Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

"The second moto was good; I think it was shaping up to be a good race, but Kevin fell down - he slid out in the back section there, and it was just up to me and Chad at that point, and I was able to get by Chad and put in some good laps," Carmichael said. "It was a good weekend for me, and I'm just looking forward to getting back home and riding there - I haven't been doing too much since LaRocco (Hon); 5. Larry Ward (Hon); 6. Kevin Windham (Hen); 7. Robbie Reynard (Kaw); B. Selin Hamblin (Suz); 9. David Vuillemin (Yam); 10. Bobby Bonds (Kaw); 11. Ezra Lusk (Kaw); 12. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 13. Nathan Ramsey (Hon); 14. Evan Laughridge (SUl): 15. Jason Thomas (Hon): 16. Clark Stiles (Hon): 17. Akira Narita (SUl): 18. Jeff Northrop (Kaw); 19. Keith R. Johnson (Yam); 20. Joe Oehlhof (Hon); 21. Ryan Clark (Yam); 22. Blair MorgZln (Yam); 23. Pierrick Paget (Hon); 24. Mike Corder (SUl); 25. Joaquim Rodrigues (KTM); 26. Brian Masen (Yam); 27. Ryan Dudek (Yam); 28. Brian Roth (Yam); 29. Dennis Stapleton (Hon); 30. JcremiZls Fernandez (Yam); 31. Ted Campbell (Hon); 32. Sebastien Tortelli (SOl); 33. Nick Wey (Yam); 34. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 35. Jason McCormick (Hon); 36. Damien Plotts (Hon); 37. Spud Walters (Hon); 38. John Dowd (KTM); 39. Emesto Fonseca (Hon); 40. Craig Decker (Yam). Time of Race: 36 min., 24.481 sec. Margin of Victory: 10.443 sec. 250 O/A: I. Ricky Carmichael (Hon); 2. Chad Reed (Yam); 3. Timmy Ferry (Yam); 4. Kevin Windham (Hen): 5. Mike laRocco (Hon); 6. Sean Hamblin (Suz); 7. Robbie Reynard (Kaw); 8. lzlrry Ward (Hen); 9. Ezra Lusk (Kaw): 10. NathZln Ramsey (Hen); 11. Sebastien Tortelli (SUl); 12. Bobby Bonds (Kaw); 13. Nick Wey (Yam); 14. David Vuillemin 12 rounds): 1. Ricky Carmichael (97/2 wins); 2. Ch.d Reed (B2); 3. Timmy Ferry (76): 4. Kevin Windham (69); 5. Mike laRocco (61); 6. Ezra Lusk (54); 7. Larry Ward (47); B. Sean Hamblin (37); 9. John Dowd (35); 10. Sebastien Tortelli (33); 11. David Vuillemin (32); 12. Nick Wey (30); 13. Robbie Reynard (29); 14. Kyle Lewis (28); 15. Ernesto Fonseca (27); 16. Greg Albertyn (25); 17. NlIthlin Ramsey (17); lB. Bobby Bonds (16); 19. Joaquim Rodrigue. (15); 20. Craig Decker (13). (Vam): 15. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 16. John Dowd (KTM): 17. Ak.ira Narita (SOl); 18. Emesto Fenseca (Hon); 19. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 20. Jason Thomas (Hon). AMA/CHEVV TRaCKS 250 a.s. MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 2 of Upcoming Rounds: Round 3 - Mount Morris, Pennsylvania, May 25 Round 4 - Southwick, Massachusetts, June 8 I've been out here - it's so hard to ride in CaJjfornia. I just need a little bit better starts and be there in the end." And Carmichael welcomes the newfound competition. "I'm never going to underestimate anyone," he said, "These guys are riding really good - everybody, as well as Kevin. I just need to do my thing during the week and come out here and do the best that I can, and whatever happens is what happens, I'm happy, and it's good. We have a lot of competition this year, and it's good - it's good for the fans; it's good for everybody." program coming. The four-strokes are going to be here in the future, and we're going to try to get ahead of the curve and hopefully get to a point to where we're not reactive, but proactive in our approach to racing. Mark hired me in 1987 with Team Green. so it's nice to be back," BRIEFLY••• According to a source close to SoBe Suzuki's Travis Pastrana, he's planning on driving in the World Rally Championship (possibly in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutionl this year, although he's not done racing motor· cycles. It seems Suzuki is already in the process of building him a motor· cycle on which he will compete in the AMA/Red Bull Supermoto Championship. He will also be competing. as expected, in the Gravity Games and the X-Games. Pastrana is still undefeated in freestyle competition (at least full-on freestyle competitions, not best·single-trick competitions). It seems Pastrana even had his own team all lined up for racing supercross and motocross in 2004 . all he had to do was sign on the dot· ted line - but he didn't sign. His future motocross/supercross racing plans time out. "At the beginning of the race, I felt I could make a portion back, and when Ricky started pulling away, I was trying new lines, and it just wasn't really working for me," said Yamaha's star Aussie. "We've been working on my bike a little bit, and I think with the work we've been doing, second's pretty good, I had a couple of close calls, so I decided I had to get through the weekend, It's a long series, and I don't need to get hurt right now." Windham felt like he did as well as he could considering