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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AMA THO 12Scc Eastern Region Supercross Series My OWN RACE: 125cc Tommy Hofmaster 18th The Arenacross star who is filling in for the retired Shae Bentley once again qualified for the final, but he faded in the end. The PPG/MotoworldRacing.com Suzuki rider said, '" still need to work on my endurance a bit. My times are good in practice and qualifying, but I fade at the end of the mains." Hofmaster will race in the 2SOcc class out West for the final few rounds for the Suzuki satellite team. 39 Kelly Smith Michigan native Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy's Kelly Smith got back to his old ways and pulled the $1000 Butterflnger Crisp holeshot in the final. He rode well early but dropped a few positions midway through the race. The Boost Mobile Yamaha rider finished out the series in fifth. "I should have had a few more holeshots this season, and I had some ups and downs, but I've also been safe," Smith commented of his season. "I wish I would have gotten up on the podium, but I ride better outdoors, and I'm looking forward to that series now." but a win is a win," Langston explained of his night. "They all rode fantastic tonight, and it's like the old saying goes: 'Easier said than done.' I was riding like a dork tonight and made too many mistakes. It seemed that the harder I tried, the slower I went. Towards the end there, I saw the towels waving and the frantic pit signals and I figured, 'Okay now, I got to get going'. "I'm glad I could do what I did and win a championship," Langston went on to say. "It was closer than I would have liked, and I have to thank Bruce Strenjstrom from Kawasaki, Mitch from Pro Circuit and Jeff Fox from Parts Unlimited. Those guys all gave me a second chance, and I'm glad I could produce a championship for them. Now I want to get prepared for the outdoors and finish my goal." Finishing second in the final at Pontiac was Millsaps, who seemed to avoid the limelight throughout the night. The Makita Suzuki rider from Georgia once again showed that he could be the fastest in the class at any given time. He started the final in eighth and worked his way up only to go down while running second. He got up and, to the crowd's delight, repassed Amsoil/Chaparral/ Honda's Joaquim Rodrigues for second. Millsaps finished the series in third with two wins and only six points out, but it was several valuable miscues throughout the season that cost him a championship. The young 17-year-old has a lot to look forward to in his future, though, and you can count on him being in the hunt again. "I had the points at the beginning of the series and lost them," Millsaps explained of the first few rounds. "Last year was not good, and this year I was 30 APRIL 20,2005 • CYCLE NEWS better prepared and rode more consistent. I was usually the fastest guy out there every weekend, and I'm looking forward to Vegas." And what about the upcoming Nationals, in which Millsaps has to be considered a title contender? "I'll tell you what," Millsaps said, "I want the outdoor title more than anyone out there." Even though Millsaps passed him on the final lap, Davi Millsaps had to work his way up from a bad start. He was up to second and right on Hansen's rear wheel at the end, but a fall caused him to drop back. Here, he passes Langston for third. 198 Jacob Saylor Team Star Racing/Yamaha's Jacob Saylor had a night to be proud of in Pontiac. He qualified directly from his heat race after taking a seventh and went into the main feeling comfortable with the track. On the first lap of the main, Saylor was in 11th but worked his way up to ninth. Then, with three laps left, Saylor made a costly mistake that let Josh Grant and Brock Sellards by, leaving Saylor to settle for I Itho He was happy, though, to have been running toward the front ofthe pack. 11th