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2002 AMA EA Sports U.S. Supercross Championship
Round 1 of 16: Jan. 5 - Edison Int'l Field, Anaheim, CA

"The Cobra" is back after winning Anaheim SX opener
Travis Preston shocks with 125 win

Vuillemin's win coupled with poor performances by Carmichael, McGrath and Pastrana makes this season a very interesting one already.  Steve Bruhn photo

ANAHEIM, Calif. - David Vuillemin was nearly a forgotten man after a miserable 2001 AMA Supercross season, but the 24-year-old Frenchman made a statement by coming back in spectacular fashion Saturday night at Edison Field in Anaheim, Calif. Vuillemin convincingly won the opening round of the 2002 AMA EA Sports U.S. Supercross Championship. It was a strange night in Anaheim with defending champ Ricky Carmichael crashing hard in his AMA Supercross debut for Honda and suffering a DNF and archrival Jeremy McGrath turning in a forgettable race after reportedly suffering arm pump in the final and getting lapped at his home track.

Vuillemin was spectacular in his first full season of AMA Supercross back in 2000, winning four rounds and finished second in the series. Last year he had an injury-plagued season and became somewhat a forgotten rider. But Vuillemin showed signs of making a strong comeback in the off-season. He won his home race during the off-season, the Paris Supercross, and has hired a personal trainer and felt like he was in the best shape of his career coming into the start of this season.

Vuillemin took second in heat race two behind Carmichael. Veteran Mike LaRocco was a surprising winner over Travis Pastrana in the first heat after both riders passed McGrath who got out to an early lead.

The sold-out Edison Field crowd was naturally looking for a Carmichael/McGrath battle but it wasn’t to be. McGrath was never on pace. He finished 13th and was lapped by Vuillemin -- a tough day at the office for MC in front of his home fans. Meanwhile Carmichael and LaRocco came together on lap six and both went down hard coming into Turn Four. LaRocco got right back up and back into the race, but RC was down and out. Supercross doctor Bodnar was quickly to Carmichael’s side. He was on the ground for about four laps before coming slowly to his feet with a big cheer from the crowd.

Up front Vuillemin got by early leader Michael Byrne and was turning in smooth laps on his factory Yamaha YZ250 and pulling away to a big lead. Aussie newcomer Chad Reed was showing great promise, running second before becoming one of the many victims of the whoops and crashing out of a podium finish. By lap nine LaRocco had recovered from his tangle with Carmichael and had moved up to second in one of his patented come-from-behind races. LaRocco’s Amsoil Honda teammate Byrne ran third and Ernesto Fonseca and Ezra Lusk battled for fourth.

Suzuki’s Travis Pastrana, who was very fast all night, pulled out mid-race with bike problems after colliding with another rider.

In the closing laps LaRocco tried to close the gap, but got no closer to Vuillemin than 3.7-seconds, the final margin of victory. Fonseca charged hard in the closing laps to pass Byrne to nail down the final podium spot. It marked a great 250 Supercross debut for Fonseca, the 1999 AMA Rookie of the Year.

“I’ve been working hard in the off season with my trainer and I’m happy to be back on the podium," Vuillemin said on the podium. “The track was very tough and slippery. I was trying to be very smooth. I didn’t want to do like I did last year and get hurt. I know it’s a long season and Jeremy and Ricky are going to come back strong, but I feel like I’m ready to make a strong run at the championship.”

Travis Preston was a surprise winner in the opening AMA 125 West Region race. The Factory Connection Honda rider emerged in front after Chris Gosselaar and Rodrig Thain came together on the last lap while battling for the lead. It marked the second-career 125 SX win for Preston. Rookie Bubba Stewart survived a crash-filled evening to come through to finish second in his pro debut. Gosselaar recovered from his late fall to finish third.

McGrath on racing at 30
Jeremy McGrath is entering his 14th year of AMA professional racing. The AMA Supercross superstar is now 30-years-old and says he’s surprised to still be racing. In an interview, McGrath admitted that when he started his pro career back in 1989 that he never dreamed he’d still be racing in 2002.

“I figured by the time I was 27 I’d be ready to retire from racing,” McGrath said in a pre-main event interview. “But I still feel really good. I feel like I can still win and contend for the championship, so I’m going to keep going as long as I feel like I do now. I won’t drag it out if I feel like I can’t win anymore, but like I said, right now I feel strong.”

Three in a row for Yamaha
David Vuillemin’s win at Anaheim marked the third-straight AMA EA Sports season opener win for Yamaha. Jeremy McGrath won the 2001 and 2000 series openers for Yamaha.

Stewart overcomes rookie mistakes
Bubba Stewart crashed twice in the second 125 qualifying heat at Edison Field. The 16-year-old former AMA amateur sensation from Haines City, Fla., shook off the nerves and came back to easily win the 125 Last Chance Qualifier.

Injury list
Sebastien Tortelli and Tim Ferry missed the season opener after suffering injuries training for the series. Tortelli may not return until February, while Ferry could be back by next weekend’s race.

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Photos by Steve Bruhn

Copyright AMA Pro Racing, 2005.