Chad Reed Wicks It

The 125 class in the AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship was going to be a fight between the "fast four," and so far it has, but it is now looking like a struggle to see who has the least bad luck.

The series favorites were Chad Reed, recent east 125 regional supercross champion, Grant Langston, 2000 world 125 champion, Mike Brown, defending 125 champion, and the exciting rookie James "Bubba" Stewart. All but Langston have now won a moto, but bad luck is taking its toll. Brown almost lost a toe last weekend and he DNF'd the second moto this time with a hurt knee. Langston had to skip this weekend because of his knee, and Stewart was trying to salvage a weekend after crashing hard in Saturday's practice. He also hurt a knee, and even had trouble walking Saturday.

A Hurting James Stewart

Sunday Stewart started the day with a 20 point cushion for the series, and he just wanted to get through the day with some points. He was hurting too much to finish practice, but he was back for the first moto and with a good start, he saved his lead with a 4th.

Reed and Brown battled in the first moto for the lead, with Reed pulling away a little after passing Brown on lap 9. Ernesto Fonseca passed the ailing Stewart for third in that moto. Local favorite Branden Jesseman was 5th, and Brown's Pro Circuit teammate Eric Sorby was 6th.

In the second moto Larry Ward got the holeshot with Sorby and Reed close behind. Brown went from 6th to second quickly, then tangled with Stewart and had to stop with a hurt knee. Stewart kept riding but only lasted a lap because his radiator was damaged and he lost the coolant. Reed led every lap, and the only one in sight of him was Jesseman.

Larry Ward Pouring It On

Reed cruised for a perfect 1-1 score, his first outdoor win in the U.S. and the first for an Australian. Jesseman was second overall, and Sorby third, his first podium in the outdoors.

Sorby has just been in the US a few months, but his frequent top finishes have justified Pro Circuit's bring him over from France. "Last year racing in GPs wasn't that good for me and I came here didn't have great speed," he said, "As soon as races started (here) I got better and had better speed." Sorby was attracting a lot of attention in Saturday's practice by jumping a very difficult uphill triple. He didn't make the jump during the races but he said things like that help him prepare for the motos that count. "It was good to practice on the uphill triple because not many 125s were doing it so it was a confidence builder for me," he said.

Local Favorite - Brandon Jesseman

Jesseman is a local star in Western Pennsylvania. The fans cheer for him, the local papers do nice features, and even the local medical center (UPMC) is gearing up for a study of motocross athletes to see how they do in fitness tests. It all may have been a little distracting, but he made it through OK. "I have had a lot more press coming into this weekend," he said, "It was a little crazy at first. In the first moto I got off to a decent start, but I wasn't very happy with how I rode the first moto. I was riding a little careful. There were a lot of people around. It was a little frustrating. After the first moto I came back I was upset with myself and refocused mentally. I came back in the second moto and got not that good of a start but came through the pack pretty well and passed some good riders and felt strong the whole moto. I felt great. There were so fan fans out there (cheering). It was great. All my family and friends, I could hear them all the way around the track and it got me pumped up. I was happy with the way I rode the second moto. If it's not a confidence builder passing those guys I don't know what would be."

Jesseman talked a little about the upcoming medical study. "UPMC, a sports medicine place in Pittsburgh, they do the Steelers, Penquins and train a lot of people are doing testing on motocross riders," he said, "They will take 15 or 30 of us and see what kind of shape we are in. I think it will be really interesting to see how everybody compares (to athletes in other sports)."

Reed On Top

Reed went from third to first in the series standings in one weekend. "On Saturday I felt quite good," he said, "It's not good that Bubba got injured but these things happen. I just did the best that I could and made as many points as I could. The bike is a little better. I have been struggling with the bike a little bit at the beginning of the year and it has been getting better and better. This year people just talked about the 4 of us (Brown, Reed, Langston, Stewart). It seems that whenever they talk about a 4-way battle like that it never happens. I am looking forward to Southwick. I really enjoy riding the sand. I have never really had anything to do with 4-strokes and it is a little different to set up. Outdoors are a little harder. Supercross comes more natural to me."

Stewart Disappointed

1. 1-1 Chad Reed, Australia, Yamaha
2. 5-2 Branden Jesseman, Pombell, Pa., Suzuki
3. 6-3 Eric Sorby, Corona, Ca., Kawasaki
4. 3-8 Ernesto Fonseca, Costa Rica, Honda
5. 11-5 Larry Ward, Florence, SC., Yamaha
6. 9-9 Casey Johnson, Lake Elsinore, Ca., Honda
7. 16-4 Buddy Antunez, Temecula, Ca., Suzuki
8. 12-7 Josh Demuth, Fort Worth, Tx., Yamaha
9. 2-39 Mike Brown, Piney Flats, Tn., Kawasaki
10. 8-14 Michael Byrne, Australia, Honda

Stefy Bau

1. Chad Reed, Australia, Yamaha, 125 pts
2. James Stewart, Haines City, Fla., KAW, 115 pts
3. Mike Brown, Piney Flats, TN, Kawasaki, 89 pts
4. Ernesto Fonseca, Costa Rica, Honda, 87 pts
5. Danny Smith, Middleton, Idaho, Suzuki, 84 pts
6. Grant Langston, South Africa, KTM, 77 pts
7. Branden Jesseman, Pombell, Pa., Suzuki 75 pts
8. Matt Walker, McRae, GA, Kawasaki, 63 pts
9. Eric Sorby, Corona, Ca., Kawasaki, 62 pts
10. Bobby Bonds, Bakersfield, CA,. KAW, 60 pts

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