Washougal, WA - August 1, 2004
By Steve Cox

The 125cc class featured it's closest two moto finishes of the year at round eight of the AMA/Chevrolet U.S. Motocross Series in Washougal, Washington. But it still wasn't all that close. James Stewart still won both motos by quite a distance on his two-stroke KX125, despite the power-robbing hills that are a part of the Washougal track.

"Everybody just stepped up their game today," Stewart said. "Paul [Carpenter] rode great and Matt [Walker] rode good, and Broc [Hepler] rode good. I had no excuses. The track was a little bit slippery today, but I came up through the pack pretty good, and then I just got out front and I kind of rode. These guys rode good today."

Stewart's teammate Paul Carpenter got the start in the first moto, and he immediately put a pretty impressive gap on the field, including Broc Hepler in second, while Bubba moved through the pack. Stewart made it past Broc Hepler into second on lap three, but it took until lap five for him to get by his teammate Carpenter. From there, Stewart cruised to the victory, about 11 seconds in front of Hepler, who worked his way around Carpenter late in the race for second. Carpenter held on for third.

" It's just a lot easier when I got out there and got in front of the guys," Carpenter said of his first career podium finish. "Broc and James were obviously going faster than me, but I just rode my race and got third in the first moto."

Hepler rode strong, despite a late-race fall, to grab the runner-up spot.

" I got a real good start the first moto, and just rode comfortable and smart and got around Paul, and then about four laps from the end I had a little bobble and went down on a square edge and he got back around," birthday boy Hepler said. "But I just had a little bit better lines than him and got back around. He rode great too."

Moto two saw yet another holeshot for the Amsoil/Chaparral Honda team, as Greg Schnell grabbed the start over Suzuki's Davi Millsaps. Stewart rounded lap one ninth, and Hepler rounded it 16th. By lap three, Millsaps had made his way around Schnell for the lead. That same lap, Stewart went around Schnell too. The following lap, Stewart zapped Millsaps for the lead and set sail. As he judged his lead off of Millsaps, he had a bit of a surprise after the race.

" I thought Millsaps was in second the whole race, but I guess a little after halfway, Schnell passed him," Stewart said. "But I was judging myself off of Millsaps, and I was pulling away from him, but I didn't know somebody else was catching me. I got up, and I don't know what happened to Schnell, because I remember passing him and he was kind of going backwards, and the next thing I know the guy is in second. But it was a little bit closer today than what I like."

Schnell closed the gap from almost 15 seconds back to just over 8 seconds back at the finish, while Millsaps held on for third and Hepler recovered from his less-than-stellar start to finish fourth.

" The first moto, you're doing so good out front and you're not eating all of that roost, but it really did feel like I was flying that second moto, passing so many great guys," Hepler said. "It was a good accomplishment for me, and I felt good with every pass that I made."

Carpenter was happy with third, too, and Bubba owes him a new Sub-Zero refrigerator for his podium performance.

" All right, I guess I might as well let everybody in," Carpenter said. "I haven't had a refrigerator at my house. I don't use one. I have a little corner store down the road, and I go there to get my drinks and whatever it is, and these guys can't see how I can live without a refrigerator, but I just eat out every meal of the day. We figured it out, and I spend about $120 a week on breakfast, and that's just breakfast, so these guys are all giving me a hard time. They want me to buy a refrigerator, and most of my breakfast cost is because I've got to pay for my dog, and he likes a lot of ham and sausage and stuff. James said, 'I'll buy a refrigerator.' And I'm like, 'I don't want a refrigerator.' But, I don't know, I might have to take him up on it. This thing he's talking about sounds pretty cool."

AMA/Chevrolet Washougal 125cc National Overall Results:
1. James Stewart, 1-1
2. Broc Hepler, 2-4
3. Paul Carpenter, 3-10
4. Greg Schnell, 13-2
5. Ivan Tedesco, 7-5
6. Nathan Ramsey, 6-6
7. Davi Millsaps, 15-3
8. Danny Smith, 8-9
9. Troy Adams, 9-11
10. Chris Gosselaar, 5-15

AMA/Chevrolet 125cc National Points Standings (After 8 of 12 rounds):
1. James Stewart (375/7 wins)
2. Mike Brown (266/1 win)
3. Broc Hepler (252)
4. Nathan Ramsey (216)
5. Josh Grant (186)
6. Matt Walker (167)
7. Ivan Tedesco (161)
8. Ryan Hughes (158)
9. Danny Smith (145)
10. Kelly Smith (136)