Team Yamaha’s David Vuillemin came away the winner at the opening round of the AMA/EA Sports Supercross Series at Edison International Field in Anaheim, California. Vuillemin captured the win after a bizarre race that saw defending champion Ricky Carmichael crash and walk off the field, and Jeremy McGrath finish 13th after suffering a bad case of arm pump. Mike LaRocco ended up finishing second, followed by Team Honda’s Ernesto Fonseca, Michael Byrne and Ezra Lusk.
Carmichael crashed hard on the sixth lap while running second, suffering a blow to the face that left him dazed and unable to continue. Carmichael was already being transported to the hospital to be checked out before the main event was over. According to Carmichael’s team manager Erik Kehoe, Carmichael took a hard hit to the facial area but should be okay.
McGrath, meanwhile, suffered “tightness” and arm pump all night and just could not get going on the difficult (mainly the two whoop sections) track. After locking handlebars with Kevin Windham off the gate and rounding the first turn well down in the field, McGrath couldn’t loosen up, fell once, and finished out the race in 13th.
LaRocco, however, might’ve been the fastest rider of the night. While running third, LaRocco ran into a crashing Carmichael and fell himself, losing a few positions, but LaRocco charged back up to second and was closing in on Vuillemin when the checkered flag came out.
Fonseca and Byrne battled throughout the race, with Fonseca finally getting the upper hand late in the race.
Travis Pastrana was credited with 19th place after an early get-together with Fonseca that left Pastrana’s Suzuki with a front wheel full of broken spokes. The wheel eventually gave out at the halfway point, forcing him to retire to the pits.
In the 125cc Western Regional final, Chris Gosselaar led most of the race before bobbling on the last lap and letting Rodrig Thain get around him. Gosselaar regrouped quickly and chased Thain through a section of whoops. Thain then bobbled and Gosselaar ran into him, taking both riders out. Travis Preston rode right past the downed riders and took the dramatic win a few turns later.
Sixteen-year-old James “Bubba” Stewart took second after threatening for the lead earlier in the race when he crashed. Gosselaar did get up in time to salvage third ahead of Brock Sellards, Thain and David Pingree.
RESULTS
250cc
1. David Vuillemin (Yam); 2. Mike LaRocco (Hon); 3. Ernesto Fonseca (Hon); 4. Michael Byrne (Hon); 5. Ezra Lusk (Kaw); 6. Chad Reed (Yam); 7. Nick Wey (Yam); 8. Kevin Windham (Suz); 9. Stephane Roncada (Kaw); 10. Jean-Sebastien Roy (Hon); 11. Damon Huffman (Suz); 12. Heath Voss (Hon); 13. Jeremy McGrath (Yam); 14. Kyle Lewis (Hon); 15. Michael Brown (Kaw); 16. Steve Lamson (Hus); 17. Nathan Ramsey (Hon); 18. Tyler Evans (Hon); 19. Travis Pastrana (Suz); 20. Ricky Carmichael (Hon).
125cc
1. Travis Preston (Hon); 2. James Stewart (Kaw); 3. Chris Gosselaar (Hon); 4. Brock Sellards (KTM); 5. Rodrig Thain (Yam); 6. David Pingree (KTM); 7. Ivan Tedesco (Yam); 8. Travis Elliott (Hon); 9. Keith Johnson (Yam); 10. Michael Brandes (Suz); 11. Justin Buckelew (Suz); 12. Michael Young (Suz); 13. Isaiah Johnson (Suz); 14. Andrew Short (Suz); 15. Casey Lytle (Yam); 16. Tiger Lacey (Suz); 17. Tommy Harrison (Suz); 18. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 19. Erick Vallejo (Suz); 20. Casey Johnson (Hon); 21. Danny Smith (Suz); 22. Matt Walker (Kaw).
