Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

BFLAT TRACK AMAIMARS Motorc de As halt Racin Series: Round 2 suffered a poor start but blistered the track while working towards the front. But Krusinskis's charge came to an abrupt halt when he crashed, unhurt, while trying to pass Myers. Sweeten snuck past Hacker for the win and gained the final spot in the main. e Brian Tillson nabbed the win in the Zo-Iap main event and after two events, leads the series point standings. Kris Kiser (44) led most of the main before fading with worn out tires. Photos by George Roberts CHARWITE, NC, MAY 1 rian Tillson proved that playing it cool can payoff as he passed early race leader Kris Kiser on the last of 20 laps to score the win in the second Motorcycle Asphalt Racing Series Expert final of the year, held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in conjunction with the AMA National Road Race Series. Tillson's win came on the Legends Short Track, a quarter-mile paved oval that incorporates part of the front straightaway of the NASCAR tri-oval course. Kiser led the race from the getgo, but pushed his tires too hard in an attempt to break away from the field and faded to fourth in the end behind winner Tillson, Charlie Orr and Robert Lewis. For his win, Tillson earned $1800 of the $8000 purse, plus the approval of the estimated 4000 spectators on hand. '1t took about half of the race for my tires to get warmed up," said New England Harley Dealers/Bell/Norm Daigle/T&L Concrete/Meredith H-D/ Belknap/Mom & Dad-sponsored Tillson. '1 think Kris got a little too anxious." B 28 Heats Orr grabbed the holeshot in the first of four 10-lap heats that each offered two direct transfers to the main. Once out front, Orr tried to pull away from the field but Erik Graybeal and Lewis stayed glued to his rear fender. Graybeal' gave it all he had, but came up a bit ,short at the finish. Orr scored the win ahead of Graybeal and Lewis. All three riders were separated by no more than a bike length or two, but only Orr and Graybeal would go directly to the main. "I was getting into the turns real tight," said Orr. The holeshot definitely helped out. The key in the main event is gonna be to stay down low." Steve Burkholder had the best reactions in the second heat and led Tillson and Donnie Krusinski through turn one. Tillson made short work of Burkholder, though, as he passed him early in the race and proceeded to pull away with an easy win. Bryan Villella came out of nowhere to pass Krusinski and Burkholder for second and a direct transfer. Mike Klopp also worked past the pair of riders, but his efforts would only net him a ride in a semi, as Tillson and Villella headed for the main. "The track is more slippery than it was last year:' said Tillson. "We seem to be spinning more, but the bike still feels good on the asphalt. A holeshot is going to be real important. 1 hope 1 get it." Kiser jetted out ahead of Bryan Graybeal, Joe Winston II and Ian Segedy in the third heat and quickly pulled away. Kiser blistered the track and scored an easy win, while Segedy easily displaced Winston and Graybeal for the second transfer. "I started spinning pretty bad towards the end of the race," said Kiser. "The tires started working after about five laps. 1 think that the tires will be an important part in the main, because you have to chase the front end here. 1 think we'll change the tire pressure and make some secret changes before the feature." James Hart nabbed the holeshot in the fourth and final heat and everyone expected him to run away with the win. Brian Strong had other ideas, though, and muscled past the Junior National Champion on lap two and ran away with the victory. Hart held on to a distant second. "This is a new bike," said a happy Strong. "I just got it from Will Davis. My father recently passed away, and I'd like to dedicate this race to his memory." Semis Burkholder controlled the first lo-lap semi from the get-go, while a battle raged over the runner-up position. The faster of the two semis would transfer the first and second-place finishers to the main, while the slower would only advance the winner. Much to runner-up Mike Hacker's dismay, the first semi would be the slower of the two and he would have to try again in the last chance qualifier. Luck was momentarily on Winston's side as he sped into the lead of the second semi ahead of Bob Sweeten, Bobby Myers and Ken Coolbeth. Lewis suffered a poor start but was by far the fastest rider on the track as he quickly slithered into second. Lewis displaced Winston for the lead with a pass that sent the early leader off the low line, but in all of the confusion Coolbeth snuck past both riders to steal the point. Coolbeth crossed the finish line with no room to spare over Lewis. By virtue of being faster than semi one, semi two advanced both Coolbeth and Lewis to the final. Hacker nabbed the lead in the LCQ ahead of Sweeten and Myers. Krusinski Main Fast-heat winner Strong sat on the inside pole at the start of the 20-1ap main event, but Kiser had better reactions at the flash of the green light and sped into tum one with the lead. Strong was close behind, as was Tillson, Orr and Lewis. Kiser immediately hit the afterburners and began to smoke his tires as he pulled away from the rest of the field. "I wanted to get away as fast as 1 could:' said Kiser, whose lead stretched to 10 bike lengths at one point. Tillson, meanwhile, took his time passing Strong, and did so a few laps into the race. But once into second, Tillson upped the pace in hopes of catching Kiser. "I was waiting for my tires to heat up before 1 started to gas it:' said Tillson. Orr was next to work past Strong, and once into third he quickly closed to Tillson's rear tire. Lewis, meanwhile, again suffered a miserable start and began to turn what were arguably the fastest laps in his bid for a top position. Lewis caught up to fourth by the 15th lap, and pressured Tillson and Orr without mercy. "Once my tires started to heat up 1 was really able to dive into the comers," said Lewis. With about five laps to go, Kiser began to falter, the victim of worn out tires. "I guess 1 just pushed them too hard:' said Kiser. The Tillson/Orr/Lewis battle almost immediately reeled in Kiser, and the stage was set for a dramatic finish. On the last lap, Kiser slowed dramatically, and the trio swooped past him and into the top three spots. "I think my gas cap came loose:' said a disappointed Kiser. "Some gas sprayed onto my face shield and 1 thought it was starting to sprinkle so I backed off and they got me." Tillson won the dash towards the checkers and nabbed his first win of the series, while Orr and Lewis followed close behind. Kiser finished fourth, well ahead of Eric Graybeal af Results HEAT 1: 1. CharI;' Orr (H-D); 2. Erik Graybeal (WR); 3. Robert LewUI (H-D); 4. Geofnq. Oark (Ra); 5. David Lloyd (W-R); 6. Bobby Myers (Yam); 7. Tim Myem (Ra). TUDe: 3 minutes, 04..7 eecond.a. HEAT 2: 1. Brian Tillson (H-D); 2. Bryon V'.u.u. (HD); 3. Steve Burkholder (H-D); 4. Milce Klopp (W-R); 5. Donnie Krusinski (H-D); 6. Eric Kinaoy (Ra); 7. Don FiUr(H·D). TUlle: 3:02..3. HEAT 3: 1. Kris Kisor (Ra); 2. !.an Sogody (Ra); 3. Xen Coolbolh (Ra); 4. Robert sw.._ (H-D); 5. Joo Winston ill (Ra); 6. Bry... Graybeal (W-R); 7. John Coloy;to (Hon). T.....,3:02.6. HEAT 4: 1. Brian Strong (W-R); 2. J."... H.>rt (WR); 3. Ken Yod.,. (Ra); 4. Brent Armbrust.,. (Ra); S. Milce Hac.... (Ra); 6. Milce Scott (Hon). T.....,3:04.2. SEMI 1: 1. Burkholder; 2. Hoc....; 3. Krusinski; 4. J

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