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/128361
Briefly... AMA THO 12Scc Western Regional Supercross Series t was a night of firsts at Angel Stadium. In the first round of the AMA 125cc Western Regional Supercross Series, Red Bull KTM's Nathan Ramsey slipped and slid, paddled and waddled to net his factory KTM SX250F four-stroke a victory in its first AMA race. Samsung Honda's Josh Woods earned his first career AMA Supercross podium finish by splishing and splashing to the runner-up spot. And Motosport Outlet Honda's Akira Narita repeatedly rammed the rain-soaked ruts for the entire main event to finish third, securing the first podium finish for a Japanese rider in AMA Supercross history. The 30-year-old Ramsey, who had already won aboard the machine at both of the THQ World Supercross GP rounds in Canada, earned his ninth 125cc and 10th career supercross victory. The win also made him the only rider in AMA history to earn supercross victories aboard four different brands of machinery. Ramsey won aboard Yamahas in the 125cc Eastern region at the beginning of his career before scoring race wins and the I25cc Western Region title aboard a Kawasaki in 1999. He won his only 250cc supercross aboard a Honda in 2003 and was aboard the same brand when he became one of only two riders to win in the West last season, the other being reigning 125cc Western Region Champion Ivan Tedesco. Ramsey earned tonight's win in perilous Anaheim muck brought about by the heavy precipitation that fell all night. The atrocious conditions caused AMA officials to cut the main event to 10 laps instead of the usual 15. Ramsey's margin of victory was 19.951 seconds. Ramsey was only sixth best into the first turn, while defending champ Tedesco pulled the holeshot on his Monster Energy Drink/Pro Circuit Kawasaki. Hahm Motorsports Suzuki's Ryan Morais, Amsoil Chapparal Honda's Thomas Hahn, Samsung Honda's Josh Woods and Motosport Outlet Honda's Steve Lamson followed Tedesco, but Ramsey went to work qUickly, and he was up to third by the time the field reached the first triple jump - which was actually a double and a Single for the 125cc riders. Ramsey came after Tedesco, closing to within a few bikelengths on lap two and then ultimately passing Tedesco for the lead by doubling the first-baseline triple when Tedesco elected to single the obstacle. Then the rain fell steadily harder, and the race qUickly became a matter of survival. Ramsey survived best, recalling all the old mud skills he had learned as an amateur in Tennessee to build a 12-second lead over second place by lap six. "I came out here to California and got a little soft, but luckily this off-season, if it I Ramsev mucks out a win on KTM four-stroke By Scon ROUSSEAU PHOTOS By STEVE BRUHN Continued from poge IT said, "and certain bikes suit certain riders. For me, I feel like I'm the most comfortable I have ever felt on a motorcycle on the KfM. I don't want to just come out here and say this is the best motorcycle I have ever ridden. I want to prove it." Travis Pastrana had one of the most different looking bikes in the pits. The number 199 Suzuki was all white at Anaheim. However, Pastrana and his team plan on changing the color of the bike at each round. Team Suzuki's Ricky Carmichael had a friendly bet with ESPN's Todd Harris, wagering on who would win the NCAA college football National Championship. Carmichael, a big Aubum fan who rooted for Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, lost, but he was a good sport about it. As part of the bet, he was forced to wear a USC jer~ during opening ceremonies, which he did. Anaheim I set a new record for the number of semis in attendance. There were a total of ]8 big rigs in the crowded pits, with more expected to be showing up as the season progresses. The Monster Energy Drink/Pro Orcuit/Kawasaki team had one of the coolest rigs in the pits. The water tanks on the back of the cab were made to look like two giant cans of Monster Energy Drink. Ivan Tedesco and Ricky Carmichael took the Butterlleld Holeshot awards in the 125 and 2SOcc mains, respectively, while Jimmy Wilson pocketed the $7S0 Racer-X Gas Card in the 2SOcc class, Chris Gosselaar $250 in the I25cc class. Wonder Warthog Racing announced that it is teaming up with Engine Ice and ProClean 1000 give away $100,000 to some lucky privateer, but the catch is you must first win a 2SOcc main event during the 200S THQ AMA Supercross Series, and you must first register with Wonder Warthog Racing in the pits on race day to be eligible. Because of the wet and muddy conditions, the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge was cancelled. The riders, however, did take part in the opening ceremonies. CYCLE NEWS • JANUARY 19,2005 21