Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

DIRT TRACK. ANA 600cc National Championship Series . Final Round: Castle Rock Fairgrounds arr's e (Left) Andy Tresser (mldclle) took a controv....... victory at the 111181 round of the 800cc NlItIOII8I Dirt Tl1ICk SerIes 81 the C88t1e Rock Falrgr0und8 over Rex Fisher (left) and Mickey Fey (right). (Below) Joe Kopp took the Ieed on the ..81 Iep and held on for the win 81 the Ca811e Rock regloll8l lIVent. By Clay Ught Photo by Karin Lang CASTLE ROCK, WA, SEPT, 9. he fourth and final rO':ffid of the AMA 600cc National Championship will long be remembered as one of controversy, heartbreak and triumph. For both Andy Tresser and Chris Carr, it was most triumphant. For Joe Kopp and Mickey Fay, however, it was a night they'd rather forget. Tresser won the National after a controversial last-tum shootout placed the Redwood City, California, resident into the winner's circle for the second time in his career. This left Fay, the 1994 600cc champion, with a second-place finish, followed by Oregon's Rex Fisher and Washington's Joe Kopp and J.P. Simonsen. Mathematically the only rider other than Carr with a shot at the cnampionship, Kopp saw his hopes for victory dashed amid the final-turn chaos. On ,the last lap Kopp was running third, a spot he desperately needed to clinch the crown - but it wasn't to be. Instead, Kopp would finish fourth, and end the season tied with Carr at 36 points. The absent Carr was granted the victory in the championship by virtue of his win at the first round of the series at the Daytona short track. Rich King, also absent, finshed third overall in the standings on 33 points, followed by Fay (32) and Tresser (21). For Tresser's race victory, the Californian earned $1800 from the $10,000 purse. Fay netted $1300 for second, while Fisher, from nearby Warren, Oregon, took home $850 for third .. It was Fisher's third career podium finish. Thirty-five experts and 31 Pro-Am entrants were on hand. Four Expert heat races took the top two riders directly to the 17-rider final. The first heat, which was also the evening's fastest, went to hometown rider Simonsen, as he beat Fisher to the line. Heat two !\ad the King of Castle Rock, Dan Stanley, come away T 32 with a win over Del Schnitzer. The third hea t was the one most figured to be a preview of the main event since it would feature both Tresser and Kopp. The pair battled wheel-ta-wheel for the entire race with Tresser finally prevailing over his race-long rival. Transfering through the final heat were Fay and Shane Butchart. . Three semis placed the top three from each into the main event lineup. Chris Fitzhugh, Lonnie Kopp and Jeff Harsha transfered from the first, while Don Wilson, Billy Martin and Russ Yamamoto went from the second. The final semi brought Troy Rose, Ron Waters and Paul Iwananga to the National. 600cc NATIONAL Simonsen sat on the pole position for the 17-rider, 25-lap final, but Stanley showed that he knows best the way into turn one as he_led the freight train of riders into the dogleg. Hot on Stanley's heels were Fay, Fisher, Kopp, Simonsen, Wilson and Tresser, who got off to a poor start. Fay stole the lead on lap two, but didn't break away from Stanley, Fisher and Kopp, those three all looking for a way around the veteran. Kopp applied pressure to Stanley, and on the fourth lap the two tangled. Stanley became the evening's first casualty. The Washington resident c.alled it quits with a broken bike and a banged-up body. . Kopp then set his sights on Fay and Fisher, both of whom where riding at their best level of the season. Tresser carved through traffic, quickly pasing Wilson, then Simonsen, to close in on the front-running trio. TT specialist Tresser came from nearly a quarter-lap back, making up most of his time in the dogleg and the infamous jump section. By the halfway point, Tresser had narrowed the gap substantially as Fay was doing a remarkable job of holding off both Fisher and Kopp. With four laps remaining, Tresser rallied to join Fay, Fisher and Kopp up front. Fay clearly had the track figured out, while things mixed up between Fisher, Kopp and Tresser, who each had their turn running second. Simonsen ran a lonely fifth ahead of Wilson, Schnitzer and Shane Butchart. . Things tightened up during the final three laps with the top four of Fay, Fisher, Kopp and Tresser riding side by side at times, all vying for their place at'the front. Fay, however, seemed just able to maintain the advantage, while the other three