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/128201
AMA 1 25cc Western Regional Supercross Series Round S: Qualcomm Stadium Sean Hamblin (33) charged back after Danny Smith (29) passed him to make a pass attempt, only to fall in the next tum while trying to secure the spot. Smith got third, while Hamblin finished sixth. Hamblin said. "I think that with all the power that we've got in our bikes, it just kind jumped up and got me. I did it in my heat race, too, and that's what kind of gave Bubba a little bit of an edge, I think. My conditioning is fine, I just need to know when enough's enough and when to start charging. This is all learning for me." Pro Circuit/Kawasaki/Chevy Trucks' Eric Sorby and Red Bull KTM's Billy Laninovich had a great race going for the seventh spot, the two swapping positions with about three laps to go. Laninovich put a pass on Sorby, who was riding with a fractured left foot, in the whoops to overtake the Frenchman with two third for the second time this season. Preston said that he is looking forward to contesting the 250cc class aboard a Honda CRF450R in the Eastern Regional Supercross events. ") can't wait to get out there and try a 450," he said. "It's a four-stroke, and I haven't ridden it that much. I am going to ride it all week, and I am going to miss next weekend." Behind Preston, SoBe teammates Smith and Hamblin dueled for the final spot on the podium. Hamblin held the spot until lap five, when Smith shot by him over the triple that led to the right-hander that sent the riders across the start straight to the finish-line jump. Then Smith appeared to gap Hamblin for a few laps before Hamblin seemed to find a second wind. Hamblin caught Smith and began to pressure him for third place until the Californian lost control out of that same flat right-hander after the last triple and spun out, hitting the dirt. Smith went on to finish "Actually, I really liked the track tonight," Smith said. "It was a lot of fun. The dirt is different here than Anaheim for sure. ) do better on this Walker, dropping to sixth at the finish. "I was well on my way, that's for sure. I got a little bit anxious and a little bit antsy, and it bit me in the ass," laps to go, but Sorby retook the spot and held it until lap 14, when he was given the white flag. Sorby later said he thought he saw the checkered flag and slowed down, allowing Laninovich to pass him and open a huge gap. Sorby realized too late what was going on and simply cruised home to finish eighth, ahead of ninth-placed kind of dirt. The whoops were tough for me. Preston and Bubba go really fast in the whoops. I need to go a little faster in order to keep up. I had a lot of fun out there this weekend. I got a great start tonight, which really helped me out. I have been totally inconsistent on my starts. Tonight, both of mine were good." Hamblin remounted quickly, but not before MotoworldRacing.com's Andrew Short managed to get by and secure the fourth spot. Hamblin would ultimately yield the fifth spot to Billy Laninovich (132) and Eric Sorby (917) battled throughout the main. Ultimately, Laninovich got seventh, Sorby eighth. m Own Race: 125cc ~ 'lJ Andrew Short 4th "I didn't make it out of my qualifier, and I had bike problems again this week," said MotoworidRacing.com Suzuki's top 125cc pilot. "I got a bad start in the main, but I worked my way up to fourth, and by the time I went across the finish line, I had third in my sights. I had a pretty good night. My team is working really hard, and my bikes are the best out there." 'lJ ®~ Billy Laninovich 7th "I have some stuff I need to work on for the next race. I don't know, but I just don't feel like I'm thinking out there, and I'm getting too frustrated: said the second-year Red Bull KTM rider. "I know I should be doing better. Anyone can look good out there, but you've got to win too. The whoops weren't too bad tonight. They were tough because they were cupped out, but... It's got nothing to do with the tracks or with my bikes. It's just me. I just need some more experience. We'll just come out swinging stronger and harder after the break." @® Joshua Hansen 9th Hansen started the main event by doing a little extra advertising for Parts Unlimited, as he managed to catch a Tuff Blox cover on his rear swingarm and drag it around the track for a couple of laps. Fortunately, it fell off before getting sucked into his rear wheel. "I didn't even know about that [Tuff Blox cover]. I found out about it afterward from my parents. But I got a bad start, and I shouldn't have been in the bales. that's for sure. I guess that's what I get. I just need a start. I've got to put it together - stop making excuses about the start and do something about it. There's no doubt in my mind that I can get a top-five. I hate to keep making excuses every weekend about the starts, but I need to change it. We've got six weeks off, and I think I had better use it to my advantage by working on a bunch of starts." 'lJ @@ Ryan Morais 12th "I just came out here and did the best I could," said the MotoworldRacing.com rider. "It feels great just to finish the main. This is the first main event that I have finished in two years. I'm just glad to be walking away in one piece. I got a not-so-good start, and I was a little tense at first, but then I started relaxing and started flowing, and I worked my way through." 14 FEBRURY 19, 2003' cue I • n e uv s