For several years, Jeremy McGrath has taken it easy after the U.S. supercross season ends. This year, after being soundly beaten by Ricky Carmichael (now with Team Honda), McGrath has a different attitude. He raced at Mammoth in June, and will now race the U.S. Open on October 12 and 13 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas — a race he has boycotted for several years (initially, due to a dispute between McGrath and Fox Racing, a promoter of the race).
McGrath realizes he needs to be "race ready" when the AMA Supercross series begins in Anaheim next year. Having skipped the AMA Outdoor Nationals, Jeremy needs to test himself against the best in off-season supercross, and that means riding the U.S. Open. By the way, still no word on whether Ricky Carmichael will ride this race (he earlier stated he wouldn’t race his new Honda until the opening round of the AMA Supercross series in Anaheim in January, 2002).
