February 8, 2005
San Francisco, CA - Honda Red Rider Billy Laninovich scored his first career AMA 125cc Supercross win tonight in convincing fashion, leading all but the first lap en route to the checkers aboard his Amsoil/Chapparal/Napster Honda CRF250R. Team Honda’s Andrew Short repeated his round three performance by tallying his second straight runner-up finish, making it a 1-2 Honda hoot atop San Francisco’s SBC Park podium.
Laninovich, whose victory made him the fourth different rider to win in as many rounds, struck quickly as the first lap wound down, railing past Yamaha’s Danny Smith into the lead he’d never surrender. Shortly after that, Team Honda’s Short also got by Smith, but couldn’t close the gap on a blistering Laninovich before crossing the line in second.
“This is the first win of my career, so I can’t even explain how happy I am,” said Laninovich, who vaulted 10 spots (from 17th to seventh) in the points standings with his win. “I hope this is the first of many. I had a little battle with Danny Smith on lap 1, but I was able to move into the lead and ride smart.”
Over in 250 action, meantime, Amsoil/Chapparal/Napster Honda’s Mike LaRocco logged his second podium finish in four rounds, taking the checkers in third behind race winner Ricky Carmichael and runner-up Chad Reed. Iron Mike started the main in second behind Reed (who snagged holeshot honors) until Carmichael got by on lap two, after which he and his #5 CR250R Honda held down third for the remaining 18 laps.
Team Honda’s Ernesto Fonseca and MDK Moto/MSRMX Honda’s Nick Wey turned in solid fifth- and sixth-place rides, respectively.
LaRocco’s Amsoil/Chapparal/Napster Honda teammate, Kevin Windham, on the other hand, had a night he’d probably rather forget, having to work his way back to finish ninth after crashing and falling far back in the field on lap four. And though K-Dub lost out on valuable points in his pursuit of series leader Carmichael, the Honda rider still hold a 10-point margin (79-69) over the third-place Reed.
