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/128605
Brandes. That was after Yamaha of Troy's Stephane Ronc'ada had done likewise to the field in the first of two heat races, setting up what would certainly be a Pastrana vs. Roncada showdown in the final. That never materialized, however, as Roncada got a bad start, stumbled early in the race and dropped back as far as 15th before working his way steadily through the field to finish fifth. The rider who ended up giving Pastrana the toughest time in the final was Team FMF/Honda's Brock Sellards, the championship points leader who has finished second in every round. Sellards ended the first lap in sixth. but quickly moved his way through to second place on the third of 15 laps. By that point. Pastrana was in the lead and storming away - but that changed. The factory Suzuki rider crashed hard on the fifth lap, going over the bars and landing on his head. Slightly dazed, Pastrana remounted just as Sellards shot past to take the lead. On the eighth lap, however, Pastrana jetted past Sellards when the latter failed to jump a triple. That was all she wrote. Pastrana pulled away by two, sometimes three seconds a lap, until he backed it down to win by some 10 seconds. "I pulled really great out of the start and ended up coming out around fifth." Pastrana said. "I felt good and had a great heat race, and I was just feeling really comfortable out on the track all day." As for the crash? "This is my rookie season, and I made a mistake," Pastrana admitted. "I ended up crashing. I caught my rear tire on the top and went over the bars. The bike landed on me and I got up as quick as I could. I wasn't hurt too bad. I was really amazed that I was still in second. A lot of the top riders had a bad start. It was fortunate for me that when AMA 1 25cc Eastern Regional Supercross Series Round 4: Daytona International Speedway . .. ... By PAUL CARRUTHERS PHOTOS BY KINNEY JONES ~ ravis Pastrana became a hero to the extreme crowd when he jumped his Suzuki into the San Francisco Bay last summer at I....::::::::;~i the X Games. Shortly thereafter. he did his best to become a household name when he appeared on the David Letterman Show. Today, he made his mark as a Supercross racer when he won the first AMA 125cc Supercross ot his career. And it came in arguably the most prestigious of them all the Daytona Supercross. "That was the longest race I've ever been in in my life - at least it felt like it," Pastrana said. "The X Games are all fun. This is fun, but it's a lot of work, too. I would much rather be racing." And race he did. From the get-go, Pastrana established himself as the rider to beat on the rough Daytona track. He easily won his heat race, styling for the crowd with stand-up wheelies as he pulled clear from Michael (Above) SUzUki's Travis Pastrana recorded his first 125cc main event win. 1RJght) Brock Sellards (18) led the early part of the 125cc 'eature, but couldn't hold back Pastrana (199). Sellards stili finished a respectable second. eye I e n e _ s • MARCH 22.2000 15