The AMA/Chevy Trucks
U.S. Motocross Championships concluded with a perfect day and a
record-breaking season for Kawasaki's rookie James Stewart. Stewart won
both motos and ended the season with 10 out of 12 overall wins, the best
of any 125 rider ever.
Stewart was the
dominant rider in 2002, but at this round another Kawasaki rider, Pro
Circuit's Matt Walker, gave him the most competition he has faced all
summer. Stewart and his competition had their share of troubles over the
course of 12 rounds, with Stewart hurting his knee at round three and
suffering 2 mechanical DNFs. Australia's Chad Reed hurt his shoulder at
round 4. KTM's ex-world champ and top prospect Grant Langston missed
half the season due to knee surgery, and defending champion Mike Brown
also was out for the season with a knee injury. Even with all of Reed's
troubles, he was in a battle for second with Suzuki's Brandon Jesseman,
who came into the last round as a local favorite.
Danny Smith puts in a strong effort for 4th place
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KTM's Brock
Sellards got the first holeshot of the day and led a couple of laps before
Stewart, Walker, and Ernesto Fonseca got by him. Stewart led briefly but
couldn't shake Walker, who made a pass for the lead that stuck for over
half the moto. With two laps to go Stewart got inside of Walker in a fast
sweeping turn and led until the finish, with Walker and Fonseca right
behind him. Reed crashed hard in the first moto and finished way in the
back, and Jesseman had a dead last start and charged up to 12th. Sellards
held on to 4th.
Reed Leads - Start of 2nd Moto
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In the second moto
Reed got the holeshot despite a bad gate pick due to his first moto
result. Sellards passed him on the first lap, the Stewart took control on
the second lap and took off. Walker had to work up from 10th to 5th, which
was good enough for a third overall, his first ever podium finish in an
outdoor national.
"(In moto 1)
Stewart, Ernesto and I all had a great race going on out there," said
Walker, "It will make an interesting broadcast on TV I am sure. For me
it was the first time leading for that many laps. Pro Circuit has really
been behind me. Last weekend definitely was a bad weekend. It was good to
come back this weekend and get on the podium, especially for the last
race."
Steve Boniface - 8th Overall
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"I felt pretty
good the whole weekend," said Fonseca, who's 3-3 was good for second
overall. "The last few weekends have been pretty good for me. My bike
has been working good," he said, "I think there has been a little less
pressure. I really don't know what happened. I am pretty happy that we
kept James in sight for the first moto. It made the race go by real
fast."
Fonseca will lead
his home country Costa Rica's first ever entry into the prestigious
Motocross of Nations event next month in San Jacinto California. "Its
Costa Rica's first time at the Motocross of Nations," he said, "I
don't know what to expect but I am pretty happy that I got chosen to
race."
"I don't know
how I won (moto 1)," said Stewart, "Matt led most of the race. I got
around him on the last two laps but I was definitely getting banged around
out there. It was a good race. Definitely Ernie, Matt and I got some TV
time on that one. I am lucky I got through it."
Jesseman had a
terrible start in the first moto, but Reed's bad luck kept his bid for
second place in the series going. "I started up the season pretty rocky
but I picked it up after Glen Helen. I came in today and my goal was to be
second in points and I did that," he said, "I had some trouble in
practice and hurt my knee and got a bad start in the second moto but all
in all I rode as well as I could and came out in second."
A photographer can't get a better advertisement than this!!!
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Reed's outdoor
season will be has last in the 125 class. It is no secret he is anxious to
get on the 250 class for next year, and his next race with be the
Motocross of Nations for Australia on a 250, then the US Open. "My first
year (in the U.S.) went really good," he said, "I won a supercross
championship. I won six straight races which really was unexpected. I
appreciate Yamaha of Troy for bring me here. The outdoor season has been a
little up and down but that's motocross."
After the races
Stewart and 250 champion Carmichael joked a little about a possible
matchup. "I know I can beat him (Carmichael) on a 125," said
Stewart. Carmichael suggested if he wants a matchup, he should be the one
changing classes. "Any time he feels frisky, he can step up to the
250s," said Carmichael. It won't happen next year, Stewart is
racing 125s again in 2003.
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