Press Release
AMA: Houston Supercross Preview
03/18/97
R97026 Contact: Larry Lawrence March 17, 1997 Phone: (614) 891-2425 For Immediate Release Fax: (614) 891-7368 MCGRATH HOPING TO START NEW SUPERCROSS WINNING STREAK AT HOUSTON ASTRODOME WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Five third-place or runner-up finishes in seven events would thrill most American Motorcyclist Association Supercross racers, but for Jeremy McGrath, those numbers add up to a rotten half-season. When you're the all-time winningest rider in AMA Supercross history and the four-time champion, finishing third three times and second twice is considered underachieving. But McGrath may have found his stride with his first Supercross win of 1997 last week at the Minneapolis Metrodome -- a bad sign for the rest of the series competitors, since long winning streaks are nothing unusual for McGrath, who bagged a record-setting 13 in a row last year. Coming into round nine of the AMA Supercross this Saturday at the Houston Astrodome this weekend, McGrath is hoping to start yet another winning tour of duty. It's definitely possible. The race for the 1997 AMA Supercross Championship is one of the closest in years. Kawasaki's Jeff Emig, in first place, holds a slim, four-point lead over Yamaha's Doug Henry, who is a mere two points ahead of McGrath. Also still very much in the championship hunt are riders like former World Motocross Champion Greg Albertyn ( 25 points down); former AMA Motocross Champion, Mike LaRocco (27 points down); runner-up to McGrath in the '95 AMA Supercross Series, Larry Ward (30 points down) and up-and-coming youngster Ezra Lusk (46 points down). A win in the series is worth 25 points. Houston will be a pivotal event in the 15-race series. The ever-confident McGrath, who switched to Suzuki after winning four Supercross titles for Honda, has said all along that once he got used to his new bike, he would be tough to beat. With his convincing win at Minneapolis last week, he appears to have the bike figured out. This weekend will go a long way toward answering the question of whether McGrath is truly back to his old self. Kawasaki's Jeff Emig seems to have the best chance of holding off McGrath. Emig leads the standings with three wins to his credit, and he was leading at Houston last year before crashing with teammate Ryan Hughes. Yamaha's Doug Henry and Suzuki's Albertyn should also be top contenders for the win at Houston. Kevin Windham was recovering from a broken collarbone when he won the AMA 125cc Western Region Supercross last year in the Astrodome. This year Windham is completely healthy and is once again leading the 125cc Western Series. Frenchman David Vuillemin has been the only rider to seriously challenge Windham so far this season and could be a rider to watch this weekend's 125cc race. It is interesting that the race Saturday in the Astrodome play such an important part in the series this year, since Supercross has its origins in the Astrodome. The dome was one of the original venues of AMA Supercross in 1974, the first year of the series. Prior to Supercross, AMA Grand National Dirt Track races were held in the stadium dating back to 1968. Past 250cc Winners - Houston Astrodome Date Winner, Hometown Machine --------------------------------------------------------------- March 16, 1996 Jeremy McGrath, Menifee, CA Honda March 25, 1995 Jeremy McGrath, Murietta, CA Honda January 22, 1994 Jeremy McGrath, Murietta, CA Honda January 16, 1993 Damon Bradshaw, Moorseville, NC Yamaha January 18, 1992 Damon Bradshaw, Mooresville, NC Yamaha January 19, 1991 Jean-Michel Bayle, France Honda February 3, 1990 Damon Bradshaw, Charlotte, NC Yamaha March 18, 1989 Jeff Stanton, Sherwood, MI Honda February 6, 1988 Jeff Ward, Mission Viejo, CA Kawasaki February 7, 1987 Jeff Ward, Mission Viejo, CA Kawasaki February 2, 1986 Jeff Ward, Mission Viejo, CA Kawasaki April 20, 1985 Jeff Ward, Mission Viejo, CA Kawasaki March 24, 1984 David Bailey, Axton, VA Honda March 20, 1983 Mark Barnett, Bridgeview, IL Suzuki March 19, 1983 Bob Hannah, Carson City, NV Honda March 20, 1982 Mark Barnett, Bridgeview, IL Suzuki March 19, 1982 Mark Barnett, Bridgeview, IL Suzuki March 14, 1981 Mark Barnett, Bridgeview, IL Suzuki March 13, 1981 Mark Barnett, Bridgeview, IL Suzuki March 14, 1980 Mike Bell, Lakewood, CA Yamaha March 15, 1980 Broc Glover, El Cajon, CA Yamaha March 17, 1979 Bob Hannah, Carson City, NV Yamaha March 16, 1979 Bob Hannah, Carson City, NV Yamaha March 18, 1978 Bob Hannah, Whittier, CA Yamaha March 17, 1978 Bob Hannah, Whittier, CA Yamaha March 18, 1977 Tony DiStefano, Morrisville, PA Suzuki March 19, 1977 Jim Ellis, E. Hampton, CT Can-Am March 12, 1976 Jim Weinert, Laguna Beach, CA Kawasaki March 14, 1975 Tony DiStefano, Morrisville, PA Suzuki March 15 , 1974 Pierre Karsmakers, Holland Yamaha