Supercross Season Gets Off to Muddy Start at Coliseum

By SHAV GLICK

Jan. 10, 1998 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Despite Friday’s storm, the AMA Supercross season opener tonight at the Coliseum will go on as scheduled, promoters said.

“We play in the mud,” said one official.

The Coliseum field has been covered and the event will start as scheduled at 7:30 no matter what.

Muddy or not, fans are going to need a program. Free agency hasn’t hit motocross yet, but there have been a number of changes since the 1997 season ended.

Jeff Emig, the No. 1 rider in the world last year, will remain on the Kawasaki he rode to championships in the AMA Supercross and national 250cc outdoor series. Behind him, however, the next four riders in the final standings will be on new equipment.

Jeremy McGrath, winner of four consecutive Supercross titles on a Honda before slipping a notch last year after switching to Suzuki, has switched yet again, this time to a Chaparral Yamaha. Ezra Lusk, who rode a Yamaha to third place last year, will be aboard a Honda.

Larry Ward, who was an independent last year on a Honda, has returned to the Suzuki factory team, and Mike LaRocco left a factory ride with Suzuki to form his own Honda team.

“I’ve got the best of all worlds now,” McGrath said while checking out the Coliseum track. “I’ve got factory support, plus I get to line up my own sponsorship deals. And the Yamaha has been really fast in testing.

“I’m pumped up for the season to start. Last year, I really suffered a letdown. Somewhere along in the season, I lost all my confidence and in this sport, if you’re not confident you might as well stay home. Right now, I feel like ’96 again.”

In 1996, McGrath broke all Supercross records by winning 14 consecutive races, losing one and then winning the finale.

Although winning only two races last year seemed like a dismal season for the Canyon Lake veteran, McGrath still finished second behind Emig.

Emig, who struggled in the two Coliseum races last year, finishing sixth to Suzuki’s Greg Albertyn in the first race, and 14th behind Yamaha’s Doug Henry a week later, said he expected to get off to a quicker start this year.

“I guess winning [the championship] last year inspired me, because I worked a lot harder getting in the shape during the off-season than I did a year ago,” Emig said. “I’ve done a lot of work in the gym, but I’ve also worked very hard on the mental side. I was nervous at the start of last year, it’s not a good feeling to have. This year, I’m concentrating on staying relaxed, relaxed and fast.”

Also on tonight’s program is the 125cc class, featuring 18-year-old Ricky Carmichael, outdoor national champion from Havana, Fla. Carmichael, on a Kawasaki, won eight of 13 races last year. Kevin Windham, last year’s Coliseum 125 winner who recently moved to Corona from Baton Rouge, La., is moving up to the main event. Last year at Charlotte, Windham became the first full-time 125 rider to win a Supercross 250cc event.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Facts

* What: AMA Supercross, Round 1 of a 16-race series.

* Where: Coliseum.

* When: Saturday. Gates open at 5:45 p.m.; opening ceremonies, 7 p.m.; first race, 7:30 p.m.

* Defending series champion: Jeff Emig of Riverside.

* Defending Coliseum winners: Greg Albertyn of South Africa and Doug Henry of Oxford, Conn. (There were two Coliseum races last year.)

* Tickets: Available at Sports Arena box office, Ticketmaster outlets, and participating Yamaha dealers.

* Price: Adults: $35, $22 and $10. Children: $10.

1997 SUPERCROSS FINAL STANDINGS

No. Name, Hometown, Cycle Points

1. Jeff Emig, Riverside, Kawasaki: 293