Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMA/Ch e vyTrucks U .S . Motocross Championships R ound S : Kenworthy' s Motocros s P ark BRIEFLY••• NOI only is Mike LaRocc o not going to the MX des Nations this year , but he's also not going to Spain for the International Six Days Enduro. Also not going to the ISDE are Jeff Stanton. Doug Henry. M ike G osselaar or any other motocros s star who se name has been mentioned as of late for that matter. According 1 LaRocco 's manager Fred Bramblett. " The wheel s fell off last 0 night " after a meeting wi th Ho nda and other inte rested parties. " W e just weren't able to come up with an agreement . - Bramblett said. - But we tried real hard. which is frustrating with all of the work we put into it. " Bramblett did say. however. that he 'll try again next ye ar to so mehow get some of the aforementioned riders to the Six Days. As for the U .S. M X des Nations team. it look s as though Ryan H ughes will be the thrrd member of the team. along with Ricky Carmichael and Travis Pastrana. Hughes has reportedly said that he would like to go but has not been con tacted by the AMA yet. Branden Jesseman led much of the second 125cc moto but couldn't hold back Sellards. Still, Jesseman earned third overall with an 8-2. a rd s a n d F onse ca ta ngled in a corne r after t he D irty D oz e n , a n d th ey both went d own . S ellards wa s th e qu ic k est o f t he two t o .g et up , but both r iders lost a the fi nish , w ith Ramse y , Schn ell a n d pos iti on t o P in g r e e in t h e proc ess . Currie rounding out the t op 10, Ron - " W e w e r e battling for a bit, and we c a da w as o nce aga in 1 1th , and Pa s - h it, but tha t ' s t h e w a y it goes ," F on seca c ommented . t r a na c r o sse d a d istant 13 th . "I w a n t e d to pass him , a nd he wanted to pass m e , t oo . Kenworthy's Motocross Part T hat's the wa y r aci n g is ." CN After sitti ng out the last few Nati onal round s. Mike Craig returned to action at Kenwo rthy ' s as a member of a new team. Cr aig started out the year on the Mot oworld of EI Cajon team but was released and has now rejoined the Planet Honda/Dr. Martens team. Cra ig rode part of last year with Planet Honda. " Everything was good with them [M otoWorld of EI Cajon): Craig said. "They had good equipment and good people, but I had to pay for my own expenses, and I just wasn't breaking even. Planet Honda said they could use me. so everyth ing wo rked out. People thought that when I left Planet Honda before that it was a bad deal, but it really wasn't. " Cra ig was pitti ng in a private box van rather than With the Planet Honda semi. - I still have a clot hing contract [with Wind], and the contrast w ouldn't look good [at the team's semi with Planet Honda' s Answer tea m spo nso rl ." Cr aig's position with the Planet Honda team fell into place aft er two other riders on the Planet Honda team got hurt . Chris Wheel er. who rides a 125, was serio usly injured while practicing before last week's race at Unadilla. and 250cc rider Jean-Sebastien Roy is also out of commission because of injuries. As a result. Isaiah John son has switched from the 125cc class to the 250cc class, and Craig moves into Johnson's 125cc position . Got that? Taking Mike Craig 's MotoWorld of E1 Cajon ride is former Team Husqvarna rider Robbie Skagg s - I just got tired of having problems every week and asked IHusqvarnaJ to let me out of my contract: Skaggs explained . "They were cool about it and said yes. I've got Craig's bike with my suspension.- Skaggs frrst rode the Mot oworld Yamaha the previous round at Unadilla. esults: Jul y 23, 2000 (Round 8 of 121 Tro Ohio y, On l a p s i x , R on c ad a wa s up t o sixth after working t hro u g h the pack 125 MOTO t : 1. Broc k Sella rds (Hon) ; 2. Steve Lerns on (Hon); 3. Rodri g Thain (KTM): 4 . T rav is Past r ana ( Su z) ; 5 . Nick We y ( Ka ..... ) ; 6. T all o n fo llow ing anoth er m id-pac k start. Voh lan d (Ka w ); 7. Er nes to Fo nseca ( Ya m ); 8 . Whi le t r y i n g to g et by Pingree, the Brand en .Jesseme n (Suz); 9. David Pingree (Suz); 10. Danny Sm ith (Hon) ; 11. Stephane Ron cada (Yam) ; 12. Billy Payne (Kaw); 13. Greg Schnell (Yam): 14. two ca me toget h er , and they also Kell y Smith (KTM ); 15. Justin Bucke lew (Yam ); 16 . Micha el Brand es (Hon) : 17. Nathan