the circumstances. "I feel like I fought and I came back as far as I could," he said, "You know, when you lay on the ground, you're not going to catch guys like Reed and Ricky and Ferry. I gave it my all, and I think everything's where I need it to be, except I need to calm Star Racing's Kevin Johnson wore his The National Promoters Group invited several lop racers, Including Team ECC Suzuki's Steve Lamson and Shane Bess, Amsoil/Chaparral Honda's Chris Gosselaar, and Mach 1 Yamaha's Heath Voss to the mountain-sport athletes from the neart>y Truckee/Lake Tahoe area. The Dunlop Tire "Where the Snow Meets the Dirt at Hangtown" was a big hit with the local media, featUring area pro athlete Daron Rahlves (U.S. Ski Team), along with pro snowboarders Noah Salasnek, Aaron" AV- Vin· cent, Matt Goodwill and Jim Moran. San Jose skateboard legend Steve Caballero showed up as well to rip around the Hangtown track. Dunlop's Broc Glover provided some product for the tire-hungry motocross enthusiasts - who also happened to be some of the best skiers and snowboarders in the world! I think I'm opening eyes, and I think my eyes. When you make a mistake like that, you've got to learn from it, mount back up, capitalize from it and move on," eN Prairie City SVRA SacraAleRto, ClIlifomia Results: May 18, 2003 (Round 2 of 121 250 MOTO I: 1. Kevin Windham (Hon); 2. Ricky Carmichael (Hon); 3. Timmy Ferry (Yam); 4. Chad Reed (Yam); 5. Mike LllRocco (Hon): 6. Sebastien Tortelli (Suz); 7. Sean Hamblin (Suz); 8. Nick Wey (Vam); 9. John Dowd (KTM); 10. Robbie Reynard (Kaw); 11. Ezra Lusk (Kaw): 12. Nathan Ramsey (Hon); 13. Emesto Fonseca (Hon); 14. Akira Narita (Suz); 15. Pierrick Peget (Hon): 16. Damien Plotts (Hon); 17. Larry Ward (Hon); I B. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 19. Bobby Bonds (Kaw); 20. Jason Thomas (Hon); 21. Clark Stiles (Hon): 22. Ryan Clark (Vam); 23. Mike Corder (Hon); 24. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 25. Craig Decker (Vern); 26. Spud Wallers (Hon); 27. Btair Morgan (Vern); 28. Joe Oehlhof (Hen): 29. Ryan Dudek (Yam); 30. Brian Roth (Yam); 31. Brian Mason (Yam): 32. Jeff Northrop (Kaw); 33. Jeaquim Rodrigues (KTM): 34. Dennis Stapleton (Hon); 35. Ted Campbell (Hen); 36. Keith R. Johnsen (Yam); 37. David Vuillemin (Yam); 38. Jason McCormick (Hen): 39. Jeremias Fernandez (Yam); 40. James Povolny Jr. (Hon). lime of Race: 36 min., 10.465 sec. Margin of Victory: 7.82 sec. 250 MOTO 2: 1. Ricky Carmichael (Hon); 2. old-school chest protector (rightl for the second week running. "It's an old O'Neal chest protector," he said. "I sent my buddy down to O'Neal to pick up a chest protector for me, and they gave him that one as a joke - so I ran it. I like it, except it's really hot compared to the newer ones. It doesn't let much air through.After having trouble with a contact falling out of his eye last week at Glen Helen, SoBe Suzuki's Sean Hamblin is going to try to get Lasik surgery after Mount Morris if he can get an appointment. The crossover event also featured a three-lap MMini National on Sat· urday during the amateur program at Hangtown. Daron Rahlves won that event. with Malt Goodwill placing second and pro surfer Josh Sleigh capturing third. Rounding out the top nine were extreme skier Brant Moles, Noah Salasnek, Aaron Vincent, Steve Caballero. pro skateboarder Chad Shetler and Jim Moran. ft Mach 1 Yamaha's Nick Wey switched back to his VZ250 at Hangtown. "Yamaha and I both thought that the best thing for me to ride would be a 450, but last weekend I didn't feel real comfortable, and I didn't get the best of finishes, so I just feel I can ride the 250 better. and Yamaha backed me," he said. "I'm excited about this weekend. We're kind of just doing the testing on it as we go along.Amsoil/Chaparral Honda's Mike LaRocco is finally gelting comfortable, and his shoulder is getting better, "It actually feels pretty good," he said. "The biggest thing I've had a problem with is, I wasn't really doing good setupwise: and then bodywise, last week I had ridden like 10 days before the race, so I figured it'd take me a while, but I'm starting to feel better now. A lot better." SoBe Suzuki's Sebastien Tortelli was charging hard in both motos after bad starts, but he dropped out of the second mota after his bike started smoking. -I don't know, some engine problem - something to the bike, - he said about the problem. "I don't know exactly yet. - down - I'm so anxious and so excited. I'm opening Some notables who didn't make the National program included Tiger Lacey, Matthieu Lalloz and Heath Voss. are still up in the air. track on Thursday to provide some pro motocross instruction to several Reed felt much better the second Scott Davis borrowed a YZ250F for Hangtown, "Basically, I had a supercross-only deal with the guy for the Suzukis, and now that the supercross