Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

and he got behind me ... I think that the bar has definitely been raised, but it's cool to be up here again. The last time that I did this good in Phoenix was back in '98." Margin of Victory: 1.110 sec. THQ WORLD SUPER CROSS GP POINTS STANDINGS (After 4 of 17 rounds): I. Chad Reed (91/2 wins): 2. David Vuillemin (87/1 win); 3. Tim Ferry (81); 4. Sebastien Tortelli (70); 5. Mike LaRocco (62): 6. Grant Langston (60); 7. (TIE) Ryan Clark/Keith R. Johnson (47); 9. Damon Huffman (37): 10. Jeremy McGrath (29); II. Heath Voss (24); "I felt good out there," Reed said. "I was surprised. For me, it's kind of different. I've just wanted to be here for a long time, and when you get there, sometimes it's not how you thought it would be. But I was really happy with myself. I put in 20 hard laps, and our lap times didn't drop at all. Halfway through the race, I spotted Ricky, and he never was catching us. It was a good race." "Well, 1999 was the last time that I won a race, but I never thought that I couldn't win a race," Lusk said. "I just kept striving for that goal to win 12. Andrew Short (20); 13. Joaquim Rodrigues (14); 14. Erick Vallejo (13); 15. Manuel Rivas (11); 16. Stephan Demartis (8); 17. (TIE) Kyle Lewis/JeanSebastien Roy/James Povolny (7); 20. (TIE) Jason McCormick/Joe Oehlhof (6). AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 2 of 16 rounds): I. Chad Reed (47/1 win); 2. (TIE) Tim Ferry/Ricky Carmichael (40); 4. Ezra Lusk (38/ I win); 5. David VuiJlemin (34); 6. Sebastien Tortelli (31): 7. Ernesto Fonseca (28); 8. Ivan Tedesco (21); 9. (TIE) Stephane Rencada/Ryan Clark (19); II. Mike LaRocco (18); 12. Keith R. Johnson (16): 13. (TIE) Heath Voss/Steve Bon;face (12); 15. (TIE) Brock Sellards/Travis Pastrana/Michael Byrne (II); 18. M;ke Brown (8); 19. (TIE) Damon Huffman/Larry Ward (7); 21. Daryl Hurley (6); 22. Grant Langston (4); 23. Nick Wey (2). Upcoming Rounds: Round 5/3 - Anaheim, California, January 18 Round 6/4 - San Francisco, California, January 25 again. I think that I got hurt in 2000; it has really been since then that I feel like I've had this form, and I'm glad to have it again. I never thought it would take this long to get back again, but I had a good full season BRIEFLY••• ECC Suzuki's Steve Lamson cased a triple in his daytime consolation Bank One Ballpark hosted a near-sellout crowd of 48,445 for this year's Phoenix Supercross. last year, so I kind of built back up and had a good base. I had a good off-season, and the new race team at The KTM Jr. Supercross Challenge was dominated by Ar;zonans, with Peoria's Cody McElroy winning ahead of Phoenixs Josh Hinds and Gilbert's Jacob Fox. Kawasaki has definitely helped out a whole bunch. I think that's why we're going to have a good performance this year." eN Bank One Ballpark Phoenix, Arizona Results: January 11, 2003 [Round 41Z1 HEAT 1 (8 laps, 1-4 transfer): I. GrClnt Langston (KTM): 2. Ricky Carmichael (Han); 3. Ernesto Fonseca (Han); 4. Travis Pastrana (Suz): 5. Nick Wey (Yam): 6. James Povolny Jr. (Han); 7. Brock Sellards (Yam); 8. Slephane Roncada (Suz): 9. Daryl Hurley (Suz); 10. Keith R. Johnson (Yam): I!. Timmy Ferry (Yam): 12. Larry Ward (Han): 13. Ted Campbell (Han): 14. Clark Stiles (Han): 15. Greg Schnell (Yam); 16. Mike Corder (Hen): 17. Rene Reyes (KTM); 18. Ryan Clark (Yam); J 9. Brian Mason (Yam); 20. Jason McCormick (Han). Race Time: 7:06.971 Margin of Victory: 0.336 sec. HEAT 2 (8 laps. 1-4 transfer): I. Ezra Lusk (Kaw): 2. Chad Reed (Yam): 3. David Vuillemin (Yam); 4. Sebastien TorteJlj (Suz): 5. Ivan Tedesco (Yam): 6. Mike LaRocco (Hon); 7. Michael Byrne (Hon); 8. Mike Brown (Kaw); 9. Paul Carpenter (Hen): 10. Heath Voss (Hen); II. Marce Dube (Hen): 12. Joe Oehlhof (Yam); 13. Michael Blese (Yam); 14. Steve Boniface (KTM): 15. Casey Lytle (Yam); 16. Damon Huffman (Hen); 17. Jeremias Israel (Hon); 18. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 19. Zeb Armstrong (Hon): 20. Scott Davis (Yam). Race Time: 6:58.399 Margin of Victory: 1.913 sec. SEMI 1 (6 laps. 1·5 transfer): 1. Tim Ferry (Yam); 2. Stephane Rencada (Suz); 3. Brock Sellards (Yam); 4. Ryan Clark (Yam); 5. N;ck Wey (Yam); 6. Keith R. Johnson (Yam); 7. Ted Campbell (Hon); 8. Greg Schnell (Yam): 9. Brian Mason (Yam): 10. Mike Corder (Hon); II. Rene Reyes (KTM); 12. Daryl Hurley (Suz): 13. Jason McCormick (Hon): 14. Clark Stiles (Hon); 15. Larry Ward (Hen); 16. James Povolny Jr. (Hen). Race Time: 5:17.436 Margin of Victory: 1.390 sec. SEMI 2 (6 laps, t·5 transfer): l. Michael Byrne (Hen): 2. Ivan Tedesco (Yam); 3. Mike LaRocco (Hon); 4. Mike Brown (Kaw): 5. Damon Huffman (Hon); 6. Casey Lytle (Yam); 7. Michael Blose (Yam): 8, Marco Dube (Hen); 9. Jeremias Israel (Hon); 10. Scott Davis (Yam); 11. Jimmy Wilson (Yam): 12. Zeb Armstrong (Hen); 13. Steve Boniface (KTM): 14. Paul Carpenter (Hon); 15. Joe Oehlhof (Yam); 16. Heath Voss (Yam). Race Time: 5: 16.695 Margin of Victory: 0.619 sec. LCQ (6 laps, 1-2 transfer): I. Keith R. Johnson (Yam); 2. Steve Boniface (KTM); 3. Casey Lytle (Yam): 4. Clark Stiles (Hon); 5. Ted Campbell (Hon): 6. Paul Carpenter (Han); 7. Greg Schnell (Yam); 8. Joe Oehlhof (Yam): 9. Jeremias Israel (Hen): 10. Mike Corder (Hon); II. Rene Reyes (KTM); 12. Daryl Hurley (Suz); 13. Jason McCormick (Hon): 14. Zeb Armstrong (Hen); 15. Brian Mason (Yam); 16. Scott Davis (Yam); 17. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 18. Marco Dube (Han); 19. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 20. Michael Blese (Yam): 21. Larry Ward (Han); 22. Heath Vess (Yam). Race Time: 5:27.607 Margin of Victory: 4.59l sec. MAIN EVENT (20 laps): 1. Ezra Lusk (Kow); 2. Chad Reed (Yam); 3. Tim Ferry (Yam); 4. Ricky Carmichael (Han); 5. David Vuillemin (Yam): 6. Sebastien Tortelli (Suz); 7. Mike LaRocce (Hon); 8. Ernesto Fonseca (Han): 9. Ivan Tedesco (Yam); 10. Brock Sellards (Yam); II. Michael Byrne (Han); 12. Travis Pastrana (Suz): 13. Stephane Roncada (Suz); 14. Damen Huffman (Hon): 15. Keith R. Johnson (Yam); 16. Ryan Clark (Yam); 17. Steve Boniface (KTM); 18. M;ke Brown (Kaw); 19. N;ck Wey (Yam): 20. Grant Langston (KTM). Race Time: 17:21.921 Speaking of KTM. Grant Langston·s win ;n the first crash·filled 250cc heat race was the first 250cc heat-race win for the Austrian company. When asked about it aher the race. Langston said, 'Td just like to race and immediately dropped out of the race. "Lam; cased the triple and broke his leg· the same leg that he had broke before,·' ECC team manager Mike Craig said. "[It was] his right tib·fib. It still had the rod. but it still snapped· it didn't break the rod. it broke the bone." While James Stewart didn't pull the perfect holeshot in the main event. it was much better than the one he got at Anaheim. thanks to a coaching session with former AMA Supercross Champion and four·time AMA National MX Champ;on Jeff Emig. "I wasn't dead last. so it helped me a I;ttle b;t. I was holeshotting h;m lEm;gl on the 250 last week, so I was pretty pumped about that. Last weekend. I started 18th. If I had started 17th. I think I could have won ;t." have the first main·event win for KTM. That's what I want." Langston was also the only rider on the Red Bull KTM 250cc squad to choose to run an aluminum tank on his 250 SX The aluminum tank is reportedly wider at the base, allowing Langston to grip the thin machine better. Langston was pretty beat up aher his main·event fall. hurting his left knee and wrist. When asked the chances of his being okay by Anaheim II. he said, "If I answered that r;ght now, I'd say not good. I can barely walk. even. But I·m hoping it will go away - heal itself." Some of the top 250cc riders made their Ideas known at Phoenix regard· ing contact on the racetrack. "Every week, we're talking about pea· pie stepping it up." Reed said. "It seems like every week someone else steps it up again. and it's getting to the point where it's crazy. Our bikes are getting better and better. and we all want to win And when you want to win. and everybody's running the same speed. you need to pass someone. You have to do what it takes to beat them. What else can you do?" "''I've been doing this for a long time. and aggressive riding has been around for years. and I th;nk that people are making too big a deal out of it.·· Lusk sa;d. "Now the leaders are doing it. Me and Chad got into it at the U.S. Open. and ;t was no b;g deal. We hung out aher that. Me Despite his Phoenix performance. the fact that James Stewart has yet to win an Anaheim Supercross was clearly on his mind. "Anaheim has still been pretty good to me. but I don't know - if I do win Anaheim, then I might just have to pull off and not race for the rest of the season. No. that stigma has been on me, but I'm not going to let it bother me.