Ramsey (Kaw): bot h w ent down in a pile. 18. Joe Oehlhof (KTM); 19. Casey Johnson (Yam); 20. R obbie Skag9s(Yam); 21. KeithJohnson (KTM); 22. Casey Lytle (Hon); 23. Barry Carsten (Su,) ; 24. , " H e came out o f a rut , and I thought he was going th e other way ," Ja cob Mllirt in (Suz); 25 . Ivan Tedesc o ( Hon) ; 26 . Ryan Clark (SU2); 27. Scott Davis (K aw ); 28 . Paul Carpenter (Hus); 29. Randy Valade (Hon ); 30. Dave Oertel (Hon); 31. Ja mi e Brockman (Hon); 32. Mark Burkh art (KTM ); 33 . T ravis Preston (Suz) ; 34 . J ason McDo nald (Sua): 35 . Michael Craig (Hon); 36 . Travis Elli o t ( Ho n ); 37 . Pau l Cu rr ie ( Ho n); 38 . Chr i s Wheeler (KTM) ; 39 . Christoph er Gosselaar (Hon) ; 40 . Ja son McCormi ck (Hon ). 125 MOTO 2; I. Brock Sella rds ( Hon); 2. Roncada sa id. " W e h it rea l hard , and w e both went d o w n ." "I was on the inside rut a nd ca me out a nd I th ink h e mis t i med it and s quar ed i t off and h it m y back wh e e l ," Ping ree said . " It spit m e o ff so Branden J essem an (5 02); 3 . Em esto Fon seca (Yam) ; 4. Tallon Vohland (Kaw); 5. Steve Lam son (Hon ); 6 . Rodr ig Thain (KTM) ; 7. Mich ael Brand es (Hon) ; 8. Nathan Ram sey (Kaw ); 9 . Greg Schn ell (Yam ): 10 . Paul Curri e (Hon ); 11. Steph ene Roncada (Yam) ; 12 . Denny Sm ith (Hon ); 13. Tr avis Pastran a (Suz): 14. Michael Craig (Hon ); 15. Casey Johnson (Yam) ; 16 . N ic kWey ( Kaw ); 17. Bill y Payne ( Kaw) ; 18. Kell y Smi th (KTM); 19. Chr istop her Gc sselee r (Hon) 20. Ivan Tedesco (Hon) ; 2 1. Robb ie Ska ggs (Yam ); 22 . Ja so n M cC orm ick ( Ho n ) ; 23 . J usti n Bu ck el ew (Yam): 24 . Barry Carsten (Suz) ; 25 . Chri s Wheeler (KTM ); 26 . Tra vis EJliot (Hon ); 27. Paul Carpenter ( Hus) ; 28 . Ja cob Mati n (Suz) : 29 . David Pin gre e (Suz); 30. Randy Valad e (Hen): 31 . Keith J ohn son ( KTM): 32 . Tr av is Presto n (Suz) ; 33. Ca sey Lytle f a st a n d h a rd that m y chest protector and knee b r a c e b o t h b ro k e ." Ronca da lost about five positions from th e incident, wh ile Pingree lost m an y more. Jesseman was still in control up front, but the he at w as o n from a charging Sellards , wh o had just passed Thain for se cond . Sellards g ot by J esseman for the lea d a lap later (Hon); 34. Ryan Clark (Suz); 35. Jason McDonald ( Su a) : 36. Dave Oettel (Hon) ; 37. Joe Oehlhof in th e wo ods s ect i on o f th e tr a c k (Hon); 40. Mark Burkhart (KTM). while Thain w a tched from third. Ra m- 12 5 O /A : 1. Br oc k Sell ards (Hon); 2 . Ste ve Lam so n ( Ho n) ; 3. Bra nd en J esseman ( Su z) ; 4 . Rodr ig Tha in (KTM); 5. Eme sto Fonseca (Yam); 6 . Tall on Vohla nd (Kew} ; 7 . Travis Pestr ene (Suz): 8. Ni ck We y (Kaw ) ; 9 . G reg Sch nell (Ya m) ; 10 . Stephene Rc nceda (Yam ); 11. Dann y Sm ith (Hon) ; 12 . Micha el Brade s ( Ho n); 13 . Nathan Ram se y (Ka w) : 14 . Billy Pa yn e (Ka w ) : 15. David Pingree (Suz): 16. Paul Currie (Hon); 17. Kelly Smith (KTM); 18. Casey Jo hnson ( Yam ); 19. Michael Craig (Hon ); 20. Ju stin Buck elew (Yam) ; 2 1. Joe Oehlhof (KTM ): 22 . Christo pher Gosseleer (Hon ); 23 . Ivan Tedesco (Hon); 24 . Robbi e Skaggs (Yam). in li ne, a long w ith L amson . Se ll a rds pulled a sm a ll lead in t he final laps, as Jesseman c r u ise d al o n e in se c ond . T ha in let the nerves of h is first pod ium overa ll -finish get to him , a nd his arms b eg a n to pump u p b a d ly . AMAI CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. 125« C'SHIP MX SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (Af te r 8 of 12 Fonseca , Vohland and Lamson all ro und s) : I. Stephan e Ron cada (32 4 / 4 Win s) ; 2 . Travis Pastrana (2 89/1) : 3. Steve Lamson (288/1): 4. got b y Ra msey and t h e tiring T h a in Tallon Vohland (259); 5. Brock Sellards (228/1); 6. o n th e f inal l a p , and at the f inish it Casey Johnson ( 187 ); 7. Nick Wey ( 179 ); 8. Danny Sm ith ( 167): 9. Rodrig Tha in (1 62 ): 10. Paul Currie ( 157); 11. Ern esto Fon seca ( 147 ) ; 12 . Nathan w a s Se llards w ith a 1- 1 sweep at the T roy fa cil ity . Ram sey (135); 13. Gre9 Schnell (118); 14. Branden J esseman ( l iS ): 15. Kelly Sm ith (99 /1 ); 16. Ju stin Buckelew (76); 17. David Pi gree (63); 18. (TI E) Billy n Payne/ Michael Brandes (52); 20. Travis Preston (49). J e s s e m a n crossed to match h is best- e v er m oto finish in seco n d, w hile Fonse ca , V o hl a n d , L a m so n a nd T ha in Upcoming Rounds: Round 9: Wa shou gal, Washingt on, July 30 Round 10: Millv ille, Minnesola. Augu st 13 crossed next. FMF/Honda's Micha el Brandes made his w ay into se v en t h at A UGUST 2 . 