Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAIChevy Trucks 125cc U.S. Motocross Championship Round 3: High Point Raceway (Abovel Eric Sortly continues to impress outdoors, but he was a minute behind the front duo at the conclusion of the second moto. He went 3-3 for third overall. (Leftl Brown won the overall - his second of the year - and again leads Hughes in the points standings by one. when I'm out front." Hughes said. whole way," Brown said, "and he "When I get behind somebody, I seem was." to get sucked in and ride the way At the midway point, it all came to a head. Brown missed a shift and lost his drive, allowing Hughes to get past. A few turns later, Brown worked the extreme inside of a tight corner and drifted into Hughes' line, knocking the KTM rider right off the track. Hughes hauled up an access road next to the track and jumped back in behind Brown, in accordance with AMA rules - as he didn't advance his position. Brown then raised his hand to Hughes as if to apologize for the move, but it wouldn't save him from retaliation. When he missed a rut in a corner, Hughes was right there on the inside to hit him back. Brown held onto the lead, though, and from there he rode error free, despite Hughes' staying glued to him all the way to the finish. Brown then crossed the line with the win, while Sorby and Langston came across a distant third and fourth. Despite the bumping, Hughes and Brown had nothing but praise for each other after the race. "I've been racing against him since we were on 80s," Hughes said. "It's just respect. If we didn't do that, we shouldn't be out there." "I'm not out there to kill him, and he's not out there to kill me," Brown said. "It's just racing." eN they're riding." Behind them, the rider on the move was Michael Byrne, who started outside the top 1 0 but managed slowly and surely to pick riders off throughout the moto. When the twolap card came out, he had a bead on Langston, and they went at it hard the entire last lap, going side-by-side all over the track in a fight for fourth. Langston managed to hold his ground. Brown also gave Hughes a run near the finish but could not get past. "The last couple laps, the brakes started coming back, but he rode a great race, and I couldn't catch him," Brown said. "Mike was hauling out there, but he just made that one mistake, and I was able to get around him," Hughes said. "The fans were out there everywhere cheering. You forget what that's like when you're on the couch. It's good." Hughes rocketed to the holeshot in moto two, and Brown got in right behind him - the chase was on again. Sorby gated third but was unable to keep the pace. "I tried to stay with them, but after four laps I felt a little bit tired," said the Frenchman. Brown was strong and determined to get into the lead this time. He continually overjumped the finish-line jump to try to get next to Hughes, and eventually Hughes let him by. "I could hear him back there; it sounded like he had some good lines," Hughes said. "It almost seemed like I was holding him up a little bit. So I decided to let him past and see if I could learn anything." "I knew if I didn't pull away from him right there, he would be there the 32 JUNE 4, 2003' cue I e High Point Raceway Mount Marris, Pennsylvania Results [Unofficial): May 25, 2003 [Round 3 of 121 125 MOTO 1; I. Ryon Hughes (KTM); 2. Mike Brown (Kaw); 3. Eric Sorby (Kaw); 4. Grant umgston (KTM); 5. Michael Byrne (Hon); 6. Michael Brandes (Yam): 7. Ivon Tedesco (Yam); 6. Stephane Ronceda (Suz): 9. Craig Anderson (Yam); 10. Brian Gray (SUI); II. Kelly Smith (Vam); 12. Ryan Mills (Hon); 13. Chris Gosselaar (Hon); 14. Steve Boniface (KTM); 15. Andrew Short (SUI); 16. Brett Mete.lfe (KTM); 17. Daryl Hurley (SUI); 18. Tim Weigand (Hon); 19. Motthieu Lal10z (Suz); 20. Josh Summey (Yam); 21. Steve Lamson (Suz); 22. Shane Bess (Suz); 23. Kuraudo Toda (Hon); 24. Kevin Johnson (Yam): 25. Paul Veracka (Kaw); 26. Brock Sellards (Yam): 27. Robert Kiniry (Suz); 26. Casey Clark (Yam); 29. Randy Valade (Yam); 30. David Pingree (Suz): 31. Michael Blose (Yam); 32. Paul Perebijnos (Vern): 33. Charles Ellis (Suz): 34. Richie Owens (Kaw); 35. Barry Carsten (Suz): 36. Jeff Gibson n e vv s (KTM); 37. Hans Neel (KTM); 38. Gene Stull (Suz); 39. Erick Vallejo (Yam); 40. Josh Hensen (Vern). Margin of Victory: 4.811 sec. 125 MOTO 2: I. Mike Brown (KllW): 2. Rylln Hughes (KTM); 3. Eric Sorby (Kaw); 4. Gront Langston (KTM); 5. Ivan Tedesco (Yam); 6. Brett Metcllife (KTM); 7. Michael Byrne (Hon); 8. Chris m 1] @® Gosselaar (Hon); 9. Stephane Roncllda (Suz); 10. Michllel Bnmdes (Yam); 11. Craig Anderson (Yam); 12. Steve LAmson (Suz): 13. Brock Sellards (Yam); 14. Doryl Hurley (Suz); 15. TIm We;gand (Hen); 16. Matthieu LaIlOl (Suz); 17. Ryan Mills (Hon); 18. Jeff Gibson (KTM); 19. Barry Corsten (SUI); 20. Michael Blose (Yam); 21. Steve Bonifoce (KTM); 22. Hans Neel (KTM); 23. Richie Owens (Kaw); 24. Erick Vallejo (Yam); 25. Casey Clerk (Yam); 26. Paul Perebijnos (Yam); 27. Randy Vlliade (Yam); 28. Charles Ellis (Suz); 29. Josh Hansen (Yam); 30. Kuraudo Toda (Hon); 31. Andrew Short (Suz); 32. Josh Summey (Yam); 33. Robert Kiniry (502); 34. David Pingree (Suz); 35. Brian Gilly (Suz); 36. Shane Bess (502); 37. Paul Veracka (Kaw); 38. Kelly Smith (Yam); 39. