Monday, February 11

Vuillemin Wins a Thriller

By B.J. Smith

INDIANAPOLIS (February 9) - You win some and you lose some - no, not races, fans. And it was 250cc race winner, David Vuillemin who won the fans, Ricky Carmichael's that is. In the most intense Supercross race since Anaheim III 2001,Vuillemin played a late race chess match with RC at round six of EA Sports Supercross to win his third race of the season. Chad Reed, in his first 125cc Supercross ever, took a hard fought win.

David Vuillemin won his third race of the year in one of the most exciting Supercross races ever.

250cc:

Defending champion Carmichael, pulled the holeshot in front of the sold out crowd of more than 57,000 but Travis Pastrana and Vuillemin slipped to the inside coming out of turn two. Carmichael retaliated on Vuillemin to secure the second spot while Stephane Roncada, Ernesto Fonseca and Jeremy McGrath rounded out the top six. Those six riders remained within a bike length of each other for the first 11 laps.

Carmichael waited four laps before making his move on Pastrana, but a bobble in the whoops allowed the Suzuki rider to slip by once again. For six laps, Pastrana kept his distance from Carmichael while Vuillemin, Roncada, Fonseca and McGrath were all within striking distance as well.

Just after the halfway point, Carmichael edged up to Pastrana's back tire and at the end of the rhythm section the two collided, RC hitting Pastrana hard from the inside line. Whether Pastrana moved into his competitor's line or it was foul play by Carmichael, (we'll have to go the video tape) RC definitely didn't have many friends in the stands.

With Pastrana out of contention for the win and the crowd spread out, it looked like the race was Carmichael's again, that is, until points leader, Vuillemin latched onto RC, and methodically began making his move with eight laps to go.

Lap after lap, Vuillemin got closer and closer to making a move but he waited until the white flag and used a classic clean block pass to take the lead. Carmichael, never one to give up, had nothing left for Vuillemin, who extended his points lead and took his fifth career 250cc Supercross win.

"He was going in and I was going out, he opened the door and I made the move," Vuillemin said. "I had a great race and I want to thank my team and especially the crowd. I got my chance a few laps before but I wanted to wait for that white flag. As far as the series goes, I want to take it race by race."

When the floor announcers called Carmichael for his podium interview, the crowd went ballistic with jeers and boos.

"He (Pastrana) cut in front of me," Carmichael said. "I had no where to go and I would have expected the same. I almost crashed myself. I'd like to hear his side of the story first.

Seven-time Supercross champion, McGrath was running the leader's pace in sixth until he fell in the tunnel at the halfway point.

125cc:

Team Moto XXX's Kelly Smith nailed the holeshot in round of 125cc Eastern Regional action. Smith was closely followed by Mike Brown and Buddy Antunez. Brown wasted no time putting his Kawasaki as he stuffed Smith on lap two. Grant Langston and Chad Reed, two hot title contenders, were running third and fourth on lap three until Reed made his move to third. Langston, fast through the whoops, clipped Reed's back wheel and hit the ground hard.

Langston got up but was unable to finish the race. Unconfirmed reports cite bike seizure.

Up front, Brown was way out front but Reed was closing in fast. Reed moved within striking distance by lap ten and carefully calculated his plan.

A hard crash by Michael Byrne brought out the red cross flags, forcing the riders to roll the triples and throwing a wrench into the battle between Reed and Brown. Reed made a pass and Brown stayed on his back tire, but while Byrne was being carried off the track, Reed doubled into the triples on a yellow flag. Unofficial reports say Reed will be fined but will keep his position.

Brown was unable to challenge Reed for the win and settle for second. For Reed, it was his first 125cc win on his first try.

"Where better to win than America," said Reed, who is from Australia. "This is my first professional race on a 125cc motorcycle, and I am adjusting well to the bike. I had good lines all night, and I was felling really comfortable out there.

Brown, not happy with second, is confident for the rest of the season.

"I got a little arm pump," he said. "I'll take the second, but I'm not happy with it. I'll be back next week."

A big surprise of the night was the third place of five-time Arenacross champion Buddy Antunez, who made his official return to Supercross.

"When I decided to take this jump back to Supercross, it was a big jump," he said. I wanted to go after the next goal. I pounded miles on the bicycle to train for this and, God willing, I can pull off this championship."

Be sure to catch the action on ABC's Wide World of Sports at 5 p.m. (Eastern)

250cc EA SPORTS Supercross Event Standings:

1. David Vuillemin, Corona, Calif., Yamaha
2. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda
3. Stephane Roncada, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
4. Nathan Ramsey, Corona, Calif., Honda
5. Mike LaRocco, South Bend, Ind., Honda
6. Ezra Lusk, Acworth Ga., Kawasaki
7. Jeremy McGrath, Encinitas, Calif., Yamaha
8. Travis Pastrana, Annapolis, Md., Suzuki
9. Heath Voss, Prior Lake Minn., Honda
10. Damon Huffman, Valencia, Calif., Suzuki

250cc EA SPORTS Supercross Season Points Standings:

1. David Vuillemin, Corona, Calif., Yamaha, 137 pts
2. Mike LaRocco, South Bend, Ind., Honda, 119, pts
3. Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda, 109 pts
4. Travis Pastrana, Annapolis, Md., Suzuki, 93 pts
5. Ezra Lusk, Acworth Ga., Kawasaki, 83 pts
6. Nathan Ramsey, Corona, Calif., Honda, 83 pts
7. Stephane Roncada, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki, 83 pts
8. Jeremy McGrath, Encinitas, Calif., Yamaha, 75 pts
9. Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha, 58 pts
10. Damon Huffman, Valencia, Calif., Suzuki, 58 pts

125cc Eastern regional Supercross Event Standings:

1. Chad Reed, Australia, Yamaha
2. Mike Brown, Piney Flats, Tenn., Kawasaki
3. Buddy Antunez, Temecula, Calif.., Suzuki
4. Larry Ward, Florence, S.C., Yamaha
5. John Dowd, Chicopee, Mass., KTM
6. Billy Payne, Simi Valley, Calif., Honda
7. Steve Boniface, France, KTM
8. Paul Currie, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Suzuki
9. Greg Schnell, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Yamaha
10. Jeff Gibson, Thornville, Ohio, Yamaha

125cc Eastern regional Supercross Points Standings:

1. Chad Reed, Australia, Yamaha, 25 pts
2. Mike Brown, Piney Flats, Tenn., Kawasaki, 22 pts
3. Buddy Antunez, Temecula, Calif., Suzuki, 20 pts
4. Larry Ward, Florence, S.C., Yamaha, 18 pts
5. John Dowd, Chicopee, Mass., KTM, 16 pts
6. Billy Payne, Simi Valley, Calif., Honda, 15 pts
7. Steve Boniface, France, KTM, 14 pts
8. Paul Currie, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Suzuki, 13 pts
9. Greg Schnell, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Yamaha, 12 pts
10. Jeff Gibson, Thornville, Ohio, Yamaha, 11 pts