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/128386
38th Annual Mammoth Mountain Motocross IT'S BACK After almost ending last year, the Mammoth Motocross returns - and so does McGrath STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRENDAN LUTES en the riders lined up for the 37th Annual Mammoth Mountain Motocross in 2004, it was a bittersweet moment. While everyone was elated to be at the race, no one could stop thinking that it was quite possibly the final Mammoth Motocross ever. With environmental concerns mounting, it appeared as if the race was reaching its end. How things have changed in just one year. After much support and fighting, the annual race is back. This year at the 38th annual Mammoth Mountain Motocross in Mammoth Lakes, California, thousands of riders turned out, including former seven-time Supercross Champion, Honda's Jeremy McGrath; multi-time National and Supercross Champion Jeff Ward; young phenoms Team Green Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto, Suzuki's Michael laPaglia and Honda support rider Daniel Sani; as well as Honda journeyman privateer Timmy Weigand, just to name a few. With just one look at the entry list you could say the W 46 future looks bright for the famous and popular race. Just like at previous years, McGrath stole the show for the good part of the week. After winning the Vet class a week prior to the Pro racing weekend, McGrath came into the big classes with already a ton of seat time. When the gate dropped for the start of the opening moto of the first Pro class (Open Pro) on Friday, McGrath was JULY 13,2005 • CYCLE NEWS already in a good position to take the lead. The only rider in his way was Suzuki's young prospect, laPaglia. After a brief battle with the 16-year-old, McGrath moved into first and never looked back. He took the first-moto win ahead of LaPaglia and KTM's Michael Sleeter. In the second moto, it was all McGrath. He jumped out to the lead and never relinquished it. Behind him, Hondamounted Timmy Weigand did all he could to catch the champ as he pulled away from third-placed laPaglia, while Sleeter cruised around in fourth. At the finish, the order was unchanged. McGrath took the win followed by Weigand, LaPaglia and Sleeter. For the overall, McGrath was first, followed by laPaglia, with Sleeter completing the podium. In other Friday racing, Villopoto took a decisive win over laPaglia in the competitive Schoolboy class aboard his KX 125, a bike that he claims he has not had much time on - only a couple of hours before the weekend. On Saturday, everyone was looking forward to the showdown between McGrath and Villopoto in the 125cc Pro (Left) Young prospect Ryan Villopoto won both the Schoolboy and 125cc Pro classes over the course of the weekend. (Right) Jarred Browne had a good weekend. He won the 250cc and Open Intermediate classes and finished second in the 125cc Intermediate class. class. It did not happen. After a week of racing, McGrath decided to take the day off, leaving the door open for Villopoto, or anyone, to win the competitive class. After winning his qualifier, Villopoto started second behind laPaglia. At the conclusion of the first lap, however, Villopoto jumped past laPaglia to take over first. From there, he promptly began opening up a lead that no one could dent, and soon after, Weigand took over second from laPaglia. After that, the running order did not change. Villopoto took the win, in one of his first Pro races, with Weigand second and laPaglia third. The popular and highly competitive 125cc Intermediate class did not disappoint. Yamaha's Josh Hill was victorious over Suzuki rider Jarred Browne, but it was after some work. Hill went down while leading, handing first to Browne. After that, Hill tried his best to charge back and was given a gift when a flat tire slowed Browne. Hill took over and ran away with the win. Browne still finished an impressive second. When Sunday rolled around and it was time for the 2S0cc classes to take to the track, McGrath was back, and this time it was Villopoto's turn to take the day off. After injuring his shoulder before Mammoth, Villopoto was sore from two consecutive days of riding.