Vuillemin Holds Off McGrath

Paul Carruthers | April 15, 2000

Yamaha’s David Vuillemin had the best in the business in his wheel tracks for 20 laps in the Louisiana Superdome, but when all was said and done the Frenchman had withstood the constant pressure applied to him by Jeremy McGrath to win his fourth 250cc Supercross final of the season.

Mazda/Chaparral Yamaha’s McGrath grabbed the holeshot, but bobbled enough to allow Vuillemin and Suzuki’s Damon Huffman to shoot past. By the end of the first lap, though, McGrath was up to second and the stage was set for a race-long battle between the two Yamaha riders. With the two separated by just over a second for most of the race, McGrath finally whittled that lead down to nothing on the 14th of 20 laps. When Vuillemin made what was really his only mistake of the night, McGrath shot past. Just as quickly, however, McGrath bobbled and Vuillemin was back in front. Although McGrath managed to keep Vuillemin honest for the rest of the race, he couldn’t get close enough to make a final attack and the Frenchman scored the victory in front of 31,008 fans.

Behind those two the racing was rather processional, with Team Honda’s Kevin Windham finishing third in his home-state race. Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki’s Ricky Carmichael was fourth with Factory Connection/Jack in the Box Honda’s Mike LaRocco rounding out the top five.

The battle for the 125cc Eastern Regional Supercross Championship will go to the final round in Chicago with Yamaha of Troy’s Stephane Roncada and FMF Honda’s Brock Sellards tied in the points chase. Roncada won tonight’s final with Sellards finishing second. Third place went to Suzuki’s Travis Pastrana, who came from deep in the pack after a first-turn altercation put him back in 12th at the end of the first lap.

250cc FINAL

1. David Vuillemin (Yamaha)

2. Jeremy McGrath (Yamaha)

3. Kevin Windham (Honda)

4. Ricky Carmichael (Kawasaki)

5. Mike LaRocco (Honda)

6. John Dowd (Kawasaki)

7. Damon Huffman (Suzuki)

8. Sebastien Tortelli (Honda)

9. Larry Ward (Kawasaki)

10. Jason Thomas (Yamaha)

125cc FINAL

1. Stephane Roncada (Yamaha

2. Brock Sellards (Honda)

3. Travis Pastrana (Suzuki)

4. Nick Wey (Kawasaki)

5. Ryan Clark (Suzuki)