Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMNEA Sports Supercro s s S erie s R o u nd 1 6 : S a m Boyd Stadiu Continued from page7 ' M c G rath said from hi s M azd a/ Ch a p arral Yam aha pits afterwa rds . " K ev in wa s r iding unbeli ev ab le, he was riding rea lly good . In the heat race, I was a l ittle confused , b e c au se I t h o u ght I was ridi n g rea lly good in p r actice . I d on 't th ink w e made t h e rig ht call on t ires [in t h e heat rac e]; w e had a li ttle too tall knob on there, so I was swappi ng p retty g ood in the whoops, and t hen w e put o n a little m ore fl atterk nob tire [for th e main ev ent] . "I'm happy th e w ay th e r a c e worked o ut ," McGrath ad de d . " Ke vi n was r id in g re all y go od , so he w a s ke ep in g m e r idin g re all y f a st , be c ause I w as try ing t o chase h it:' an d t ry ing to k eep th e g ap as little as possible. " I knew it w as go in g to be a lon g r a c e , a n d K e v in t h is year has b een h av in g somewhat t rouble lastin g , so I figured , 'hey, I'm j ust going to st ay as close as I can for as lon g as I ca n and see w ha t happen s.' Unfortunatel y , he ra n i nt o a fe w la ppers a n d t h at screwed h im up a littl e. And th en the c rowd got onto my side b e cau se I was gai ni ng on him. I co u ld hear th e crowd and then it was like ra d ar loc k . I t h ink that really got to him and he locked up a li ttle bit. I wa s just pushi n g, hopi ng t o get a l ittl e less tired t han him." " It was a good race , " Win dh a m said. " It w as ac tu ally pretty long fo r a Su p e r cross tra c k a nd th e h al f w a y c a me a lot la t e r th an w ha t I w a s ex pec ti n g i t to . It w as j u st on e of t hose thi ngs when I wa s in th e wr ong p lace at the w ron g ti me. The lapper s reall y got to m e; I was li k e six , sev en seconds in front of M cG rath . One lap I wa sn 't abl e to do the tripl es and th e next t hi ng I know h e' s on m y b utt. A t t ha t point th e cro wd wa s ge tt ing lo ud a nd I h ea rd this bike b ehind m e, and at that p oi nt I q ui t ri di ng in front of m e and .I sta rt ed ridin g b eh ind me , and th at was t he downfall of m y ra ce ; not so m uch fat ig ue , it was j ust tha t I g ot nervo u s and sta rted r idi ng be hi nd m e and when you do t hat, w hoever is beh in d you is g o ing to get you ." La Rocco, meanwhile , was pleased to f inish o ut th e year on t he p odium in secon d pl ac e. "I t was a good r a c e , " L a Ro c c o sa id. " K ev in led for a w hile and I was h o p i n g he cou ld h o l d off J ere m y . W hen I saw J e remy g o b y h i m I d ec id ed to d o th e sa me t hing." Vu ill em in h ad long since dropped off th e pac e i n fo urt h a n d f i n is hed th er e , wh ile C arm icha e l crossed the fi n ish li ne a d ista nt fifth . "I'm st ill h appy ," Vu illemin sa id at th e end of the nig ht. " I finishe d o ut th e sea so n in second , and I've lea rn ed a lo t. And I'm look ing fo rward to th e outdoors ." T o rt elli d ropped ba ck t o sixt h, fol lowed b y Huffman , th e last rider la p p e d by M cGrath . E i g ht h went to Great Lakes Aviation /Larsons Cycles' Voss , whose strong ride in Las Vegas 10 MAV 17, 2 0 0 0 ' e y e ' e en ab led him to c ra ck the top l Oin the se r ies f ina l stand in gs . Ward finished out the rac e in n inth , w hile T homas , on the Li n ema n Cycles /Pro Ac tion Yamaha, rounded out t he top 10 , E leventh pla c e w en t to Cana dian D o u g D e h a a n on t h e B l a c k f o ot Hond a, fo llowed by Ped ro Gonza lez , on the St. Louis Po w e r S p ort s Kawasak i, James Povoln y J r. , on th e D r. Medsk e r / T om M o r g an Racing Honda , K y le Le wis, o n th e Moto XXX Suzuk i , Gray son Go odm an , o n t h e MSR /Pl ano Honda, and Ry an Terlec k i, o n the AM Leonard KTM . Privateer Suzu ki ri der Matt Sh ue fi n i shed o u t th e r ace in 17th , fo l lowe d b y M oto w