Unlucky Lusk to Miss at Least Six Weeks

Supercross riders won’t have Ezra Lusk to kick around tonight at Edison Field, where promoters expect another sellout crowd of 45,000 for the second in a 16-race series. Not that they could do it anyway.

Lusk, who won last year’s two events at Edison Field but missed the Supercross series season opener there last Saturday because of a shoulder injury, won’t compete in tonight’s races, which begin at 7, for the same reason.

Originally diagnosed with a separated shoulder after injuring himself in the final practice session before last Saturday’s event, Lusk had surgery Wednesday and is out six to eight weeks with more serious injuries, including a chipped bone in the shoulder and torn ligaments.

“I’m disappointed because I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” said Lusk, who recently moved to Lake Elsinore and also maintains a residence in his native Georgia.

Lusk, who won five races last season and was second in the series standings behind Jeremy McGrath, flew to Georgia Sunday. An MRI exam Tuesday showed the injury was more serious than previously thought. During Wednesday’s surgery, doctors discovered additional ligament damage.

Lusk is the second prominent rider to be out for an extended period. Riverside’s Jeff Emig, who has two broken wrists, is expected to be out another five weeks.

STILL A BIG NIGHT

Last Saturday was a big night for Lusk’s Honda teammates. Corona rider Mike LaRocco finished second behind winner McGrath, Kevin Windham took third and Sebastien Tortelli was fourth.

LaRocco, who finished third in both the 1999 Supercross and Outdoor Nationals, was reserved about finishing second to McGrath.

“I was happy, don’t get me wrong, but I knew I could take Jeremy,” LaRocco said. “My lap times were consistent all race long, and . . . I felt I could reel in McGrath with a few more laps.”

READY OR NOT

Ricky Carmichael showed he is capable of getting up front with the leaders, but the second-year 250cc rider hasn’t shown he’s ready to finish up front.

Carmichael, 20, heralded as the next McGrath, got the hole shot in Saturday’s main event and built what appeared to be an insurmountable lead--about 40 yards by the time McGrath moved into second place--only to finish eighth in the 20-lap race.

“With a few more weeks of training, I expect to get out front and stay there for good,” Carmichael said.

Carmichael won three 125cc outdoor and two 125cc Supercross titles. Last year he finished 16th in the 250cc Supercross series during an injury-plagued rookie season. In November, he broke his collarbone at a Paris event. He was cleared to race three weeks ago.

*

If you have an item or idea for the O.C. Motor Sports notebook, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at martin.henderson@latimes.com