Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

r the ou tsid e of the firs t row and he use d h is position to good advantage, lead in g the pack in to tu m one. Adams was right th ere w ith h im, as was Kling - h o p ing for a be tter showing th is tim e out. O live r wasn't so lucky for the se cond start, as all the b ig-bore m ach ine ry powered righ t past h im in spite of h is polep os ti on start. "These guys learn fast," sa id Oliver. "W ith these races 1 us ua lly catch them off gua rd, like in th e firs t race. Th ey were ready thi s time." , Lef t run n ing fourth behi n d a flyi ng Graves, Ad ams and Klin g at th e end of th e first lap, three turns into th e su bsequent go-arou n d, Oliver p assed them all at once and .led the w ay throu gh th e fas t back se ction of th e track, Adams h eld t rue to h is w o r d a n d ca lm e d hi s n erv es, q uick ly taking Graves' second-place spot to m ount a s trong challenge for the lead. Jus t past start I finish on th e secon d lap, A dams go t a huge d rive off turn nin e to blast b y Ol iver - but o nly fo r a b ri e f m om ent. Usi ng.the su perior b rak in g capability of h is lighter machin e, he si m p ly o u tbr aked th e ch arging bi g-b ore r ider into turn o ne. That w as it for O liv er, wh o settle d into low one-mi n u te, 23-sec ond lap times to pull aw ay from th e field on ce again , Adams' blistering pa ce w a s soon s low e d with tire p roblems. " Man, w e w e re h aving a good ride, Rich an d 1," said Adams, "An d then we must have go tten som eth ing stuck in th e rear tire and it s tarted going flat. 1 thought about pulling off, but 1 really w an ted to finish in the points so I just tried to stay out as long as 1 cou ld ." With h is non-finish from round one, Sadowski re turned to s ta rt his race from th e rear of the grid. Early on he loo ked to be on the m ove as h e passed several riders a lap, w hen bad lu ck struck once again. This time it was a broken chain a n ew item in stalled just before the race. At th e fron t of the pack, Adams was still h anging on in th e fa ce of serious pressure from an on-fire Graves and the ch arging Batey, a t least until the six th lap, By the se venth Adams h ad fad ed to fou rth pl ace, wh ile Batey blitz ed b y Grav es to tak e over se con d beh ind Oliver. N ot one to stand by in th e face of stiff com petition, G raves so on fou ght back, and so be gan so me of th e best raci ng on the d ay. The Graves Motorsports rider sh adowed Batey as they sp lit backmarkers a n d pushed th e ir m a chines to the limit . Finally, the passing opportu n ity ca me as th e pair entered tu rn one and Graves' exp erien ce at th e track paid off with a dramatic late-braking m ove th a t p u t h im into secon d , w here he would re main. "I d id n't h ave a real good drive ou t of (turn) nine," sa id Tennesee resident Batey , "My pit board said plus one but Chuck got a reall y great drive, so not only did 1 not h ave a second, he p assed me." "Trey was really hau ling ass," sai d Graves succinctly, "putting on a great ride." Batey tri ed everythi ng h e coul d to get back around, but to no avail, and so the top three was set. Rid ing te ammat e Walt Dorsch's bike, Szarek p ut on a solid charge th a t saw h im m o v e p a st fif t h-placed T a y lor around th e fourth lap .v'Glenn was h aving prob le m 's w ith o ne o f o ur b i k e s to day," said team ow ner Graves, "A nd we h ad to take Walt off th at b ike." Next to m ove p ast the Hon da rider was Stanton. Tay lor tried to fight h is w ay by ag a in, but ended hi s race w hen h e left th e tr a ck in turn six . "I wish 1 cou ld tell yo u w h at h appened," said the