McGrath Pulls Away to Victory

There was no Ezra Lusk and no Jeff Emig, and there was no problem for Jeremy McGrath.

McGrath, riding without the threat of Lusk, who finished second in last season’s series, and Emig, the only man to prevent McGrath from winning seven consecutive AMA Supercross titles, continued to make the most of his appearances at Edison Field.

McGrath won for the sixth time in Anaheim, taking the second round of the 16-race AMA/EA Sports Supercross Series in front 45,050 fans. Since winning his first 250cc race in 1993 in Anaheim, McGrath has lost only twice--both times last year to Lusk.

It was McGrath’s 62nd victory in his eight-year career.

A week earlier, McGrath came from behind--from fifth place--to win the series’ first round for Team Chaparral.

This time, McGrath didn’t have nearly so much distance to make up. Frenchman David Vuillemin got the hole shot, but McGrath was right behind him. Vuillemin, the newly crowned world champion, led for two laps and most of a third, but McGrath passed him coming out of the final turn leading into the table-top jump at the finish. In the air, McGrath looked over his right shoulder to get a good look at Vuillemin. Or maybe it was to allow Vuillemin to get a good look at him.

The two ran away from the pack, and McGrath steadily pulled away from Vuillemin.

Halfway through the 20-lap race, McGrath held a six-second lead, and the lead was almost 13 seconds going into the final lap, affording McGrath the luxury of extending a hand in salute to his fans as he flew 30 feet in the air.

Mike LaRocco, who finished third in last year’s Supercross and outdoor motocross series, turned in another strong performance. Second in Round 1, LaRocco finished third after passing Ricky Carmichael. Timmy Ferry finished fifth.

The series continues next Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. McGrath leads after two events with 50 points. LaRocco (42 points) is second, Vuillemin (38) is third.

Lusk . is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after Wednesday’s surgery to repair torn ligaments in his shoulder. Emig expects to be out at least four more weeks with two broken wrists.