Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Meanwhile, Roeder was fighting for a podium spot, and the Ohioan pulled clea r of Kopp, King and Graham, and th en passed Pa rke r a fter rem aining on the high -line to run second on lap three. Roeder hung tou gh but even tually fell back to sixth at the finish. "I just ran outta gas, man," Roeder sa id . " I haven't run a full main event sinc e Springfield , between breakin' and cr ash in' . Now, 1 broke . Ju st ran o u tta steam. It's to o bad , because that 's the best that our bike ran all year." Parker wa s the first to d isplace Roed er, and he co n ti n u ed to set o ff afte r Davis. King, Kopp and Graham were still welded tog ether, with Springsteen and Carr just out of the hunt beh ind the trio. Mecha nica l attrition took its toll righ t fro m th e s tart . Va r nes w a s o ut after th rowi ng a chai n on the first lap. Hacker's mach ine spu tte red to a halt o n lap six. Coolbe th als o d ro pped out wi th a broken coil a lap later . Davis wa s flyin g ou t fro nt, bu t Pa rker w a s g o ing to sc h ool- o n h is li n es . Parker was giving it his all, and it was s ho w ing, as th e c ha mpio n swa pped hard in turn one lap 16, bu t he began to tighten up on Davis. At the sa m e time, King was in the process of pulling away fr om Kopp a nd G ra ha m . King soon passed Roed er and ran Parker d own at abo u t the same time that the pair ca ugh t Davis. Kopp had also gotten past Roed er an d was now soli d ly in fourth place. "I was in a good rhythm," Kopp said. "When Rich went by me down low earlier, I tried that line, but 1 could n' t make it work." Parker drove past Davis on the inside to take th e lead in turn on e on lap 18, but Davi s go t th e better drive off two to retake it down the back straight. Wh en Parker jumped in front again off turn four, Davis' chances for the win looked bleak. Two laps la ter, Kin g went past Davi s as well, and th e Iow an continued to close up on Parker , finally dipping low o ff turn four and leading Parker across the stripe o n lap 21"When I caught Scott , I didn't know if I s hould show him my line. It wa s six inches off th e g u a rd ra il, " Ki ng sa id, "bu t 1 wa s going for it. I was just out th er e bo u nci ng a rou nd like everyone else." Pa rker agai n sized up King, combining the Honda rider's lines wit h his own to se t up for the finish as the pair began to employ Sacram ento-style d ra fti ng down the front and back straights. "I figured I was all set, but Rich surprised me, and he was ro lling," Parke r said. "I clogged u p hi s (low) line one ti me, but 1 didn't feel as co m fortable there as he did. I about fell off the thing five times, but I found some lines and made it work ." Pa rker appea red to have the clear ad vantage up th e front s tra ig h t eac h tim e, but King was ga me as th ey came off the final turn together , an d he had pu t himseU in the posi tion to win . Parker came up behind, pulled to the inside and crossed the line right with him. Nobody knew who had won, a nd both rid ers retu rned to the finish line to await th e video revi ew. The tape clearly sh owed th a t Pa rker had pulled it out by little more than three o r f OUT in ches, thus claiming the series victory and capping it wi th the best win record of