LaRocco Wins it All

Kit Palmer | October 13, 2002

Mike LaRocco held on to take the overall win at the THQ U.S. Open and the $100,000 grand prize after finishing third Saturday night. LaRocco’s 1-3 total over the weekend was more than enough to top Saturday night’s winner Ricky Carmichael, who crashed and finished fifth on Friday night. The overall win is LaRocco’s first at the THQ U.S. Open.

LaRocco, on the Amsoil/Dr. Martens/Journeys Honda CR250R, took the holeshot in Saturday night’s final but eventually gave way to Carmichael and Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy’s Chad Reed, who finished sixth Friday night. For the rest of the 20-lap main, LaRocco let Carmichael and Reed set the pace, while LaRocco began thinking about how he’s going to spend the $100,000.

Yamaha’s Tim Ferry, who also had a good chance of winning it all after placing second in Friday’s final, ended up fourth last night to take third overall ahead of Reed (6-2), Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy’s Ivan Tedesco (4-5) and Honda’s Ernest Fonseca (7-6). Chevy Trucks/Kawasaki’s Ezra Lusk again fell on Saturday night while running third, and he finished out the weekend in eighth with an 8-8 tally.

LaRocco’s teammate Michael Byrne, who finished on the podium Friday night, failed to qualify for Saturday night’s main event.

Canadian Marco Dube and Brock Sellards won the two Four-Stroke motos Saturday night, but it was Dube taking the overall win with 4-3-1-2 moto finishes over the weekend. Sellards finished second overall.

In the 125cc Engine Ice Manufacturers Cup, Suzuki-mounted Broc Hepler won all four motos to take the overall win ahead of Honda rider Ryan Mills, while Honda-mounted Mike Alessi won the 85cc Pro Circuit Invitational Championship. Georgia’s Will Castleberry topped the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge.