Paul Carruthers | January 8, 2000
If anyone questioned just how much desire Jeremy McGrath had left in him, those questions were answered tonight in front of a packed house at Edison Field in Anaheim.
The Mazda/Chaparral Yamaha rider won his heat race, then stormed to victory in the main event – despite a fifth-place start and a fast-starting Ricky Carmichael. After gating fifth, McGrath went about his business in methodical fashion, until passing Carmichael early in the race to take the lead. Those two battled briefly, but Carmichael couldn’t match the champion’s pace and the Floridian faded to an eventual eighth-place finish. After his brief tussle with Carmichael, McGrath was able to hold off the advances of Team Amsoil/Jack-in-the-Box/Factory Connection Honda’s Mike LaRocco, who held second to the flag.
Third place tonight went to Team Honda’s Kevin Windham, the winner of the first of the two 250cc heat races. Behind Windham came his Honda teammate Sebastien Tortelli, just in front of Team Yamaha’s David Vuillemin.
But the story is still McGrath as the six-time AMA Supercross Champion took the first big step toward capturing a seventh title with the season-opening victory.
Team Honda’s Ezra Lusk, one of the pre-races favorites going into Anaheim, didn’t make the race after suffering a discolated shoulder during practice this afternoon. Lusk will likely miss next week’s Anaheim round, but may be back in action for San Diego in two weeks.
The 125cc main event victory went to Suzuki-mounted David Pingree, ahead of Casey Johnson and Greg Schnell.
Paul Carruthers | Editor
Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America’s Daily Motorcycle News Source.
