Indianapolis: Event report

Vuillemin Extends Points Lead With Third Victory
Reed Wins First Career 125cc Eastern Regional Supercross

INDIANAPOLIS (February 9, 2002) - David Vuillemin scored his third 250cc EA SPORTS Supercross win of the season at the RCA Dome in front of 57,803 fans. Team Boost Yamaha's Chad Reed, who is riding in his rookie season of EA SPORTS Supercross, captured the opening round of 125cc Eastern Regional Supercross competition, the first of his career.

Reigning 250cc champion Ricky Carmichael, who rides for Team Honda, earned the $1,500 PowerAde Holeshot Award in front of Travis Pastrana, who rides for Suzuki, and Vuillemin, who rides for Yamaha. One turn later, Pastrana took over the lead and held on for five laps. Pastrana passed Carmichael one more time for the lead, before the Suzuki rider crashed and fell back to ninth place.

Late in the race it was a two-man show, Carmichael and Vuillemin. With three laps left it was obvious that Vuillemin could have made his move into the lead; yet he held off until the final lap. Vuillemin went on to win, followed by Carmichael and Stephane Roncada.

"I did not want to show him that I had a faster line," said Vuillemin. "I wanted to wait until the final lap, and that is what I did. He was going to the outside after the finish line and I knew the inside was faster, so I stayed inside and made the pass.

In the 15-lap main event, Team Moto XXX's Kelly Smith earned the $1,000 PowerAde Holeshot Award with Mike Brown and Steve Boniface in tow. Smith led for the first three laps before Brown made his move into the lead. Moments later, KTM's Grant Langston went down and was forced to DNF while riding in fourth.

With a few laps to go, Reed, who suffered from a lack-luster start, made his way to the back wheel of Brown. As the two went over the triple Reed had the edge, making the pass and held on for the win. Brown finished second and Buddy Antunez was third.

"Where better to win than America," said Reed, who is from Australia. "This is my first professional race on a 125cc motorcycle, and I am adjusting well to the bike. I had good lines all night, and I was felling really comfortable out there."

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