Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMA,/ChevyTruc ks U .S . Motocross Championship S eries Round 3 : H igh Point Raceway Up fro n t , D o wd d idn 't pull a w a y Dowd l ed for two laps b efore a " T h e t rack wasn 't so tough once T o r t e ll i held second for several li k e h e d i d in t h e first mota. " I t hin k I charg ing Wind ham took the lead , b ut you g ot a rhythm through the big laps b efore suffering bra in fade during was conce ntr a t ing on t h e s tart m o r e W indham made h i s one m i s t a k e on ruts , and that's j u st what t han a nything ," saidDowd . " I g o t it, t h e third lap . Vuillemi n . I d id , " said " I am used to t hese c o n d i - I d orked out after t h a t . I On th e sa me la p a s Windham 's tion s, a nd t he b i k e h e l p ed m e a lot. just wasn 't smooth th at time, at l e a st c ra sh , Vuillemin wen t from fourth to first, T h e bi ke was a w e s o m e tod ay . The all r ight, b u t not n earl y as good as the last two laps and losing four spots . Windham moved i n t o second and would hold it to th e fi nis h line. " I feel great about the day ," said "I tried to have a strategy also p a ss ing Lusk an d Dowd. From that s e c o n d mota was a perfec t r ace for point on, the race w a s essentially o v er. I was in t he first m o ta ." W indham. me ." and a game plan but it n ever works out on a day like th is , unless you 're I miss ed i t by, a I am happ y t o m ake it David Vu illem in. po int , b u t BRIEFLY••• through o k ay . Ri c k y The usually packe d High Point trac k took a hit in its 24 th year on the AMA National M X Ch ampionship schedule. A c rowd of about 10.000 half the normal size - braved the w eekend -long rainstorms to watch the riders do their best to put on a good race. that makes it cl oser all o v er again. " A l a t e c h a r g e b y F e rry w as the onl y ex ci t e me n t on th e tr ack. Th e F loridian rose from s ixth to third dur- This week end will be remembe red as one of the g r eatest ever in the history of Austria n motorcycle manufact urer KTM . Not only did the brand sco re its first-eve r AMA Nat ional win with Kelly Smith in the 125cc class. but the marque also wo n the British rou nd of the 125cc W orld MX Championships on Sat urday with James Dobb at the co ntrols. ing t h e last two laps , L u s k was fo urth with Dowd fifth . Tortell i was disap pointed with h is sixth . Roug h l y 1 0 , 0 0 0 fans braved it o ut at M ount M orris. T rivia Q uesti on : Whe n was the last time that a non-J apanes e brand won an A MA National or Supercro ss event? When the 250cc A class went to the starti ng gat e for Saturday morn ing' s amate ur day moto , several you ng experts w ere probably start led to see the number-21 factory Honda of S e b ast i e n Tortelli lined up with them . Tortelli ente red the race as a way to score more tra ck time in preparati on for Sunday' s AMAIChevy Truck s U.S . 250 National. ' 1 thought it would be a good way to get so me more time on the track. and we got some good settings as a re sult: said Torte lli before the rains really started to fall. Ben Riddle. a highly regarded 16-year-old Suzuki support ride r fro m Kentucky. gave Tort elli a goo d ~ght in the 250cc A class race bef ore surrendering the lead on the last lap. Quest ions were raised but Sebastien Tortelli was certa inly w ithin the rules to race on Saturday morning. Alt hough the AMA does not allow exclusive use of a track within 72 hou rs of a Nation al eve nt, there is not hing on the books that prevents any rider fro m enteri ng both the amateurday program and the actual AMA National. Torte lli says that he will proba bly use the same strategy at several other ro unds of the series. some of which he will be attending for the first time. Last year - Tortelli's firs t in America - the Frenchman was injured at Unad illa and miss