Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

FLAT TRACK MOTORCYCLE ASPHALT RACING SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP (Left) Will Davis (1) topped both the 600 and 750cc main events at the MARSlFFTS half mile at Volusia Speedway. Here he leads Dave Camlin (27), Mike Hacker (67) and Steve Morehead (42). (Below) Hacker beat Johnny Murphree (35Z) to ,the checkered flag in the 883 final. By Dave Hoenig , Photos by Flat Trak Fotos BARBERVILLE, FL, MAR, 2 efending Motorcycle Asphalt Racing Series Champion Will Davis pulled off. double wins in the 600 and 750cc mains at the MARS season opener. The event also was round three of the 1997 Florida Flat Track Racing Series. With a $10,000 points fund up for grabs in the Florida Flat Track Series, Davis also is making a charge to ,repeat as FFTS Series Champion. Davis has closed to within 15 points of leaqer Mike Hacker after sitting out the previous night's race at St. Augustine Speedway. There was also $50 on the line in each class in the time trials. Steve Beattie,. Donnie Krusinski and Will Davis collected the money in the 600, 883 and 750cc classes, respectively. The 600cc heat wins went to Beattie, Brett Landes and Oavis, The 883 heat was won, in a close race, by Gary Rogers over Krusinski, Johnny Murphree and Shaun RusselL Davis and Steve Morehead grabbed the 750cc heats, The 883 main was a tight race between Hacker and Murphree..Hacker quickly took the lead and, although he led every lap, he never really looked to be in total control untilthe last couple of .' laps. At the end of the first lap it was Hacker, Murphree, Paul Morgan, Rogers and Krusinski nose to tail. , Hacker and Murphree moved away into their own little race, while Krusinski moved through the field. "1 thought 1 was just cruising and saving something for Mike for the last laps," Murphree said, "but when we got the five-ta-go sign, he just left me." Krusinski, on the other hand, made a hard charge at the end. "1 got a terrible start," Krusinski said, "but 1 was coming up. 1 wish we had another 15 laps to run." "1 saw the five-laps-to-ge sign, so 1 stepped it up a little," Hacker said. "1 didn't want Johnny to make some lastlap move." Oespite riding with a reattached index finger on his left hand, Landes got off the line first in the 600cc main. (Landes severed'the finger in a trail bike fall and was riding in considerable pain.) Landes led Lonnie Pauley, John Nickens and Davis early on, but the master of the tarmac, Davis, was on the move. It took seven laps, but Davis had his Total Control Racing ATK out front on lap eight. "1 guess 1 was asleep on the line again," Davis said. "These guys came here to race, that's for sure." Beattie also had charged into third by lap eight, but on the 12th circuit, a braken chain ended his ride and Pauley inherited the last podium spot. Robert Lewis was fourth with Nickens leading a parade made up of Dave Camlin, Lynch, Randolph and Robert Miller. Randolph slipped by Lynch on the last lap. The 750cc main was cut from 15 to 12 laps due to excessive tire wear the ridershad been experiencing. Moroney's Harley-Davidson's Carnlin led the main into turn one with his teammate Hacker, Beattie and Davis right behind. Davis quickly moved up to Carnlin's rear wheel, and on the third lap slipped inside of him in turn two: From there the race was all his. Camlin now had more problems with Hacker, Morehead and Beattie. On lap seven, Beattie went to the sidelines with yet another broken chain. Camlin withstood the pressure until lap nine when his hand went up. "1 thought it (the motor) was tying up, but it just went on one cylinder," Camlin said. "If 1 had known that, 1 would have kept going." Carnlin ended up ninth. With Carnlin now out of the hunt and Davis solidly out in front, Morehead held a slight advantage over Hacker and held on for second with Davis taking the win. "1 was' in the wrong gear for the start," Morehead said. "On dirt we start in second and first on .the pavement. 1 got it turned around. I'm just glad I'm here (after injuring his back)." "1 don't know about the guys 1 beat today/' Davis said. "One lost his 'finger (Landes) and the other one is riding with a broken neck (Morehead). Dennis Town (Davis' tuner) worked his butt off this winter to get these bikes built. They . were really working today." Benefiting because of the high attrition rate, Jeff Randolph moved' right up the ladder and into fourth, with Lewis and Mike Varnes following him across the line. Paul Lynch and Dale Jenneman rounded out the finishers. 4:N Volusia Speedway Barberville, Florida Results: March 2, 1997 (Round 3.of 9) 750 EXPERT: 1. Will Davis (H·O); 2. Steve Morehead (H-D); 3. Mike Hacker (H-D); 4. Jeff Randolph (H-D); 5. Robert Lewis (H-D); 6. Mike Varnes (H-D); 7. Paul Lynch (H-D); 8. Dale Jenneman (H-D); 9. Dave Camlin (H-D); 10. Terry Poovey (H-D); 11. Steve Beattie (H-D); 12. Goo Roeder IT (H-D), HARLEY-DAVIDSON 883: 1. Mike H~cker; 2. Johnny Murphree; 3. Donnie Krusinski; 4. Gary Rogers; 5. Paul Morgan ill; 6. Rob Gette; 7. Mike Speh. 600: 1. wm Davis (ATK); 2. Brett Landes (Rtx); 3. Lonnie Pauley (Rtx); 4. Robert Lewis (Rtx); 5. john Nickens ill (Rtx); 6. Dave Carnlin (Rtx); 7. Jeff Randolph (Rtx); 8. Paul Lynch (RtxJ; 9. Robert Miller (Rtx); 10. Billy Martin (Rtx); 11. Steve Beattie (Rtx); 12. Dale ., Jenneman (Rtx) Upcoming Rounds: Round 4 - Tampa, Florida, March 4 Round 5 - SI. Augustine, Florida, March 6

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