LCQ

November 1, 2008, 5:15pm

noel evans

Videos

Tyla Rattray credit: Simon Cudby

Sheffield Supercross

Canadian MX champ Colton Facciotti topped the SX1 class last weekend at the Sheffield Supercross in England while the veteran Mike Brown topped the SX2 class, and incoming KTM rider Tommy Searle topped the British Open class for his home fans. The Warthog Warthog guys were also there, and they took home 2-3-4-5 finishes via Jeff Alessi, Heath Voss, Tyler Bright and Mike Brown

Racer X Films: Tyla Rattray

Australasian Supercross

Doublin Gap Triple Crown Shootout

Interviews

Steve Lamson credit: Matt Ware

5 Minutes with Blake Wharton

5 Minutes with Nathan Ramsey

5 Minutes with Davi Millsaps

Between the Motos: Steve Lamson

Steve Cox pulled together an excellent interview with Jagermeister MDK/KTM’s Steve Lamson, the two-time AMA 125cc National MX Champion, for this week’s Between the Motos piece. Lamson explained that Justin Brayton (who is doing Paris) will ride the 250F indoor and then bump up to the 450 class for outdoors. He also explained that new hire Travis Preston, who has quietly been battling melanoma, will be SX-only for 2009 and then do the full tour in 2010. As for Josh Summey, he will be in the 450 class all year long.

When asked how he thought Summey and Preston would do in ‘09 SX, Lamson answered, “A good goal for Summey for indoors is top 10 for sure, and then with how Preston’s riding the bike, I don’t see why he can’t be a consistent top-five guy.”

Privateer Profile: Gavin Gracyk

Broc Hepler Podcast

10Q with Josh Grant

Photos

Simon Cudby's Best of Outdoors Part 1

Simon Cudby's Best of Outdoors Part 2

Stories

Buddy Antunez credit: Thom Veety

Travis Preston Injured

KTM Jr. Supercross Program Cut

Number Cruncher: #20

From DC - In this week’s Shift Number Cruncher, Andy Bowyer dissected #20 in honor of the switch being made there, as Josh Grant has vacated the digit and AMA Rookie of the Year Nico Izzi now adorning it on his Rockstar/Makita Suzuki. At the bottom it mentions the day Greg Albertyn hit that deer at the Motocross des Nations in 1994 in Roggenburg, Switzerland (the day the British won in a dramatic shocker, ending Team USA’s streak after 13 years of winning).

Also in Andy Bowyer’s Number Cruncher, a few eyebrows were raised by the photo of Buddy Antunez riding a white NCY Yamaha at the ‘91 Steel City National. The question was, Didn’t Antunez ride for Suzuki in ‘91 and then Peak Honda in ‘92? What was he doing on a Yamaha at Steel City? Are you sure that’s the Bud Man?

I checked Cycle News to backup Andy and he was spot-on: Buddy rode a Yamaha there. So we tried to track him down on the phone, but to no avail. As a last result, I called one of Buddy’s best friends, Jeff Emig, to find out exactly what was going on. Here was the email he sent back detailing exactly what happened:
“To understand the full story you have to go back to 1990 when Suzuki signed Buddy to a factory ride for the ‘90 season. Buddy was finishing up his amateur career in August and he signed his pro deal that month.

Fast forward to August ‘91, and Suzuki was not going to resign him for ‘92. And so when his contract was up, a year to the date that he signed it, they sent him home even though the motocross season was not finished. Being a racer, he did what racers do—he went looking for a new ride and North County Yamaha was the place. it seemed like a good fit since his childhood friend Dana Wiggins was racing for NCY and Jeremy Albrecht was a mechanic there. So buddy rode the last few races for NCY with the intention of catching the eye of the factory Yamaha team.

“Instead, it was Mitch Payton at Pro Circuit that would see his potential. Buddy would sign with his Peak Honda team for 1992 and have a very successful west coast 125 SX series. Those few races at the end of 1991 are the only time that i can remember Antunez racing a Yamaha. Ironically, it be on a Suzuki some years later that the Bud Man would enjoy tremendous success in the AMA National Arenacross Series, becoming the all-time leader in wins and championships.

“These days you can catch Buddy in SoCal training and mentoring racers from all different levels. He spent much of 2008 training Rockstar/Makita Suzuki’s Nico Izzi, and together accomplished quite alot, including a number of podium finishes and AMA Rookie of the Year honors. Buddy is the ultimate pit bull, he is very passionate about what he does and loves racing and riding motocross. He works hard and plays hard, and just like in 1991 when you think he is down and out, he always makes a comeback!”