ed the races at Kenworthy' s M X Park. Wa shougal. M illville. Broo me-Tioga and Steel City. Last yea r Tortelli took the off-weekend between High Point and Southwick to check out th e So uthwick Yamate u r dayY race. w hich is held sev en days befo re th e pro race . He will miss it thi s year to return to France. • My best friend is gett ing married and I am the best man in the wedding: said the Team Honda rider. " If the wedd ing wa s some other time. I would be at Sou thwi ck for sure. " The new England locals might not have Tort elli to contend with this year on amateur day, but the French will be well-repr esented - series point s leader David Vu illemin already has his plane ticket for amateur day. The THQ H oleshot money went to J ohn D owd in bot h 250cc clas s mo to s. Husqvarna' s Robbie Skaggs earned the cash in the first 125cc moto and Tallon Voh land sco red the $5 00 in holeshot money in the sec ond 125cc mota . Sixtee n-year-old Travis Pastrana had a busy week between the Hangtown and High Point Nationals. Pastrana wa s nominated by an internatio nal jury for the • Laureus W orld Sports Award. ' along wit h skateboarder Tony Haw k and snowboarder/ mountain-biker Shaun Palmer , and invited to trave l to Monaco for the ceremony. Pastrana and his mother left on Tuesday night , anrived on Wednesday. did the ceremony on Thursday and anrived back home in Ameri ca on Friday. The guest speaker for the cere mony was former South African President Nelson Mandela. and guests included Sylvester Stallone. Greg Lemond. Sugar Ray Leonard and Ash ley J udd. Pastrana lost the award to Palmer. thoug h he did get to meet and work out in the hotel gymnas ium with former boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard. who . like the Pastranas , hails fro m Maryland . David Vuillemin was n't the only rider to prove his versatility on Sunday. S mithton. Pennsy lvania' s Barry Hawk decided to enter the 250 cc Nat ional at High Point on a wh im, long before the wea ther turne d nasty. It t urn ed out to be a s mart move for the form er six -ti me AMA G rand National Cross Coun try Series Quadcyc le Champio n and curre nt top-five contender Cin the motorcycle division). Even though Haw k has never even raced the expert class in loca l motocross races, he's been through hundreds of miles of mud races on the GNCC circu it. That mud-riding experience helpe d eve n out his c hances of making the 40 -man main even t, which was Hawk's only goal. He made the fie ld all right. and managed to stay in contention for scori ng champion ship points until the very end of both 250 cc motos. But when the results sheets went up afte r each mota. Haw k found himself cruelly listed in 2 1st place - one spot shy of being the ~ rst active off-road racer to earn M X points since Fred Andrew s started a second career as a wood s rider in the mid -l 990s . ' 1really just hop ed to make it into Sunday 's progra m. but when the rain started to fall. I starte d thinking I could maybe sco re a point." said Haw k. who rides a Yamaha VZ250 on Randy Haw kins" woods team . ' 1 had so much fun. I think I might try it again at St eel C ity [in Sep tembe rl. · 14 J UN E 7 . 2000 ' cue • e n [Ca rm icha e l] d idn't have the b est o f w eekends, and e vv s Ant h o n y P a ggio wa s wren ching fo r Larry W ard in the Kawasaki pits for the last lim e. Pagg io has taken a job ass isting Johnny O'M ara at Oakley as the mot orcycl e rep and wi ll be putting his toolbox away for a wh ile. • M ount M orn s is my last race with Lanry. but I really had a good time working wit h him and the whole team this year." said Paggio. who in the past has aiso work ed with J immy Butt on. Corey Kee ney. Gene Naumec and Damon Huffman. '1 gues s I could've picked an easier race as my last one to be a mechanicl" True . but the High Point race wa sn' t exactly a picnic for goggl e guys. either. "I was third until the last l a p and I was j u s t t a k i n g m y time on the last hills," sai d the Frenchman. "I started up one big hill and did not see a rock there until it was too la t e . It stopped m y speed and those guys got past me. " Re ynard , Damon Huffman , Ward and Moto-XXX's K yle Lewis followed Tri v i a A n s w e r : The last lime a non -Japanese brand won an AMA National or Supercro ss wa s June 1. 