Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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BRIEFLY••• Richmond Kawasaki/Fox's Darcy Lange retumed to action at Council Bluffs after missing the previous Milwaukee round with a broken tailbone sustained in Toronto. Lange only rode one practice session, though, as he broke his foot and ankle when he came up short on the catapult double jump. "I just hit it way too slow and came up real short," Lange said while hobbling around on crutches FIiday night. He will now miss the remaining two stops on the selies and was passed in the points by both Hofmaster and Antunez, but it looks as though he will hold on to fourth in the final points. Other Iiders absent from racing but on hand In the stands were Fun Center's JeH Willoh and No Fear's Ryan HuRman. Willoh is still recovering from numerous injuries, while Huffman crashed hard in Friday's practice and decided to sit It out. Both riders are expected to be back at Sacramento. Yamaha's Keith McCarty was on hand to witness Shogun Yamaha's Josh Demuth capture his second straight title, which Demuth accomplished Saturday night. Coincidentally, it was McCarty's 50th birthday on Saturday, and he couldn't have asked for a better present. Several riders from the tour made a visit to the Children's Hospital of Omaha on Friday moming before the event. The visit was organized by John Burton of Tamer Billet MX/Storm Lake Honda, and riders Justin Brayton and Brandon Bartz of Tamer Honda, Suzuki's Evan Laughridge, Team Faith's Robby McQuarry, and Shogun Yamaha's Tommy Hofmaster all made an appearance. Pirelli, Pro-X, Devol and Pro Circuit all donated items that were handed out to the children, and OLN was on hand to film the event for an upcoming show. Suzuki privateer Mike Mason made his return to the AX circuit after going through several surgeries over the past few months. Mason made two of the four finals and won a jump-off contest Chis specialty) and may do the last few rounds... I've been training in Florida for the iast few months and will do a few Supercrosses and some Nationals later this summer," Mason said. "I have a bet that I have to uphold at Glen Helen, and that's what I'm focusing on." Concord, California's JeH Northrup got the call to fill in on the struggling Tuf Kawasaki team, and he made three of the four finals aboard his KXs. He will contest the final two rounds for them as well. looks as though his consistent results may earn him a solid ride next year. Demuth celebrates his second Atenacross Championship with his wife and Yamaha's Keith McCarty. "Everything is finally coming around for us, and I really want to give a special thanks to my ma and pa," the soft-spoken Johnson said after the event. Brayton is still looking for that elusive win and has two weeks to get it, He is also going to be one of the hottest commodities in the arenas next year. "I'd really like to win one of these things," Brayton said, "and I need to do it soon." Laughridge said something similar: "It would be real nice to win one of these before it's over. Josh makes it look so easy," eN my Own Race ® Brad Hagseth Travis Hodges (Hon); 13. Phil lZIwrence (Yllm); 14. Adam Daniels (Yam); 15. Brandon Bartz (Hon). DFC: 1. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam); 2. Rusty Holland (Kaw); 3. Josh Demuth (Yam); 4. Brandon Mid-America Center Council Bluffs, lawa Results: february 21-22, 2003 (Round 121 125 PRO: I. Josh Demuth (Vam); 2. Chad Johnson (Kaw); 3. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 4. Phil Lawrence (Yam); 5. Justin Brllyton (Hon); 6. Brlld Hagseth (KllW); 7. Brandon Bartz (Hon); 8. Tommy Hofmllster (Yllm); 9. Tom Kelley (SUl); 10. Travis Hodges (Hon); 11. Evan Laughridge (SUl); 12. Robby McQuorry (Vam); 13. Mike Moson (Su,); 14. Rusty Hollllnd (Kaw); 15. Kody Molitor (Yam). DFC: 1. