Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Greg Schnell 1631, here lapping Pingree, finished third In the 125ee main. By DAVE DERINGER PHOTOS BY KINNEY JONES MlNNEAPOUS, MI"I, JIIIAlt 25 he 125cc West riders returned to action under the roof of the Metrodome in the not-so Westerly city of Minneapolis, where SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Shae Bentley picked up where he left off six weeks ago in Houston - winning. The Ellenwood, Georgia, native scored a big win aboard his Bridgestone/Thor/Spy-backed KX 125 and became the first rider this year in the Westem Region to win more than one race. It was also the second win of his young career. "This is really only my first full year [on the Supercross circuit), and I couldn't be happier," the 20-year-old said outside his team's transporter after the final. "The start is so important and tonight proved that once again." Bentley came into Minneapolis in second place in the series point standings, nine points behind Motorious.com/Bill's Pipes David Pingree. Combined with his win and Pingree's disastrous 15thplace finish at the 'dome, Bentley rocketed into the points lead and now has a IO-point cushion going into the final round in Dallas (Texas) in two weeks. "It could be big or it could be ugly," Bentley said of the series final coming up. "I'm just going to keep my composure and that's all about haVing fun. That's what got me here, and I can't let any of this stuff get to me. Yeah, it's a job, but it's fun. and it's what I love to do, and I want to keep it that way." Finishing a strong second was MotoWorld of EI Cajon/Thor/Shoei/One Industries-sponsored Greg Schnell. The San Diego winner also gated well, avoiding a massive first-tum pileup, and ended the first lap in sixth. The true privateer steadily charged and moved through the pack every few laps on his way to the runner-up position. "I was almost in that fll'St tum pileup, but somehow got out of it: Schnell said after congratulating Bentley on his win. "I felt like I was riding well all night, but 1 was sick all week and I think it showed in those final laps." Schnell has been going to all of the races this T year, riding a 250cc on the East Coast, and he feels that it's helped his 125cc riding. "Going 20 laps on the 250cc is tough at those guys' pace, but it sure helps when riding the 125," Schnell said of his decision to do both classes this year. "This week was the first time I've ridden a 125cc since Houston, and I was excited. I really want to break the top 10 on my 250. That's my goal, along with winning another 125 final." Schnell now sits third in points, seven points out of second with one round remaining. "I had a few bad races at Phoenix and Houston, and it held me back a little. I'm stoked though. I'm a privateer, and I've been working my butt off, and I'm real happy right now. I love my Yamahas and Pro Circuit does a great job too." Finishing an impressive third was Amsoil/Competition Accessories/Jack In The Box/Honda's Christopher Gosselaar. The Juniper Hills, California-resident who was involved in the first-turn melee, cam; from 13th at the end of the first lap to finish just inches behind Schnell. The l8-year-old Gosselaar put on a charge reminiscent of Jeremy McGrath, and in the end, it paid off in what was his best-ever Supercross placing. "' got tangled with two other riders in that first turn and went over the berm and started near dead last and just started charging," Gosselaar said while signing autographs after the race. "' just had to play catch up, and people were falling in front of me all over the place. I just wish there were more laps, I could've kept going." Even Schnell had to comment on Gosselaar's ride. ". thought I was going fast, but Gosselaar was going real fast," said Schnell. "He rides out of control but it paid off that time, he was on it! The Yamaha guys were like, 'Go, go, go' about midway through the race, and I saw him coming. He was pulling like a second per lap on me and I was like, 'This kid is hauling assl' I thought that he'd wad it, but I give him props, he was going good." Plano Honda/MSR/Scott-supported Jiri Dostal took fourth. The heat-one winner started the final In third and was even cruising in secol'ld place throughout the final laps. Both Schnell and Gosse- G laar got by the Quail Valley, California, resident on lap 14 of the 15-lap final, but his strong finish moved him into fourth in the points going into the final round. "' came up short on the finish line and jammed my wrist a little," a mellow Dostal said. "I got a little tight after that and those guys were riding good and just got by [me). \ felt good all weekend until that, and the heat race win was good too. I'd like to do good in Dallas and get into the top three." Following Dostal was Demarini/Pro-Caliber/Troy Lee Designs' Travis Preston. A second-place finish in the second 125cc heat had Preston pumped, but in the final he rode to a quiet-but-strong fjfth after starting in about eighth. SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Billy Payne was next. Payne won heat race number two and gated well in the final. While riding in third early on, Payne went down. After remounting in 18th, Payne rallied his way back into the mix and in the end was credited with sixth. Seventh was Yahoo! Sports Holeshot Award winner Justin Buckelew. The Yamaha of Troy/Foxsponsored rider led the first four laps of the final but succumbed to arm pump, once again. Needless to say, the Albuquerque, New Mexico, native was not pleased. "I put in some good laps in the beginning, but I let myself pump up, and I struggled to hang on throughout the rest of the race, r Buckelew admitted. "It was pretty severe." KTM's Rodrig Thain finished in eighth with FMF/Honda's Danny Smith follOWing in ninth. Smith went down on lap three while running in fourth and lost many positions in his first race back since Anaheim II. Tenth went to Kawasaki of Mexico's Erick Vallejo. while FMF/Honda's Casey Lytle took 11 tho After crashing out of his heat race with a rear brake problem, Lytle had to qualify via the Last Chance, where he easily won. Lytle was involved in the first-turn crash and was never a factor after that. "\ was so far outside on the start because of the Last Chance transfer, that 1 had nowhere to go," Lytle said of the crash. "I clipped several guys and the guy to my left went down and it was a mess. "I tell you, I really want to win another race, but what I really want is to win the Shootout in Vegas," Lytle added. "That would be nice." A.M. Leonard/KTM's Ryan Terlecki finished 12th with his teammate Joe Oehlhof finishing in tow. Bill's Pipes/Motorious.com/AXO/Suzuki-riders Robbie Horton and David Pingree finished 14th and U G I e n e _ 50; • APRIL 5, 2000 9

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