1980 . when Marietta. Ohio's Denny Swa rtz won the muddy Red Bud 500cc National in Buchanan. M ichiganc aboard the W est German-made M aico mot orcycle . With his 1250c Nation al victory. Kelly S m it h becomes the eighth rider from the • M ichigan M a ~ a" to wi n a Nat ional in AMA mo tocross history. The oth er win ners fro m M ichigan are M ik e Hartwig. A lan King . Keith Bowen. Eddie W arren. Jeff Stanton. Brian Swink and Nick We y. Tortelli. CN High Point Raceway Mount M orris, Pennsylva nia Results: May 28, 2000 [Round 3 of 161 250 MOTO I (30 minutes plus 2 laps): 1. John Dow d ( Kaw ); 2. Ke vin Windham ( Ho n) ; 3 . Dav id Vuill em in (Yam) ; 4. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon) ; 5. Ezril Lusk (Hen): 6. Shayne King (KTM): 7. Larry Ward (Kew): 8. Ak ira Nari ta (Han) ; 9. Timmy Ferry (Yam) ; Mechanic of the Year? FMF /Honda's T odd B row n deserve s at least a nomina tion for his lightning quick changing of Broc k Sellard s ent ire engine bef ore the fir st 125cc mot a . Sellard s bike seized at the start ing gate. le aving Bro w n and seve ra l o t he r mecha ni cs and te chn ic ians f rom FMF / Honda and Team Honda abo ut 10 minute s to exc hange the mo tor with a spare. W ith the help of a slow parade lap by Sellards" FMF/Honda teammate Casey Lyt le . Brown was able to get Brock 's bike to the line as the National Anthem wa s ending . S unda y m orn ing' s q u alifi e r s saw Bill ' s Pip e s/AXO ' s B rand en Je sseman and Yamaha of Troy' s J ustin Buck elew take the 125cc heat race wi ns. w hile KTM 's Shayne King and Seki Racing 's Ak ira Narita took the 250cc heat wins. F&S Suzuki' s. David Hill and C annon dale' s Keith Johnson took the 125cc and 250cc con so latio n race win s, respect ively . Fas t by Fer racci/Hu sqvarna ' s P aul c a r p e nte r returned to actio n at M ount M orri s after his nasty crash at the East -We st 125cc Shootout in Las Vegas. Carp enter was hterally landed on by Plano Honda' s Paul C urrie and rumors were circulating that Carpe nter had broken his jaw . When asked abou t the injuries sus tained. Carpenter replied. ' 1had a gash in my chin that too k 12 stitche s to sew up and my shoulder popped out. and I had major road rash all ove r my back. but my jaw is fme. " FMF / Honda 's Michael Brandes wa s a no-show at High Point after discovering a hematoma in his leg as a resu lt of his Glen Helen crash two weeks earlier . Brandes rode at Hangtown but wa s said to be very uncom forta ble and decided to take off from this race to recover. -10. Robbie Reynard (Suz): 11. Greg Albertyn (Suz): 12. Ricky Ca rmichael ( K 8w); 13 . Mi ke La Rocco ( Ha n); 14 . De m on Huffm an (S uz) ; 15 . Ja m es Pov o lny ( Hon) ; 16. Heat h Voss ( Ho n ) ; 17 . Tyl er Evans (Suz): 18. Doug Dubach (Yam): 19. Todd Do wn s ( Hon) : 20 . Br uc e Stratton (S uz).2 1. Barry Hawk J r. ( Yam) ; 22. Aar on Diet er (Suz) ; 23 . Kyl e Lew is ( Suz) ; 24 . Dam ien Plo tts (Suz ); 25 . Keith Joh nson (Can); 26 . Justin Blake (kaw); 27. J oshua Sweat (Hon); 28. J ason Thom as (Yam) ; 29. Chuck Mesley ( Hon ); 30 . Ty Walla ce (Ya m) ; 31. Vince nt Kam ew (Suz); 32 . J ason McDon ald (Yam ); 33 . JeanSebastie n Roy (Hon) ; 34 . Ryan Terlecki (KTM) ; 35. Brian Stone (Kaw) ; 36. Don ald Bake r (Hon ); 37 . Zeb Armstrong (Yam) ; 38 . Da vey Yezek (Yarn} ; 39. Clark Stiles (Yam ); 40. Robb Flath (Han) . 