Albertyn Finally Finishes in Front

South African Greg Albertyn, who won two world motocross championships before coming to the United States three years ago to ride for Suzuki, finally ended a string of disappointments by winning his first AMA Supercross Saturday night in the Coliseum.

Albertyn took the lead from World Supercross champion Jeff Emig of Riverside on the seventh lap of the 20-lap main event and was never challenged. After Emig fell a lap later, Doug Henry took over second place. At the finish, he was followed by Larry Ward, Mike LaRocco, Ezra Lusk and Emig.

Four-time Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath, making his first ride on a Suzuki after having ridden Hondas to all of his championships, fell after tangling with former Honda teammate Steve Lamson in a tight turn on the eighth lap.

By the time the two righted their bikes and returned to the race, they were dead last. Unofficial results had Lamson 13th and McGrath 16th at the finish.

The first Coliseum Supercross since 1992 attracted 37,706 to watch the acrobatic cyclists jump, twist and bounce their way around a 700-yard course laid out between hay bales on the stadium floor, but most eyes were on McGrath, winner of 14 of 15 events last season.

At first, it was difficult to pick him out because he was riding in the unfamiliar yellow colors of Suzuki.

In the first heat, McGrath got off the line hesitantly in his eight-lap heat and was fourth as the field settled down. It was Lamson, with whom he later collided, who led the first lap but to the roar of the enthusiastic crowd, McGrath moved in front as Lamson bobbled at the bottom of the finish-line hill. However, Lamson came back to pass him for the heat win.

Kevin Windham, 18-year-old Yamaha rider from Baton Rouge, La., who has been hailed as the “next Jeremy McGrath,” lived up to his billing by winning the 125cc western regional final by about 50 yards over Honda-mounted Robbie Reynard of Norman, Okla. Third, 200 yards back, was Casey Johnson of Murrieta.

Windham, who won six of seven races last season, did not take the lead from Reynard until the third lap, but once he moved his blue Yamaha in front he steadily pulled away in the 15-lap race.

Riders called the course--highlighted by the world-famous peristyle jump from the Olympic arches at the east end of the Coliseum back down to the football field--the most interesting layout since the sport was first held there 25 years ago.

Mickael Pichon, a teenage rider from France who joined the Suzuki team for this season, fell hard after missing a jump in the second 250cc heat and was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was treated for a broken left leg.