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam); 2. Chad Johnson (KllW); 3. Josh Demuth (Yam); 4. Evan Richmond Kawasald's Hagseth was rumored to be out for the season with a broken elbow, but instead he showed up and raced and put in some decent rides, The native of Washington rode to 6-4-7-6 finishes and said, "The doctor said to go ahead and ride and it doesn't bother me that much," He now will be in the Team Green semi alone for the final two rounds, as Lange will be out indefinitely. 0'7J 11 Bortz (Hon). Friday 250 PRO: 1. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam): 3. Justin Brllyton (Hon); 4. Chad Johnson (KllW); 5. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 6. Brad Hllgseth (Kaw): 7. Phil Lawrence (Yllm); 8. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 9. Rusty Holland (KllW); 10. Jeff Northrup (Kaw); 11. Brandon Bartz (Hon); 12. Trllvis Hodges (Hon); 13. Kody Molitor (Yam); 14. Adam Daniels (Yam); 15. Tom Kelley (Suz). JUMP-OFF: 1. Tom Kelley (Suz); 2. Mike MlIson (Suz); 3. Brandon Roberts (Yam). KAW 65 INvrL: 1. Devin Reed; 2. Kerry Moore: 3. Gavin Faith; 4. Lukas Katers; 5. Kyle Olson; 6. Kyle Sandlin; 7. Sean Heronemus; 8. Sam Pierck; 9. Trevor Hanna; 10. Christian Cochran: 11. Buddy Beach; 12. Zach Wallace; 13. Zllch Gries; 14. Ozzy Borsella. Loughridge (Suz). Kody Molitor The superprivateer from Illinois is trying to follow in the footsteps of friend and fellow state native Tommy Hofmaster not only by rieting the Arenacross series, but also by filling in on the Pro Source Yamaha team where Hofrnaster left off. Molitor, 16, is looldng to win the Rookie of the Year Award at the banquet in Denver in two weeks, and he has a solid chance that he might do so. He went 15- 13-1 0- 13 over the two nights and is gathering every point he can in his first year of Pro racing, Molitor is currently in 20th in the points. 11 ® Brandon Bartz Tamer Billet/Storm Lake Honda's Brandon Bartz was in the mix throughout the weekend, as he grabbed the holeshot in almost every race that he entered on Friday, Bartz went 712-15- J lover the two nights and is still looking for his first podium of the year. "I'm just hoping my bikes get to Sacramento next week," the always joldng Bartz said, "Our driver got lost going to the dealership this morning, and it was only a mile awayl" 250 PRO: 1. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. Tommy Hofmllster (Yllm); 3. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 4. Brad Hagseth (Kaw); 5. Phil Lawrence (Yllm); 6. Justin Brllyton (Hon); 7. Buddy Antunez (SUl); 8. Chad Johnson (KllW); 9. Rusty Holland (Kaw); 10. Tom Kelley (Suz); 11. Jeff Northrup (KllW); 12. Brllndon Bllrtz (Hon); 13. Kody Molitor (Yllm); 14. Travis Hodges (Hon); 15. Brad Modjewski (SUl). JUMP-OFF: I. Mike Mllson (Suz); 2. Brllndon NATIONAL ARENACROSS SERIES POINT STANDINGS (After 12 of 14 rounds): I. Josh Demuth (857/27 wins); 2. Tommy Hofmaster (673/5); 3. Buddy Antune, (671/1); 4. Darcy Longe (622/11); 5. Justin Brayton (479); 6. Chad Johnson (468); 7. Evan Loughridge (467); 8. Jeff Willoh (369); 9. Phil Lowrence (347/1); 10. Ryan Huffman (326/2); 11. Tom Kelley (316);12. Brad Hagseth (282); 13. Chris Whitcraft (225); 14. Pedro Gonzales (208/1); 15. Jason Thom.s (203); 16. Rusty HolI.nd (201); 17. Isaiah Johnson (149); 18. (TIE) Gavin Grayck/Brandon Bartz (147); 20. Kody Molitor (128), Roberts (Vam); 3. Tom Kelley (Su,). KAW 65 INVT'L: I. Devin Reed; 2. Lukas Kllters; 3. Ouy Borsella; 4. Kyle Olson; 5. Christian Cochran; 6. Kyle Sandlin; 7. Zach Wallace; B. Sam PJerlck; 9. Buddy Beach; 10. Austin Pinegar; 11. Tllnner Oetting; 12. Ryan Berg; 13. Jordan Glick; 14. Trevor Hanna; 15. Brae Ridenhour; 16. Joe Kelly. Saturday 125 PRO: 1. Josh Demuth (Yam); 2. Evan Lllughridge (Suz); 3. Buddy Antunez (Suz): 4. Tommy Hofmaster (Yam); 5. Chad Johnson (Kaw); 6. Justin Brayton (Hon); 7. Brlld Hagseth (Kaw); 8. Rusty Holland (Kaw); 9. Jeff Northrup (Kaw); 10. Kody Molitor (Yam); 11. Mike Mason (Suz); 12. cycle n Upcoming Rounds: Round 13 - Sacramento, California, February 28-March 1 Round 14 - Denver, Colorado, March 7-8 .. _ s MARCH 12. 2003 51