sl ightl y d a zed but uninjur e d T a y lor . "Bu t 1 ju st d on 't know." St anton wasn't ab le to pass fou r th p la ce d Szarek and ended the race in fifth. Kling's h op e for an impro ved perf ormance in the second race was dashed w hen he noticed something amiss on h is YZF750 - framed 'Ya m a h a 1000. "I was going through tu rn eight when m y foot (Above) Curtis Adams challe nged Oliver In race two, but s uffered fro m a deflating tire to finis h seve nth after a third in race one. (Left) Doug Polen wrestled with ca rburetlon trouble all wee kend but hopes to be re ady for Day1ona. Time: 16 min; 47.410 sec. Distance: 30 miles Ma rgin of Victory: 4.130 sec. F· USA SERIES POI NT STANDINGS: 1. Rich O liver [10/2 wins ); 2. Tray Batey (62); 3. Ch uck Graves (60); 4. C ur tis Adams (54); 5 . Da vid Stanton (51); 6. Glenn Szarek (SO); 7. Peter Chri stenen (48); 8. Roland Sands (43); 9 . Lan ce H ol st (43 ); 10. Ma rk Mille r (40); 11. Micha el Barn es (38); 12. Chris Voelk er (36); 13, (TIE) Jason Frase r /Jeffrey Stem (31); 15. Jason Paden (28); 16. Fritz Kling (26); 17. (TIE) Ray Yoder IJa mes Rand olph (2S); 19, Ch ris Tay lor (24); 20. Scott Za m pach (21); 21. Matt Wa it (18 ); 22. Shan e Turpin (17) 23. (TIE) Joe Pittman /Ben Welch (16); 25. Doug Polen (IS); 26. (TIE) Michael Fitzp atri ck/Clinton Whitehouse (14); 28. And y De th er ag e (12) ; 29. (TI E) Todd Ha rrington /Brian Gibson (6); 31. Ho hn Hilton (5); 32. Michael Sidw ell (4); 33. Sean Sidwell (2); 34. James Wells (1). Upcoming rounds: Rounds 3 & 4 ' Daytona Beach , FL, March 3 Rounds 5 & 6 - Atlanta, GA, March 31 slip ped off th e p eg," sai d Kling . "A radiat or clamp let go and that w as it." Kling did n ot fini sh . Su zuki -mounted Chriten s en improv ed hi s first-round performance to a s ixth, while th e tr ou b le d Adams w as seventh, TZ250 rider Roland Sands soon foll owed with Sport Rider ed itor Holst and Mark Mill er rounding ou t th e top 10. IN Willow Springs Internationa l Raceway Rosamond, Californ ia Results: February 18, 1996 (Rounds 1 & 2 of 18) . F·USA QUALIFYING: 1. Rich Oli ver (1:22,929); 2, Curtis Adam s (1:23.820); 3. David Sadowski (1:23.920); 4 , Tra y Batey (1:24.360) ; S. Fritz Kling ( L 24,S30); 6, Davi d Stanton (I:24.7S0); 7. Glenn Szarek (1:24.970); 8. Paul Ha rr ell (1:25,080); 9. Chris Tay lor (1:25.080); 10. Lance Holst (1:25.080); 11. Rolan d Sands (1:25,140); 12, Wa lt Dorsch (1:25.300); 13: Chuck Graves (1:25.350); 14. Michael Barn es (1:25.410 ); 15. Doug Po len (1:25.520); 16. Mark Miller (1:25.630); 17. Chri s Voelker (1:25.690); 18. Jason Paden (1:25.740); 19. Peter Chri stensen (1:25.850); 20, Ben Welch (1:26.010); 21. Jeffrey Stem (1:26.010); 22, Jas on Fra ser (1:26.070); 23. Jason Rot h (1:26.290); 24. Je rry Evans (1:26.560); 25. James Randolf (1:26.940); 26. Ray Yoder (1:26,950); 27, Clinton Whit ehou se (1:27.340); 28 . To dd H arring ton ' (1:27 .500); 29 . Joe Pittm an (1:27.610);'30. Matt Wa it (1:27,880); 31. Willi am Bec k ( I :27.930~ 32. John Hilton (1:28,050); 33. Scott Zarn pach (1: 28 ,3 20 ); 34 . Brian Gi bso n (1 :28.71 0); 3S, A nd y Deatherage (1:28.810); 36. Michael Fitzpatrick (1:28.820); 37 . Sh an e Turpin (1:30.020); 38. Dougla s Ne who us e (1:30.620); 39. Christopher Rankin (1:30.690); 40. Micha el Sidw ell (1:33.160); 41. Tripp Nobles (1:31.840); 42, Sean Sidwell (1:33.160) ; 43. Sh aw n Conrad (1:36.230); 44. Dev in Battley (1:37.990); 45. James Wells (1:42.980); 46. Ma rk Cullen (1:44.470). ROUN D 1: 1. Rich Oli ver (Yam) ; 2. T ra y Bate y (502 ); 3. Curtis Ad ams (Suz); 4. Chu ck Gr aves (Suz); 5. Fritz Kling (Yam ); 6. Da vid Sta nt on (Su z ); 7. C h ris Taylor (Hon); 8. Peter