Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Team Pearls Suzuki (3) leads the way at the start of the endurance race at Road Atlanta. Here they lead eventual winner Team Suzuki Endurance (hidden) and the fastest man on the track Glen Szarek. and it's no different in WERA. After the first lap, Oliver held a one-second lead and he would stretch it just a bit with . every comer. Lowering his lap times throughout the weekend, Oliver was into the 1:23s by the fifth lap and had built up a 3.4-second cushi on on second place, a two-rider battle between Chris Taylor and Oliver's teammate Chuck Sorensen. When the race came to a red-flag end on the ninth lap , Oli ver had close to five seconds in hand. The battle would be for second wi th Taylor never able to shake Sorensen who was running better than he had all weekend after blowing up a motor in practice. But it wasn't enough to get b y Taylor, and when the race was stopped he was about 0.74seconds back. "It's always tough racing with Ch uck," Taylor said. "I saw plus-zero, plus-zero on my pit board . Two laps before the red flag I saw plus-I ." "Chris was really good through tum 12 and the esses. I'd make up tim e on the brakes," Sorensen said. "I ma de a couple of mistakes going into tum one hot on the brakes. It's reall y important fo r the drive up the h ill. It's like a straightaway." . More costly than the braking errors were mistakes Sorensen made in set up . After replacing the cylinder, piston, and head, the team was unsure about jetting. Oliver said he went down seven sizes on the main jet on his Perf~rmance South Racing Yamaha. "We've got to be a little more careful on preparation and watch after ourselves more," Sorensen said . The fight for fourth place was the best race in the class. Greg Esser had the spot at the start, with William Himmelsbach was fifth, and Tommy Hayden just back in sixth. By th e fourth lap Ha yden had caught u p and, s tarting the six th lap, Himmelsbach went under Esser in tum one to take the lead . Esser took it back on the seventh lap, and still held the spot at the end of the eighth when the race was stopped. Himmelsbach was a close fifth, with Hayden sixth. FORM ULA III The RK Chain Formula ill race would be one where Hayden would shine, but it would be a differen t Hayden. Nicky Hayden, the 14-year-old younger brother of Tommy, was quickly into the lead with Tommy, 16, second, and Kevin Murray third in front of the remaining 12-rid er swarm. Nicky Hayden pulled out a on e-second lead on the third lap, but ending the fourth there was a five-rider breakaway with Nicky leading Thorton McPheeters, Chris Rogers, Tommy Hayden, a n d Kevin Murray. McPheeters took the lead on the sixth lap as the lead trio began to inch away from Rogers and Tomm y Hayden. Nicky Ha yden regained the point on the eighth lap on the back straight, the leaders now hitting heavy traffic. Hayden s tayed in front, though McPheeters kept the pressure on all the way down to the last comer where he used a tight inside line, bu t without success. The podium featured thr ee d ifferen t brands, Nicky Hayden on the Earl's Racing Team Yamaha, Kevin Murray on Joe Fahey /M.C.E. Racing Hond a, and Thor- ton McPheeters on a self-sponsored Aprilia . "That was a fun ride . I d id n't kno w who was going to win," Murray said. "1 was going to ride the draft and go on the inside to get to him." Asked to descri be th e fi na l lap, McPhee ters said it was "one of 12" and that he had no strategy. Tommy Hayden fi nished four th, about two seconds behind, after passing Rogers on the seven th lap. Rogers was fifth, with Lee Parks, who' d su ng th e national anthem to start the day, finishing sixth. SUPERSTOCK The first race of the day w as th e Michelin 750cc Superstock final, a race that saw a trio of Valvoline Suzukis chasing Team Suzuki Sport's Aaron Yates. Steve Patterson had the early lead until Yates carne up from his fifth row start and went by on the fourth lap. "We pas sed each other a few times," Yates said. "They could get by in one and I got by on the backstraight. " Patterson took over again to begin the eighth lap, diving und er in tum one, with Yates in front when they crossed