rpm.espn.com: More last-lap drama

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Monday, July 16
More last-lap drama
By B.J. Smith
MotoWorld.com

NEW BERLIN, NY - The win was right there. It was packaged, sealed and had everything but a bow on top. With only a half lap to go in the second moto Travis Pastrana endoed hard and handed the win to challenger, Grant Langston who finished the first moto in second. Pastrana suffered another concussion in the crash but was fortunately able to get up and finish the moto amidst his loyal fans... five minutes after the last rider crossed the finished line. Langston in the meantime, cut Pastrana'a points lead from 44 to 22.

Moto One:

Larry Ward pulled the holeshot followed by Ernesto Fonseca, Brock Sellards and Pastrana. After a few corners Pastrana worked his way into second place and started working on Ward. Pastrana made his move on the second lap in Screw U and took off from the rest of the pack. Ward was left to contend with World Champion, Grant Langston who moved into Big Bird's territory on lap five with a pass on the finish line straight.

First second and third was checked out on Fonseca and Mike Brown who sat fourth and fifth. Brown, not one to make friends on the track, railed Fonseca before the tree turn, sending Ernie off the track and back a few positions. Danny Smith took over the number five spot. The top five stayed equidistant until lap 13 when Travis Pastrana went out of sight and took a while to come out of the trees. When he re-emerged, Langston was not far behind and looking to make a pass. Pastrana was able to take the win still, but only by a few bike lengths. Langston, Ward, Brown and Smith rounded out the top five.

"I got a little too confident at the end there," Pastrana said. "I was cruising and I hit one of those soft spots and went over the bars"

Moto Two:

Greg Schnell took the lead on his YZ 250F followed by Nate Ramsey, Pastrana and Michael Brandes. Pastrana quickly moved past Ramsey on lap one but he had to do it twice to make the pass stick.

At the end of the first lap, Langston was in fifth place and Pastrana was already pulling out a comfortable lead. Larry Ward ran in about ninth. Ramsey ran in second place until Langston made his move into the runner up spot on lap nine. Brown was the next to follow on lap 10, as he moved into the final podium spot.

The running order looked set for the overall podium positions. Pastrana was way out front, Langston was comfortable in second and Brown was doing everything he could to move into second but time was running out. And it was time that cost the leader. With about six corners to go, Pastrana endoed over a high speed uphill and slammed his body into the ground. Though he was not hit by the bike, he did hit his head on the ground and lay still for a short while. Early reports say Pastrana suffered a concussion and there is no word on his condition for Troy, OH next weekend.

Langston cruised to the moto win, followed by Brown, Ramsey, Scott Sheak and Damon Huffman.

"That's not how I want to win but I rode a hard race both motos," Langston said. "I feel really bad for Travis, but this definitely tightens up the points chase."

Langston took the overall followed by Brown and Huffman who took the podium with the odd score of 8-5.

Pulling off the track in the moto was Ward who ended in 32nd. Ward collided with Branden Jesseman and aggravated a thumb he injured at Red Bud. He said the pain was unbearable.

Overall Results:

1. Grant Langston - 2-1
2. Mike Brown - 4-2
3. Damon Huffman - 8-5
4. Nathan Ramsey - 13-3
5. Branden Jesseman - 7-10
6. Travis Pastrana - 1-22
7. Greg Schnell - 12-6
8. Michael Brandes - 11-7
9. Ernesto Fonseca - 9-9
10. Brock Sellards - 6-12
11. Scott Sheak - 16-4
12. Steve Lamson - 14-8
13. Larry Ward - 3-32
14. Danny Smith - 5-31
15. Steve Boniface - 17-11

Points Standings (After 7 of 12 rounds):

1. Pastrana - 271
2. Langston - 249
3. Brown - 227
4. Ward - 198
5. Fonseca - 170
6. Sellards - 168
7. D.Smith - 139
8. Nathan Ramsey - 133
9. Sheak - 125
10. K. Smith - 118
11. Jesseman - 114
12. Huffman - 113
13. K. Johnson - 104
14. Nick Wey - 103
15. Greg Schnell - 100

Material from MotoWorld.com.
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