Washougal National MX: Practice
| July 27, 2002
If you’re planning on attending tomorrow’s AMA Chevy Trucks National Motocross round in Washougal, Washington, leave for the track early. Judging from the substantial crowd on hand for today’s pro practice and 250cc qualifying (there were no 125cc qualifiers), there’s going to be a big turnout, and the road into the track is famous for getting backed up (not to mention the fact that there’s construction on highway 14). It should be worth it, though, as the weather today was perfect, with clouds keeping things cool in the morning before finally burning off for a sunny afternoon.
The Huffman family’s picturesque track was in tip-top shape as well, providing an ideal setting for the pros to put on a show. Most impressive, as usual, was Ricky Carmichael, who looked a little unfamiliar in his blue-and-white ’03 Fox apparel as he threw his factory Honda around like a BMX bike. Also looking good was 125cc points leader James Stewart Jr., who, on his Chevy Trucks Kawasaki KX, was one of only two 125cc-class riders to triple into a tricky section of bumps, a move that only a handful of 250cc riders were successfully attempting. (The other 125cc rider was Blimpie Suzuki’s Danny Smith.)
One rider who isn’t on hand is Team Yamaha’s David Vuillemin, as the Frenchman discovered a couple of days ago that the shoulder he injured last March in a magazine photo shoot has a small break in the joint. Vuillemin will have the shoulder operated on in France Wednesday, and will miss the remainder of the season (including, most likely, a defense of his country’s Motocross des Nations crown).
On a brighter note, SoBe Suzuki’s Sean Hamblin is making a return after missing last week with a bruised lung, an injury from which he says he’s now fully recovered.
Also on hand are Bart Baker, Steve Boyum and David Barrett of Tag Entertainment, the company that created the Disney film “Motocrossed.” The trio is working on another movie, and is attending the Washougal National in order to assure authenticity.
