Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

THQ World Supercross GP/AMA Supercross Series Round 12/11: Edward -Jones Dome Joseph Oehlhof (Han); 5. Greg Schnell (Vom); 6. Doug DeHlIZln (Hon); 7. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 8. Thomas (Hon); 9. Scott Metz (KTM); 10. J850n Tyson Hodsell (Vom); 11. Eddie Roy (Han); 12. Bryan White (Yam); 13. Kris Papworth (Kaw); 14. Barry Carsten (Suz). lime: 5 min .. 18.702 sec. Margin of victory: 3.309 sec. SEMI 2 (6 laps. 1·5 to main): I. Tyler EVlIns (Suz); 2. Keith Johnson (Yam); 3. Joshua Woods (KTM); 4. Heoth Voss (Vom); 5. Cosey Lytle (Vom); 6. Hans Neel (KTM); 7. Scott Davis (Suz); 8. Mark Wundreck (Yam); 9. Teylar Watts (Yam); 10. Bnmdon Butler (Suz); 11. Clinton Shealy (Suz); 12. Karsten Butler (Suz); 13. Thomas Barron (Suz): Brian Mason (Yam). Time: 5 min .. 21.370 sec. Margin of victory: 1.995 sec. LCQ (6 laps. 1·2 to main): 1. Jason Thom8s (Hon); 2. Brian Mason (YlIm): 3. Scott Davis (Suz); Woods (KTM); 15. Tyler Evans (SUl); 16. Casey AMA SOPERCROSS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS Lytle (Vom); 17. Joseph Oehlhof (Han); 18. Brion 4. Tyson Hadsell (Yam); 5. Jimmy Wilson (Yam); 6. Mason (Yam); 19. Clark Stiles (Han); 20. Travis Preston (Han). TIme: 17 min., 48.119 sec. Margin of victory: 6.266 sec. (After 11 of 16 rounds): 1. Ricky Carmichael (257n wins); 2. Chad Reed (235/3 wins); 3. David Vulllemin Dou9 DeHoon (Han); 7. Hons Neel (KTM); 8. Thomas Barron (Suz); 9. Barry Carsten (Suz); Kris Papworth (Kaw); 11. Eddie Ray (Han); Clinton Sheeley (Suz); 13. Bryan White (Yam); Karsten Butler (SUl); 15. Bradley Ripple (Suz); 10. 12. 14. 16. Merk Wundrock (Vom); 17. Scott Metz (KTM); 18. Brandon Butler (502); 19. Taylor Watts (Yam). Time: 5 min., 24.200 sec. Margin of victory: 1.826 sec. MAIN (20 lops, 20 riders); I. Chad Reed (Vom); 2. Ricky Carmichael (Hon); 3. Ernesto Fonsece (Han); 4. Lorry Word (Han); 5. Nick Wey (Vom); 6. Denny Smith (Suz); 7. Sean Hamblin (SUl); 8. Ryan Clark (Yam); 9. Heath Voss (Yam); 10. Jason Thomas (Hon); 11, Ezra Lusk (Kaw); 12. Greg Schnell (Yam); 13. Keith Johnson (Yam); 14. Joshua THQ WORLD SOPERCROSS GP POINTS STANDINGS (After 12 of 17 rounds); I. Chod Reed (276/4 wins); 2. David Vuillemin (238/1 win); 3. Tim Ferry (216); 4. Heoth Voss (163); 5. Keith Johnson (153); 6. Ryon Clork (145); 7. Mike laRocco (136); 8. Damon Huffman (124); 9. Sebastien Tonelli (121); 10. Gront Longston (76); 11. Andrew Short (58); 12. Erick Vallejo (53); 13. Joseph Oehlhof (48); 14. Jeremy McGrath (29); 15. Steve Boniface (26); 16. Brien Mason (25); 17. James Povolny Jr. (18); 18. Ted Compbell (15); 19. Jooquim Rodriguez (14); 20. Pierrick Paget (12). the virus takes four to six weeks to run its course. With Ferry's BRIEFLY••• withdrawal. only four factory riders have entered every race Honda·s Ricky Carmichael and Emesto Fonseca, Yamaha's Chad Reed, and Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki" s Ezra Lusk. Team SoBe Suzuki's Travis Pastrana returned to supercross in St. Louis, but not on the track. Pastrana showed up in the Team SoBe Suzuki pits to sign autographs while he continues to rehabilitate his shoulder. "He probably won't ride until the outdoors," team manager Roger DeCoster said, though Pastrana would later voice a different view. "He'd like to try a couple of supercrosses at the end of the season, but it's better that he focuses on the outdoor." DeCoster said that Pastrana was in something of a no-win situation. If he were able to win a supercross, it would be a somewhat empty victory since Honda's Ricky Carmichael is focused on the championship. "If he focuses on the outdoors while the other riders are still focused on the supercrosses, he'll be a step ahead. In the past. each time he came back before he was 100 percent, he ended up getting hurt again. " Interviewed by track announcer Jamie litlie just prior to the race. Pastrana said he'd been bicycling and rehabilitating his shoulders and knees. He said he was going to start riding this week and hoped to be back for the final two races. "Basically, Roger [DeCoster] wants me to get 100 pereent." Pastrana said. "If I can do that and then come back and get strong enough to do 25 laps In front of Roger. i'li be back for supereross." Pastrana said he understood the criticism that he spent too much time on freestyle and not enough on racing but insisted that he was committed to racing. and soon. "I can't wail to get back battling with [Chadl Reed and [Rickyl Carmichael and those guys. It'll be great. I can't wait to be back. " Team Subway Honda· s Joe Oehlhof had more on his mind in St. Louis than just racing. Rick Oehlhof, the older brother of