orld o f EI Cajon ' s Dustin Nelso n, A n c a e In c . /On e Indus tri e s ' T ra vi s Hodg es , a nd M oto w orld o f EI C aj on 's M ik e Cra ig . eN Sam Boyd Stadium las Vegas, Nevada Results: May 6, 2000 [Round1& of 1&1 250 HEAT 1 (8 laps, 1-4 tr ansfer): 1. Da vid Vu ill emin (Ya m) ; 2 . M ik e La Rocc o ( Ha n) ; 3 . Sebastien Tortelli (Hon); 4 . Damon Huffman (Suz); 5. Heath Voss (Hen): 6. Jason T homas (Yam) ; 7. Ted Ca mpbell (Suz); 8 . Mik e Cra ig (Ya m) ; 9 . Pedro Gonzalez ( Kaw) ; 10. Matt Sh ue (S uz); 1 1. Dustin Nelson (Yam); 12 . J a son Fink (Yam) ; 13. Eri k Anderson (Hon); 14. Jon Hedden (KTM); 15. Chris Young (S uz) ; 16 . Christoph er Neitzel (S UI) ; 17 . Steven Eugenio (Yam); 18. Shay Manney (Yam); 19. Ty Carson f KTM); 20 . Brian Sweany II (S ua) : 2 1. Daniel Blair (Hon); 22 . Jimm y Lamastus (KTM). TIme: 9 min.. 27.490 sec. 25 0 HEAT 2 (8 laps, 1-4 transfe r): 1. Kevin Windham (Han) ; 2. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 3. Ricky Carmichael (Ka w) ; 4 . Larry Ward ( Kaw) ; 5. Doug Dehaan ( Hon); 6 . Tr a vis Hodges (Kaw); 7 . Ryan T erleck i ( KTM ); 8 . Ronnie Clark (Yam) ; 9 . Todd Down s (Hon) ; 10. Jeff Hedden (Kaw); It. Ty Kady (Suz); 12. Andreu Labrador (Han) ; 13. Billy Binckley (Ya m) ; 14 . Ma tt hew Batem an {S uz} : 15 . Ze b Armstrong ( Yam ); 16. Ti m Hawthorne (Ka w); 17 , Adam Land (Hon); 18. Kyle Lewis (Suz); 19. Jason Frenette (Yam); 20 . Grayson Goodman ( Hon) ; 2 1. James Povclny Jr. (Hon) ; 22. Brent Battin (Kaw). Time; 9:24.740 sec. 250 SEMI I (6 laps. J· 5 transfer ) : 1. Heat h Voss (Hon); 2. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw ): 3. Mike Craig (Yam) ; 4 . Jason Thomas (Yam) ; 5 . Dustin Nelson (Yam) ; 6. Matt Shue (S uz): 7. Jason Fink (Yam); 8. Erik Ande rson (Hon); 9 . Ted Campbell (S uz); 10. Chris Young (Suz); 11. J on Hedden (KTM); 12. Ty Cars o n ( KTM); 13 . Bri an Sw ean y II (S u z) ; 14 . Christopher Neitzel (Suz); 15. Daniel Blair (Hon); 16. Shay Manney (Yam) ; 17. Steven Eugenio (Yam) ; 18. Jimm y Lamastus (KTM). Time: 7 min., 34.590 sec. 250 SEMI 2 (6 laps, 1-5 transfer): I. Kyle Lewis (Suz); 2. Travis Hodges (Kaw); 3. James Povolny Jr. (Hon); 4 . Doug Dehaan (Hon); 5. Grayson Goodman ( Hon) ; 6 . Je ff Hedden (K aw ) ; 7 . Rya n T er leck i ( KTM) ; 8 . To dd Downs ( Hon); 9 . Zeb Arm strong (Ya m) ; 10. Ronnie Clar k ( Yam ) ; 11. Ada m Land (Hon) ; 12. Ty Kady (Suz); 13. Bill y Binckley (Yam ); 14 . Andreu Labrador (Hon) ; 15. Matthew Bateman (Suz) ; 16 . Tim Hawthorne (Kaw) ; 17. Brent Battin (Kaw); 18. Jason Frenette (Yam) . TIme: 7 min., 36 .180 sec. 25 0 lea (6 laps, 1· 2 transfer): 1. Matt Shue (S uz) ; 2 . Ryan Terlecki ( KTM ) ; 3. T ed Ca mpbell (Suz); 4. Todd Downs (Hen ): 5. Chris Young (Suz); 6. Jon Hedden (KTM ) ; 7 . Zeb A rmstro ng ( Yam ) ; 8 . Ronnie Clark (Yam); 9. Jason Fink (Yam ); 10. Erik Anderson (Hon) ; 11. Billy Binckley (Yam) ; 12. T y Kady (Sua): 13. Matthew Bateman (Suz); 14 . Andreu Labrador (Hen) : 15 . Christopher Neitzel (Suz); 16 . Shay Mann ey (Yam ); 17. Adam Land ( Hon ) ; 18 . Brian Sweany II (Sue) : 19 . Ty Carson (KTM) ; 20 . Jeff Hedden (Kaw); 2 1. Tim Hawth orn e (Kaw); 22 . Daniel Blair ( Hon). Time: 7 min., 54 .600 sec. 250 MAIN (20 laps) : 1. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 2. Mike LaRocco (Hon); 3. Kevin Windham -I l-ion): 4. David Vuillemin (Yam ): 5. Ricky Carmichael (Kaw); 6. Sebastien Tortetli (Han); 7. Damon Huffman (Suz); 8. Heath Voss (Hon); 9. Larry Ward (Kaw); 10. Jason Thomas (Yam); 11. Doug Dehaan (Hon); 12. Pedro Gonzalez (Kaw); 13. Jam es Povolny Jr. (Hon): 14. Kyle Lewis (Suz); 15. Grayson Goodman (Han); 16. Rya n T er lecki ( KT M) ; 16 . M att Shue ( Su z) ; 17 . Dustin Nelson (Yam) ; 18. Travis Hodges (Kaw); 20 . Mike Craig (Yam) . TIme: 23 min.. 56.520 sec. Winner's Average lap Time: I min., 11.826 sec. Margin of Victory: 3.0 00 sec. AMA l EA SPO RT S S OPERCOSS SER I ES POINT STANDI NGS ( Afte