Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

(Left) Will Davis rode his new, productionbased factory ATK to a sixthplace finish in the 75Occ'main Monday night. The previous night, Davis won the 750cc feature on his HarleyDavidson. (Below) King (80) and Coolbeth (31) battle for the lead during Monday's action. Martin rode alone in fourth, while Lynch led an eight-rider freight train home in fifth. The first 750cc heat race started out as a tight race between Moroney's Harley-Davidson teammates Mike Hacker and Camlin. By lap six, Hacker had pulled clear and left Camlin under pressure from Geo Roeder II and Mike Varnes. The race was red-flagged and called complete on lap eight as Joey Brock fell on the front straight. Brock was unhurt, but his bike was ;'n a dangerous position. Lynch kept Kevin Atherton at bay for 10 laps to take the second heat. Californian Johnny Murphree brought his new ride home a lonely third. field had a spirited race for third, but only the top two would advance to the main. Jason Fletcher shot to the front of heat two and led for six of the 10 laps. Paul Lynch, who is starting off 1997 with some strong rides, tool< over and pulled to the win. Rob Gette, Robert Lewis and Mark Corsetti battled their way to their vans. King powered to an easy win in heat three after getting by early leader Steve Beattie. Race promoter Steve Morehead, Gary Rogers and Tim Mertens followed. ew England short tracker Roger Durkee held off California's Lonnie Pauley in heat four as they finished well ahead of rookies Jason Sentell and Chris Boone. Just like all week, John Nickens got the holeshot in heat five. Bill Newkirk was giving chase, but he had Billy Martin to contend with. Martin took advantage of a Newkirk mistake, grabbed second and took off after Nickens. Martin caught Nickens just past the halfway point and powered his way into the lead with two laps left. Ken Yoder worked into third but was well back. The last heat was all Camlin's after he blasted by early leader Doug O'Boyle. Camlin rode to a huge lead over O'Boyle, who in tu·rn was well ahead of Dale Jenneman. Coolbeth led the rush into turn one of the 600cc main. Durkee and King were nipping at his heels, but a trip off the groove dropped Durkee out of the lead pack. Camlin came up to challenge King, but they could not cut into Coolbeth's lead.- King shot to the front of heat three and separated himself from Kopp. Fletcher momentarily held the last transfer but slipped the groove and Price took over. Fletcher eventually fell, uninjured, in turn three. The rest of the race was uneventful as King, Kopp and Price moved on. The last heat saw Davis blast by Brett Landes, who was aboard his new Harley, on lap three. Landes hung tough for a while, bu t Davis soon pulled away. Landes held a firm grasp of second as Chance Darling worked his way around Recil Hart for the last starting spot in the main. Kopp, King and Hacker hit turn one first in the 750cc main, but Hacker was quickly bumped back. Davis charged into second behind Kopp as King and Price made it a four-rider battle. Davis tried for the lead at the halfway point only to open the door for King and Price to getby. Davis was able to work his way by Price on lap eight and then set out after Kopp and King to perform his last-lap heroics. Kopp was a stunned second over King, Price and Lynch. eN The. race came down to King and Fletcher, and the Connecticut-youngster . appeared to have things well under control until he bobbled in turn three just before the final lap. It was just enough to let King squeak under and steal the victory away as the Corbin rider led the final circuit to bag the double. Fletcher held on for second ahead of Kopp. "He (Fletcher) caught a rut and got just a little bit high," King said. '1 told him that hog of his was blown' smoke and it kept gettin' in my eyes. I'm just really happy with my whole team - my owner and my