Christensen (Suz ); 9. Glenn Sare k (Suz); 10. Lan ce Holst (Yam); 11. .Rolan d Sands (Yam); 12. M ark Mill er (5uz); 13. Micha el Ba rn es (Suz); 14. Chris Voel ke r (Hon ); 15. Ben Welch (Yam ); 16. Dou g Po len (Suz ); 17. Jeffrey Stern (Kaw ): 18. Jason Fraser (Hon) ; 19. Jas on Pad en (Vam ); 20. Ja m es Randolph (Suz); 21. Ray Yode r (Yam ); 22. Scott Zampach (Tri): 23. Matt Wait (Han); 24. Cl int on Whi teh ouse (24); 25. Mich ael Fitzpat rick (Yam); 26. Joe Pittma n (Kaw ); 27. Sha ne Turpin (Duc); 28. Andy Det herage (Ka w ): 29. John Hilton (Hon) 30. Todd Harrington (Kaw ); 31. Jer ry Eva ns (Yam); 32. Micha el Sidwell (Kaw); 33. Willia m Beck (So2); 34. Christopher Rank in (Kaw ); 35. Douglas Newho use (Ho n ); 36. Sean Sidwell (Kaw ): 37. Jam es Wells (Su z); 38. Jason Roth (Yam); 39. Brian Gibson (Han ); 40. Walt Dorsch (Suz); 41. Pau lHarrell (Yam); 42. David Sad ows ki (Hon). Ti me: 16 mtn., 46.760 sec. Dista nce: 30 miles Margin of Victory. 7.3 sec. ROUND 2: 1. Rich Oliver (Yam ); 2. Chu ck C raves (Su z); 3. Tra y Batey (Su z); 4. Glenn Sza re k (5uz); 5. David Stanto n (Suz); 6. Peter Ch tstensen (5uz ); 7. Curt is Ad a ms (502); 8. Rol and Sands (Yam ); 9. Lan ce Hols t (Yarn): 10. Mark Miller (502); 11. Michael Barnes (Suz); 12. Ch ris Voelk er (Ha n); 13, Jason Frase r (H on ); 14. Je ffe ry Ste rn (Ka w ); 15. Jason Paden (Yam) 16. Ray Yod er (Ya m); 17. Ja me s Ran d olph (Su z); 18. Sh a ne Tu rpin (Du c); 19. Scott Za mpach [Tri): 20. Joe Pittma n (Ka w) ; 21. Ma tt Wa it (H on); 22. Andy Deathe ra ge (K a w); 23 . Micha el Fit zpat rick (Ya m); 24. Clin ton Whitehouse (Yarn): 25. Brian Gibs on (Ha n ); 26. Tod d Harrington (Kaw]: 27. Michael Sidwell (Kaw); 28. John Hilton (Hon ); 29. Sean Sid well (Kaw); 30. Jam es Wells (5u z); 31. Chris Taylor (Ho n); 32, Douglas New house (Han); 33. Fritz a ling (Yam); 34. Ben Welch (Yam ); 35. David Sado wski (Han); 36, Paul Harrell (Yam). .Brief IY -,--;-:---:-:-_____ · .: ~. ' s hipped'over from England' because 't hey ~ere " all along planning on being at Daytona. ' It seems 'a last-m inut e pardon 'was granted the Rich O liver e~;ned' $5 000 for his pal'r of , 250ccGrand Prix bikes in F·USA, At the ' first places finis hes in .F-USA. Tray Batey's , press con f erence 'in l os Ang eles several sol id 2·3, ta lly net te d $2700. while Chuck months ago announcing the marriage of· FGraves · with his second and fourth,- .scored USA and NASB. the inclusion of the quarterliterrace bikes seemed doubtful, .' We, looked ' $2300. ',' at·it and quit e frankly didn't thinkthat the .250s Fastest qualifier Rich Oliver was seen w it h- would be an issue since we go to.horsepower out his trademark glasses in the pits and on · trac ks 'Iike Ro'ad Atlanta, Portland and Brain, the race track.."Nine days ago I had lase r eye .erd ,- . said F·USA President Doug Gonda. " I s urgery in Canada. so I'm s till getting' used to like having ·them out there.': NASB's Roger 'that";" said Oliver: "They s hould 'eve ntually ' Ed mo nd s on said: " Pe rsonally, I'd like to see get ·to be ,20/ 10.. but that's going to tak aa : 'it develop more t ow ardthe s treet -based while," ' .. . . mo torcyles, but the other Side has ItS argume nts for keep ing the m a nd l -do n't have a' 'After Chuck So~en~on leitTeani Oliver Yama-. problem wit.h tha!.." So the .250s get to run. . ha at the end of last season, Olive r drafted 20-year-old "';son'Roth to bethe team's.' Thi; was thefirsttestforsorne oftbe new number -two rider. "I signed him up a couple of ' rules .imposed in NASB classes. The t\.1obil .1 weeks .aqo." Oliver sa id.. " He's really doing .Triumph Speed Triple Challange. for instance, well. He started doing 35s and now,he's down ' has a 102,ho rsepow e r li m i t tha t is to .2 8 s . ~: Roth rides S orenson',s '94 'TZ250 , enforced by a D yn o j e t ' D y na momet er . chassis with a,'96 motor and eventually ,quali- Lawrence Bolton, the man from Dynoj et fied 23rd with a 1:26,290 in the windy second · se nt to run the equipment. will .be going to 90 .session. Unfortunately. he cras hed, unhurt..in percent of 'the, races andse.d ihat the dyno the fi rst race andwasn't able to race.the sec, . 'use d willbe the same one transported to all ond..· the rounds to ,ens ure conslstency. Other.mea- ' s ure s taken tq-,e ns ure ·rel ia bilty a ndfa ir ·With 'many teams accusto med to prepan'ng for enfo rcemen t was the rneasurme nt of ambient " Daytona; still seve ral weeks down the road.. air. temperature and absolute 'humidity before as their first race of the season, many racers running each bike. as well as ensuring that tire were left jscrarnblinq to be ready to race at pre s sure' had not been altered, which .ca n affect the ' figures 'ge nerate d' by as much as Willow Sp rings . C h ris Taylor is racing' . ' brand-new ' 1996 C BR900 RR , and wa s ': ~ou r horsepOw~r. ' w~es tl i n g with chassis difficulties , : The first , time.we turned a wheel with this thing was Fri- ' 'Afte r an injury-plaqued '95 seaso n Da vi d , day. This is a brand-new motorcycle from the S adow s k i. returned to rac ing and quickly ground up, so you have to ki nd of anticipate. found himself on thepace , qualifying third," 'some problems.': Taylor's team LaBelie/ MVR. "I.' m starting to .fee l cornfortable again, It' s teammate Dave S a dows ki was left to ride been nine rnonthsstnce I've been in race last yea r's bike due to a mechanical failure on . mode .. Mentally I fee l good: physically I fee l his' '96 'ma chine,' Tr a y Ba t e y was among ' good. it's .ju·st going. to take so me seat" time ' , .' those wishing'for" more time, too.' "There just . for me to' gel completely comfortable.' a wasn' t en ough time t o t est before' co mi ng ' here, " said Batey. ~ We had some bugs to Doug ·Polen made his first' race appearance So new. in ' work out wit h the mot or ." Batey qualifie d on 1996 as a new tea m owner. fou rt h. on his GS XR·(le t' s ju st s ay .it' s . fact. that the .two-tlrne World'Superbike Chamovern t oo.. ' , . pion didn't even have time, to get his truck painted - it 's till featured the previous .owner's As one expects at Willow Spri ngs , with the . wate rcraft-racing colors: spo rting a big Sea-' afternoon ca me wind .- wind that kep t many " 0 0 0 on e ither side 'as well as the team name. riders from improving their first sessl onq ualt- "Two" weeks ago the bikes showed up:" said lying tfmes . Talk to anyone who was at last' Pole n: sporting his sponsor's : TPN·- colors'. , ' year's race , though, a nd they we re glad to , ' The truck came from Asheville, North Carons uffer it. Slee t fell the morning of the race in' na.:to the s hop inDenton (Texas). They loaded , "95, and the start of round one was delayed . ' everything up and boogied," And what is TPN, until after lunchas a resultof the foul weaiher,' you ask? The People 's N et work, for w hich Polen has become an independent distributor, Scott Za;"p ach will. be ca mpaigning a is a sate tlttetelevtston network that features Saxon .Triurnph' in F-USA. but.not at Willow . eight hours .a day ofnoted motivational speakSprings. "No.zhe Saxon's not here this week- ers for $50 a month. They also market a drink' end, "explained Zarnpach. "It still has to be , ' P olen termed an "energy srnoothie." , ~ tj ~ 5

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