Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

'Hl I ftr Briefly... . .#;^ t''G ;;\ J t # x 1 t \ - t\ -:#= Y-r1-' Chod Reed's bike quit running in the first moto ond he wcs Gredited with l6th plore. He finished rhird in rhe second moto for eighth overoll, ($;tiiu,:t| fnfi ,tcrLtt: aii gearing is important, but we will also change head gaskers to try to get a little more com- pression," Berluti said. "We may have to chante lhe fuel, as well, if we start havinS a problem wath overheating - maybe go to something that burns a little slower." Andrew l4cFarlane's Yamaha of Troy mechanic,.lamie Ellis, offered that gear selection on the stafi was important, too. "Back home we have been trying different sprocket combinations and that is important for us," Ellis said. "We won't change com- pression, but we will use a different exhaust, anrl our riders will 'rse differeflt sran Eech- niques for the elevation. l'4ost of the guys up here start in first gear, so our guys will try that. But we are confident that our Yamaha motor will be strong here and overheating shouldn't be a factor " After spending the past two months recov- ering from torn ligaments in his thrrmb, Michael Byrne returned to racing action at last week's Unadilla round and was very fast during the early pan of both motos, bur then dropped off the pace after a few laps. According to Byrne, the screws that the doctors inserted in his thumb line up with his throttle trip when he is riding. and the rub- bint causes excruciatins pain after a few laps. Byrne was better prepared to cope wkh the problem at Colorado, and he said that eventually the screws will dissolve. "The soreness was a lot better this week. but rhe overall strength is not there," Byrne said. "That is somerhing that is just going to take time, and I iust need to nor over do it and just try and rake at slow and steady." Japanese rider Yohei Koiima rode the Lites class at the Colorado event as a member of the Makita Suzuki Te.m. Koiima is cur- rently leading lhe MX2 class in the Japanese National Series and took adwantage of a break in the schedule to compete at the Lakewood event- Although Kojima's English was poor, he did mamte to say that he thought the e,evation at the event might be an adv"antage for him since he trains in high altitude in Japan. Kojima went 25-22 for 25th overall. Team Yamaha's Chad Reed elected to sit out Saturday's prectice session in order to give his knee and extra day of rest. Reed crashed h.avily in practice at the Unadilla round the week, Nvisting his knee until it "popped." Stephen Aexander, the tiSht end for the NF[s Denver Broncos, was a spectator at rhe Lakewood race. Alexander has been a Supercrosrmotocross fan since he played for the Sao Diego CharSers and has followed the spon ever sance. "l ve always been into ridinS motorcycles," Alexander said. "When I pla/ed for the San Diego Chargers, I was fortunate enough to meet some people in the industry, and I fell in love with i!. My wife can tell you, I 8et all the magazines and I love keeping up with it. I am always on the lnter- net checkinS out the results and stuff, I love riding and it is amazing to see the kind of pace that these tuys ride at." Alexander was born and lives in Oklahoma, but was in Den- ver to get ready for the upcoming season. "\rye start training camp on the 27th ofJuly so this is like my last chance to come to a race and hant out," Just because Tim Ferry hails from Florida, don't thlnk rhat he is a stranEer to altitude, The Unbound Energy/Moto Xxx-backed rider adually trains in Colorado Spring, Colorado, at Carmichael Training Systems (no relation to Ricky), which is also where Lance Armstrong trains. Ferry's coach at Carmi

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