·' Stew· art still gets two more chances in ·03. When asked if he thought that the 125cc Western Region title battle might come down to the last race. Travis Preston said that he hoped not. "I'm just going race by race," he said. "I didn't really even like the track this weekend. and I still came out pretty good. I'm just going to go to Anaheim, and race it like it's the last race of the year and see what happens. Last year, I'd go into a race not knowing how I was going to do. and now I go into a race knowing that I'm going to be up front." Preston also submitted that. while he feels as though he is a much better rider than last year. he is still very aware of all the hype surrounding James Stewart. "It's funny. because a lot of people have come up to me and sa;d. ·Dude. I was looking on the Internet. and I thought Bubba won Anahe;m." Preston sa;d ··Bubba gets all the hype. and that's fine. I can't dance. " and Timmy have gotten into it before, and we're best buddies. This is the Preston also said that If he IS feeling pressure anywhere, it is from the level that it's at right now. and everybody should just enjoy it. It's only going to get better from here.'· expectation that he always produce a hilarious statement aher the races. "People think I'm funny. but I'm not a comedian.·· Preston said. ·Tm Just myself up there. Sometimes I say funny things, and sometimes I don·t." The $750 Racer X Gas Card at Phoenix went to California privateer Casey Lytle. who actually won the 125cc main event at Phoenix in 2000 when he was riding for FMF Honda. Lytle finished third in the 250cc last-chance qual;f;er behind Keith R. Johnson and Steve Boniface. He was the highest-finishing rider in the program not to make the 250cc main event, which earned him the Racer X Gas Card. Every week. the award is co-sponsored by two fans who donate $250 each. matching Racer X's $250. This week's race was supported by Stefan Paetow and Bobby Myers of discount·poolsupplies.com. Those who donate receive a VIP race weekend pass from Racer X. Last week at Anaheim. the $500 was donated by Mark Sullivan and Tim Berendes. MotoXXX's Troy Adams won the $1 25 Asterisk Medic Card for being the first person not to qualify for the 125cc main on his YZ250F. Boost Mobile/Yamaha/Troy Racing's Craig Anderson earned the $1000 SXGP.com Holeshot Award in the 125cc main. while Chad Reed got $1500 in SXGP.com holeshot money. Nissan's brand·new entry Into the full-Size truck market. the Nissan Titan (pictured) made its debut on the Bank One Ballpark stadium floor during the intermission between the 250cc Semis and the 250cc LCQ. Nis· san is a top sponsor of the supercross series and has been for many years. Two of the things that were immediately noticeable about the truck were the short front end and the rear doors. which swung all the way open until they were flush against the truck·s bed. On a funny note. though. the truck wasn't a work- ing model. as they had to tow it out of the stadium with a tractor and push it into the hauler after the show was over. R;cky Carmichael. Sebast;en Tortelli and Brock Sellards were all report· edly fined $1000 by the AMA for having their licenses in late. Carm;chael reportedly protested and hasn't paid the fine yet. Red Bull KTM's Portuguese 250cc rider Joaquim Rodrigues crashed hard off the start in his night qualifier and was taken to the hosp;tal to get checked out. "Someone behind me hit my back. and I broke my scapula.·· he said. "Three weeks ago I have an operation on my knee. and now I have my scapula." The doctors told him he will be down at least four weeks w;th the injury. Rick Johnson·s 1987 500cc National Championship·winning CR500R was on display in the Team Honda pits. SoBe Suzuki's Sebastien Tortelli credits his Increase in speed in supercross to his new coach Rick Johnson. "Working with him is great. and he has a great, strong desire, and that's important when you train with somebody." Tortelli said. "We do everything 100 percent.·' Grand Prix motocross star Josh Coppins is injured pretty badly. In his crash dur;ng yesterday's practice, Coppins suffered dislocated metatarsals in one of his feet· so badly that the foot was actually split open. He also dislocated an ankle and broke four metatarsals in the other foot. Coppins underwent surgery in Phoenix Saturday and will be out indefinitely. Damon Huffman made his MotoXXX debut at Phoenix. He will be riding injured Kyle Lewis' race bike for the remainder of the supercross sea· son. ·'Well. I showed up at Anaheim on Saturday with my bike in the back of my truck. which was weird." Huffman said. ''I'm under contract to race the Canadian Nationals for Blackfoot. but the guys here [at MotoXXXl are trying to get me out of it to race the whole season here." Huffman made the main in Phoenix and finished 14th. eye I e nevvs JANUARY 22. 2003 11

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