Indianapolis: Event preview and schedule

Brown and Langston to Renew Rivalry at Indy Supercross

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The 2001 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. 125 Motocross Championships closed with a dramatic finish last September, with Michael Brown winning the title over Grant Langston in a finish fit for Hollywood. The two riders are set to renew their spirited and often contentious rivalry this Saturday, Feb. 9, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis in the AMA EA Sports Supercross Series 125 East Region opener. Langston and Brown will be joined by perhaps one of the most talented field of riders ever assembled in 125 Supercross. Check out the lineup of riders joining Brown and Langston in round one of 125 East: Larry Ward, Chad Reed, Buddy Antunez, Michael Byrne and John Dowd just to name a few. Without a doubt, it is the most talent-laden field of riders ever in 125 Supercross.

Brown, 28, from Piney Flats, Tenn., is coming off his championship-winning season in the 2001 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. 125 Motocross Championship. Brown is eager to prove that he can be just as successful in AMA Supercross as he is in AMA Motocross. He will be riding for Simple Green/Pro Circuit Kawasaki.

Langston has perhaps the highest level of motivation of any rider in the series. The South African had the last year's AMA U.S. Motocross Championship within his grasp before a broken wheel in the final moto left his season in shambles. Watch for Langston, who rides for Red Bull KTM, to come out riding like a man possessed.

Australian Chad Reed is new to the series, but could be the rider to beat if his performance in the early rounds of the AMA EA Sports Supercross Series is any indication. Reed ran as high as third in 250 Supercross point standings this year before getting injured in a practice crash a few weeks ago and deciding to wait until this weekend to make his return. The 19-year-old Yamaha of Troy pilot was the second-ranked 250 motocross rider in the World Championship last year and has shown no difficulties in getting accustomed to the rigors of AMA Supercross.

Other veterans such as Ward, Antunez and Dowd are likely to give the younger riders a lessen or two along the way.

Ward, the 31-year-old veteran privateer from South Carolina, is a former multi-time 250 main event winner and has not raced supercross since he left the Kawasaki factory team after the 2000 season. He decided that riding the 125 East Series would be the best way to prepare for a motocross title run later this summer. Antunez is a five-time arenacross champ and will be making his return to AMA Supercross on a factory Suzuki. And talk about your veterans, Dowd will be the oldest rider in the field at 36. The seemingly ageless rider from Massachusetts will be on the Team Cernic KTM.

In 250-class racing, defending AMA Supercross champion Ricky Carmichael brings a two-race winning streak into Indy. The factory Honda rider has worked his way up to third in the standings after crashing out of the season opener in Anaheim, Calif. French rider David Vuillemin leads the championship after two wins and a string of five-straight podium finishes on his factory Yamaha.

As always, Hoosier fans will be strongly behind favorite son Mike LaRocco, of South Bend, Ind. LaRocco, who will be 31 next Tuesday, is having a phenomenal season on the Factory Connection Honda squad. "The Rock" comes into his home race second in the standings, just nine points behind Vuillemin, and just three weeks ago in Anaheim, won his first AMA Supercross main event in nearly seven years. After 10 years of racing in the RCA Dome LaRocco, is still looking for his first victory at the venue.

AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for professional motorcycle sport in the United States. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com. <pre> SCHEDULE OF EVENTS RCA DOME- Indianapolis, Indiana

9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.   -        Rider registration and Tech Inspection  at the Venue
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon   -        Bonus Awards Participant/Mechanic registration at the Venue
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon  -        Rider Track Walk
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon  -        Junior Supercross Riders Meeting (Mandatory)
12:00 noon - 12:15 p.m.  -        Riders Meeting (Mandatory)
12:15 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.  -        Junior Supercross Practice
12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.   -        125cc Practice
1:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.    -        250cc Practice
2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.    -        Track Maintenance
2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.    -        125cc Practice
3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.    -        250cc Practice
3:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.    -        Qualifying Heats
5:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.    -        Junior Supercross Practice
5:45 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.    -        Track Maintenance
7:00 p.m. - 7:20 p.m.    -        Opening Ceremonies
7:30 p.m. - 7:40 p.m.    -        125cc Heat #1 - 6 laps - 20 riders (1st - 9th to Main)
7:40 p.m. - 7:50 p.m.    -        125cc Heat #2 - 6 laps - 20 riders (1st - 9th to Main)
7:50 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.    -        250cc Heat #1 - 8 laps - 20 riders (1st - 4th to Main) (5th - 20th to Semi 1)
8:00 p.m. - 8:10 p.m.    -        250cc Heat #2 - 8 laps - 20 riders (1st - 4th to Main) (5th - 20th to Semi 2)
8:10 p.m. - 8:25 p.m.    -        Junior Supercross Exhibition- 3 laps - 15 riders
8:25 p.m. - 8:35 p.m.    -        Track Maintenance (10 minutes)
8:35 p.m. - 8:40 p.m.    -        125cc Last Chance Qualifier - 4 laps - 22 riders (1st - 4th to Main)
8:40 p.m. - 8:50 p.m.    -        250cc Semi #1 - 6 laps - 16 riders (1st - 5th to Main) (6th - 16th to LCQ)
8:50 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.    -        250cc Semi #2 - 6 laps - 16 riders (1st - 5th to Main) (6th - 16th to LCQ)
9:00 p.m. - 9:10 p.m.    -        Track Maintenance/EA Sports Challenge Main
9:10 p.m. - 9:20 p.m.    -        250cc Last Chance Qualifier - 6 laps - 22 riders- (1st & 2nd to main)
9:20 p.m. - 9:25 p.m.    -        125cc Rider's Parade Lap
9:25 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.    -        125cc Main Event - 15 laps - 22 riders
9:50 p.m. - 9:55 p.m.    -        250cc Rider's Parade Lap
9:55 p.m. - 10:15 p.m.   -        250cc Main Event - 20 laps- 20 riders

-ama-