Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

.DI·RT TRACK . ~A Grand NatIonal Chain~ip Series ' Round 10: Black Hills Speedway SEMI 3 (8 laps; 10 riders. top 2 transfer): 1. Andy Tresser (Due); 2. Rex Fisher (H-D); 3. Bret Beyer (H-D); 4. Willie McCoy (H-D); 5. Paul Lynch (H·D); 6. Brent Armbruster (H-D); 7. Jim Sumner (H-D); 8. Dave Hebb (Han); 9. Ian Segedy (H-D); 10. Lonnie Kopp (H·D). Time: 3 min., 16.36 sec. GRANO NATIONAL (25 laps; 18 riders): 1. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 2. S'eve Morehead (H-D); 3. Rich King (Hon); 4. Will Davis (Hon); 5. Kevin Varnes (Hon); 6. Scott Porker (H-D); 7. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 8. Ronnie Jones (Han); 9. Dan Butler (H-D); 10. Joe Kopp (H-D~ 11. Dale Jenneman (H-O); 12. Dan Stanley (H-D); 13. Chance Darling (Hon); 14. Paul Morgan TIl (H-O); 15. Eric Bostrom (H~O); 16. Rex Fisher (H-D); 17. Andy Tresser (Due); 18. J.R. Sclmabel (H-D). Time: 9 min., 49.43 sec. AMA GRAND NATIONAL C'SHIP SERIES STANDINGS (After 10 of 21 rounds), 1. Rich King (147 points/1 win); 2. Scott Parker (140/3 wins); 3. Will Davis (138/3 wins); 4. Joe Kopp (120); 5. Steve Morehead (110); 6. Kevin Varnes (109); 7. Kevin Atherton (96/1 win); 8. Brett Landes (67); 9. Ronnie Jones (49); 10. Dave Camlin (46); 11. (TIE) Dan Stanley/Dan Butler (41); 13. Jay Springsteen (35); 14. Georgie Price IV (34); 15. Ricky Graham (31); 16. Andy Tresser (26/1 win); 17. Dale Jenneman (25); 18. (TIE) Kenny CoolbethlJason Fletcher (24); 20. Bre' Bey~r (22). (Left) Points leader Rich King (80) jumped from 10th . to sixth on the opening lap and ultimately pushed his way onto the last spot on the podium. Here, he Is followed by Washlnton's Joe KOpp(43) and Steve Morehead. (Below) Scott Parker had an off weekend. Afew mistakes relegated the five-time Grand National Champion to sixth place In the main. but Morehead was already starting to find success up high, and by lap five he had found his way around Varnes and in~o the lead. King followed suit. "We knew where we were going," Morehead said. "Who do you think talked them into watering up there? "When they pass you like that, you want to try harder, and that messes you up even more on a race track like this," Varnes said. "We were twingled too. We got it all figured ou t in the end, but it was too little too late." Atherton was already running sixth at the time after starting ninth and falling to 10th on the second lap, but he had found a fast line after watching where the other riders were running, and he began picking up speed with each lap. "Spying on everyone else reall y helped, because I could see where they were going," Atherton said. "1 was beating them in the apex of the turns and because of that my straightaway speeds were higher too." Morehead and King continued on in the top two spots, Davis running third by fending off Parker, Springsteen and Jones. "1 couldn't roll around the top .Iike 1 wanted to," Davis said. "1 had too much gear on it. 1 talked with Morehead about it before the main event, and 1 thought that the bottom was going to come in. He thought the top was going to come in. He went the right way and 1 went the wrong way." Davis held fourth for the duration. Parker held off Springsteen, but any attempts to move forward were stalled by two big mistakes in turns one and . two where Parker slid high off the second groove and nearly clipped the hay bales, effectively ending his chances for the win. Parker wound up sixth at the checkered flag. "It sucks," Parker said. "We were reelin' 'em in, but we made those mistakes. 1 should have jumped up to the top sooner than 1 did. 1 rode the bottom too much." . King's hopes for the win were nearly crushed, literally, when Morehead kicked a rock up and King caught it on the hand. He remained fairly unchallenged in third place after the incident. "That broke my concentration," King said. "1 thought 1 could get Steve back, but then Kevin (Atherton) got me, 1 lost my drive after that." Atherton was the man with the drive, early and then running down Parker for fifth. Atherton continued his run to the front by dicing with Davis and then slipping by on the outside at the halfway point. He reeled in King on lap 15 and then went under Morehead on lap 16 for the lead when the Ohioan bobbled and slid up high. Atherton then pulled clear for the rest of the race, needing only to worry about negotiating lapped traffic, which he did with ease en route to the victory. "As 1 worked my way through traffic, 1 didn't want to pass on the bottom, because 1 knew it was slippery," Atherton said. "Morehead just gave me the opening, and I took it. 1knew r could get away from him. We've been haulin' ass all year, but we've just had a few bad breaks. 1 knew it was time, and I'm really excited about all these upcoming miles now." Thus Atherton becomes the fifth different winner of the year, but only time will tell if this is to be his "token victory" or something more. If he is indeed about to hit his stride as the miles approach, then it just may be his competition, and not Atherton, making excus(1'/ es now. Black Hills Speedway Rapid City, South Dakota Results: August 7, 1996 (Round 10 of 22) HEAT 1 00 laps; 11 riders, top 3 transfer): 1. Will Davis.