If1F.iplII".he first few rounds of the THQ I25cc Western Region
Supercross series have been tough on the defending
Champion, Team Monster/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's
Ivan Tedesco.
During the first round, at Anaheim I, Tedesco carded
a disappointing 13th place in the sloppy mud. Then, at the second
nd, in Phoenix's Bank One Ballpark, a horrible start forced him to
from behind to a valiant second place.
Ar. this point last season, 23-year-old Tedesco from Albuquerque,
Mexico, was on a roll. He was in the midst of a three-race win
and on top of a hefty points lead. This season is slightly different.
At round three of the THQ/AMA 12Scc Western Region
~percross series at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, Tedesco
his ninth career supercross victory, his first of the 2005 season,
htfr'ont of another sold-out crowd of 45,050 people.
Tedesco crossed the line 2.227 seconds ahead of American
I-fpnda's Andrew Short, who put on a serious charge at the end of the
race. Red Bull KTM's Nathan Ramsey crossed the line alone in third.
Coming into Anaheim II, Tedesco was in a tie for first place in the
swies standings with Team WBR Suzuki rookie Ryan Sipes. After
~im II, Tedesco is on top in the standings. Tedesco leads Sipes 60
to 53, and the champ is also enjoying a new boost of confidence.
"'t feels really good," Tedesco said. ''The first couple of races,
the first Anaheim, 1 kind of struggled in the mud. It feels like my
fll"St win again. It feels really good to just get on top of the box, and
hOpefully I can carry this momentum into next weekend. My conRdence is good right now."
While Tedesco didn't get the best start in the IS-lap main event, he
Iy and patiently stalked his competition, and quickly climbed to
second by the fourth lap.
"I don't know what has been going on with my starts here in the
'¥Ok
