Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

~ • ~.::=:::. -===::;., ~ Phoenix. AZ January2S.2000 AMA/EA Sports \Nestern Regional 1 25cc Supercross Series Round 4: Bank One Ballpark with Travis and went around that crash. I took my time and made some passes one by one, and I had a line that I was doing that he wasn't, and once I got into the lead I just did laps. When I got the white nag all I could think about was whipping it as hard as I could over the finish." And that he did. Lytle crossed the finish line completely sideways and was followed by SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Shae Bentley, who started in 10th. The Ellenwood, Georgia - native, who finished third last week, worked through the pack real well and passed the slowly fading Preston on the final lap in the same comer that Lytle had used on Preston the lap before. "I just kept pushing and pushing," an excited Bentley said of his runner-up ride. "I'm happy of my second podium in a row, and I L fe's limelight ------------------By DAVE DERINGER PHOTOS BY KINNEY JONES D rider was involved in a scary heat-race crash. but came back to put together a strong performance. Plano Honda's Travis Elliot finished seventh, followed by Demarini's Jason Thomas. Finishing ninth was Anaheim I winner David Pingree. The Bill's Pipes/Suzuki/AXO/Motorious.combacked rider was involved in the first-tum melee and had to remount nearly dead last. The never-say-die pilot had to put up a fight just to finish where he did. "Once again, for some reason, I can't get out of that first tum," an understandably disappointed Pingree said. "Last week I had the holeshot and went in too deep and went off the track. This time I grabbed the brakes, so I could hug the comer, and Vohland and some other guys just plowed into me and took us all out. I don't know what to do." With Pingree's midpack finish and Tallon Vohland's zero-point 21 st-place ride, Pingree moved back into the points lead and, although some of the bigger-name riders are on the injured list, the 125cc West series is shaping up to be a tight series. "As bad as the night went, it turned out all right. because I moved back into the points lead," Pingree continued. "I'm just bummed because I know I have the speed to win and stupid stuff just keeps happening in the first tum." "I had a great start actually," a battered Vohland said. "The only guy that was ahead of me was Pingree, and he came across so hard trying to block the guys on the inside that I kept going into him and it took us all out. I really feel that it was his fault that he cut across so bad to try to block us." efinitely long overdue. For FMF/Thor/Honda's Casey Lytle the long road to the top step of the podium has had its share of ups and downs. Finishing second in the 1999 125cc Western. Regional Supercross series, Lytle stood on the runner-up podium numerous times last year, and on many occasions, was easily the fastest rider on the track. In 2000, Lytle has been right there, winning heat races and running at the front of the pack, but several crashes and a mechanical failure last week have kept the Castaic, California, rider at bay. Until now. "It's about time," Lytle said while surrounded by fans in the FMF pits after the race. "I don't know what to say. This is great: a lot of my friends, my family and my girlfriend are here and it's cool. I've been working forever to get here and I've had some bad luck too, like last week, it's just one of those things that would happen one time out of a million and it happened." The main event started with a major pileup in the first turn. Involved in the carnage were riders David Pingree. Tallon Vohland, Isaiah Johnson and last week's winner Greg Schnell, among many others. Lytle somehow avoided the mess and after ending the first lap in fifth. he took his time and made precise passes on his way to the front, eventually chasing down race leader Travis Preston. Lytle made the race-winning pass on lap 13 of 15 in a tight righthand corner and pulled some distance throughout the final laps. Lytle also became the fourth winner of the early season. "Travis was riding good, real good actually," Lytle said. "I got the worst jump out of the gate in my life, and I thought I'd be in dead - last, but I hooked up thought that I rode pretty smart. Third last week, second tonight. I know what I want next week." Plagued with wrist injuries last year, Bentley now holds down the fourth spot in the Western Regional point standings going into Houston next week. "I'm just going to take it one race at a time and keep training," Bentley added. "Last week was my best race ever, now this is. There is just one more spot I can get. The wrists are feeling good, and I'm going to try to get up there in these last few races." Filling out the podium was Demarini/Pro-Caliber/Troy Lee Designs-sponsored Preston. The Hesperia, California, Suzuki-mounted rider also rode to his best-ever finish after leading the race for almost 13 laps. "I rode my ass off for 13 laps and started thinking and then made mistakes," a somber Preston said. "It was my best ever ride, but I should've won the whole thing. Fourth went to SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawaski's Billy Payne. The second-year pro rode in third early on and then battled with fifth-place finisher Jiri Dostal for a few laps before securing the position several laps before the finish. "That was one of my best rides," Payne commented after the final. "I saw what was happening at the start, so I braked a little earlier and snuck in there, but I knew I was at the front and I was riding a little tight. I'd really like to get on the podium this year and test the waters and go into next year and kick ass." Finishing fifth was Plano Honda's Jiri Dostal. Dostal came out of the first turn smelling like a rose in second and was only passed by three riders en route to his impressive finish. After four rounds, Dostal hold fifth in the point standings. Sixth went to KTM's Rodrig Thain. The French cue I Continued on page 13 e nevvs FEBRUARY 9, 2000 11

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