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/127667
(Opposite page) Scott Parker (2) led Jay Springsteen (9), Steve Morehead (42), George Roeder II (66) and Will Davis (21) In the early stages of the National. (Right) A surprised Scott Parker (2) found himself under attack from Steve Morehead (42) near the halfway point. Morehead made the pass, but later DNFed. (Below) Will Davis (21), Jason Fletcher (65) and Rodney Farris (92) battled in the opening laps. Fletcher went on to fi nish th ird . It was the best fin ish of his career. 883 NATIONAL steen had other ideas, and put on a spectacular display of riding as he slithered in to second. After stalking his fellow veteran for a few comers, Springsteen put a move on Morehead and took over the lead in tum two . "I was getting a real good ron out of two, when all of a sudden I felt someone reach over and pat my leg!" said Morehead with a laugh. "I looked over and it's 01' Springer. Any time you can race wide open with guys like that, it's a real good time." Morehead did all he could to sneak past Springsteen, b ut the 40-time National winner was on fire and wo uld not be denied . Morehea d slipped off the groove in turns one and two on th e eighth lap, allowing Springsteen to pull away, bu t still held on to a solid second. That heat race would be the fastes t of the night. M&M Racing's Scott Stump motored into the lead in the fourth and final heat and established a comfortable lead over Fletcher and George Roeder II. Stump's luck ran out as he raced out of turn four on lap five, when his chain snapped and left him skidding into the scoring area. Fletcher was glad to pick up where Stump left off, but then Roeder snuck past him in turn two and raced off with the win. Fletcher held on for second. SEMIS Riders who didn't make the cut in their heat races were given a second chance in one of three eight-lap semis, each of which offered three final transfer positions. Harley-Davidson of Sacramen to's Aaron Hill dominated the first semi from start to finish, and led Plano H o n da 's Bill y Herndon and Team Undo's Larry Pegram across the finish line. Semi two saw Total Control Racing's Kevi n Atherton ju mp out to an early lead, and race off with an unc on tested win. Athert on opened up a commanding lead from the get-go, bu t an impressive late-race charge by Team Undo's Brett Landes saw it cut down considerabl y. Landes fin ished a close second, while Stump worked through the field to nab the third transfer position. Winchester Harley-Davidson's Rodney Farris wasted little time with. the rest of the field in the third and final semi, leaving the competition in his wake as he slid away with a commanding lead. A four-rider battIe over second raged throughout the race, but the red flag flew when Jess Roeder and Kevin Varnes tangled in tum one. Varnes was able to make the restart, bu t Roeder's machine was too bent to continue. Quite a shame, as the third member of the Racing Roeder Family had been in a prime position to qualify for his firs tever Grand National . While Farris ditched the field at the single-file restart, Gardner Racing' s Kenny Coolbeth Jr . gaine d co ntrol of second and held on to qua lify ahead of former Canadian National Champion Steve Aseltine, who raced a Donahue Harley-Davidson-backed machine. For the second round in a row, a below-par number of riders turned out to do battle in the Harley-Davidson 883 class. Four six-lap heat races thinned the 23-rider field down for the 17-man National, and the wins went to Springsteen, Aseltine, Stump and Modesto Harley-Davidson's Matt Wait , respectively. At the start of the IS-lap National, Fletcher, 1993 Rookie of the Year Ben Bostrom and the ever-versa tile Randy Texter proved to be too anxious and were sen t to the penalty line for jumping the gun. Springsteen had the bes t react ions at the flash of the green light and led Stump and Wait through turn one, while Fletcher went ballistic on the opening lap and somehow motored into fourth by the start of lap two. "I just went for the outside banzai move," said Fletcher. "I went straight for the top of the track and just went around everyone. The ne xt thing I knew , I was in fourth ." Fletcher wasted little time passing Wait, and was soon shadowing Springsteen and Stump. Stump tried repeatedly to dive under Springsteen - but each time found the door slammed shut. "Springer was running it into the corners real deep and I could n' t get under him" said Stump. "I didn't want to ram him or anything, so I waited - I knew that he would get tired." On the sixth lap, Stump got an incredible drive out of turn two and zipped past Springsteen on the back straight. Startled, Springsteen seemed to lose his rhythm, which also allowed Fletcher to sneak past as they entered turn three; Fletcher hounded Stump for a few laps, bu t eventually los t touch ~ with the yellow-clad rider. 0\ "I don't know why, but Stump's bike ...... is a lot faster than anyone else's," said Fletcher. "That thing is a rocket." At the finish, Stump enjoyed a halfstraightaway lead ove r Fletcher, while Springsteen followed a few bike lengths behind. Wait was a close fou rth, while Aseltine rounded out the top five.