series is over, I don't have any bikes," he said. "So what I did is, a kid that I teach through the motocross school. he let me borrow his bike to race. Right now, I'm trying to find someone to ride with. I like the bike, and I've been talking to the fire and police guys; they're pulting together a team, and I'm hoping we can work something out." Red Bull KTM's Joaquim Rodrigues dropped out of the first mota (rightl when his bike quit running. Apparently, the bike had a wire zip· tied too tight. and when some parts shifted on the track, it ripped the wire out of the ignition, and his bike quit. ~ • • • ' .... l"o. I - ~ • SoBe Suzuki was again hosting defend· ing Japanese National Champion Akira Narita (right!, only this time he was aboard an RM250. -In Japan, I ride the 250, so they send me over here for training," he said. Former AMA Western Four-Stroke National Champion and current Chevy Trucks Kawasaki test rider Craig Decker switched up from the KX250 he rode at Glen Helen to a VZ450F, which he rode at this year's Four·Stroke World Championship at Glen Helen and will race in Canada on Blair Morgan's team this year. Apparently his Kawasaki contract is just for testing, so he's free to race whatever bike he wants to. Tortelli also addressed rumors that he's going to race GPs next year: .. No, just rumors ... After his strong second-mota seventh·place finrsh, It looks like Brian Gray will get a chance to race Branden Jesseman's vacant RM 125. -I get to ride Jesseman's bike, and I get his mechanic· I want my mechanic though," he said loyally. -I think they're going to make me use Jesse· man's mechanic. It's really great. It's so great. I'm just glad I rode good enough to get a chance to do it. - Gray's riding Loretta Lynn's and all of that stuff this year, and next year he'll be on the tour full-time. Red Bull KTM's Billy Laninovich was MIA at Hangtown. -He blew his ACL out." said team manager Larry Brooks. "He has to get it operated on this week. It happened in practice for Glen Helen. He thought he just hurt his knee· twisted it - so he raced on it. Afterward, it still hurt, and he went to the doctor, and the ACL was ripped. It was not good. He may be out the whole season." Robbie Reynard isn't on factory Kawasaki equipment. -I just bought my new Showa suspension this last week, and I'm trying to get it a little dialed in. It's not really factory equipment - Kawi's helping me out. but it's not a factory bike," he said. "I like the KXs a lot. They're really good. The power's really good· they're actually really fast - it's just that I've got to tum the throttle [Iaughsl." Skip Norfolk explained his new job at Chevy Trucks Kawasaki. "My position is technical supervisor." he said. "I work on communication through the vendors and KHI [Kawasaki Heavy Industries]. No malter how good communication is, you always try and improve on it. Also, I'm going to help make the best out of the excellent personnel we have and then also to capitalize on technology· get involved in that. with the four-stroke Somehow Pro·Circuit/Kawasaki/Chevy Trucks' Mike Brown managed to get a foreign object in his eye last week before Sunday's program at Glen Helen. A bit if a nuisance, but not enough to stop the former Outdoor National champ from winning the overall. "Got a big piece of it out that Saturday night, and it was feeling a lot better by Tuesday," said Brown. -I went and saw the doctor. and he took some more black stuff out of my eye last week. Feels pretty good now. Is Ricky Carmichael going to NASCAR? "We've built this oval track out in the back of my house, and we bought a couple $200 cars and race them back there, - he said. - Bang into each other and stuff. It's a blast! " Greg Albertyn has got a new gig - real estate developer. -I've partnered up with a couple guys that have been in the [real-estate developmentJ business for a while, and we've got a company called Pepperwood Development." said the former Outdoor National champ. "It's something that I'm very passionate about and got involved with two great guys that really know the business, including George Baker [a former dirt-bike racerl." Albee added that his African safari deal is on hold now, due in part to the recent war and people's concern over traveling abroad. But he added that he' s "still got the bikes and can get things up and running on a moment's notice should somebody be interested. " An interesting note in the 125cc National Championship this year is that only two riders started Glen Helen in the 125cc class last week who were inside the top lOin points last year - Brock Sellards and Buddy Antunez. Antunez was a no-show at Hangtown, however, after suffering a hard get·off at the Glen Helen opener. Chad Reed (Yam); 3. Timmy Ferry (Yam); 4. Mike I: U I: "" nevvs MAY 28,2003 21

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