Carmichael, Roncada Score First Wins
| May 14, 2000
In case you weren’t there or weren’t following live on our Virtual Grandstand, Chevy Trucks/Kawasaki’s Ricky Carmichael and Yamaha of Troy’s Stephan Roncada each scored a premeir victory today at the Chevy Trucks National Motocross Series opener at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California. For Carmichael, it was his first-ever National win (and race) in the 250cc class; Roncada’s 125cc division victory was the first National win of his career.
You can click on Virtual Grandstand for the full details, but the short version is that Carmichael was unbeatable in the quarter-liter class, while the tiddler division featured impressive parity. Carmichael won both motos in convincing fashion, with Frenchman Sebastien Tortelli scoring runner-up finishes both times out. Defending champion Greg Albertyn – back after an amazingly quick comeback from a broken femur – finished third in moto one; Team Honda’s Kevin Windham – who led early in moto one before fading – was the third-place finisher in moto two.
In the 125cc ranks, Roncada took the win via a 1-2 punch. Though he finished second in moto two to Team SplitFire/Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Tallon Vohland, his result was still impressive since he had do work through traffic to do it. Yamaha of Troy’s Casey Johnson and Suzuki’s Travis Pastrana were the second- and third-place finishers, respectively, in moto one, and Steve Lamson finished third in the second outing.
Results
250 O/A: 1. Ricky Carmichael (Kaw) 1-1; 2. Sebastien Tortelli (Hon) 2-2; 3. David Vuillemin (Yam) 4-4; 4. Greg Albertyn (Suz) 3-5; 5. Kevin Windham (Hon) 6-3; 6. Jeremy McGrath (Yam) 5-7; 7. Mike LaRocco (Hon) 9-6; 8. Ezra Lusk (Hon) 7-9; 9. Robbie Reynard (Suz) 11-8; 10. Timmy Ferry (Yam) 8-15.
125 O/A: 1. Stephane Roncada (Yam) 1-2; 2. Tallon Vohland (Kaw) 5-1; 3. Steve Lamson (Hon) 4-3; 4. Travis Pastrana (Suz) 3-4; 5. Casey Johnson (Yam) 2-12; 6. Nathan Ramsey (Kaw) 7-8; 7. Greg Schnell (Yam) 13-5; 8. Rodrig Thain (KTM) 9-11; 9. Justin Buckelew (Yam) 15-7; 10. Brock Sellards (Hon) 6-16.
