (25/1 win); 2. James Stewart Jr. (22); 3. Andrew Short (20); 4. Chris Gosselaar (18); 5. DtlInny Smith (16); 6. Billy Laninovich (15); 7. Matt Welker (14); 8. David Pingree (13); 9. Craig Anderson (12); 10. Kevin Johnson (11); 11. Shane Bess (10); 12. Josh Hansen (9); 13. Tiger Lacey (8); 14. Turbo Reif (7); 15. Akira Narila (6); 16. Levi Reid (5); 17. Kur.udo Teda (4); 18. Bryan McGavnm (3); 19. Tyler Evans (2); 20. Ryan Morais (1). Upcoming Rounds: Round 2 - Phoenix, Arizona, January 11 Round 3 - Anaheim, California, January 18

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