2000 ' eye • Team Honda' s Ezra Lusk was still not ready to compete at Troy. His injured wri st is still giving the Georgian some problems. but Lusk wasn't in too much of a hurry to begin his comeback at Troy anyway wit h all of the trac k's big jump s that wo uld certainly test the wrist's progress. Ac cording to Honda team manager Cliff Wh ite, Lusk is taking it race by race . Local rider Jeff Gibson had no problems adapting to the four-stroke Cannondale at Troy. In his first race on the highly modified bike, which is said to be 15 pounds lighter than that of his teammate Keith Johnson. Gibson won his qualifier on Saturday, then wo n his qualifier on Sunday . " It hasn't been hard at all," Gibson said of getting used to the very unique aluminum-framed Cannondale. "The bike is easy to ride. has nice powe r, and the suspension is. good ." The Troy National was Ca nnondale 's third showing since making its racing debut at the High Point National in May. Kevi n W indham emerged fo r the seco nd 250 cc practic e sess ion with a bloody chin . He smacked the chin on his bike 's front brake adjuster on the handlebar and probably could've used a few stitches. Alt hough the nick wasn't too big. it was. " Deep as it is long." Windham joked . A small butt erfly bandage patched him up well enough to get him through the day. Scott Goggles USA has a spectacular new custom -built rig that Bevo Forti and crew debuted at Troy. The fift h-wheel hauler. with trailer. is 66 feet long and over 13 feet high. "We took it to the limit: jo ked Forti. The rig includes a " hospitality " area. plush living quarte rs. a small office area, a display area, and the trailer is big enough to carry a small car and golf cart . The new hauler is rumored to cost nearly a half-million dollars. (KTM) ; 38. Scott Dav is (Kaw); 39. Jam ie Broc km an sey , Fon seca and Vohlan d w e re n e x t 10 Ju st like he always does at the Troy Nat ional. Yamaha of Troy team owner Phil Alderton donated extra cash for all of the riders that qualified for bot h National classes. Aldert on makes sure that every finisher leaves the track with S200 in his poc ket. For example, if a rider earns $60 for his place in one mot o , Aldert on will add an addition $40 to his payout. And that isn't all. Track owner Don Kenworthy offer s a total $3000 payout to the riders in Sunday's qualifiers . In other w ords. the Troy Na tional is a good one to go to if you 're a priv ateer. e n e vv s Yamaha of Troy's Justin Buckelew is still recovering from arm surgery to fix the arm-pump problems he used to have. " It feels bette r today .' Buckelew said. " It [the surgeryl has made a big improvement. but they 're not 100 perc ent up to strength ye t. " Sunday morning qualifier w inners included Shayne King (KTM) , Jeff Gibson (Canl and Zeb Arm strong (Yam) in the 250cc class, and Nathan Ramsey (Kaw). Ernesto Fonseca (Yam) and Chris Gosselaar (Hon) in the 125cc class. After suffering his seco nd DNF of the Nat ional season and crashing in the second moto . Yamaha's D avid Vuillemin is underst andably a little discouraged . "You know . all these things have been happening . In Unadilla. I'm catching Albee and my radiator shroud came out. the second moto I was with everybody and my pipe broke. At Southwick I was catching up in the first moto and burned my clutch, at Budds Cr eek I crash and hit my head and I could not remember who I was. This serie s is like a nightm are for me. " U .S. Tobacco presented its Top Privateer awards at Troy, and Motoworld of EI Cajon / Pro Circuit -sponsored Greg Schnell and M oto XXX's Kyle Lewis were the winners. Schnell rode to a 13·9 ninth overall for the top 125cc privateer, while Lewis too k his Suzuki to a 12· 11 11th overall for top 250cc honor s. Runner-up hono rs went to Planet Honda's Mi ke Craig for his 35-14 ninth overall in the 125cc class. while Great Lake Aviation/ Tom Morgan-supported Heath Voss finished 13-12 for 13th overall. The top privateers receive $ 1000 from U.S. Tobacco. while the runners-up take home $500 .

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