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/128599
Willoh has the speed but needs to be more consistent. Still, he rode up to fourth place by the race's end. Buehl, who carries the number-two plate this year, seemed to be off the pace a bit, but forged on for a welldeserved fifth, behind Willoh. Demuth rode hard and hung in there for sixth place at the checkers, while hometown hero Tom Welch of nearby Mechanicsville held on for seventh place via consistent laps and careful riding. Still, he was lapped by the torrid pace of the Motorious.com twins, Antunez and Stephenson. Travis Hodges finished ninth, right in front of early front-runner, Katin, who had wadded himself up in the whoops . early on. Antunez and Stephenson maintained the positions that they had for the entire race, with Antunez taking the win, while Stephenson finished second. Antunez was off to a good start for the weekend. "I got into the lead going into the second turn out there," Antunez said. "My Suzuki is running great, and it feels good to have a wire-to-wire win." Stephenson, meanwhile, felt there was room for improvement in his game. "I got a good start back there and rode a little tight," he said. "It was kinda cold, and I got a little armpump, but Pedro and I had a good, clean race back there. I'm glad to get Suzuki one-two. I feel real comfortable right now. I just had a little problem with arm-pump, but I am warmed up now, so I'm looking forward to the 250." For Gonzalez, who actually diced back and forth with Stephenson during the race, lapped traffic played a part in his final result. "Yeah, it was a fun race," Gonzalez said. "I passed Denny a couple of times, and he passed me back. I had a good line in the whoops, but he got me back over the doubles. Some lappers got in my way on the last laps, so he got away from me there. We were trying to make up some points, and it didn't work out with this one, but I'm going to try to do better on the 250." Heat winners Antunez and Rand lined up on opposite ends of the gate in the 250cc main event, but it was the Tuf/Thor/Honda-backed Willoh who nailed the start. He was qUickly out-muscled by both Antunez and Rand, who led going into the third corner. Stephenson, Gonzalez, Buehl and Mike Katin followed close enough to throw a blanket over all of them. The jostling in the 250cc class was much more brutal than in the previous 125cc race, as the bigger bikes were harder to slow down in a hurry. Meanwhile, in the back of the pack, Neese was on a tear after getting a second-to-Iast place start. As the race wore on, and riders swapped posi- MOTOCROSS RACING ASSOCIATION You Could Be Riding Today! Enjoy Motocross at Hardrock Cycle Park In warm, sunny Ocala, Florida MolIlclOss' Superc:ross' Mountain Bike 1racIls Open riding everyday and FridaJ night racing Call 352-732-6697 CUll: I e n e >IV S • FEBRUARY 9, 2000 25