crew. I think we are going to have a good year. We're starting good, and we're just going to keep the momentum going. For King, the painful 1996 season is now in the past, and if his results at Barberville are any indication, it looks as though Grand National podiums may once again be part of his futur~ eN Volusia County Speedway Barberville, Florida Results: March 3, 1997 (Round 5 of 9) 600 EX (12 laps; 12 riders): 1. Rich King (Rt,,); 2. Doug O'Boyle (Rtx); 3. Robert Lewis (Rtx); 4. Kenny Coolbeth (Rtx); S. J.R. Schnabel (Rtx); 6. Will Davis (ATK); 7. John Nickens ill (Rtx); 8. Steve Beattie (Rtx); 9. Steve Mayfield (Rtx); 10. Tim Mertens (Rtx); 11. Bilt Newkirk (Rtx); 12. Chris Boone (Rtx). 750 EX (12 laps; 12 riders): 1. Rich King (Hon); 2. jason Fletcher (H-D); 3. joe Kopp (H-D); 4. Will Davis (H-D); S. Georgie Price IV (H-D); 6. j.R. Schnabel (H-D); 7. Robert Lewis (H-D); 8. Geo Roeder U (H-D); 9. Steve Morehead (H-D); 10. Terry Poovey (H·D); 11. Robert Knapp (H-D); 12. Kevin Atherton (H-D). Upcoming Rounds: Round 6 - 5t. Augustine, Florida, March 6 Round 7 - Daytona, Florida, March 7 Round 4: Volusia County Speedway Davis does .Volusia diRL By Dave Hoenig Photos by Flat Trak Fotos BARBERVILLE, FL, MAR. 2 otal Control Racing's Will Davis used a daring last-lap, last-turn, pass to snatch the 750cc Expert main-event victory during round four otthe Florida Flat Track Racing Series at Volusia County Speedway. 'The win ended a full day of racing at the Volusia complex, with the day starting on the asphalt half-mile and concluding on the slick dirt oval. Round-one winner Joe Kopp led for 11 of the 12 laps, but it was a last-ditch T charge that carried Davis from third to first on the last quarter of a lap that electrified the crowd. "I figured third or eighth, it wasn't going to matter," Davis said. "I just held on longe~ going into three, put it on the outside and pinched them off." Kopp was preoccupied with Rich King for most of the race. _ "Rich kept showing me a wheel on the inside and no way I was going to let him in. I was just trying to stay tight and not make any mistakes," Kopp said. "I don't think I made any. He (Davis) just made a hell of a move and beat us." Coming off his horrendous crash at the U.S. Motorcycle Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa, last year, King was thrilled just to be in Florida. "We've worked all winter to get ready for this, and we're a little behind," King said. "The bikes were just finished, and we drove straight through from Iowa to the race track. We got the Honda buttoned up at the asphalt race this afternoon. I put oil in it and rode around in the pits to break it in. It's running great." The 600cc Expert main was all Kenny Coolbeth's as he led wire to wire on his own Wood-Rotax. Midwest neighbors' King and Dave Camlin duked it out for second with King coming out on top. The first 600cc heat was a tight affair with Georgie Price IV getting the holeshot only to have Coolbeth take the point. Undaunted, Price retaliated for a lap, then Coolbeth took his turn. Price was back up front for five laps, then Coolbeth slipped back afOund for the final two. JOSh Butler and Steve May- Volusla County Speedway Barberville, Florida Results: March 2, 1997 (Round 4 of 9) 600 EX: I.-Kenny· Coolbeth (W-R); 2. Rich King (Rbc); 3. Dave Camlin (Rtx); 4. Billy Martin (Rtx); 5. Paul Lynch (Rtx); 6. Ro~er Durkee (Rtx); 7. Doug crBoyle (Rtx); 8. Steve Beattie (ATK); 9. Jason Fletcher (Rtx); 10. Lonnie Pauley (Rtx); 11. John Nickens Ul (Rtx); 12. Georgie Price IV (KTM). 750 EX, I. Will Davis (H-D); 2. joe Kopp (H-D); 3. Rich King (Hon); 4. Georgie Price JV (H~D); 5. Paul Lynch (H-D); 6. Mike Hacker (H-D); 7. Dave Camlin (HD); 8. Geo Roeder U (H-D); 9. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 10. Brett Landes (H-D); 11. Chance Darling (H-D); 12. johnny Murphree (H·D)

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