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/128205
National Arenacross Series Round 1 3: Arco Arena podium first-hand because of the dominance of the top three. Buddy Antunez's RM125 became STORY AND PHOTOS BY RAYMOND GUNDY SACRAMENTO, CA, FEB. 28-MAR.1 o fter spending its time east of California, the National Arenacross series headed to the West Coast this weekend for round 13 at Arco Arena in Sacramento. After a weekend of great racing last weekend, who would have thought this one would be even better? Only the top three riders of the series probably could have, as Josh Demuth went 2-1-1-1, Buddy Antunez went 1-2-3-2, and Tommy Hofmaster went 3-3-2-3 in the four mains. No other rider got to see the 62 MARCH 19. 2003' cue I the second bike this year to beat the YZ250F, and amazingly, this was only his second overall win for this year. The rest of the mains went to the newly crowned 2003 Arenacross Champion Josh Demuth. FRIDAY (Above) Josh Demuth got three wins on the weekend, giving him 30 for the year. Buddy Antunez had the record of 28. (Below) Evan laughridge (73) grabbed the holeshot in Friday's 125cc main. Here, he leads Tommy Hofmaster (3), Antunez (100), Justin Brayton (114) and Demuth (1). end, Antunez held on for the win - his The action heated up in the 125cc main as Antunez took the lead from teammate Evan Laughridge and led the race until Demuth came up to battle him for the lead. They went back and forth for the lead, but in the e first win in the 125cc class this year. to check out pretty fast after 1 got nevvs "My Suzuki got me out there in the lead right off the start, and I was able past my teammate Laughridge," Antunez said. "Wow, I got into a few lappers by lap seven of the race that held me up a little. I think that gave Demuth a chance at catching me. Then both of us battled for the lead until the end. In the end, I was able to hold on to take the win. It felt great to give Suzuki its first 125cc win of the season." After passing Antunez for the lead a few times but then falling short on a last-minute charge and having to settle for his only loss of the weekend, Demuth was focused on Antunez's single-season wins record. "It was a pretty good race; I got an okay start," Demuth said. "I was able to make a few good passes to get into second; then I had a great battle with Antunez for the lead - we both led and passed each other. But in the end it was Antunez that got the win. I wasn't able to get the pass I wanted on the last lap." Tommy Hofmaster stayed in the top three positions the whole race even as riders faded and passed him. Hofmaster held on to the last podium spot in the 125 main. "I was able to get off to a good start behind Laughridge and Antunez," Hofmaster said. "They battled for a while, then Antunez got by Laughridge, and I did too. Then Demuth got by me after that. I was able to stay behind Demuth and Antunez in third for the rest of the race. It was nice to take another podium finish. Laughridge held on for fourth, while Phil Lawrence took fifth. After losing the first main of the night, Demuth came back more focused. He charged hard for first place, and in the end, he took his 28th win - tying Antunez's record. "I got a great start and battled with Hofmaster for a while for the lead," Demuth said. "I got the lead and was able to hold on to it until the end. It was a good, clean and safe race out there. It was great to take another win. I am tied with Antunez's overall wins in a series - I hope to break it this weekend." tI