(H·O); 2. Kevin Atherton (Ii-D); 3. Dan Stanley (H·D); 4. Rex Fisher (H-D); S. Brett Landes (Hon); 6. J.R. Sclmabel (H-D~ 7. Dave Hebb (Han); 8. Lance Jones (HD); 9. Steve Liberty (H-D); 10. Paul Lynch (H-D); 11. Dave Camlin (H-D). Time: None due to red flag. REAT 2 (10 laps; 11 riders, top 3 transfer): 1. Kevin Varnes (Hon); 2. Dan Butler (H-D); 3. Chance Darling (Hon); 4. Wke Hacker (H·D); 5. Paul Morgan ill (H-D); 6. Bret Beyer (H-D); 7. Eric Bostrom (H-D); 8. Dale Jenneman (H-D); 9. Brent Armbruster (H-D)j 10. Ceo Roeder n (H·D); 11. Tom Troudt (Han). Time: 3 min., 57.82 sec. REAT 3 (10 laps; 10 riders, top 3 transfer): 1. Joe Kopp (H-D); 2. Rich King (Han); 3. S'eve Morehead (HD); 4. Mike Varnes (H-D); 5. Steve Beattie (H-D); 6. Andy Tresser (Ow;); 7. Cary Rogers (Hon); 8. Keith Jacobsen (H-D); 9. Ian Segedy (H-D); 10. Lonnie Pauley (Han). Time: 3 min., 58.63 sec. REAT 4 (10 laps; 10 riders, top 3 transfer): 1. Scott Parker (H-D); 2. Ronnie Jones (Hon); 3. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 4. WHlie McCoy (H-D); 5. Georgie Price IV (HD); 6. Kenny Coolbe,h (H·D); 7. Jim Sumner (H-D); 8. Redl Hart (H-D); 9. Paul Bergstrom (Hon); 10. Lonnie Kopp (H-D). Time: 3 min.• 59.74 sec. SEMI.1 (8 laps; 10 riders. top 2 transfer): 1. Eric Bostrom (H-D); 2. J.R. Sclmabel (H·D); 3. Dave Camlin (H-D); 4. Mike Hacker (H-D); 5. Georgie Price IV (H-D); 6. Steve Beattie (H-D); 7. Geo Roeder II (H-D); 8. Steve Liberty (H-D); 9. Recil Hart (H-D); 10. Keith Jacobsen (H-D). . Time: 3 min", 15.86 sec. SEMI 2 (8 laps; 10 riders. top 2 transfer): 1. Dale Jennemao (H-D); 2. Paul Morgan 111 (H-D); 3. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 4. Lonnie Pauley (Hen); 5. Mike Varnes (H-D); 6. Brett Landes (Hon~ 7. Gory Rogers (Hon); 8. Lanco Jones (H-D); 9. Paul ijergstrom (Han); 10. Tom T~udt(Hon) 'Brief'" • • iii Upcoming Rounds; Round 11 " Lincoln, Nebraska, Aug. 10 Round 12 - Indianapolis, Indiana, Aug. 17 . Kevin V.rnes 'despite the fact that Varnes ·went backward rather than forward. finishing fifth instead of grabbing the win in the main event. "We got all. mixed up, but we got it straightened out." .Goad said. "He'was still turning faster laps than the leaders at 'the end of the race. Y.ou gotta 9" through that sO'11e· times. He's. stili c,?ming.. " All hail to the kingl; Two·time AMA Grand National Champiein and three-time 500cc World Champion Kenny Roberts showed up at the Rapid City Half Mile to catch the racing action while attending the Black' Hills rally. Roberts said that he enjoyed the program.' Team Undo's Brett Landes was ,wishing he "It's still a great show." Roberts said. ·'They was back at Peoria after failing to.transfer into (the bikes) need to be a little noisier though. the main event at Rapid City. "fd like to run They're getting too quiet. That's one- thing'\ Peoria again," Landes said. ''''1 like that place. noticed. Some of the bikes' in Sturgis are ·Ioud· Tnis track can be so cool, but not when the er. But there's a lot of good equipment here." · sun is out. If they get some. moisture in it. then Roberts also hinted that he wouldn't mind I think 'we'II be able to run above the groove.swinging a leg over one of the machines and. L~ndes was right, but It didn't seem to help him. competing again some~me. Speaking of Roberts. the king.!s again arrang- Jay Springsteen told Cycle News that he ing to have a few veteran dirt trackers come enjoyed his time in Tokyo and that he may be over to Spain for another dirt track event. The going back soon. "J rode all kinds. of bikes," race will take place tbe same weekend as the Springer said. "I modeled a bunch of leather Eldora Half Mile. Ron~ie .,Jones aryd Jay jaokets and stuff. and they made me a real Springsteen are confirmed to be taking part. cool jacket with .mY name on it. I' had a really .Texan T"rry Poo.veY is rumored to be'tj'le good time, and they're talking aqoui bringing third rider who will bl' heading ,ovl'r for the. ·me back In ·January. They were talking about race. . · November. but I told tharr> no way' tha.f.s deer' season," Team Corbin's .Dave Camlin admitted ihat he was the unwitting cause of th~ crash that: rook both himself and Lynch Racing/Beal Peterbilt's promiSIng 'youngster, Paul Lynch.. out of contention fOr the main. event.' '-1 just lost the· front end," Camlin said. "The front end caught and the rear end' followed, and" slid out. I ~hink Lyn9h fell :just trying tq miss" One rider whose expectations are' changing with each passing race ]s .I.R. Schnabel. The 17-year..ald Wisconsin rider.made his sec· ·cnd -Grand National main event in·'" row'and is beginning to get it all 'figured out. -Qur expectatlons are definitely' changing,'" Schnabel said. :We Know we won't make '-em all. but'we plan' me." on bei~g more cqnsis.tent. Schnabel )lVas cnid· ited with lasl in thl' mai~' event after passing' .USC'Racing tuner 'Johnny 'Goad was quite 'riders while the blue -move over" flag was. 'pleased with the perfprma~ce of his ri'der ,berng snown·.

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