Defending Supercross 125 West Champ suffers gnarly leg burn in crash – soldiers on and makes podium (3rd) to again win the overall title. Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki's teammate Paul Carpenter barely misses top ten (11th)
 
CARLSBAD, Calif., (April 18, 2005) – Overcoming a spectacular crash in his heat race – in which he suffered a third-degree burn on his leg – Team Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Ivan Tedesco showed his true colors as a Supercross champion on Saturday night at Seattle’s Qwest Field, battling back to win the Last Chance Qualifier then making the podium in the main event to capture the overall 2005 West Regional 125 Supercross crown.
 
The overall title was Tedesco’s second in as many years, successfully defending the title he won aboard a Mitch Payton-tuned Pro Circuit Kawasaki last year. It’s also the second title for Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki this year as Grant Langston wrapped up the 125 East Region title last week in Pontiac, Mich., giving the team the overall regional title sweep and laying claim to the top 125 race team in supercross.
 
Presented with the hallowed No. 1 plate by the American Motorcyclist Association’s Director of Competition, Steve Whitelock, the visibly exhausted Tedesco thanked a slew of people as he hoisted the No. 1 plate aloft.
 
“Man, that was some tough racing tonight,” said Tedesco. “I burnt my leg pretty bad in the heat race and it made it tough to grip the bike properly. The track was as tough as we’d seen all year, maybe even more so than the mud we raced in at Anaheim 1. But overall I’m stoked with the season, excited I could win another title for my sponsors and looking forward now to racing against the guys from the east at Vegas.” Note: The best from the 125 class East and West divisions meet at the annual Dave Coombs 125 Shoot Out at Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium, May 7th.
 
Tedesco’s journey to the main event and eventual overall title was not going to be easy at Seattle. After getting out early in his heat race, he cross rutted in the whoops, feet came off the pegs and he 'rodeo’d' the bike for a moment before ghost riding it across a lane and onto the (blind) landing of the finish line jump. Then, after almost getting landed on by Broc Hepler, Tedesco was able to right his bike and re-enter the race, only to pull off a short time later - his leg in some serious pain from being burnt in the ordeal by his red hot muffler.
 
“I knew I’d have to gut it out and do well in the LCQ,” said Tedesco. “Fortunately, the 250 class had to run three heat races (normally it’s two), so that bought me a little bit of extra time to get ready for my next race. My leg hurt pretty bad, but I wanted to get the title wrapped up hear and not wait two more weeks to do it in Houston. Now I can focus on getting ready for Vegas.”
 
Tedesco’s teammate Paul Carpenter ran into similar misfortune when he stalled his bike between jumps in his heat race, but came back in the LCQ to finish 2nd behind Tedesco. In the main event Carpenter started in 11th place and that’s where he’d end up when the checkers flew.
 
The Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki 125 East team returns action a week from this Saturday (April 30th) in Houston.
 
Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team sponsors include: Parts Unlimited, Thor, Scott, Maxima, KMC Wheels, Vans, Bridgestone, Hinson Clutch, Components, Showa, The Garage People, Troy Lee Designs, Excel, Renthal, N-Style, Works Racing Parts, Twin Air, VP Racing Fuels, Athena, Motion Pro, DP Brakes, RK Racing Chain, UFO, Mechanix Wear, CTI2, Vertex, Alpinestars, PPG, Trek Bicycles, Imagine It Graphics.