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 40. Gene Stull (Suz). M.argin of Victory: 1.384 sec. 125 O/A: 1. Mike Brown (Kaw): 2. Ryan Hughes (KTM); 3. Eric Sorby (Kaw); 4. Grant Langston (KTM); 5. Ivan Tedesco (Yam); 6. Michael Byrne (Hon); 7. Michael Brandes (Yam); 8. Stephane Roncada (Suz); 9. Craig Anderson (Yam); 10. Chris Gosselaar (Hon): II. Brett Metcalfe (KTM); 12. Ryan Mills (Hon): 13. Daryl Hurley (Suz); 14. Brian Grey (Suz): 15. Kelly Smith (Yam); 16. Steve Lamson (Suz); 17. Tim Weigand (Hon); 18. Brock Sellards (Yam): 19. Matthieu Lalloz (Suz): 20. Steve Boniface (KTM). AMA/CHEVV TRUCKS 125 U.S. MOTOCROSS CHAl'IPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 3 of 12 rounds): 1. Mike Brown (136/2 wins); 2. Ryan Hughes (135/1 win); 3. Eric Sorby (116); 4. Grant Langston (112); 5. Ivan Tedesco (72); 6. Brett Metcalfe (71): 7. Michael Brandes (69); 6. Brock Sellards (65); 9. Chris Gosselaar (63); 10. Steve Boniface (57): 11. Stephane Roncada (55); 12. Michael Byrne (50); 13. Craig Anderson (40); 14. Brian Gray (32); 15. (TIE) Andrew Short/Steve Mertens/Daryl Hurley (26); 18. Tim Weigand (24); 19. Kelly Smith (23); 20. Ryan Mill. (20). Upcoming Rounds: Round 4 - Southwick, Massachusetts, June 8 Round 5 - Budds Creek, Maryland, June 15 Own Race: 125cc Daryl Hurley 13th (17-14) The New Zealander had some bad starts at High Point, and he's fIQured out he has to go faster earlier. "I'm not used to going so fast right at the start," said the MotoworidRadng.com Suzuki rider. "I know I'm as fast as these guys; I just need to get good starts so I can run with them." 1] ® Brock Sellards 18th (26-13) The Yamaha of Troy rider watched his chance at a podium finish evaporate when he suffered a flat rear tire while running third in the first moto. "I started maybe 20th [in the second moto]," Sellards said. "But I got caught in a pack, and I got stuck in their pace. It was hard to move forward after that." Sellards ended up 13th in the second moto after getting passed near the end by Steve Lamson. ~ 1] Stephane Roncada @~ Ivan Tedesco ®~ Michael Byrne ®® Michael Brandes 8th (8-9) Unfortunately, the likeable Frenchman says his comeback from a broken leg and a battle with the Epstein-Barr virus is going slower than he would have liked. Still, he rode well at High Point, coming off a bad start to finish eighth in moto one and then charging from dead last to ninth in moto two. "I crashed in the third turn before the first tunnel jump," said the SaSe Suzuki rider. "I think that helped me. I had no pressure, and I just charged as hard as I could. I didn't get tired either." 5th (7-5) Tedesco has been improving his outdoor results this season, as his fifth-place finish indicates. In the first moto, he battled past his teammate Craig Anderson and Michael Brandes to claim seventh. In the second moto, he rode fifth most of the way, trying to close in on Langston. On the last lap, Brett Metcalfe caught him. "He got by me at the beginning of the lap, but I put on a strong charge to get back past him," Tedesco said. "I wasn't giving it up." 6th (5-7) This Amsoil{Chaparral Honda rider rode his best race of the season. "I got better starts this week, and that makes all the difference," said the Aussie. "I tried to get around Grant [Langston] in the first moto, but he was cutting me off in a few places, which is understandable. I had a pretty good start in the second moto, but I fell in the back when I was trying to get around Brandes." 7th (6-10) The Californian continues to impress this season, as he got strong starts and solid finishes In both High Point motos. "I rode better In the first moto. I was riding with Byrne and Langston right at the finish, so that's good," said the Star Racing rider. "I didn't hold on as well in the second moto, though. I wanted to be consistent and stay in the top 10, so I'm happy."

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