the yea r. "( ca me he re to wi n th e mo torcycle race," Parker said. "That's what 1 do at every race I go to." Whatever the mea ni ng be hind that statement, it wo uld certa inly see m tha t Parker is ", fe either way. ." Davey Cam lin and team owner Pat Moroney celebrate Cam lin's 883cc National win at Del Mar. tt gave t he team anot he r AMA 883c c Nat ional Championsh ip. Del Mar Fairgrounds Del Mar, californ ia Results : October 12, 1997 (Round 22 of 22) HEAT 1 no lap~ 11 ridtr'$, top 3 tr<1nsfe rl : 1. Joe Kopp (H-D); 2. Pa.u l Morgan III ( H ~D); 3. Scott Pa rker (H-D); 4. Steve Morehead (H- m; 5. J.R. Sch nabel (H -D) ; 6. Johnny M u rphree (H -D); 7. Mik e Varnes (H -D); 8. Len nie PA uley (H-D); 9. G~ Teag ue (H-D ); 10. Lonny Kopp (H.D); 11. tan ~I!dy (H -D). T im e: 6 min ., 36.19 1 M.'C. HEAT 2 (10 b pli; 11 riders, top 3 transfer): 1. WiU taon (H· D); 3. Mike Ha cker Da vil. (H· D); 2. Jay 5p ring!> (H· D); 4, Ch an ce Dar ling (Hon): 5. Ste ve Beattie (H-D); 6. Bry an 8 igelo w (l l-D) ; ?Ja.... Flet cher (H~D); 8. Paul m Bergstrom (H~D); 9. Brett Landes (H·D) ; to. Pe te Hames, (H- U ); 11. Marco Mol't"lIo(H-D). Ti me : b min ., Jg.3 27 M.'C. HEAT 3 (to laps; 10 ri de rs, top 3 tran sfer ): 1. C hris Ca rr (H -D); 2. Ceo Roeder II (H ·D); 3. C hris Evan:'! (H~ D); 4. Da n Sta nley (H -D ); 5. Pau l Lynch (H- D); 6. Shau n Russell (H- D); 7. Kevin Atherton (H- D); 8. Da n But ler (H -D); 9, Da vey Ca m lin (H-D); 10. G.uy Rogers (H·D), . T im !!: 6 min ., 43.661 Sl'C HEAT 4 (to b p ' ; 10 rid !!D. top 3 tr<1 m~fer): 1. Ricky G ra hdm (Hon); 2. Rich King (Hl'll) ; 3 , Kevin Varnes (H D); 4. KMInY Coolbe h (H-O); 5. Terry Poovey (H.D); 6. t Bill y Martin ( H~ D ) ; 7. Str ve Liberty (1'1-0); 8. Mike Ind erbitzin ( H·D ); 9. Iaime Agu ila r (H · D) ; 10. Willir McCo y (H-D). T im e: non e. d ue to resta rt. SEMI 1 (8 laps; 10 riders, top 2 tra n sf er): 1. Steve Beattie (H -D); 2. Paul Lynch (H-D ); 3. Dan Butler (H -D); 4. Pa ul Bergstrom ( H · D ); 5. Michael Varnes (H-D); 6. Lonny Kopp (H· D); 7. Bill y Martin (H-D); 8. M ar co Morello ( H -D) ; 9. Jaime A Ku il ar (H -D) ; 10 . St e v e Mort'ht-dd (H-D). Time: 5 mm., 21.565-ec, SEMI 2 (8 1<11"; 10 ri d"n,. top 2 tund"): 1. Chance Dar ling (}f-D); 2. D.tv~ Camlin (H-O); 3. 1-R. Schnabel (H-D); oJ. Shaun Ru. M' l (H-O); 5. Terry Poo vey (I-I -D) ; 6. 1 Lon nie Paule y (H · D); 7. Juan Flet ch er (H~D); 8. Ia n Scgcdy (H -D); 9 . M ik e Inderbi t zin (H -O) ; 10. Pete H.uncs (H -D). Time: 5 min., 33.400 sec. SEMI 3 (8 I.lps ; 10 riders, lop 2 transfert: 1. Kenny Coolbeth Jr . (H· D) 2. Brya n Btgelow (H· D); 3 . Dan Stan ley (H -D); 4. Willie McCoy Ui -D); S. Ga ry Rogers (H- D); 6. Brett Landes (H~D); 7. Greg Teague (H -D); 8. Stev e Libert y (H -D) ; 9. Jo h n ny Mu rp hre e (H -D ); 10. Kevin Ath l!rton (H-D). Ti m e: 5 min ., 3451 5 sec. BEER NUTS CHAL (6 rid !!n. l: 1. Chris Ca rr (H. D); 2. JUt' Kcpp (H. D); 3. Jay Springst~ (H~D) ; 4. Rich King _ (l!on); S. ~.