the line, only to ha ve it happen all over again in the same place. Ya tes caught on and stayed low in tum one starting the ninth lap , denying Patterson the opening. The ne xt lap he put a lapped rider between them and was able to stay in front to the finish, though he knew Patterson was back there. "1 just go out and ride and take a look back once in a w hile," Yates sai d after winning by .17-of-a-second . " 1 could look back in tum seven and tell I was keeping a good distance. I was far enough in the back to where he couldn't get the draft." Valvoline Suzuki's Dave Stanton and Tray Batey were third and fourth, respectively, racing tog ether for the entire 12 laps, with Darryl Saylor fifth on a Performance by Gary Suzuki. Patterson w ou ld get his wi n in th e next race, the Michelin 1100ccSuperstock event. Right from the start, he and teammate Bate y took off, leaving Stanton alone in third. Batey led the first two laps with Patterson taking over for the next two; Batey was in front for laps five an d six. There wasn't much between them and it took an inside pass by Patterson in tum one on the 11th lap to rega in the lead. He was also able to put a lapper between himself and Batey for the run up the hill. Batey quickly dispatched the lapper and set off after Patterson, coming up two bike lengths short w hen th e race was stopped on the fina1lap. "We' re pretty equal," Patterson said. "Going down the dip he would stick his knee out an d I could catch him a little bit. I could ca tch him on the brakes. All the time I figured he'd be right there. I had a little problem corning under the bridge. We were both riding hard to tha t poin t. We were both maxed out there." Batey fin ished seco nd with Stanton about nine seconds back in third and Aaron Yates another four seconds back in fourth ahead of Billy Eisenacher on a Honda CBR900 RR. The last of the Michelin Superst ock races was the 600cc clash with Reed and his Kawasaki leading nearly flag to flag, though ne ver able to break the draft of Honda-mounted Darryl Saylor. Reed took the lead on the third lap, but Saylor was always there and waiting for his spot. The lead was never more than a couple of bike lengths and that's what it would be on the fina1lap . Saylor tried a desperation move on the last lap, but he overshot the righthande r out of the Good year Bridge and rode onto the dirt. He took one last shot, coming up just short. Glenn Szarek had moved into third on the fourth lap and finished there, about eight seconds behind the leaders. Hondamounted Jamie Bowman, wh o had started near the back on the 33-rider field in th e second wave, rod e har d to finish fourth ahead of Mark Blackon the Woods Honda /Kawasaki Honda CBR600. a Road Atlanta . Braselton, Georgia Res ults: April 23, 1994 F·U SA LEG t : 1. Dav e Sado ws ki (H on ); 2. Da le Qu arterl ey (Kaw): 3. Scott Gra y (Due): 4. Rich Oliv e r (Yam); S. Micha el Martin (Suz ); 6. Chuck Grav es (Suz); 7. Gle nn Sza rek (Yam); 8. Mike Harth (Han); 9. Paul Harrell (Ya m ); 10. John Ashmead (Kaw) ; 11. Da vid Klassen (Ya m) ; 12. An drew Dea therage (H onj: 13. Da vid Deveau (H a n); 14. Ch uck Sorensen (Yam ); 15. Chris Taylor (Ya m); 16. Tray Batey (Suz); 17. Pabl o Real (Due); 18. Mites Baldwin (Yam); 19. Jonathan Bolton (Suz); 20. Geo~ Wilson. Ti me: 16 min., 49.43 sec. Distmce 12 laps. 30.24 miles. M.argin of victory: 0.31 sec . F·USA LEG 2: I. I. Dave Sad ow ski (Ho n); 2. Scott Gray (D ue): 3. Gle n n Sza rek (Yam ); 4. Rich O li ve r (Yam); 5. Chuck Graves (Suz) ; 6. Mike Harth (Ho n); 7. Pa ul Harrell (Ya m); 8. Michael Martin (Suz); 9. John Ashmead (Kaw); 10. David Klassen (Yam); 11. Andrew Deatherage (Ho n); 12. Chuck Sorensen (Yam); 13. Chris Taylor (Ya m); 14. Pab lo Real (Due ); 15. David Deveau (H on); 16. Tray Batey (Suz) ; 17. Miles Bal d win (Ya m); 18. Geoffrey Wilson (Suz ); 19. Davi d Davis (Sua); 20. Jonatha n Bolton (Suz) . Ti me: 16 min., 43.04 sec. Distance; 12 laps, 30.24 miles. Mugin of victory: 4.2'3sec. F·USA. O V ERAL L: 1. Dave Sadowski (Hon ); 2. Scott Gray (Due); 3. Rich Oliver (Yam); 4. G lenn Szarek (Yam); 5. Ch uck Graves (Sua); 6. Michael Martin (Sua); 7. Mike H arth (Hon); 8. Paul H arren (Ya