Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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just keep staying ahead of Tripp in those turns, I knew my bike was fast in the straightaways. Maybe I could keep with him to the end and then make a late brake or something like that. When he got in front of me and I tried going with him. I don't know if his tires were working better or his bike was set up better, but there was something. I lost the front a couple of times trying to keep up with him. So I thought, 'Okay, I'm just going to pace myself. I've got to push hard: but I'm leading (the championship) by so much in the thing I didn't want to lose that or th.row it away or do anything stupid. I followed him for like, it was like two laps total. "The one lap I noticed I made up all kinds of time and just about got up next to him on the front straightaway when his bike started to slow down a little bit. He outbraked me a little bit and he started to put up his hand going into two, but I guess he decided to try to do the whole infield and see what was going to happen and when we came out of the last comer he just put up his hand and waved me by. "After that, I looked back and saw how far (Roy) Nicholson was from me. I just had to just keep him behind. He was gaining on me some parts and stuff. I just wanted to keep him behind me. I could have wicked it up a little faster. I definitely could have went faster in the hard braking spots, but I figured as long as he's behind me I'll go ahead and keep him back there." Estok was able to build up close to a 2.5-second lead on the fifth of nine laps, then Nicholson whittled it away to the point that he was on Estok's tail entering the front straight to begin the final lap. Again, on the final lap, Nicholson was there, within four bike lengths when they began the final run to the flag. But Estok got the better drive off ihe first-gear corner and jumped far enough in front that Nicholson couldn't draft-pass him at the flag. ''I'm looking forward to Daytona, which is my home track," Estok said. "I'll be able to sleep at home." "Dave was on the gas, but I'm looking on getting him. at Daytona," Nicholson said. McGill was well back in third, Ia ter saying that a rear suspension problem caused .the right side of his tire to overheat. Next up was Ben Bostrom, Estok's Bartel's H-D teammate who finished fourth in his first outing on the Buell. His race was over before it started, the Buell , sounding off-song the entire race. "As soon as it hit 5000 rpm it just cut out. It was like it had the rev limiter set at five grand," Bostrom said. 'We were just losing so much time. You've got to run the thing between four and seven. And when we had post race teardown it wouldn't even start. I went out there to play with Dave." C'l Pocono International Raceway Long P~nd, ·Pennsylvania Results: 5eptember 1, 1996 (Round 4 of 5) BUELL UGHTNING SERIES, 1. Dave Estok; 2. Roy Nicholson; 3. Ron McGill; 4. Ben Bostrom; 5. Brian Bodine; 6. Todd Eagan; 7. Randy Texter; 8. David Kieffer; 9. Michael Fribert; 10. Todd Evans; 11. Russell Barron,; 12. David McGrath; 13. Tripp Nobles; 14. Derek Leslie. Time: 17 min., i8.140sec. Diltance: 22.5 miles. Average Speed: 78.024 mph. Margin of Victory: 0.550 sec. BUELL LIGHTNING SERIES C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 4 of 5 rounds); 1. Dave Estok (140/4 wins); 2. Roy Nicholson (107); 3. Tripp Nobles (97); 4.. (TIE) Brian Bodi.ne/Randy Texter (96); 6. Dave McGrath (91); 7. Michael Friberg (Il9); B. (TIE) Todd Eagan/Todd Evans (87); 10. David Keiller (65); I\. mE) Bill Willems/Derek Leslie (62); 13. WORLDSPORTS 25TH ANNUAL WINTER ATIONAL $150,000 . FACTORY CONTlNGE,.CIES $SUZUKle / .-%nUNLOP ~~ Silllply lite bestfor your bi!u. ~ lfOtOWorIII. EKchain - - _. . . . .'1/11/1/1// SC:OTTumA @A}) ~ ~ ~ AM4 ~ • Jl~~'~:~E SANCTIONEO A~ J/!!/IJJY fjJ!J!!J ~ at; tW' $10,000 RRO·PURSE I GATORBACK CYCLE PARK • GAINESVILLE, FL November 25-30, 1996 FOR fNFO CALL OR WRrrE: 9770 16th Street N. • St. Pete., FL 33716 Phone (813) 578-1776 • Fax (813) 578-1550 "ONE LESS THING TO THINK ABOUT" Congratulations Chris Smith & Randy Hawkins - 6 Days at the ISDE on the Same set of Sprockets! . . Chns Smith See your local dealer for the best sprockets available - TItan Tough American Made - Since 1950 • 7075·T6 Alloy • Any Tooth Size • Always in Stock . Randy Hawkins Roger Hendricks (56); 14. Ron McGill (53); 15. Darvin Loyd (51); 16.. AI Salaverria (46); 17. Jess Roeder (37); 18. Devin Battley (35); 19. Ben Bostrom (28); 20. Soon Moon (25). Upcoming Round: Round 5 - Daytona Beach. Florida, October 20 29