Carmichael/Roncada Tops at Unadilla

| July 16, 2000

Sebastien Tortelli and Ricky Carmichael were four points apart as they went into the seventh round of the 2000 AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Championship Motocross Series at Unadilla Valley Sports Center near New Berlin, New York, and that’s exactly the way they left the facility, as they traded moto wins. The overall victory went to Chevy Trucks/Kawasaki’s Carmichael, but Team Honda’s Tortelli continues to lead the points standings.

In the 125cc ranks, things weren’t nearly as even, as Yamaha of Troy rider Stephane Roncada convincingly won both motos for the second race in a row.

Rain fell intermitantly throughout the day, but the precipitation was never as strong as it had been for yesterday’s practice sessions. The expanded track held up well, and it was an epic day of motocross racing.

In the first moto, there was no stopping the Frenchman Tortelli, who grabbed the early lead and checked out. Carmichael gave him an early challenge, but crashed while trying to take the lead and had to work much of the moto just to make up the positions lost. Defending champ Greg Albertyn, of Team Suzuki, finished third ahead of Honda’s Kevin Windham and Yamaha’s David Vuillemin, who was coping with a flapping radiator shroud. Mike LaRocco was sixth after a signature poor start.

In the second outing, Carmichael pulled a humongous holeshot and never trailed, though Tortelli was closer in second than R.C. had been in moto one. The two were head-and-shoulders above the rest of the pack, with Tortelli putting a one-minute gap on third-placed LaRocco by the end of the moto. Albertyn took fourth ahead of an impressive Larry Ward of Chevy Trucks/Kawasaki. Windham and Vuillemin were next.

Roncada was unstoppable in the 125cc class, leading every lap of the first moto and overcoming a horrendous moto-two getaway to pass Suzuki’s Travis Pastrana and pull away to the win. Pastrana took the runner-up spot by virtue of his 3-2 moto finishes, and SplitFire/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Tallon Vohland’s 2-5 netted him third overall. Casey Johnson, Roncada’s teammate, took fourth overall ahead of FMF/Honda’s Brock Sellards.

Roncada increased his points lead to a commanding 41 points, and Pastrana now sits in second, as Steve Lamson experienced problems and finished eighth overall.

By the way, we apologize for our lack of Virtual Grandstand coverage today. Our V.G. technician experienced problems and was unable to post his report.

Results:

250: 1. Ricky Carmichael (Kaw) 2-1; 2. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon) 1-2; 3. Greg Albertyn (Suz) 3-4; 4. Mike LaRocco (Hon) 6-3; 5. Kevin Windham (Hon) 4-6; 6. Larry Ward (Kaw) 7-5; 7. David Vuillemin (Yam) 5-7; 8. John Dowd (Kaw) 9-9; 9. Timmy Ferry (Yam) 8-10; 10. Robbie Reynard (Suz) 11-8.

125: 1. Stephane Roncada (Yam) 1-1; 2. Travis Pastrana (Suz) 3-2; 3. Tallon Vohland (Kaw) 2-5; 4. Casey Johnson (Yam) 7-3; 5. Brock Sellards (Hon) 11-4; 6. Rodrig Thain (KTM) 8-6; 7. Danny Smith (Hon) 6-8; 8. Steve Lamson (Hon) 4-12; 9. Billy Payne (Kaw) 13-10; 10. Paul Currie (Hon) 5-30.

By Freelance