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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127403
GDIRT TRACK AMA Grand National/Camel Pro Series: Round 15 ~ ... c..o ,......; l-i (1) ..0 o ..... u o Steve Morehead (left) and Scott Parker (right) hoisted Kevin Atherton in the air after he scored his first National win. First win to Atherton, points lead to- akrat Pomona Pr e By Donn Maeda Photos by Mitch Friedman POMONA, CA, ocr. 6 lth o u g h Kevin Atherton has been a member of the factory Harley-Davidson racing team for two years now, one thing has eluded the personable 20 year-old from White Pigeon, Michigan - a National win. Until now. A 18 As the Camel Pro Series paid its second visit of the season to the Pomona Half Mile, all eyes were focused on Atherton 's teammates Chris Carr and Scott Parker. The pair entered the penultimate round separated by only a single point in the battle for the AMA Grand National Championship. Atherton, however, ignored the fuss centered around his older teammates, and went on to score his first National win in runaway fashion in front of an estimated 12,000-plus spectators. " I can't believe it ," said Atherton. - "That was the easiest thing I've ever done! I've worked my ass off for seconds, thirds and fourths , and now when I finally win one, it seems easy! I've been so close so many times, now I've finally won one." Following an elated Atherton across the Pomona Fairplex finish line at the Valvoline-sponsored event were Parker and wily veteran, Steve Morehead. After suffering mechanical problems and a high-speed crash, Carr gritted his teeth and managed to keep his title hopes alive with a fourth place finish. With only one round remaining, Parker holds the upper hand in the series points chase with 209 points, J four points ahead of Carr's 205. I ''I'm just where I want to be, " said Parker, who has his eyes set on a fourth-consecutive Grand National I Championship. "It's taken me all ' year to get here, but now I'm here;" and I'm gonna do what it takes." "I'm not gonna roll over and give I it to him (Parker)," said Carr. "I've won the last two Sacramento Miles, and I'm confident that I can pull this .' off. All things considered, I'm happy to have finished fourth." And Carr's finish was remarkable, I indeed. In the suspense-filled main event that required no less than three . restarts, ,Ca rr first suffered a carburetion problem, then was involved in a first turn restart crash that claimed three other riders. In both incidents, a group of not only mechanics butriders as well, gathered around Carr's'] machine to assist with the needed repairs. "If it weren't for the camaraderie I that we have between us, this sport" would have died a long time ago," I said Carr later. Ronnie Jones continues to hold I third place in the point standings ] with 167, despite failing to finish at Pomona. The Oklahoman was I involved in the first turn crash with': Carr and was transported to Pomona!' Valley Hospital Medical Center for i further examination. Jones was released after being diagnosed with.. ' a slight concussion. , Atherton's win brought his pointr: total to 132, but he is mathematically eliminated from threatening Jones for" third in the standings. Atherton's winn earned him $3985 of the $28,000 Expert purse. Throughout the evening, riderss struggled to find a smooth line around» the oval that claimed many of the series' top competitors. While the May c running of the Pomona Half Mile saw o racers compete on a dusty, blue-groove track, a change in track preparation : for this round caused ' the course to I become what many racers called "The I roughest track of the year." I "It's a piece of shit," said Morehead, one of the many riders who fell victim " to the track. "It's not gonna be a race. o it 's gonna be a hole jumping contest." Time Trials I' "This is just like the stuff I grew " up on back home," said Ohioan George Roeder II, after setting the ' day's fastest qualifying time of 29.920 'seconds. ,Roeder's time eclipsed the track ' record of 30.514, set by Parker earlier I this year, and marks the first time that the 24-year-old has held a track record. I' "Man, I almost waved that lap off, . too ," laughed Roeder. "Boy, I sure have bad timing, though. The one race " I choose to go fast at , and there's no Camel Challenge! " , Of the 45 entrants who took qualifying laps, Atherton was the only other rider to dip into the 29-second ,t bracket, stopping the clocks at 29.923, while Parker turned in the third fastest time of 30.044. Two-time Grand National Champion Ricky Graham . and Carr rounded out the five fastest qualifiers, posting times of 30.151 and J 30.194, respectively. I Heats In the first IO-Iap heat race, Bartels' Performance-backed Mike Hale led the . charge into ' turn one, but Roeder/ quickly assumed the point position as ' they blasted down the back straight» Rodney Farris, Davey Durelle andh Larry Pegram chased the lead duo in l the opening laps, but without success. I: Once into the lead, Roeder continued