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/128610
AMA,/EA Sports Supercross Series Fonseca wasn't. Although he started to move through the field rapidly in the early going, the defending series champion crashed on the fourth lap and had to start all over again, finally working his way through to finish 13th. "It wasn't exactly the first lap I wanted," Pastrana said. "I got a great start and I just caught [Emesto) Fonseca's rear wheel going over that camel Nintendo jump thing. ('m having a good time out there. I felt like I rode well, but they just rode better today." Meanwhile, it was Jesseman holding down the lead after taking the holeshot on his Suxuki. His time at the front lasted until lap four, when Sellards took over. "I got out to a great start," Jesseman said. "I was just riding a little bit tight. I'm not used to this tight Supercross stuff, but I know I'm going to get it - it's just a matter of time." Three laps later, it was Roncada leading the way and, with the exception of Pastrana's climb to the front, things didn't change in the top five. In fact, fifth-place finisher Clark held the position from the third lap onward. Ditto for Currie, who had moved into siXth place on the fifth lap. eN ......... Lilli,. • • • '111I. ~ ......, April 15, z.- 125 HEAT 1: 1. Tro.;. PaotrllM (SUI): 2. Tyler E.ons (SOl); 3. Bronden Je..ernon (SUI): 4. Ryon Cia", ($ol): 5. Staphone Roncado (Vorn); 6. Joseph Oenlhof (KTM); 7. Robbie Skaggs (Hus); 8. Borry Co..ten (SUI); 9. pe,,1 Corpenter (Hus); 10. Paul Currie (Hon); 11. Kyle WiUlarno (Kow); 12. Tyson Hod...11 (Vom); 13. Thoma. Holm.ster (Hon); 14. Mark Wundrack (Vam); 15. Josh Whitmire IVom); 16. Ronnie Ramiscal (Hon)~ 17. Kevin Cogle voml; 18. Roymond Agulor (Suz); 19.Earl Kephort (Hon ; 20. Malt Shue (Suz). TIme: 5 min., 19,460 .ec, 125 HEAT 2: 1. Ernesto Fonseca (Vom); 2. Bro<:k Sellords (Hon): 3. Nick Wey (Kow); 4. Nolhon Rom.ey (Kow); 5. Chor"'s Bogord (SUI): 6. Kelly Smith (KTM): 7. Jimmy Wilson (Yam): 8. Joson Thomas (Vam): 9. Brian Mason (Kaw); 10. Joson Fink (Vam): 11. Chris Wheeler (KTM): 12. Brion Stone (Kow): 13. Tim Howthore (Kaw): 14. Jomey Crosser (Hon); 15. Darren McElhotton (Vom); 16. Cbrlslopher Morgan (Vom): 17. Ryon Kelley (Kow); 18. Timothy Costhone (Suz); 19. John Adorn (SUI); 20. Jomes E.ons (Vom). TIme: 5 min., 18.930 sec. 125 LCQ:1. Paul Currie (Hon); 2. MottShue (SUt); 3. Tyson Hodsell (Vam); 4. Joson Fink (Yam); 5. Josh Whitmire (Yam); 6. Thomas Hofmaster (Hon); 7. Brian Stone (Kaw); 8. Chris Wheeler (KTM); 9. Kyle Williams (Kow); 10. Mark Wundrack (Vom); 11. Ronnie Raml"ol (Han); 12. Jamey Orosser (Hen); 13. Tim Hawthorne (KllW); 14. Raymond Aguilor (Suz): 15. Earl Roy Kephart (Hon); 16. Kevin Cogle (Yam); 17. Timothy Costrone (Suz); lB. Ryan Kelley (Kow): 19. Christopher Morgon (Vam); 20. John Adorn (S""); 21. Darren McE1ljllton (Vam); 22. James Evons (Yom). TIme: 3 min., 42.440 sec. 125 FINAL: I, Stephone Roncado (Vom): 2. Brock Sellards (Hon); 3. Travis Pastrana (SuI); 4. Nick Wey (Kaw); 5. Ryan C1arl< (Suz)~ 6. Paul Currie (Hon); 7. Branden Jessemon (SUI): 8. Cbarles Bogard (Suz): 9. Nothan Romsey (Kaw); 10. JOS\!ph Oehlhof (KTI'!); 11. Kelly Smith (KTM): 12. Berry Carsten (SUI); 13. Ernesto Fonseca (Vom): 14. Robble Skoggs (Hus); 15, Tyson ~ell (Vam); 16. Brian Mason (Kaw); 17. Jason Fink (Vam); 18. Jimmy Wilson (Vam); 19. TyJer E.ans (SUt); 20. Malt Shue (Suz); 21. Paul Carpenter (Hus); 22. Joson Thomes (Vam). l1me: 13 min" 0.360 sec. EASTERN REGIONAL 125« C'SHIP POINT STAl'IDII'lGS (After 7 of 8 .oundo): 1. (TIE) Brock Sellards (150)/Stephane Roneada (150/4 wins); 3. Tro.ls Postrsna (144/2); 4. Nick Wey (128); 5. Ernesto Fonseca (106); 6. Branden Jessemen (89); 7. Tyler Evans (85); B. Michael Brandes (74/1); 9. Kelly Smith (71); 10, Poul Currie (61); 11. Ryan Clark (56); 12. Ma,tt Shue (45); 13. (TIE) Barry Carsten/Nathan Ramsey (41); 15. Joseph Oehlhof (37). (LeftJ Brock senanllllecl early In the 125cc race, only to get passed by Roncada and finish second· again. (RIght) Travis PlIetrana was knocked off his bike In the fint tum (but he dIcIn't fall down) and caught back up to finish third. BRIEFLY••• Team Suzuki's Robbie Reynard was a member of the walking wounded at New Orleans. While practicing at the Superdome on Friday, Reynard