U.S. Riders Sweep Away Competition

The Toyota World Supercross championships came to the United States for the first time since starting in 1990 and American riders made the most of it.

Ezra Lusk, Larry Ward and Jeremy McGrath made it a one-two-three finish Saturday in the second round of the world championships before an estimated 18,000 at the Rose Bowl.

France’s David Vuillemin moved a step closer to his first world title by finishing fourth, just ahead of Jeff Emig. Because neither Lusk nor Ward competed in the first world round in France, and McGrath crashed and ended out of points, Vuillemin extended his lead with one round remaining--next Saturday in Leipzig, Germany.

Lusk, who moved to a new home in Lake Elsinore earlier this week, stormed off the line on his Honda and beat the 18-rider field to the first turn, never losing his lead in the 20-lap final. Ward, on a Kawasaki, was closing late but lost his chance when Lusk took advantage of lapped riders.

“I tried to be as consistent as I could, I didn’t want to make any mistakes,” Lusk said. “I wanted to run real smart. We’re happy. I was nervous trying to get by some of the slower riders because you never know . . . what they’re going to do.”

McGrath, the six-time national Supercross champion, was fifth on his Chaparral Yamaha early, but after passing Emig and Vuillemin, he never seriously challenged the two leaders.

“The course was a little tight, not as flowing as most Supercross tracks,” said McGrath, who will open defense of his Supercross series title Jan. 8 at Edison Field in Anaheim. “It was imperative to get a good start, you could see that.”

Vuillemin has 33 points to 26 for Emig, winner of the U.S. Open last month in Las Vegas, and 25 for Mickael Pichon of France, who finished ninth. The overall world champion will receive $100,000.

Only 18 riders showed up for the 250cc, making heat races unnecessary to determine a 20-rider main event, but for the crowd’s sake--and to get in a little practice time--all the riders rode in the first heat. With most of them looking as if they were out for a trail ride, Lusk led an eight-lap parade with Vuillemin second.

The shortage of riders was because of a series of injuries to top-ranked competitors in European races. Stefan Everts, three-time world champion from Belgium, was here but unable to ride because of back injuries. Frederic Bolley, the 1999 world 250cc champion, and Ricky Carmichael, national 125cc champion, were both injured in Paris races. Bolley sprained his ankle, Carmichael broke his collarbone.

Travis Pastrana, a teenager from Annapolis, Md., made his professional debut with Suzuki a winning one by first outdueling David Pingree in mid-race and holding off East Coast champion Ernesto Fonseca to win the 15-lap 125cc support race.