250 MOTO 2 (30 minutes plu s 2 laps): 1. David Vuille m in (Yam) ; 2. Kevi n Windh am (Hon ); 3. Tim Fer ry ( Yam); 4 . Ezra Lu sk ( Ha n); 5. J oh n Dowd (Kaw); 6. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon) ; 7. Robbie Reynard (Suz) ; 8 . Damon Huffman (Suz); 9. Larry War d ( Ka w) ; 10 . Kyl e Lew is (S Ut ) ; 11. Sha yne King (KTM ); 12. Ricky Carmicha el ( Kaw ); 13. James Pov oln y ( Han); 14. Mik e LDRocco ( Han); 15. T yler Evans (Suz); 16. Ryan Terleck i (KTM); 17. Aaron Dieter (Suz): 18. Heath Voss (Hon ): 19. Josh Sweat (Hon); 20. Zeb Armstrong (Yam).21. furry Hawk.Jr . ( Yam) ; 22 . Akira Ne rtte (Hon ) ; 23. Brian Stone (Kaw); 24. Greg Albertyn (Suz) ; 25 . Bruce Stratton (Suz); 26 . Jason Thoma s (Yam ); 27 . Vincent Kamaw (Suz); 28. Justin Blake (Kaw): 29. Ty wanace (Yam): 30 . Dam ien Plotts (Suz) ; 31. Dou g Dubach (Yam ); 32. DonaldBaker (Hon): 33. Todd Downs (Hon): 34. Davey Yezek (Yam): 35. Chuck Mesle (Hon); 36-. y Jason McDonald (Yam); 37. Robb F10th (Hon): 38. Keith Johnson (Can ); 39. .Jean -Sebestlen Roy (Han) ; Tom M orga n/ Th or/ D GY- s upported James Po v o l ny and M otoRoman/ Ara i' s Akira Narita were the tc p-fmishmq priva teers in the 250cc class and were the recipient s of the U.S. Tobacco Top Priva· teer Awards. Povolny finished 15-13 . while Narita we nt 8-22 . The top privateers take home $ 1000 for first and $500 for second. In the 125cc clas s it wa s Bromley Suzuki/MSR 's Banry Carsten who took top hono rs w it h 15th overall, (1 4-16). and M o toWo rld of EI C ajon /Thor' s G reg Schnell was runner-up with 23 rd overa ll (28-19) . Speaking of Greg Schnell . the Cahfornia nativ e decided not to even . ride on Saturday in the mud. as he only had one bike and minimal part s. Sch nell op ted to save his bike for Sunday and have less wo rk for his tuner/father. " I rode last W ednesday at Glen Helen in the rain and mud. so I'm going to keep it clean to day." Schnell com mente d while watc hing practice on Saturday . Before the ~ rst 125cc mot es, the riders are always given an option of riding a parade lap. M o st riders usually do . but when the gate dropped for the parade lap minutes before the start of the first rnot o, nobody left the gate. FM F/Honda' s Casey Lytl e had second thoughts and we nt out and was so on followed by two o ther riders: Yamaha of Troy' s Casey J ohnson and J ustin Buck elew . Thirty-seven ot her rider s wa tche d and waite d as the three took their time circ ulating the track. 40. Clark Stiles (Yam). 2 50 O/A: 1. David Vuillemin (Yam ); 2. Kev in Windham (Hon); 3. John Dowd (Kaw) ; 4. Ezra Lusk ( Hon) ; 5 . Sebastia n Tortei ll ( Hon); 6 . Tim F err y ( Yam ) ; 7 . Lar ry Wa rd (Kaw ) ; 8. Robbie Reynard (Suz): 9. Shayne King (KTM): 10. Damon Hullman ( S uz) ; 11. Ricky Carmichael ( K a w ); 12. M i k e laRocco (Hon) : 13. J am es Povoln y (Hon) ; 14. Akira Nente (Hon); 15. Kyl e Lewis (Suz) ; 16. Ty ler Ev ans ( Suz) ; 17 . Greg A l bertyn (S uz) ; 18. Heath Vo ss ( Hon ); 19. Ryen Terl ecki (KTM) ; 20 . Aaron D ieter (Suz); 21. Dou g Dubach (Yam ); 22 . Joshua Sweat (Hon); 23 . Tod d Down s (Han) ; 24. Zeb A rm st rong (Yam): 25. Bruce Stratton (Suz). Al'lA/CHEVY TRaCKS 250cc 0.5. NATIONAL MX CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (Aner 3 01 12 rounds): 1. David Vuillem in ( 125/2 win s) ; 2. Kevin Windha m (1 22) : 3. Sebast i en Tort ell i (1 17) : 4. Ricky Carmichael (111/1 win); 5. Ezra Lusk (86): 6. John Dowd (82); 7. Robbie Reynard (77): 8. Greg Albertyn (76): 9. MIke laRocco (73): 10. Larry Ward (65). 11. Tim Ferr y (56): 12. Damon Huffm an (51 ) : 13. Shayne King (40): 14. Kyle Lewis (37): 15. Jeremy McGrath (30) : 16. Doug Dubach (29) : 17. Ak ira Nente (29) ; 18 . Ja mes Pov olny Jr . (26) ; 19 . T yler Evans (25) : 20. Jason Thom as ( 19). Upcom ing Rounds: Round 4 - Sou thwick, MA, June 11 Round 5 • Budds Creek , M D, June 18

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