Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

AMAlCCS Harley-Davidson TwinSport Series: Round 7 R RACE e DAD =---r--~~ ~ Scott Gray (15) passed Randy Texter (65) and was never headed in the TwinSports race. By Paul Carruthers Photo by George Roberts LOUDON, Nfl, JUNE 20 t had been a long time since Scott Gray had savored the sweet taste of success. Three years to be exact. But at New Hampshire International Speedway the likeable northern California racer stood proudly atop the winner's circle after completely dominating the HarleyDavidson TwinSport class. VVinless since his victory in the WERA Formula USA race at Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona, back in 1990, Gray and his Citrus Heights Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster were an unbeatable combination on the tight and twisty l.6-mile race track. It took three starts to finally get the race completed, but it didn't matter much to Gray who was leading each and every time the race was stopped. Including the most important time - at the checkered flag. Defending two-time class champion Scott Zampach finished second on the Tilley's Harley-Davidson entry, his second-place finish fairly easy to swallow since it was enough for him to take over the lead in the championship point standings. Zampach now leads Shawn Higbee, 19th at Loudon. by 19 points, 215-196. Third place in the rain-sodden race went to Low Country HarleyDavidson's Chuck Blackmon, the South Carolina resident finishing in front of the battle for fourth between Randy Texter and Laconia's own Brian Tillson. Texter was able to hold off Tillson on the final lap, despite TilI50n's best efforts to make a pass. The first attempt at getting the race started lasted until the third corner when six riders went down on the slippery tarmac. On the second start, Gray went into the first comer in second place behind Higbee. Gray, though, made the pass in turn five and started to pull away from a battle for second between Higbee and Zampach. Mark Pastir and Troy Roberts both crashed in tum two, bringing out a second red flag, with cornerworkers doing an excellent job of plugging the oil leak from the sJ:'li~ cases on the Harley with a rag until It was removed from the racing surface. I Takahiro Sohwa (41) won his first-ever AMA race in the 750cc Supersport final. "I thought Rothman was going to take us all out," Kling said later. Turkington's lead was short-lived as Smith used all his local knowledge to bust through on the inside in tum two. At the end of the first lap the order read: Smith, Turkington, Kling, Pridmore and Sohwa. Smi th held the lead until the sixth lap, when Turkington moved t~rou~h on the inside. Sohwa, after earlier disposing of Kling, made a similar move on Smith in tum three to take over second. A lap later and Sohwa was in the lead this would hold to the finish. By this time, Pridmore was forced to stop to rip the lowers of his fairing off the Kawasaki; he rejoined the fray to finish an eventual 16th. Second place wouldn't be decided until the very end as Turkington, Kling and Smith took their struggle to the finish line. On the final lap, Turkington opened up a little cushion on Smith, with Kling busting his way past the local on the run through the final two comers to take third. "It felt great:' said Smith after his best AMA/CCS Supersport finish to date. "That's the most fun I've had in a iong time. The red flag was our big hope, but we missed our mark on getting new tires. They've got some motor on me, but I could definitely close in some of the comers. I think I had some better lines." "That was tiring:' said Kling, who was able to fit a new rear tire. "I think I showed all my cards way too soon to Britt. The red flag helped me out, but I'm sorry my teammate (Pridmore) fell." Turkington, who also fitted a new rear tire during the break between races, said he had no idea Sohwa was coming through the pack: "I didn't know who was therl?:' he said. "I didn't feel like looking. Jason (pridmore) wore my neck muscles out in the first part. I'm just happy to be getting out with some points. I think the Suzuki was the fastest bike out there - I just didn't have my setup right. I'm happy for Tiger (Sohwa); he's been working hard." Sohwa spoke through an interpreter, though he was quiet as usual - even in victory. "I just go for the front and didn't look back. Usually in superbike everybody passes me so I didn't think to look behind." Were his brakes legal? "I hope so," Sohwa said with a smile. Q\' Results 750(e 55: 1. Takahiro Sohwa (Kaw); 2. Britt Turkington (Suz); 3. Fritz Kling (!

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