crashed over a jump and was pummeled by his motorcycle. He was left with bruises all over his body, including an exceptionally nasty bruise around his neck. Reynard said he was just too sore and stiff to compete on Saturday. Team Kawasaki's Larry Ward (rightl was also banged up in a Saturday get-off. "I clipped this one jump and pounded it into another one," Ward said. "I got catapulted (off the bikeJ. I was about 12 feet above the ground, windmilling, landed on my feet and knocked myself goofy. I thought I broke my thumb at first. but I iced it all night." After finishing eighth in the first heat race, second in the second semi and ninth in the main, he said, "I was a little timid in my heat then started to feel better. In the main. I rode good but just got a bad start. " According to Team Yamaha's Keith McCarty. a deal that would see .Jeff Emig ride the team's YZ426F fourstroke that was formerly ridden by the injured Jimmy Button is being discussed but has not yet been finalized. Emig has ridden the thumper (and likes it), as well as Mazda/Chaparral Yamaha's Tim Ferry. Jeremy McGrath on David Vuillemin: "The first five-lap sprint he has [downl good," McGrath says. "For the longest time, i was the only one that sprints that hard for the first five laps." After winning the previous Supercross round in Dallas and finishing third in New Orleans, Team Honda's Kevin Windham says he's very anxious to start racing the outdoor National MX Series. "Supercross is over for me," Windham said from the Honda semi at the end of the. night. "and everybody realizes it here on the team; [I'm] just go out there trying to keep it on two wheels, building speed and gaining confidence, and building momentum for the oudoors. Things are now coming together. I don't know what happened to me at the beginning of the season. I'm not doing anything different- no miracle. Maturity will knock that inconsistency out of me." Returning to action at New Orleans was SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's Nathan Ramsey. The 1999 125cc Western Regional Supercross Champi· on has been sidelined since Pontiac I, February 19, with a lingering thvmb/wrist injury. Ramsey said that he felt good but was going to take it easy and try to stay healthy for the upcoming 125cc outdoor Nationals that starts up on May 16 at Glen Helen. Ramsey finished the final in ninth place. Another rider returning to Supercross was SI. Louis PowersportslTroy Lee-backed Pedro Gonzalez. The Mexico native has been competing in the PACE Arenacross Series where he finished sixth, but he was temporarily out of action due to a leg injury. Gonzalez said of his future plans, "I'll race a few Supercrosses and maybe a few Nationals, too." Yet another rider coming back to racing was Thor/HondalTuf Racing/Pro Circuit-sponsored Tommy Hof· master. The 20-year-old Illinois resident rode the early part of the Arenacross Series but then missed a big part of the season after suffering several panic attacks. Hofmaster decided to rlde the Wednesday before New Orleans and looked to be having fun. Hofmaster didn't qualify for either final but he says he should be back to speed for his home race in Joliet in two weeks. . Missing in action at New Orleans was FMF/Honda's Michael Brandes. The 125cc Eastern Regional Supercross opener winner (at Indianapolis) has been suffering from a nagging back injury, and he decided to give it some time off to get healthy for the upcoming Nationals. Brandes says he should be ready for Glen Helen. This week's winners of the Yahoo! Sports Holeshot Awards were Jeremy McGrath on the Mazda/Chaparral Yamaha, and Branden Jesseman on the Motorious.com/Bill's Pipes Suzuki. Grayson Goodman took home sOme cash as well. He won the $250 Racer-X Gas Card for being the top rider not making the 250cc main. Florida's Jason Thomas (left) had one of the best races of his career. The Lineman Cycles/Pro Action/Thor· backed privateer qualified for the 250cc main via a fourth-place finish in the first semi. In the final, Thomas put his Yamaha into ninth place off the start, moved up to eighth for a while, before slipping back to 10th at the finish. Upcoming Rounds Round 8 - Joliet, Illinois, April 29 EasVWest Showdown - Las Vegas, Nevada, May 6 12 APRIL 26. 2000· cue I e nevvs