traded second place constantly. Fay remained in the .lead until the four riders came out of the final tum to sprint to the finish. tresser put a wheel inside of Fay, who was forced out wide, and he in tum forced Fisher and Kopp wide. At the line Tresser barely edged Fay for the win. Fisher edged Kopp by the slimmest margin to finish in the final pqdium spot. Fifth went to' Simonsen, followed distantly by Wilson, Schnitzer, Butchart and top non-National numbered riders Rose and Walters, who rounded out the top 10. Then the controversy erupted in the winner's circle. Fay and pit men Tom Houseman and Joe McCoy claimed that Fay was bumped out of the lead by Tresser. To Ti'esser, it was simple enough: "Fay drifted out wide and left me a hole." Fay, though, saw it differently. '1t was a cheap move. I had the lead and rode the same line for 23 laps," said an angry Fay. AMA referee Dick Andrae made the final decision, and after reviewing the circumstances decided in Tresser's favor. "I'm not happy about it (the decision)," Fay said.afterward, "but I'll honor it. This is probably my last professional race and I would have liked to have gone out with a win." ('N C8et1e Rock Fairgrounds Ca81le Rock, Wuhlngton september 9, 1995 HEAT 1 (9 riden, top 2 transfor): 1. J.P. SimonseTl (Han); 2. Rex Fisher (Rtx); 3. Lonnie Kopp (Rtx); 4. Russ "(amamolo CRt-x); 5. Jeff Hiatt CRt-x); 6. Eric Rickman (Rtx): 7. Randall Bereman (Rtx); 8, Steve Hyson CRtx); 9. M;chelle DiSalvo (Rtx). HEAT 2 (9 riders, top 2. transfer): 1. Dan stanley (Rtx); 2. Del Schnitzer (Rtx); 3. Ron Wate:s (Rtx); 4. Jeff Annen (Rtx); 5. Billy Martin (Rtx); 6. Kurt Edwards (Rtx); 7. Cecil Short (Rtx); 8. Jerry Brown (Rtx); 9. Chris Staley (Rtx). . HEAT 3 (9 riden, top 2 traDafor~ LAndy Tresser (Rtx); 2. Joe Kopp (Rtx); 3, Don Wilson (Rtx); 4. Chris Fitzhugh (Rtx); S. Pau.! Iwanaga (Hon); 6. Steve Uberty (Rtx); 7. David Anderson (Rtx); 8. J.... Sanchez (Rtx); 9. Steve Mayfield (Rtx). HEAT 4 (9 riders, lop 2 transfor): 1. M;ckey Fay (HD): 2. Shane Butchart (Rtx); 3. Troy Rose (Rtx); 4. Ryan Anderson (Rtx); 5. Jeff Harsha (Rtx); 6. Jeff Rister (Han); 7. Dick Wall CRtx); 8. Charlie Brown CRtx); 9. Cary Strode (Rtx). SEMl 1 (9 riden, top 3 transfer): 1. Chris fitzhugh '(W-R); 2. Lonny Kopp (W-R); 3, Jeff Harsha (Rtx); 4. Jeff Annen (Rtx); 5. Charlie Brown (Rbc); 6. Eric Rickman (Rtx); 7. David Anderson (Rtx); 8. Cecil Short (Rtx); 9. M;cheJle DiSalvo (Rtx). SEMI 2 (10 riden, lop 3 transfer): 1. Don Wilson (Rtx); 2. Billy Martin (Rtx); 3. Russ Yamamoto (Rtx); 4. Eli Price; 5. Ryan Anderson; 6. 5reve Mayfield (Rtx); 7. Steve Liberty (Rtx); 8. Randan _ a n (Rtx); 9. Jerry Browning (Rtx); 10. Dick Wan (Rtx). SEMI 3 (10 ridua, top 3 Iranafu): 1. Troy Rose (Rtx); 2. Ron Waten (Rtx); 3. Paullwanaga (Hon); 4. Jeff. Hiatt (Rtx); 5. Jesse Sanchez CRtx); 6. kurt Edwards (Rtx); 7. Chris StaJey (Rtx); 8. Steve Hyson (Rtx); 9. Jeff Rister (Han); 10. Gary Strode (Rtx). National (2$ laps, 17 riclerak 1. Andy Tresser MR); 2. Mickey Fay (H-D); 3. Rex Fisher (W-R); 4. Joe Kopp (W-R); 5. J.P. Simonsen (Han); 6. Don Wijson (Rtx); 7. Del Schnitzer (Rtx): 8. Shane Butchart (Rtx); 9. Troy Rose (W-R); 10. Ron Waters (Rtx); 11. Russ Yamamoto (W~R); 12. Lonny Kopp (W-R); 13. Chris Fitzhugh (W~.R); ]4. Paul twanaga (Hon); 15 Jeff Harsha (Rtx); 16. Billy Marting (Rtx); 17. Dan Stanley. AMA 600ce NATIONAL DIRT TRACK SERIES FINAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Chris Carr (36/1 win); 2. Joe Kopp (36); 3. Rich IGng (33); 4, M;ckey Fay (32); 5, Andy Tresser (21/1 win); 6. (TIE) Steve MoreheadlScott Parker (20/1); 8. Terry Poovey (16); 9. mE) Georgie Price IV/J.P. Simonsen (15). 600 PRO-AM: 1. Randy Patte.rson (Rtx); 2. Steve Smith (Rtx); 3. Christian Vernon (Rtx); 4, Shawn Ru...n (Rtx); 5. Don Hart (Rtx); 6. Phil Prutsman (Kaw); 7. Mark Patterson (Yam); 8. Bob Moran (Yam); 9. Levi German (Hon); 10. Dave. Sterin (Rtx); 11. Justin Henneslcy (Rtx); 12. Sieve Pruczinski (Yam). AMA Regional Dirt Track Championship series Round 11: castle Rock Fairgrounds Kopp's shocker By Clay Light CASTLE ROCK, WA, SEPT. 8 II good things eventually come to an end, and, unfortunately for Dan Stanley, that's exactly what happened to his season-long domination of the Expert ranks after Joe Kopp's last-lap pass at the Castle Rock round of the AMA Regional Dirt Track Championship Series. "It feels really good to win this," said Kopp. "I learned a lesson last night that if Danny gets away, there's no A

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