AMA: Chevy Trucks Team USA brings home the gold
15 September 2000
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- AMA Pro Racing motocrossers Ricky Carmichael, Travis
Pastrana and Ryan Hughes combined their awesome talents to dominate the world at
the prestigious Motocross des Nations in St. Jean d' Angely, France, winning by
a 17-point margin and bringing home the gold for the first time since 1996.
Ryan Hughes threw the first punch at the Sept. 10 event, open to teams from
all Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme member nations, powering his PAMO
Honda to the top-spot in the first 125cc/Open moto. In the same moto, motocross
phenom Travis Pastrana overcame an early fall -- which relegated the
Suzuki-mounted rider to last place on the course -- to finish in 10th place.
After the 1-2 punch of Hughes and Pastrana, it was time for Ricky
Carmichael to start swinging in the 125cc/250cc moto. Carmichael rode his
Kawasaki the only way he knows how: fast, capturing the holeshot and leading the
whole way for his first-ever MX des Nations win. In this moto Travis Pastrana
fell again, further irritating an already swollen knee, but he still managed to
place 15th, as the fourth 125cc rider to cross the finish line.
The final round paired up Carmichael and Hughes in the 250cc/Open moto and
they pummeled the rest of the world into submission. Carmichael led early, but
surrendered the lead at the halfway point to Sebastien Tortelli, a french rider
who also races in the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championships, and
finished a strong second. Meanwhile, Ryno continued his solid showing to finish
fifth.
Each team discards their worst moto finish, so Pastrana's 15th place was
tossed and Team USA's finishes -- two firsts, a second, a fifth and a tenth --
left the rest of the world face-down on the canvas.
U.S. MOTOCROSS des NATIONS TEAMS AND FINISHES
YEAR LOCATION, RIDERS FINISH
2000 St. Jean d' Angely, France, Ryan Hughes, Ricky Carmichael, Travis Pastrana
1st
1999 Indaiatuba, Brazil, Mike LaRocco, Kevin Windham, Ricky Carmichael 4th
1998 Foxhill, England, John Dowd, Doug Henry, Ricky Carmichael 5th
1997 Nismes, Belgium, John Dowd, Jeff Emig, Steve Lamson 8th
1996 Jerez, Spain, Jeremy McGrath, Jeff Emig, Steve Lamson 1st
1995 Povazska Bystrica, Slovak Rep., Steve Lamson, Jeff Emig, Ryan Hughes 2nd
1994 Roggenburg, Switzerland, Jeff Emig, Mike Kiedrowski, Mike LaRocco 2nd
1993 Schwanenstadt, Austria, Jeff Emig, Jeremy McGrath, Mike Kiedrowski 1st
1992 Manjimup, Australia, Billy Liles, Mike LaRocco, Jeff Emig 1st
1991 Valkenswaard, Netherlands, Mike Kiedrowski, Jeff Stanton, Damon Bradshaw 1st
1990 Vimmerby, Sweden Jeff Ward, Jeff Stanton, Damon Bradshaw 1st
1989 Gaildorf, Germany, Jeff Ward, Jeff Stanton, Mike Kiedrowski 1st
1988 Dung, France, Ron Lechien, Rick Johnson, Jeff Ward 1st
1987 New Berlin, NY, USA, Bob Hannah, Rick Johnson, Jeff Ward 1st
1986 Maggiora, Italy, David Bailey, Rick Johnson, Johnny O'Mara 1st
1985 Gaildorf, Germany, David Bailey, Jeff Ward, Ron Lechien 1st
1984 Vanta, Finland, Rick Johnson, Johnny O'Mara, Jeff Ward, David Bailey 1st
1983 Bruxelles, Belgium, David Bailey, Mark Barnett, Jeff Ward, Broc Glover 1st
1982 Wohlen, Switzerland, David Bailey, Johnny O'Mara, Danny Chandler, Jim Gibson 1st
1981 Beilstein, Germany, Chuck Sun, Johnny O'Mara, Danny LaPorte, Donnie Hansen 1st
1980 Wiltshire, England, No U.S. Team
1979 Stockholm, Sweden, No U.S. Team
1978 Gaildorf, Germany, Bob Hannah, Rick Burgett, Chuck Sun, Tommy Croft 4th
1977 Cognac, France, Kent Howerton, Tony DiStefano, Gary Semics, Steve Stackable 2nd
1976 St. Anthonis, Netherlands, Rex Staten, Bob Hannah, Tony DiStefano, Kent Howerton 5th
1975 Prague, Czechoslovakia, Jim Pomeroy, Brad Lackey, Kent Howerton, Tony DiStefano 9th
1974 Stockholm, Sweden, Jim Pomeroy, Brad Lackey, Tony DiStefano, Jim Weinert 2nd
1972 Norg, Netherlands, Gary Jones, Jim Weinert, Brad Lackey, Jim Pomeroy 7th