r 16 of 16 round s): 1. Jeremy McGrath (3 72 /10 wins); 2. David Vuiltemin (33 7 /4 wins) ; 3 . Mike LaRocco ( 30 2) : 4 . Kevin Windham (278/1 win); 5. Ricky Carmichael (263/1 win); 6. Sebastien Tortelli (243) ; 7. Damon Huffman ( 186); 8. Larry Ward ( 175) ; 9. Jo hn Dowd ( 170 ); 10. Heath Voss ( 113); 11. Tim Fe rry (1 07); 12 . Kyle Lewis (97) ; 13 . Gr eg Albe rty n (9 2) ; 14 . J ason Thoma s (79 ) ; 15. Mik e Craig ( 75 ) ; 16 . Bro ck Sella rds (66 ): 17. Jean-Sebastien Roy (62 1; 18. (TIE) Grayson Goodman/Greg Schnell (50 ); 20 . Robbie Reynard (48 ). n e _ s All the pressure was on David Vuillemin at Las Vega s. A win would've neUed him a half-million bucks, but he still came away with $25,000 in his pocket. There wasn't too much to ·get exci ted about in the 250 cc heat races, as both David Vuillemin and Kevin Windham scored runaway wins in their respective qualifiers. And there wasn't much racing going on behind them, either. Vuillemi n jumped out to the early lead in the first heat race and steadily pulled away from Mike laRocco and the rest of the pack, j ust like he's done so often throughout the year. Once he had opened up a few comfortable seconds on laRocco, Vuillemin maintained that advantage to the finish. laRocco had it easy, too. His nearest concern was well behind him in third place. that rid er, Sebastien Tortell i, seemed content right where he was. A long way behind him finished Damon Huffma n, who had Heath Voss lur king behind him the whole way. Voss made it somewhat interesting, though, when he closed on Huffman late in the race but didn't get quite close enough to challenge. Jason Thomas finished a dista nt sixth . followed by Ted Campbe ll . Mike Craig and Pedro Gonzalez. Vuillemin again won his Nearly half the pack was left on the ground in the first heat ra c e. tum at the start of the second heat race, but all of the stars - - -- - ' - - - - ' - - got through unscathed, including Windham, Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael and Larry Ward. Windham led McGrath around the track for all six laps and was never really seriously challenged by the seven-time Supercross champion, taking the checkered fiag with room to spare. Windham's heat-race win was nearly three seconds quick er than Vuillemin's win. McGrath later admitted that he m ade the wrong tire choice and as a result found little traction on the extremely hard-packed, dry and slick Las Vegas track (which had a lot to do with a steady and warm wind that blew most of the evening). "I chose a tire with knobbies that were too tall," he said. McGrath was in no danger of losing second place, though. as the riders behind him were again well spread out. Carmichael finished a.distant third and had a remarkable 24 seconds on the fourth-place finisher Larry Ward. Canadian Doug Dehaan finished the race one spot out of a transfer in fifth. ' In the first semi, Voss made a nice pass in the long whoop section on early leader Pedro Gonzalez, and then took off to score an uneventful win. Gonzalez finished out the race all alone in second place, while Mike Craig finished a distant third. Jason Thomas. who was the leader on the first lap before tangling with Ted Campbell in the whoops, finished out the race in fourth. ahead of Dustin Nelson. Kyle Lewis led from start to finish in the second semi . taking the win some 14 seconds ahead of Travis Hodges. Behind Hodges, there was some racing action going on that invo lved a large group riders that were battling for the final transfer positions. James Povolny Jr. came out on top of that battle, followed by Dehaan and Grayson Goodman . all of whom made the cut. Matt Shue led the whole way in the Last Chance qualifier. whil e Terlecki had to first get aro und Chri s Young before sewing up the final transfer McGrath (1) couldn't hook up in position of the night. the second 250cc heat race.

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