Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Briefly... Continued from page 19 Jeremy McGrath was in the Houston pits, hanging out. The seven-time Supercross Champion hasn't ridden since St. Louis a few months ago. Will he ride again next year? Only time will tell. "I've been off the bike ever since St. Louis," McGrath said. "We'll see what we can do. Hopefully, we'll end up with Honda. Maybe we can put something together like this again next year." During his heat race Team Amsoil/ Chaparral/Honda's Mike laRocco had a hard get-off in the second rhythm section. After the impact, laRocco laid motionless on the track until finally getting up and walking off. Word in the pits is that he sullered a hard hit to the head and was knocked out briefly. II you ever take a dose look at the back 01 Ricky Carmichael's head (when it's freshly buzzed - nice and dose) you might see a bald spot. There's a lunny story behind it. "The second time I ever rode was on a TriZinger Yamaha," Carmichael said. "I got a linle buck wild over a jump, I flipped and my helmet went down, and the pipe burned my hair. I've never grown it back. The doctor said it was supposed to grow back, but it's bald. That's why I never like shave my head really short because I kind of have - I don't know - a complex about it I guess." (Suz); 9. Derek Leist (Hon); 10. Brian Mason (Hon); II. Michael Sleeter (Hon); 12. Clark Stiles (Hon); 13. Chris Barrett (Han); 14. Forrest Butler (Hon); 15. Travis Preston (Hon); 16. Thomas Hofmaster (Suz). Time: 4 min., 5].570 sec:. SEMI 1 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): 1. Damon Huffman (Hon); 2. Justin Buckelew (Hon); 3. Doug Dehaan (Hon); 4. Tyler Evans (Suz); 5. Jiri Dostal (Hon); 6. Pedro Gonzalez (Yam); 7. William Browning (Suz); 8. Dennis Ewing (Hon); 9. Keith Johnson (Yam): 10. Taylor Watts (Yam); II. Man Shue (Suz); 12. Clayton Miller (Yam); 13. Erick Vallejo (Yam): 1<. Rkky Jurado (Han); IS. Ted Campbell (Han); 16. MIke LARocco (Hon). Time: 5 min., 1.850 sec. LAST CHANCE QUALIFIER (6 laps. 1-1 transfer): I. Erick ~Iejo (Yam): 2. TraVIS Preston (Hon): 3. Keith Johnson (Yam); -4. Pedro Gonzalez (Yam): 5. Isaiah Johnson (Yam); 6. Clar1c Stile (Suz); 7. Bnan Mason (Hon): 8. James PoYolny (502): 9. Kevin Johmon (Yam): 10. Chm Barrett (Hon); II. MIChael Sleeter (Hon); 12. Dennis Ewing (Hon); 13. Matt Shue (Suz): 14. Clayton Miller (Yam); 15. Ricky Jurado (Hon); 16. FOfTest Buder (Hon): 17. Willlvn Browning (Suz); 18. Ted Campbell (Hon): 19. Taylor WattS (Yam): 20. Derek Leist (Hon); 21. Tommy Hofnuster (S01:); 22. Mike LARocco (Hon). Time: 4 min., 57.670 sec. MAIN (20 laps): I. James Stewart (Kaw): 2. Chad Reed (Yam); 3. Ricky Carmichael (502); -4. Kevin WindhAm (Hon): S. DaVId Vualemin (Yam): 6. Emeno Fonseca (Hon); 7. Jason Thomas (Han): 8. Tlmmy Ferry (Yam): 9. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 10. Ryan Clark (Hon); It. Heath Voss (Yam); 12. Damon Huffman (Hon): 13. Joe Oehlhof (Hon); 14. Sebastien Tortelli (Suz); I S. Tyler Evans (Suz); 16. Erick Vallejo (Yam); 17. Justin Buckelew (Hon); 18. Jiri Dostal (Hon); 19. Travis Preston (Hon); 20. Doug Dehaan (Hon). Time: 16 min.. 37 .060 sec. Margin of victory: 1.685 sec. THQ AHA 250 SUPERCROSS SERIES CHAMPI· ONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After IS of 16 rounds): I. Ricky Cannichael· (HS/7 wins); 2. Chad Reed (317/"4 wins); 3. Kevin Windham (264ft win): -4. Mike laRocco (229); 5. David Vuillemin (227); 6. Ernesto Fonseca (190); 7. Sebastien TOrteili (176): 8. Heath Voss (1«): 9. James Stewart (129/3 W;"'): 10. "JYie<" E""", (125): II. T"";' Pnmon (I IS): 12. Damon Huffman (III): 13. Ton-roy Feoma> (94): 16. Nod< W"'f (73): 17. Joe OehIhoi (68): 18. Kyle I..ew>< (63): 19.J-ny McGrath (61): 20. Ryan Cbri< (61). THQ WORLD SUPERCROSS GRAND PRIX SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 16 of 17 round~): I. Ricky Carmichael' (397); 2. MIke LaRocco (311); 3. Sebastien TOrtelli (218): 4. Heath Voss (237): S. Tyler Evans (228); 6. Damon Huffman (201); 7. Jason Thomas (187); 8. Tommy Ferry (175): 9. Joe Oehlhof (I 38): 10. N;ck Wey (I 36). ·cfinched championship UPCOMING ROUND home every week and have to work so hard, but it was tough. He deserved to win the title. He raised the bar and did what it took to win the title." As the season is winding down, riders are reflecting on the tracks, as well as the weekly schedule. Next year, the ANA is considering dropping Friday practice altogether - something the riders might favor. "It just seems like we figure them out so quick," Chad Reed said. "It seems like next year they are going to take away Friday practice. So that will make it a linle more interesting just because from the very first lap we have it down, and from then on it's just a stopwatch game for the rest of the weekend. I think it wears on you and gets a little boring." Ricky Carmichael said that this year's AMA Supercross Championship rates right up there with the best of his 12. "[First] my 125 outdoor with Pro Circuit in '97, that was great," Carmichael said. "My first 250 Supercross was unbelievable, and then probably this one here. I've had a great career. If you had told me that I was going to win seven races and been on the podium for 15, I would have signed on the doned line." Freestyle rider Kenny Bartram showed up in Houston to race. Unfortunately, he didn't make it to the night show. Bartram was just doing it for fun, though, and is looking forward to the upcoming Dew Action Sports Tour. "I put a lot of stull aside this year to focus on it." Bartram said. "I've been rehabbing myoid hip injury and gening back to 100 percent. I just got my loam pit done, and I'm really, really focusing on this tour." Motoworldradng.comlSuzuki's Tommy Hofmaster, an Eastern Region 125 class rider, is planning on riding the first five or six outdoor National events in the 2S0cc class on an RM-Z450, and he rode both the Seattle and Houston 2SOcc events to prepare for the upcoming outdoor season. Hofmaster will be riding an abbreviated outdoor season to get ready for the Arenacross circuit this fall, and to make room for his wedding in August. How was it lor Chad Reed battling Ricky Carmichael this season? II you ask the 2004 Champion, he'll tell you he liked the challenge. "From the beginning of the season, it was really tough; he [Cannichael] was on his game," Reed said. "I felt like I was put in a position that I really wasn't expecting to be in. I just was chasing Iinle things every week. I was working on my turns, the whoops and things like that. It was fun to go The Houston Texan football team's indoor training facility is located just across from Reliant Stadium. In the midst of offseason training, the franchise was holding its first minicamp of the year. On Friday, several of the Texan players, still dressed in football gear, anended the supercross practice. Among the players was highly touted rookie Travis Johnson. Rounds 16/17 : Los Vegos, Nevoda, May 7 CYCLE NEWS • MAY 11,2005 21

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