THQ US Open final race summary

LaRocco wins first THQ U.S. Open Championship.
$100,000 payday for LaRocco

LAS VEGAS (October 12, 2002) - Mike LaRocco won his first ever THQ U.S. Open championship and a grand total of $100,000 Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, defeating two-time defending champion Ricky Carmichael in the two days of racing. Team Honda's Carmichael rebounded after a disappointing fifth place finish in last night's race to win the main event; however, it was not enough to win the overall title.

Last night's winner Mike LaRocco placed his Honda in the holeshot position in front of Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ezra Lusk and Carmichael. On lap two Carmichael made the move on LaRocco for the lead. While riding in third, Lusk went down on lap three allowing Yamaha's Chad Reed to move into third, where he would eventually finish.

"I felt very conservative out there tonight," said LaRocco. "I wanted to let Carmichael set the pace and follow behind him. I felt some pressure on my shoulders tonight."

"I screwed up yesterday and didn't get the win," said Carmichael. "I have had a great year and I can't be stingy with the wins."

Last night's third place finisher, Michael Byrne, failed to qualify for the main event.

<pre> Saturday Night's Race Results
1) Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda
2) Chad Reed, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
3) Mike LaRocco, South Bend, Ind., Honda
4) Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
5) Ivan Tedesco, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha
6) Ernesto Fonseca, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
7) Ryan Clark, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha
8) Ezra Lusk, Acworth, Ga., Kawasaki
9) Grant Langston, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM
10) Nick Wey, Dewitt, Mich., Yamaha

Overall Results
1) Mike LaRocco, South Bend, Ind., Honda
2) Ricky Carmichael, Havana, Fla., Honda
3) Tim Ferry, Dade City, Fla., Yamaha
4) Chad Reed, Lake Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
5) Ivan Tedesco, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha
6) Ernesto Fonseca, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
7) Ryan Clark, Albuquerque, N.M., Yamaha
8) Ezra Lusk, Acworth, Ga., Kawasaki
9) Michael Byrne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Honda
10) Grant Langston, Lake Elsinore, Calif., KTM

Team Suzuki's Broc Hepler swept four motos en route to his first 125cc Engine Ice Manufacturers Cup. Honda rider Ryan Mills of Clintondale, N.Y., finished second and Yamaha rider Nick Adams of Hastings, Mich., was third overall.

Honda-supported Mike Alessi won the 85cc Pro Circuit Invitational championship holding off Christophe Pourcel and Josh Hill who finished second and third, respectively. Alessi of Moor Park, Calif., earned one moto win tonight - a total of two on the weekend - and Ryan Villopoto of Poulebo, Wash., captured the other.

Will Castleberry of Pine Mountain, Ga., won the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge, with Ezra Angelle of Cecilla, La., finishing second and Jesse Wentland III of Elk River, Minn., was third

For complete results, log onto www.ussx.com.

AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. It sanctions the AMA Supercross Series Presented by Speed Stick, the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship, the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship and the AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship. More than 1.7 million fans attended AMA Pro Racing events during the 2001 season.

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