Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

~ _ ~ -=:::::::::=;;. -===::. ~ A.tls,....t<3. G e o r g l s his bike. Roncada and Brandes motored by Pastrana, while Nick Wey closed in on the Suzuki pilot. Pastrana quickly remounted and filed in behind Brandes, and at the end of the next straight, Wey block-passed Pastrana and Brandes, resulting in Brandes going over the berm and Pastrana dropping his bike again. Pastrana got going in fifth and would make one more final charge before the checkers flew, and at the finish he was back up to second. While receiving his holeshot bonus after the race, the energetic teenager yelled from the podium, "I got the holeshot!" "There is an ongoing joke that everyone says that I can't buy a start on my Suzukis," Pastrana explained. "I holeshot in my heat and the main. I ended up going down once on my own, and then I think I set myself up for that block-pass from Wey, but that's racing. "I shouldn't have gone down on my own while leading," Pastrana said, "but that was one fun race. I just want to keep it on two wheels in the final rounds and go for the championship, but if not, it's been a fun year, and I do feel that I'm getting better every race." Rounding out the podium was February2E3.2000 AMA,/EA Sports Supercross Series Round 12: Pontiac Silverdome Stephane Roncadal26l, undwlchecl by Travis Pastrana (1991 and Brock Sellards 1181. ran off with the 125cc Eas1 Coas1 ....in even1 win. It was his second win a1 the Silver Dome this ,..,.. By DAVE DERINGER PHOTOS BY KARL OCKERT PONTIAC, MI, APR. 1 &>r Stephane Roncada, the Pontiac Silverdome certainly has treated him well. The Yamaha of Troy/Fox/Dunlopsponsored rider won his first main event of the new season here several weeks ago and then did it again on Saturday night in front of over 51,000 fans. It was his third win of the Eastern Regional 125cc Supercross Series. Roncada rode his Yamaha of Troy YZ 125 to a mistake-free race and, after gating about fifth place, he took advantage of numerous mistakes and crashes by his competitors. Roncada then cruised to a seemingly easy victory, which moved him into a close second place in the series point standings, and there are only two rounds remaining. "I had a good lead the whole race because of that crash, but I was watching those guys behind me, seeing what was going on," Roncada said from the podium. "It was good to be in the lead and watch rather than behind and trying to catch them. This is the first time that I won three races, and it's good for me, the team and the championship." The 125cc East riders will, once again, take a week off, as the 125cc West riders will race their final and championship-deciding round in Dal- F las next week. Roncada and his competitors will return to action at New Orleans in two weeks, and the California-resident knows what he wants. "I want to win those final two races," Roncada said from the Yamaha of Troy pits. "Three race wins is good, but I want win number four and five, also. If I win races, then I can win the championship." Finishing second was Team Suzuki's Travis Pastrana. The 16-yearold Annapolis, Maryiand, native started off the night well, as he took a commanding heat race Pastrana went down twice in the main but stili forged on to finish second. keeping his We hopes alive. win, winning with a ]4second margin over the riders came out of the first turn, he FMF/Honda's Michael Brandes. PasSpi itFi re/Pro C ircuit/Kawasa k i' s was leading and was credited with the trana was flawless in the heat and Wey. The Michigan native, who is came up with several innovative lines, $500 Yahoo! Sports Holeshot Award. still looking for his first-ever Superflying over jumps that even 250cc Demarini's Tyler Evans and cross victory, started in fourth but main winner Jeremy McGrath didn't FMF/Honda's Michael Brandes quickwas displaced to fifth on the first lap start doing until later in the night. Pasly got by Pastrana and were the early by Roncada. Wey then rode in fifth trana ended the heat with a no-hander leaders, but Pastrana moved back into for several laps until he approached over the huge finish-line double, and the lead five laps later. the slowed Pastrana/Evans duo and he looked to be on his way to a strong Shortly after passing Evans for the decided to make a block pass main-event performance. At the drop lead, Pastrana stalled his RM]25 at the moments later. of the gate in the final, Pastrana actuend of a soft sand section, and Evans Wey's pass surprised both Brandes ally had a slow trigger finger, but as ran into him, causin.g Pastrana to drop and Pastrana and both were effective- u cue. • e n e _ S • APRIL 12, 2000 15

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