McGrath Is Chasing Another Title

After dominating stadium Supercross like no one before him, Jeremy McGrath is turning his attention to the American Motorcyclist Assn. national outdoor motocross season.

McGrath, who lives in the Riverside County community of Menifee, won a record 13 consecutive Supercross events on his Honda CR250 before being upset two weeks ago in St. Louis by Kawasaki rider Jeff Emig of Riverside. Long before losing, McGrath, 24, had clinched his fourth championship in a row.

McGrath will be going for his third consecutive victory in the outdoor season Sunday when the Shoei Helmets 250cc national championship race is held at Glen Helen Raceway Park in Devore. McGrath won the first two, in Gainesville, Fla., and last week in the Hangtown moto near Sacramento.

McGrath is also defending champion in the 13-race series.

Outdoor motocross is much faster than the tight, technical stadium competition, which seemed perfectly suited to McGrath’s style. Earlier in his career, McGrath did not seem to adapt to outdoor racing, but last year he showed a surprising ability to go fast when he had to.

McGrath credits a rigorous training program designed by former racer Gary Semics for his outdoor success.

“I was never in good enough shape to ride the longer outdoor races and still keep up my speed,” McGrath said. “I trained harder than I ever had before, and as a result I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been. I think that’s the difference.”

His 13 Supercross wins this year give him 42 overall; the two outdoor wins increased his total to 11.

“Jeremy is such a great technical rider that no one had much of a chance in the stadiums this year, but outdoors may be different,” said Greg Albertyn, a three-time world champion for Suzuki who will be in Sunday’s field. “It’s very, very difficult because it’s so much faster, but I have no doubt Jeremy could go to Europe and be the world champion if he put his mind to it.

“The hardest part would be traveling to different countries and living out of a suitcase. It’s a lot harder to win away from your own country.”

Albertyn is from South Africa.

The Glen Helen course, a little more than two miles of twists, turns and jumps, has been toughened from the days when it was the site of world championship motocross. The “animal leap” has been stretched out to call for a jump of 120 feet down the side of a mountain.

“It’s scared some of the pros who have taken a try at it,” said Brian Church, general manager of the Glen Helen track. “It’s a monster leap.”

Another Honda rider, Steve Lamson of Riverside, is undefeated in the 125cc class and is also defending national champion on the smaller displacement bikes. He will be favored in the 125 motos, companion features to the 250 class.

Also on the three-day program that includes professional practice and qualifying today and amateur racing all day Saturday, is the White Bros. four-stroke national championship on Sunday.

Glen Helen Raceway Park is five miles north of San Bernardino, off Interstate 215.

Motor Racing Notes

SPRINT CARS--Drivers of the Sprint Car Racing Assn. return to their new home, Perris Auto Speedway, for their eighth main event of the season. Mike Kirby became the SCRA’s first two-time winner when he beat J.J. Yeley and Ron Shuman to the line Saturday night in Ventura. Four-time defending champion Shuman is still looking for his first win. . . . Cory Kruseman, who was married last Sunday, is honeymooning in Hawaii but will return for Saturday night’s race at Perris.

STOCK CARS--Saturday night programs call for sportsman, street stocks and mini-stocks at Kern County Raceway, Legend cars and a train race at Cajon Speedway, and street stocks at Ventura Raceway.

MOTORCYCLES--Speedway bikes and sidecars will share the spotlight tonight when the Costa Mesa Speedway hosts its annual Mother’s Day Mayhem at the Orange County Fairgrounds. . . . Speedway USA in Victorville, which opened its speedway season last week, will present a Family Night program on Saturday night.