Tuesday, May 15

Racewire 05.15.01

By B.J. Smith
MotoWorld

What's going on in the MotoWorld? With a new series, new winners and lots of surprises there's plenty to talk about. Then of course there's the usual stuff like news, injuries, updates and stuff we make up.

...Tim Ferry is on fire. First he outright catches and passes Ricky Carmichael at the Utah Supercross and eventually ends up with a career best of second, then follows that up with a third in Vegas. Move the series outdoors where Ferry has never finished better than fifth overall in the 250 class and he wins. Many are quick to attribute it all to the YZ426 but there is more to it than that. Ferry has finally found his place and the support he needs to win. The best part is that Ferry is one of the most sincere and grateful riders out there. It's been a long road for Ferry. He's been bounced around from team to team and unfortunately, as it always is with this sport for riders not on the podium every week, he's been considered as just "there," somewhere around 10th. Things are clicking for him and we're happy to see him in the mix.

Only the first person in line got autographs this weekend at the Suzuki tent. Everyone else was sent home.

... Even though he won, we are still going to call Ferry "Mr. Second Place," which isn't a bad title for a guy that is, for the first time ever, leading the points chase outdoors. Ferry's win came via 2-2 moto scores. He would've won the first moto had he not stalled his bike with two laps to go. Ferry won a 125cc National in 1995 by also going 2-2. And in 1997, he beat Carmichael for the 125cc East SX title by finishing second at every round but one. Still looking for that first moto win. Maybe this weekend...

... Ferry's win breaks Carmichael's streak of moto wins at Glen Helen. RC now has a 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-8-1 career record at the track. This also means that out of the seven nationals hosted at Glen Helen, there have been seven different winners in the 250cc class.

... Sorry for not getting too hyped up about Grant Langston's win, but to be honest with you, we pretty much expected him to win. The guy is just plain fast. He's a world champion, he had never ridden Supercross before this year and he picked it up right away. And remember last year at the des Nations? Enough said.

... With his win, Langston joins a very short list of riders that won their first ever AMA MX National event on the first try. The others? Jean Michel Bayle, 1989 250cc class and Sebastien Tortelli, 1999 250cc class. The connection? They are all foreign born. What's it mean? Go win a world title then come to America.

... I was a little mistaken on my race report about RC's first moto crash. When he went up the first hill he was swapping back and forth and then the crowd went out of site. Apparently it wasn't the swap that sent him to the ground, rather, there was a haybale in the middle of the track. Check out this amazing photo of the crash http://www.motonews.com/tfs/01rcwp.jpg

... Defending GNCC champion Shane Watts came out to qualify for the 125cc national. Watts made it and went 31-26 for 31st overall.

... Former WML champion Stefy Bau is continuing her mission to become the first female to qualify for an AMA MX National. She didn't make it at Glen Helen but she will try again this weekend.

... Speaking of women, the first round of the Women's Motocross League was Saturday and Stefy Laire came over from Germany and made everyone look silly. Defending champion Jessica Patterson was in the pits but still recovering from a broken leg.

... Shaun Palmer had a forgettable start to his season. Palmer qualified for the 250cc class but crashed on the first lap of the first moto and tore up one of his fingers. He didn't ride the second moto.

... Can't win for losing: McGrath finished second to Carmichael again Friday night. This time it was on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Carmichael completed the course in 48 flat and MC posted a 48.8.

... Yamaha Team Manager Keith McCarty had the grand opportunity of being a flagman at Glen Helen last weekend. When Bobby Bonds crashed in the corner before the finish line jump, he was hit by teammate Casey Lytle. Meanwhile, the flagman was watching the action from his lawn chair while consuming a refreshing Coke (not 100% about the beverage) and hot dog. McCarty jumped the banners and grabbed the flag. After that incident, the flagman must have figured McCarty had it handled because he didn't show for the next moto and McCarty had to fill in again when Scott Davis crashed in the same spot.

... AMA Superbike contender Anthony Gobert was cruising the pits at Glen Helen last weekend. One week after his Superbike and Supersport wins at Sears Point, Gobert said he was out watching the races and preparing for the double header weekend at Road Atlanta coming this Saturday. In his spare time, Gobert rides motocross.

... What a bummer for Ben Bostrom who dislocated his shoulder last weekend in Monza, Italy at round five of the World Superbike tour. Bostrom will miss testing this week in Misano but should be healthy enough to ride Donington Park in two weeks. Stay tuned.

... This weekend is round two of the AMA Motocross series and once again, we will be bringing you the live Web cast of the action from Sacramento, Calif. The gate drops at 1:00 p.m. (PST). Be sure to tune in.