Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

in front of Prussiano and TKO Racing's John Branch. However, two riders crashed on the first lap and the race was red-flagged. After the red flag, Prussiano wasted no time jumping out in front. Branch wasted no time at the start and climbed all over Prussiano's rear wheel. Prussiano proved stronger than Branch today and fended him off to the checkered flag by a .30-second margin of victory. "I got the holeshot on the restart," Prussiano said. "My pit board said plus zero, which meant Branch was right behind me. I kept my head down and rode hard." Lopez finished third behind Prussiano III and Branch. Fourth place went to another Valvoline Suzuki rider - Josh Hayes. Fifth place was taken by Greg Letter on his Suzuki GSXR750. Prussiano is very competent in the 750cc Supersport class, having taken second last year behind Grant Lopez. However, this year Prussiano got out in front of Lopez and managed to keep Lopez at bay by .60 of a second. The race started out with Lopez leading, but Prussiano got Lopez on the brakes entering turn eight as both riders slid their machines side by side through the middle of the corner. Prussiano then got on the gas, leaving a fat black mark as he exited turn nine to find himself in the lead by a bike length. Throughout the race, Prussiano and Lopez were neck and neck all over the course. Patrick Ludwig was running in third until he tangled with Derek Lindsey and low-sided his Yamaha YZF600. Billy Eisenacher capitalized on Ludwig's crash and moved into third. Eisenacher had his hands full with John Branch as both riders kept challenging each other for position. In the end Eisenacher proved stronger today and held third place with Branch taking the fourth position. FifUl place went to Chicago rider mark Junge, who once again worked his way from the back of the grid to take fifth place. Joey Gilliand rode his Bloomington Power Sports Kawasaki 600 to first place in the 600cc Supersport Expert class with an impressive two-second lead over fellow Georgian Mark Reed on his Kawasaki 600. The Formula II Expert class pitted two-stroke 250cc motorcycles against 600cc supersport bikes, and Scott Brown jumped out front and led the race from start to finish on his Kawasaki ZX6R. Chris Ulrich 'displayed his new "Kids Don't Smoke" livery during the weekend and went on to smoke the competition in the 125cc GP event (N EXPERT PURSE: $2,000 ($I,OOO/class) 15 rider Minimum 125cc & 250cc $1,000 8 rider min. 150% Payback if not 8 TROPHIES: RACE INFORMATION: 1st . 8th Place Sign Up 6:00a.m. Practice 7:00a.m. ENTRY FEES: Race Starts 8:45a.m. Amateur $25.00 Gate Fee $7 Person Expert $35.~0 0/25 & 30 Exp.. 100% 0/2S& 30 $25.00 SPQNSORS: ..xDU~tJ!r ?'''- «i/,-r'iJ) - - - ~ agv sis • ~~ .YuASA liD ~ ~~.~ 1 ~ ~ 1 ,,- SC:uO,Jl- ~ fUU .•I.N.~ ~ . ~< FA;r. Erv Braun Promotions Talladega Gran Prix Raceway Talladega, Alabama . Results: April 12, 1997 (Round 1 of 10) 1100 S/STK EX: 1. Joe Prussiano ill (Suz); 2. John Branch ill (Suz); 3. Grant Lopez (Suz); 4. Joshua Kurt Hayes (5uz~ 5. Greg LeIfJer (Suz). 600 PROD NOV: 1. Tim Slater (Suz); 2. Craig Working (Kaw); 3. Gerald Hughes (Hon); 4. Mitch Truett (Hon); 5. Fredrick Farzanegan (Hon). . 600 SISTRK EX: 1. Joey Gilleland (Kaw); 2. Mark Reed (Kaw); 3. Mark Junge (Suz); 4. Scott Brown (Kaw); 5. Grant Lopez (Suz). 650 PROD NOV: 1. Brian Stokes (Hon); 2. Eric Bingaman (Suz); 3. Frederick Farzanegan (Hon); 4. Tim Slater (Suz); 5. Curry Justi

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