the Hesperia, California, rider, is fighting with the 101 st Airborne in the war in Iraq. "He·s over there defending the country and freedom and giving freedom to people who don't have it." said Oehlhof, who·s been following the war on CNN. '·He's my biggest hero. I couldn't do the things he does." Joe's family was in St. Louis, along with his brother's wife and their three children; two girls and a boy. "I hope he comes back soon, and I wish him luck over there." Rick Oehlhof, who's based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, is with the 502nd Infantry Division of the 101 st Airborne on the Kuwait/Iraq border. In addition to the normal fears, his family had more to worry about when it was reported that grenades had exploded at a 101 st Airborne command center in Kuwait early Sunday morning (4;30 p.m. St. Louis time). The soldier phoned his family on Saturday night from the MSNBC media tent to tell them that he was fine. Oehlhof is based in Camp New York while the incident took place in Camp Pennsylvania. A U.S. soldier was detained in the attack. The two camps are close together, with Camp New York being one of the largest desert staging camps. The patriotic theme was everywhere in St. Louis, beginning with the giant American flag carried up the starting chute by mem, bers of the American armed forces and followed by Honda's Ricky Carmichael arriving for opening ceremonies in a red U.S. Marine Hummer..,I just hope everybody in the war makes it back safe," Carmichael said during the ceremonies. The U.S. Marine Corps color guard got a standing ovation when they were introduced to the strains of Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA." KTM's Jeremy McGrath was decked out in American flag-themed Thor riding gear for his pre-race farewell lap. "I've been working on my autobiography and cleaning my garage some more. all the stuff a normal guy does," said McGrath. the winningest rider ever in St. Louis. McGrath won three times in St. Louis, though the mosl memorable race wasn't a win. but a loss. In the first St. Louis race ever. in 1996, McGrath came to town riding a perfect season of 13 wins in a row. it would end that night when he was toppled by Kawasaki"s Jeff Emig, who came from behind 10 win only his second career supercross. "Jeff [Emigl beat me by half a bikelength, and that's the one that broke the streak," McGrath said. "I'm glad to be here in St. Louis - I've had some great races here. You guys have been great to me. so I want to say thanks to that. " DeCoster said time is drawing short for his other two riders to be ready for the May 4 opening of the outdoor season. Sebastien Tortelli, who was injured at the third Anaheim SX, is back in California, though he's not allowed to exercise his leg yet. The week aher the injury, he had an anterior cruciate ligament grahed into his knee. "We·re hoping for Ihe first race, but it's going to be tight," DeCoster said. Stephane Roncada is expected back in the U.S.A. this week. "He should be able to walk on the leg this week," DeCoster said. Roncada broke both the tibia and fibula just above the ankle in a crash at the Minneapolis SX. The bones had to be pinned and piated. "I don't think he's going to make the first race," DeCoster said. Danny Smith and Sean Hamblin (right) have been filling in for the injured 250cc trio, but that's soon to end. "My feeling is Danny [Smith] will return to the 125" for next week·s 125cc Western Regional race in Houston "and Sean [Hamblin] will stay with the 250," DeCoster said. After the 250cc main event. combatants Chad Reed and Ricky Carmichael embraced (below) as Carmichael congratulated Reed on his performance. Considering the pair's rivalry this year, it seemed like a nice gesture. Yamaha's David Vuillemin tebra in his back at the Daytona Supercross. Yamaha team manager Keith McCarty said that the injury, to the T-5 vertebra, normally takes four to eight weeks to heal. "It may take him out of this," McCarty said of the supercross season. "We'll take it one step at a time." Vuillemin returned home to France the Thursday aher Daytona, where he continues to receive acupuncture treatment. McCarty said, adding. "It seems to help speed up the recovery. There's nothing else wrong with him. It's just the fracture. But the fracture has to heal properly so he can come back without risk. " e n e _ Carpenter/Ivan Tedesco (36). Upcoming Rounds: Round 13/12 - Houston, Texas, March 29 Round 14/13 - Pontiac, Michigan, April 5 Matt Shue won the $250 Asterisk Medic Card for finishing fifth in the 125cc iast-chance qualifier, the first rider not to make the main event. The MXexpress.com KTM rider finished just behind veteran Barry