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/128600
' " ,-'- '--=. -,=~ .~- ,_.~ - .. -v- . ~_/ Ho~n. TX "" , surwercross_ r=..- _ ---.J Round 5: Houston Astrodorfle McGrath didn't the Phoenix Supercross. The newcomer David Vuillemin beat him, with a late-race push that McGrath admitted left him flustered. McGrath was on his way to his third win of the year when Vuillemin tracked him down and passed him, which is why he was on a mission when the gate dropped for round five of the AMA/EA Sports Supercross Series, held in By HENNY RAY ABRAMS PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN eremy McGrath has raced against, and beaten, everyon'e, The records he's set for career wins and championships will likely never be touched. There is no argument that he's the greatest supercross rider of all time. None of which means a thing to him if he doesn't win. J 6 • Febl"'Uer"Y 15. 2CXXJ AMA/EA Sports Supercl""'Oss Series FEBRUARY 16. 2000' cue I e n e _ s Jeremy McGratII was quick to respond to his previous week's loss. At Houston, McGrath led from start to finish to grab his thIrd win of the year. front of 46,777 in the Houston Astrodome. "I was really motivated this weekend after last week's race, and I just wanted to give it 20 hard laps, so I just nailed the start," the Mazda/Chaparral Yamaha rider said. "I just kept pushing for 20 laps, I told myself I was taking no breaks this week, When I got out front I still wanted to ride like I was in 10th. So I did." Once he got out front, no one could match McGrath's pace and the six-time defending Supercross Champion raced to his third supercross win of the season, and 63rd of his career, opening up his championship points lead on Yamaha's Vuillemin to seven points, 115 to 108. Surprisingly, the holeshot, and the $1000 award from Yahoo! Sports which goes with it, was McGrath's first of the year. He gated well, but the difference was at the other end of the straight when he waited longer to brake, jumping to the front and staying there for the duration. Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ricky Carmichael dogged him for much of the race, but the Floridian wanted to guarantee his best supercross finish ever, so he made no rash moves and took a long-in-coming second. "R.C. was keeping me honest out there," McGrath said. "It wasn't like it was a free runaway. Then I started gaining a little bit about the halfway point. It ended up working out great." "I've been working my butt off after that first race in Anaheim and the results are showing," Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Carmichael said after finishing 7 .006 seconds back. "My arms are getting a little tight here and there, but you just sort of put in consistent rides." Carmichael explained that he was still bothered by the collarbone he broke during the European supercross season. Aside from being set back three weeks, the legacy of the crash. is a plate and eight screws in his right collarbone. "I'm pretty close," he continued. "I was 100 percent this weekend, but my arms got tight, which comes with the territory, and I just need to keep it on two wheels. I'm totally happy. I've just been taking baby steps and baby steps, and that's what it's going to take to win and be on top." Carmichael got out of the opening turn scrum in second and tried to keep pace with McGrath, but it wasn't easy. McGrath held over three seconds after six laps and had more than five at the halfway point. Carmichael knew second was the best he could do, so he made sure that's where he finished. "I kind of put it on cruise control," Carmichael said. "He was riding