EA Supercross Minneapolis pit notes

Based on his Outdoor National Championship this summer, it's safe to say that Ricky Carmichael looked forward to coming back to Daytona's International Speedway for Round 9 of Supercross. Not only is Daytona an outdoor-like supercross track, it's the same track Carmichael won his first 250cc supercross race on.

        
*       Ricky Carmichael has won six straight 250cc events thisseason

* Jeremy McGrath has won two events leading up to Round 10

Number of 250cc supercross wins McGrath has earned before Round 10

2000:   7

1999:  3

1998:  5

1997:  1

1996:  9

1995:  7

1994:  6

1993:  5

* McGrath has won the 250cc supercross championship every year he has competed except 1997.

* McGrath has won every event in Minneapolis except last year when David Vuillemin captured victory.

* Carmichael placed 19th in last year's running of EA SPORTS Supercross in Minneapolis.

* Mike LaRocco had his highest finish of 2000 in Minneapolis as he finished second.

* Local rider James Polvolny Jr., Mendota Heights, Minn., placed 14th last year in Minneapolis en route to his best season ever; he is national number 37.

* Heath Voss, Prior Lake, Minn., is currently in 18th place.

Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Stephane Roncada will sit out this week after severely bruising his heels in a crash last week in Daytona. Roncada also sprained his ankle in a practice session at the Kawasaki test track in Corona, Calif., before Round 5 in Anaheim, Calif.

Known for it's bitter winters, Minneapolis is enjoying some decent weather this time of the year. Back in 1985 when supercross debuted in Minneapolis the weather dropped to a chilly 70-degrees below zero according to Roger DeCoster, Team Manager for Suzuki. "We had to walk through the pits with our hands over our mouths because the air was so cold," said DeCoster.

Several 125cc Western Regional supercross riders are competing in 125cc competition to help get back in shape because next week 125cc Western Regional competition will start up again in Houston. Although they are competing in the Eastern Regional division, rules prevent them from scoring points in the opposing series.

Mike Craig, who is leading in privateer money, broke his wrist this week at Stephane Roncada's practice track. Ironically enough, 1997 supercross champion Jeff Emig broke both of his wrists at the same track last year.

<pre> Privateer Award Money Through Round 8

Mike Craig              $8,801
Damon Huffman           $5,405
Kyle Lewis              $7,468
Isaiah Johnson          $6,063
Heath Voss              $6,516
Robbie Reynard          $7,468
Jean Sebastien-Roy      $5,182
James Polvolny          $2,738
Ryan Clark              $1,785
Jimmy Wilson              $952
Kevin Crine               $952

125cc Eastern and Western Regional Supercross SFX.com Holeshot Award: $500 Per Event - Through Round 8

Justin Buckelew (W)     Anaheim 1, San Diego, Anaheim 2    Total: $1,500
Jason McCormick (W)     Phoenix                            Total: $500
Bryan McGavaran (W)     Anaheim 3                          Total: $500
Nathan Ramsey (E)       Indianapolis, Atlanta, New Orleans Total: $1,500

250cc SFX.com Holeshot Award: $1,000 Per Event - Through Round 8

David Vuillemin Anaheim 1                                       Total: $1,000   
Ricky Carmichael        San Diego, Indianapolis                 Total: $2,000
Jeremy McGrath  Anaheim 2, Anaheim 3, Atlanta, New Orleans      Total: $4,000
Ezra Lusk               Phoenix                                 Total: $1,000

Pos. Pts. Rider Name Hometown Wins Sponsors 1 217 RICKY CARMICHAEL HAVANA, FL 7 TEAM CHEVY TRUCKS / KAWASAKI 2 191 JEREMY A MCGRATH ENCINITAS, CA 2 TEAM MAZDA / YAMAHA / MCGRATH RACING INC 3 171 MIKE LAROCCO SOUTH BEND, IN 0 AMSOIL / DR MARTINS / COMPETITION ACCESSORIES / HONDA / 4 145 KEVIN W WINDHAM CENTREVILLE, MS 0 AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP 5 142 EZRA LUSK ACWORTH, GA 0 AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO, INC 6 134 DAVID VUILLEMIN FRANCE, 0 YAMAHA MOTOR CORP USA / FOX / BRIDGESTONE 7 108 STEPHANE RONCADA MENIFEE, CA 0 TEAM CHEVY TRUCKS KAWASAKI 8 101 TIMMY M FERRY LARGO, FL 0 YAMAHA / FOX / FLY HELMETS / GAERNE BOOTS 9 79 SEBASTIEN TORTELLI FRANCE, 0 AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO, INC 10 62 NICHOLAS A WEY DEWITT, MI 0 YAMAHA OF TROY / YAMAHA / FOX

-SFX