Carsten on the Bromley Suzuki. Carsten was pulling double duty. finishing 15th in the 125cc class and ninth in the 250cc LCQ. Racerhouse.com Yamaha's Scott Davis won the $750 Racer X Gas Card for finishing third in the 250cc LCQ. Red Bull KTM's Steve Boniface won his first ever $1000 SXGP.com Holeshot Award for nailing the start of the 125cc main. The Frenchman parlayed the start into a second-place finish - easily his best of the year. His previous best was a seventh in Alianta. Team SoBe Suzuki's Danny Smith pocketed the S1500 SXGP.com Holeshot Award for beating the 250cc field to the beacon. Smith finished sixth. The lone weekend off in the AMA Supercross season gave riders a chance to rest and prepare for the final push. Team Solitaire Yamaha's Ryan Clark said, "The first week I did absolutely nothing. I went out to Phoenix and stayed with a couple of friends out there and refocused." Clark said he realized during the time off that he might have been taking his job for granted. "Sometimes you don't realize how cool it is, this job we have. I got back to the gym and got back to pounding out laps with my teammate Michael Blose, and I felt great tonight. and I want to keep it going. " Mach 1 Yamaha·s Heath Voss used his free weekend to attend his sister Heather's wedding in Universal City, California. "It was a wonderful wedding," Voss said of his sister's marriage to Owen Stanley. "They're made for each other, and they're as happy as couid be, and it's a lot of fun." As for taking It easy, Voss said, "I· iove to train; I love to race. It was weird on Saturday night not racing. The part that I don't miss is flying. I could do without it and then that Thursday that you just sit around. But Friday and Saturday are a blast. I love being here. " Asked why so many factory riders are sidelined, Yamaha's Chad Reed said, "The reasons are, the tracks are a little less technical and faster, and the bikes are faster. Everyone has stepped it up. Ricky has been beating everyone pretty bad. You have to step it up. I think guys are trying harder and training harder. They train themselves into the ground. and they are getting sick. " Amsoil/Chaparral Honda· s Travis Preston had his night cut short on the Factory Honda CRF450R as he broke his front wheel on the opening lap. Preston later said, "The wheel collapsed and was really bad. I think someone's bike must have hit it in the first tum because all the spokes were broken on the first lap. It was a boring night." Preston did ride well in the heat race in which he finished a strong second to Yamaha's Chad Reed. Davey Coombs filled in for normal color commentator David Bailey for the ESPN2 broadcast in St. Louis. Coombs got the call on Thursday, saying, "They asked me to come and fill in for David because he was feeling ill, and I said, 'Of course.' I've now done all three positions for the show; host, fioor and color, and now I'm retiring from TV and going to be daddy to Vance [his new sonl full time. I am looking forward to the helmet-cam showdown with Cameron Steele later this summer, though." is related to mononucleosis. Ferry raced to third place in Daytona, but he "was in no condition to push." McCarty said, adding that I Smith (48); 19. Trovis Preston (38); 20. (TIE) Paul Also going down early in the 125cc final was Team ECC's Shae Bentley. The Georgian went in for X-rays aher the event and no breaks were found in his thumb region where the pain was. Bentley's condition will be known later in the week. Barr, known also as the "yuppie disease." is a fatiguing virus that cue Sean Hamblin/Demon Huffman (55); 18. Danny MotoworldRacing.com Suzuki·s Ryan Morais went down in the 125cc final around lap 10 and was diagnosed after the event, with a broken collarbone, according to mechanic Ed Longacre. He will be out indefinitely. Yamaha's Tim Ferry is also in injury limbo. The Floridian was struck with the Epstein-Barr virus just prior to Daytona. Epstein- APRIL 2. 2003 • LaRocco (73); 13. Stephane Roncada (70); 14. Ryan Clerk (68); 15. Sebastien Tortelli (63); 16. (TIE) The Dirt Wurx crew, who builds the tracks for Clear Channel exclusively, showed up at St. Louis with a brand-new hauler that could easily be dubbed one of the coolest rigs in the pits. The 50-foot Kenilworth with air bags that lower the whole unit at once give the truck a very unique look that is the envy of the pits. continues to recover in France after fracturing aver· 12 (169); 4. Tim Ferry (163); 5. Ezro Lusk (149/1 win); 6. Ernesto Fonseco (125); 7. Nick Wey (122); 8. Heoth Voss (113); 9. Lorry Word (93); 10. Keith Johnson (86); 11. Michoel Byrne (75); 12. Mike s

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