Monday, May 21

Tortelli Takes It

By B.J. Smith
MotoWorld

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. - Sebastien Tortelli got his first win of the year with 1-3 moto finishes. Defending champion, Ricky Carmichael had bad starts all day but a lot of hard charging helped him bring home a 5-1 for second overall.

Grant Langston is making his KTM bosses proud and is well on his way to giving the company its first AMA title.

250cc Moto One:

Ryan Hughes pulled a huge holeshot with David Vuillemin, Kevin Windham and Sebastien Tortelli close behind. Carmichael came around the first corner in 20th. Hughes' lead was short-lived. He went down on the first lap and came around the finish jump in 39th place.

Back up front though the Yamaha of Vuillemin set the pace followed by Windham, Tortelli and John Dowd. On a charge as always, was Mike LaRocco who ended the second lap in fifth place. First round winner Tim Ferry had a little bad luck on the first lap when he, Dowd and Stephane Roncada tangled in the chicane. Roncada sat out the rest of the moto with a bruised hip while Ferry remounted for ninth and Dowd finished 10th.

On lap three, Windham put the move on Vuillemin and led until lap six when Tortelli picked his way through the pack to challenge for the lead. Heading toward the off-camber on lap six Tortelli and Windham came together sending Windham off the track and into third place. The lost momentum put Windham in fourth. In the end, Tortelli held on for the win followed by LaRocco, Vuillemin, Windham and Carmichael, who came from well outside the top ten.

250cc Moto Two:

Ferry took the holeshot but it was Windham that made the pass on the inside to take the lead. Second place ferry was followed by Vuillemin, Roncada, Hughes and Carmichael. Windham led for the first five laps until Ferry took the inside away from the Suzuki rider just past the finish line jump. Carmichael had also moved through the pack and passed Windham on the same lap to take over second.

Ferry led until the halfway point when Carmichael overtook the Yamaha rider with a faster line in the back sweeper.

Carmichael pulled out to a comfortable lead and coasted to the win ahead of Ferry, Tortelli, Windham and LaRocco.

250cc Overall Results:

1. Sebastien Tortelli - 1-3
2. Ricky Carmichael - 5-1
3. Mike LaRocco - 2-5
4. Kevin Windham - 4-4
5. David Vuillemin - 3-5