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/128202
AMA 1 25cc Eastern Regional Supercross Series Round 1 : Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome The other rider drawing attention was Byrne. The Australian flyer was thrown from his bike in the first turn and raced all the way back to third place. A bit of poetic justice, considering the first round of the 125cc Eastern Regional Series last year nearly cost Byrne his racing career. "Yeah, I'm just so happy to get this one out of the way," said Byrne with a sigh of relief. Last year Byrne suffered a severely broken ankle, internal injuries and spent some time in the hospital - foregoing the remainder of the Eastern Regional Series and making it back in time to finish seventh at the 2002 Vegas 125cc Shootout. "The first corner was just mayhem," Byrne said. "I was pretty much level with everybody else, right in the middle, and when they went up into the berm, I just got dragged off the bike. I went down and pretty much was dead last. I got up and made the most of it. Bikes and riders were flying everywhere during the first five laps, so my lap times weren't that good until 1 got a little bit of a clear track. But once I did, I started catching up to the guys in front and even· tually into third." m Own Race: 125cc Grant Langston 16th David Bailey called Red Bull KTM's Langston's casing of a triple in Friday practice, "One of the worst I've ever seen." Langston said he "woke up this morning stiff and sore, but chose to ride. In the race, Ilvan] Tedesco jumped into me, landed when I was turning into the turn, and he kind of took me out. So I was pretty far back in the pack. Raced back and got into like ninth place, and then I got a flat front and went down two more times. Just wasn't my weekend." ~@® (Above) Byrne'S charge from the first-tum fall was inspiring, as he still scored a podium finish. He was actually sitting sixth In the 250cc points before Minneapolis. 1IIiiIiiiilii26,2003' Robert Kiniry 17th "Awe, man, I had a pretty rough night," said MotoworldRacing.com Suzuki's rookie. "This was my first supercross . first Pro race period. So all around just a different experience for me, but definitely a good one. I leamed a lot. I had some trouble in the qualifiers, learning how everything goes. But I made the main, which was a bonus. Then I had some prob· lems • mainly my start and couldn't get going. I cased something pretty hard and hurt my leg a little bit. But it'll be all right. I'll head home and work on all the stuff I leamed and next week come back swinging'" @@ Kelly Smith 5th "This was definitely a decent way to start out the season· a holeshot and a top five," Racerhouse.com Yamaha's Smith said. "I'll just build on that the next couple weekends and get stronger and stronger. We just got this bike thrown together last week, so we weren't real prepared, but I'm happy with how things went." @'Z?@ Mathieu Lalloz 14th "This time, I'm not very happy," said SoBe Suzuki's newest French import. "[I was) not on the good line on the gate because I did a bad qualification, way on the right so it wasn't possible to get the holeshot. I got pushed to the outside; my front wheel slide, and I crashed, and everybody crashed on me. I'll come back, but it's hard for me because I've been sick and wasn't in my best form, and I know I can do better." @~ Ivan Tedesco 6th "I didn't get a great start but made some things happen in the first three comers," said the New Mexico native. "I don't know where I came from, but I think I moved into third or fourth right behind Sellards. He knocked a haybale out in front of me. and I had nowhere to go and hit the deck pretty good. Came from like 13th back to sixth. Hopefully, next week I get a better start and stay on two wheels." cue •• n e _ s