Cycle News

ROUNDS 6-7/AUGUST 17-18, 2013 INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY/INDIANOPOLIS, INDIANA AMA HARLEY-DAVIDSON going to work. I just wanted to be in a position at the end to give meself half a chance. If it wasn't for the draft here I don't think I'd of got back on the tow. "We came back here wanting to make amends for 2011; we didn't get a result in 2011 and Bloomington have been so good and put so much effort in to make this happen. The win I have to dedicate to my dealership - they put a perfect bike together. I guess I'm more surprised than anybody to be standing on top." Runner-up O'Hara wasn't too upset about his result. His finish made him the early leader in the Showdown points. "It was great and a small win for us," he said. "We have a point gap going into tomorrow. It was one of the funnest races I've had, battling with these guys and Steve [Rapp]. Tomorrow's a new day so we'll take some notes and make a couple of changes and try to lead the last lap." Third-placed Syahrin, who'd never raced a Harley-Davidson before this weekend, showed he had excellent racecraft and was learning the XR1200 fast. "I cannot believe it because it is my first time with Harley-Davidson and the first time at Indianapolis. I came here because I wanted to learn the circuit for the next year in Moto2. On the last lap my bike a little bit over-rev and I don't have too much speed. I tried on the last lap to be very close in the last corner. I tried to pass O'Hara in the P88 AMA PRO VANCE & HINES HARLEY-DAVIDSON SERIE Syahrin celebrated his victory by kissing the yard of bricks on Indy's front straight. straight and he was following the two right in front, McWilliams and Steve Rapp. In my mind I think, 'Damn, I cannot make a podium.' And then I see Steve Rapp go to the back and I say it's very nice. It was a tough race. I enjoyed this race and I'm so happy because never ride Harley-Davidson and heavy bike and the power's smooth and I like it." After a good night's sleep and his first XR1200 race under his belt, the ultra-talented Syahrin was back and ready to take it up another level in Sunday's race. This one wasn't quite as exciting since two of Saturday's podium finishers, O'Hara and McWilliams, crashed out of the race early. O'Hara on the first lap and McWilliams on lap nine. Still the battle between frontrunners Rapp and Syahrin was and epic two-rider duel. They cleared away from the rest of the field and fans could tell it would come down to one of these two for the win. In the closing laps Syahrin used a little trickery on the front straight to keep from taking the lead. "The few laps before last lap I just put my body up for the wind to stop being side by side with Steve Rapp because I think it was not better to pass because if I passed he'd know I could pass him on the last lap. I try for three laps to stay behind him so maybe Steve Rapp thinking he can win. On the last lap I try to push hard and we make a record of 54.2 [one minute, 54.2 seconds] and we are happy for Petronas and KWR." The perfect draft move by Rapp resulted in Syahrin taking the checkered flag by just .060 of a second. Rapp took second and leads the Showdown going into New Jersey next month. Rapp had a feeling Syahrin was going to make the move. "I figured he was coming," Rapp said. "But I knew I couldn't draft him so I did the only thing I could do to try to win. Fortunately, it was him and not someone who is racing in the Showdown." Travis Wyman finished third, 4.5 seconds back from the leaders. Wyman ranks second to Rapp in the standings. "I am really happy to leave second in points," Wyman said. "Being on the box here at Indy is like a win to me. I feel really good about

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