Three rounds into the 2001 AMA Chevy Trucks National Championship Motocross Series, and Ricky Carmichael still has yet to score a win. Now that’s something none of us expected. This round was the High Point National in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania, where the Chevy Trucks Kawasaki rider once again was stricken by the moto-one jinx, going down on lap one and finishing 13th. That left last year’s Mt. Morris winner, David Vuillemin, to streak to the overall win on his factory Yamaha. It was the Frenchman’s first victory since last year at the same location, and he got it via 1-4 moto finishes.
Finishing second was Kevin Windham, who has been turning in very consistent finishes this year on his factory Suzuki. Those finishes here were a third and a second, and they have the Cajun sitting second in points behind Team Honda’s Sebastien Tortelli, third overall at Mt. Morris. Tortelli finished 4-3 in this rain-affected National. Taking fourth overall was Tim Ferry, who took his booming Yamaha thumper to a runner-up finish in moto one, then posted an amazing fifth in the second outing despite being the last rider off the line when he stalled at the gate. Carmichael, who took the moto-two win following his moto-one slip-up, rounded out the top five.
Though defending champ Carmichael is still winless this year, the 125cc champ finally posted a victory here at round three. Team Suzuki’s Travis Pastrana posted a perfect 1-1 score, though he had to deal with sometime teammate Akira Narita to do it. Narita led much of moto one and some of moto two before carburetor problems reportedly sidelined him. That left second overall to Pro Circuit/Kawasaki/SplitFire rider Michael Brown, who went 7-2 on the day. He was followed in the overall results by Pastrana’s teammate Rodrig Thain, earning the final podium position via a pair of fifth-place finishes.
As for points leader Grant Langston, the KTM Red Bull rider suffered bike problems in moto one and struggled, not only failing to extend his perfect outdoor record, but finishing off the podium. The South African was fourth overall via 10-3 results. Completing the top five was Langston’s teammate and last year’s winner Kelly Smith, who went 4-4 on the day.
Results
125: 1. Travis Pastrana (Suz) 1-1; 2. Mike Brown (Kaw) 7-2; 3. Rodrig Thain (Suz) 5-5; 4. Grant Langston (KTM) 10-3; 5. Kelly Smith (KTM) 4-4.
250: 1. David Vuillemin (Yam); 1-4; 2. Kevin Windham (Suz) 3-2; 3. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon) 4-3; 4. Timmy Ferry (Yam) 2-5; 5. Ricky Carmichael (Kaw) 13-1.
Points
125: 1. Grant Langston (131); 2. Travis Pastrana (122); 3. Michael Brown (80); 4. Rodrig Thain (78); 5. Danny Smith (68).
250: 1. Sebastien Tortelli (124); 2. Kevin Windham (118); 3. Timmy Ferry (116); 4. Ricky Carmichael (112); 5. Mike LaRocco (102).
