Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cycle News 2005 03 23

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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Continued from poge 25 and make it three. It would be a milestone for me. I've never won three races in a row in outdoors, GPs or supercross. The last season is time 1think I won three in a row was when I was racing minicycles in South Africa." American Honda's Travis The Daytona track was qUite a bit differ- cannot seem to ent for this year's event when compared to past Daytona Supercross races. It was much shorter, with lap times under one minute, where previous editions of the race would see lap times in the one-minute, IS-second range. "The track is a little more basic," Grant Langston said. "It's not as rough as I'd like it. I used to love it when they used to drop the bucket down the front straightaways and make the holes." Team Kawasaki director of racing Bruce Stjernstrom was sort of like a man with- Preston, who get off the injury train. Preston slammed into the face of a jump during the first practice session at Daytona and seriously banged his right shoulder, forcing him to seek out a doctor and have the shoulder Xrayed. Preston was cleared to ride, and he elected to take part in the second session, out a country at the Daytona Supercross. as which went more smoothly, but there was neither his motocross truck nor his road no doubt that he was riding in pain. ''I'm just going through a really tough time right now," Preston said. "I feel like someone is testing me. I'm taking a beating. I hit so hard. I'm stiff like a robot right now, but the longer I get to rest my shoulder, the better it feels. It'll be good by tonight." race truck were in the Daytona padddock. Kawi's motocross team was completely depleted in the 2S0cc ranks, as Michael Byrne was not in attendance and James Stewart was not scheduled to return until the following round at Orlando, Florida. "Unfortunately, Michael got some bad news on his left shoulder and is going to have it looked at on Tuesday," Stjernstrom said. "We'll know more then. But we'll be back next weekend with James, and we'll be looking good again." The road race gang did all its business on the day before the Daytona Supercross, and with no plans by Kawasaki to field a Superbike or a Daytona 200 entry, that truck was on the road back to California already. Monster Energy Drink/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Mitch Payton was not in attendance at Daytona. Payton was expected to be back for the Orlando Supercross. The absence of any Team Kawasaki presence left Monster Energy Drink/Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Sean Hamblin as the lone ranger for Team Green in the 2S0cc class. "I guess so," Hamblin said before the race. "I feel good. Practice went all right. I'm not going to put any more pressure on myself. I'm just going to ride Daytona like I always do. I just wish that we could start the season over and I could do what I have been starting to do as of late. I've come to race this weekend and show everybody would I've made or." Sebastien Tortelli said before the race that he is enjoying the way that his Supercross season has been going, primarily because of the fact that it has kept going without the Frenchman becoming sidelined with an injury, something that has happened several times in the past. "It was another good run last week, another strong finish, and I was happy about it," Tortelli said. "I feel strong, and I look forward to being Although he didn't take part in the action, Jeremy McGrath was on hand at Daytona to meet and greet the fans. "1['5 nice weather down here," said McGrath, who, like most Southern Californians, is sick of the rain. "I'm a little sick right now. I've got a cold. But it has been awhile since I've been down here. I got to play some golf yesterday with my buddies. I did all right. I shot an 89, I think." McGrath also admitted that the lingering effects of his Anaheim III crash have been tough to overcome. "I can't even think about riding right now," McGrath said. ''As much as I'd like to ride, I'm a spectator for a while." PPG/MotoWorldRacing.com Suzuki's Eric Sorby was limping through the pits on his way to practice at Daytona. "I'm fine," the Frenchman said. "I had a big crash at James 'Bubba' Stewart's house this week, and I am a little bit sore." Sorby said that his 12Scc Eastern Region campaign has not gone so well in his estimation. "This year has been very bad so far," Sorby said. "Hopefully, I'm going to do good this weekend. I have a bike; I just need some good luck, and we'll see." Prior [0 the night's action, David Vuillemin said that he expected a tough race at the Daytona Supercross, but that he expected to visit the podium. "I feel good," Vuillemin said. "Everybody knows it's a tough race, and it's going [0 tough main event, but I'm going be a [0 give races outdoors. Doing well in Supercross is my best. We changed a couple things on the bike, and I believe it will be good tonight. It has been a long time since I have been on the podium. so I want [0 be a boost of confidence for me. to on it." strong in Supercross and into the outdoors. Good races in Supercross payoff with good .....---------- _____-===::::::=::::::~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~~==___ .... =_.y:..:cu NEWS • c Continued on page 29 MARCH 23, 2005 27

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