m); 9. John Ashmead (Kaw); 10. David Klassen (Yam); 11. Andrew Dea the rag e (Hon); 12. Chuck Sorensen (Yam ); 13. Chris Taylor (Yam); 14. Dav id Dev ea u (Hon) ; 15. Pablo Real (Du e); 16. Tra y Batey (Suz) ; 17. Dale Qua.rtcrler (Kaw); 18. MiIcs Baldwin (Yam); 19. Ceoffrey Wilson (Sua ); 20. Jonathan Bolton (Sua ). . F-I1: I. Rich Oli ve r (Yam) ; 2. Chris Taylor (Yam) ; 3. Ch uck Sorensen (Yam); 4. Greg Esser (Yam ); 5. Willia m Himmelsbach (Yam); 6. Tommy H a yd en (Ya m ); 7. Michael Vadney (Yam) ; 8. Joh n Sherrard (Ya m); 9. James Bonner (Yam); 10. Richard Bolen (Yam); 11. James Will ia m s (Ya m); 12. Patrick Moore (Hon); 13. Drew Lincoln (Yam); 14. Stev e Palella (yam). Ti me: nl a du e to red flag. D ista nce: Slaps. 20.16 miles. Mugin of victo ry: nl a due to red flag. F-IJI: 1. Nicky Hayden (Ya m); 2. Kevin Murray (H a n ); 3. "Th o r n ton McPhee ters (A p r) ; 4. To m my Hayden (Ya m); 5. Chris Rogers (Ya m ); 6. Lee Pa rks (Hon); 7. W. Allen Willis (RlX);8. Ray Hixon (Hon); 9. Paul Black (Hon); 10. John Ulrich (Hon); 11. Roy Perry (Hon); 12. John lawless (Hon); 13. Richard Dorimeyer (Han); 14. George Gervasi (Hon); 15. Davy Wid jaja (Hon). TIme: 19 min., 10.57 sec . D istancet 12 laps, 30.24 mites . Margin of victory: 0.28 sees. llDOcc SUPERSTOCK: 1. Steve Patterson (Suz); 2. Tray Batey (Suz); 3. David Stanton (Sua); 4. Aaron Yates (5ua); 5. Billy Eisenracher (Hon) ; 6. Joseph Prussiano (Kaw ); 7. Ma rk Junge (Sua); 8. Barry Rompella (Ho n); 9. joey Gillela n d (Kaw); 10. Ray Litton (Ka w ); 11. Pet e Martins (Suz ); 12. Ramph Rim ro tt (Ka w ); 13. Ea rl Halford. Jr. (Sua) ; 14. Scott Brown (Sua ); IS. Jonathan Bolton (Ka w ); 16. Evan Semoff III (Han) ; 17. Jack Dup ree (Ya m) ; 18. John C. Branch III (Suz) ; 19. Dr . James Batey (Yam); 20. Aaron Obcnhcrgcr (Sua ). lime: nl a due to red flag. Dlstancer 11 laps. 27.72 miles. Margin of victory: n l a due to red flag. . 75Occ SUPERSTOCK ANAL: 1. Aaron Yares (Suz) ; 2. Steve Pa tterson (Suz); 3. David Stanton (Suz); 4. Tray Batey (Sua); 5. Darryl Saylor (Sua ); 6. Billy Eisenachcr (Yam); 7. Joseph Prussiano (Kaw); 8. John C. 8ranch m (Suz); 9. Da nny Roberts (Ya m) ; 10. Jam ie Bow ma n (Hon); 11. Ray Litto n (Kaw ); 12. joey Gilleland (Kaw); 13. Daniel Lowry Jr. (Suz); 14. r ete Martins (Sua); IS . Ralph Rimrott (Kaw); 16. Giant Lopez (Kaw) ; 17. Daniel Bailey (Suz); 18. Patrick Kenney (Yam); 19. Eric Smi th (Suz); 20. Scott Brown (Kaw ). Tim e: 17 min.• 39.06 sec. Di stance: 12 laps, 30.24 miles. Margin of victory: 0.17 sees. 600cc SUPERSTOCK A N AL: 1. Mike Reed (Kaw ); 2. Darryl Say lor (Hon ); 3. Glenn Szarek (Sua); 4. Jamie Bow ma n (Hon); 5. Mark Black (Hon); 6. Max Autry (H on ); 7. lanny Allen (Hon); 8. Grant Lopez (Hon); 9. Kevi n Rcntzell (Kaw) ; 10. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam); 11. Reu ben Frankenfield (Ho n); 12. Jonathan Bolton (5ua); 13. Jeff Will iams (Hon ); 14. Ste ve Dool in (Kaw ); 15. Scott McFadden (Hon) ; 16. Evan Semoff m (Ho n); 17. Sandy Nocc (Kaw ); 18. Bill Zea rley (Hon ); 19. Fred Provis (Hon); 20. Ralph He rrero (Hon ). li me 17 m in., 49.95 sec. Distance: 12 laps. 30.24 miles. Margin of victo ry: 16 sees . YAMA HA SECA II CH ALLENGE S ERIES A N AL: 1. Tho mas Rose ; 2. Mark Whitehurst: 3. Eric Pladson; 4. Craig Westwood; 5. Michael Laney; 6. Jeremy Mouse r: 7. Cary Brow n; 8. Darrell Ryals ; 9. Todd Sn yder; 10. C huma Hu n ter -Gault: 11. Rober t Ve r in i; 12. Mark Min tel; 13. Steven Green. . lime: 20 min. , 16.89 sec. Distanc~: 12 laps. 30.24 miles. Margin of vict ory . 1.13 sees . . UpcomingRounds Round 2: Shannonville, ON. Can . • M 26 ay Round 3: Indianapolis. Indiana · July 24 WERA S unocolPerfonna Machine National nce E nduran ceseries Round 2 :RoadAtlanta T CA,., ~"l,.kf EJtA,.)AJteC S df A S f,t By Henn y Ray Abrams Photos by George Roberts BRASELTON, GA, APR 23 . he second round of the Sunoco /Performance Machine Endurance series was scheduled for four hours, but because of three red flag s onl y ran for about half that. The fina1 green flag carne 'with 45 minutes to go, turning the race into a -sprint that was decided in the last 10 minutes.

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