Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127576
ยท"I love this track tonight," said Springsteen. "It suits my style just right. The cushion is great." Will Davis and Billy-Herndon argued over second early in the race, but King came out of nowhere to swoop past them both and into a solid second at the flag, nearly a full straight behind Springsteen. Don Estep jumped out ahead of Jason Fletcher and Graham in the fourth and final heat, but the red flag came out as they rounded the track for the first time, as Jake Zemke crashed unhurt in turn three. Estep duplicated his holeshot on the restart, but Graham wasted little time in displacing him en route to another runaway win. Carr suffered a mediocre start and didn't begin to challenge Estep for second until the fourth lap. Carr got past Estep with relative ease, but was unable to reduce Graham's substantial lead. Fletcher finished a distant third after Estep pulled off with mechanical preblems. Semis Before the start of the three eight-lap semis that would round out the National, track workers worked frantically to fill and pack a hole that had formed in the entrance to turn one. Though most of the top riders rode either above or below it, the hole presented problems to a few riders who insisted on riding through it lap after lap. Davis nabbed the holeshot in the first semi, bu t Rodney Farris took over on the second lap with a slick inside pass. Davis looked to retaliate, but couldn't quite top Farris' comer speed and settled for second at the finish. The battie for the third and final transfer was intense, as Chance Darling and Fletcher . circulated the track only inches apart. In the end, it was Southeast HarleyDavidson's Darling who finished third and would race in his first main of the season. The second semi provided a season's worth of thrills and spills, thanks to National-regular Davey Camlin. At the start, Camlin grabbed the holeshot but nearly high-sided as he powered out of turn two for the.first time. Camlin saved it, but found himself headed straight for the back wall after recovering from his first scare. Camlin cut to the left, but still found himself riding up the wall and fell off the side of his bike. Unhurt, Carotin restarted his bike and lined up for the restart. To the delight of the crowd, Camlin took over at the restart and led Rogers and Hale at the start of lap two. But as he slid into tum one, Camlin gave it too much gas and spun out, bringing out a second red flag. On the second restart, Camlin and Les Washbon banged into each other, and Washbon was sent rolling off the back of his bike. Yet another red flag flew, and the field - including Wash bon - lined up for the third restart. The third time was the charm, as Rogers got out and away from the rest of the field and scored a runaway win over Hale and a distant Michael Varnes. Camlin looked well on his way to qualifying early in the race, but ran into the back of Cory Perrault's bike on the back straight when its motor went south. The third semi saw a great race between Honda riders Herndon and Ingram. Herndon pulled out an early lead, but Ingram reeled him in during the final laps. Ingram tried every trick in the book, but couldn't overtake Herndon. Lance Jones finished a distant third and qualified for his secondstraight main. Steve Mo~head (42) and Jay Springsteen (9) battled over fourth. Morehead gained the upper hand in the end. Jay Springsteen (9) couldn't hold off Ricky Graham (3) for the 883 National win. Note Graham's titanium shoe. Camel Challenge Fast qualifier Rogers chose to, start the five-lap Camel Challenge in the middle of the starting line, with King and Carr to his right, and Graham, Springsteen and Parker to his left. Graham was the first to react when the light went green and raced into turn one ahead of a surprised Parker and Springsteen. Since he hadn't worn his titanium shoe in his heat race, Graham startled the others as he dragged his foot through turn one and left them in a wake of sparks. "It caught me off guard," admitted Springsteen. "Bu t we all used to spark years ago and I was used to it." As the pack roared down the front straight to start lap two, Graham already enjoyed a seven bike length lead over Springsteen, Parker, Rogers, Carr and King. Parker snuck past Springsteen on lap two and set out after Graham, who nearly high-sided in tum two and handed the lead to Parker. "I was in big eye country, that's for sure," said Graham. "If I wasn't in shape, I'd have been in the hospital." Once into the lead, Parker pulled out an immediate lead, while Graham recovered quickly from his near-crash and tucked in behind Springsteen, in third. While Parker continued to pull away, Graham and Springsteen traded the runner-up spot repeatedly in the remaining laps. Graham gained the upper hand on the last lap and turned in a blistering lap that carried him to within two bike lengths of Parker at the finish. Springsteen followed another seven bike lengths behind, well ahead of Carr, Rogers and King. While Parker wheelied through his victory lap, Springsteen and Graham shared a high-five and a hug, agreeing that the race was a real bam-burner. "I think Ricky tried to trick us with that Shoe," said Parker. "But while he was sparkin', I was out winning $5000." National Fast heat winner Graham sat on the outside pole at the start of the main with Parker, Springsteen, Morehead, Carr and Roeder to his left. Morehead was off the line quickest at the start, and the black-leathered rider led Carr, Roeder and Springsteen through tum one. The red flag came out on lap two after Rogers crashed in turn four. Rogers complained of back pains and was taken to the hospital, but was released later that evening, "bruised and sore, but otherwise okay." 7