\UI Murgan m(H.D); 6. Kevin vame, (H~D). Tlm~: 3 rrun., 25.627 sec , WH EELS THROUG H TIM E CHAL (6 ri de rs ]: 1. Dan Butle r (H · D); 2 . Dan Sta n le y (H-D); 3. Wi ll ie McCoy (H -D); 4. JR. Schnabe l (H -D); 5. Pau l 6eTg.'ltro m (H -D); 6. Sha un Rus.. (H -D> "C1I . Time: 3 min ., 31.n8 sec. G RA-I rID NATlONAL (25 l aps; 18 ri ders); 1. Scott '\ Parker (H~D); 2. Rich Kmg (Hon); 3. WiU Davis (H·m ; 4. joe Kopp (H. D); 5. Ricky Graha m (}-I-D); 6. Ceo Roeder IJ (H-D); 7. Paul M organ III (H·O) ; 8. Ja y Springstetm (H- D); 9. Stl"Vl" Btoatt1t.o (H. O); 10. Bry an Bigtc'low 'H-O ); I t . Ch ri .. Carr (H-O); 12. Ch a nce Darlin g (H -D); 13. Paul Lynch (H·D); 14 Oawy Ca mlin (H-D) ; 15. Chri; 18. Kevin Va~ (H-Dl. Time: 17 min .• 7.091 5l"C. AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMP IONSH IP SERIES PO INTS STANDINGS (After 22 of 22 ro unds): 1. Sco tt Pa rke r (385 /8 wins); 2. Will Davis (349/ 7); 3. Kevin Atherton (309 / 3); 4. Rich King (297 12); 5. Ricky G r:lham (248); 6. Da vid Ca mlin (225); 7. Joe Kopp (22 0 /1) ; 8. }.:Iy Springsteen (2 19); 9 . St eve Morehea d (161); 10. Mike Hacker (52); I I. D3n Butler (136); 12. Ke vin Varnes ( 28); 13. Gro Roeder II 004); 14. : (TIE) Steve Bl'd tti e /Paul Mo r gan (100 ); 16. Kenn y Coolbeth (99); 17. J.R. Sch nabel (69); 18. Brett Landes (61); 19. Dan Stanltc'y (58); 20. Tl'ITf Poovey (46/ 1). A MA 883 NA T IONA L (12 l<1ps; 17 r iders): 1. an Dav ey Ca mlin; 2. Jt'S.'" Roeder; 3 , Shaun Rus~U; 4, $to Lolla r; 5. Na te Wai t; 6. J.R. Schnaht-I; 7. Ga ry Rogers: 8. Mike Ha ckl"r; 9. Dou g Ikattie; 10. raul Bergstrom; 11. Billy M,,~ 12. ja~n Fletcher: 13. Chris Fitzhugh ; 14, Brian Kromroy; 15. Robert Miller; 16. Johnny Murphree; 17, Dan Stanley. Time 8 min., 52.652 sec. AMA 883 NA TIONAL CHA MP ION S H IP S ERI ES POINTS ST AND INeS (A fte r 13 of 13 round s ): I. Daw y Ca mlin (242 / 7 wins); 2. J~s Roeder (235/ 2); 3. M ikl" H a ck er (18 7 /0; 4 . Shau n Ru ssell (1 64 /0; 5 . Johnny M urp h ree (152/1); 6. J.R. Sc hnabel (146 ); 7 . Rober t Millt"r (130); 8 . 8 illy Ma rtin (100); 9 . Pdul 8l'Tg:~trom (%); 10. Willi~ McCo y (83); 11. Bret ~t"T (71 /1); 12. Ja50n Fletcher (69); 13. Victor McA na lly (50); 14. u ridn Kromroy (48); 15. Sean Lolla r (45); 16. Gary Ro(;~ (42); 17. Scott Stump (41); 18. Nathan Walt (37); 19. Ch.Jnce Darlmg (35); 20. [ake Zemke (32). the lost few r:aces . He'd be ahead o f me by three or I'd be ahead of him ' by five . W e had no crashes. and the' bikes were good aUyea r. I want to thank Jim Kel ly and Bi ll Bartel s. An d tell Bill that we just need a litt le m ore ,:"oney to keep them run ning as good as they are." Brieflv... - Speaking of Chris Carr. the Del M ar M ile marked the firs t tune In his caree r trot he has ever ridden a twingled Harley-Davidson in co m- . petition . " I can't tell the diffe rence. ~ Carr said . ~ 1t' 3 been so long , I don't remembe r what the other one felt like'. This feels like it has a pretty w ide p~erb:and. ~ Kevin Ath erton end Johnny Murphre e left the race, track with injuries: Davey Camlin sho we d with one . The M oron ey 's Hcrtoy David son ride r wa s still smart ing from his 883 c rash at the Vegas ' round of the series .. " I've go t a hairline crac k in my Jeft ankle." Camlin said . " There's' not hing they could do . It' s no big deal. It' s basically jus t a real bad ·sprai'n . ~ Camlin's day appeared to be ov er at one point as he' rolled to a sto p near the start/finish line. got oft: his bike and slumped to .the ground in pain after appar ently catchi ng his foot In a rut. Later , he wo n . the 883 title end made the Grand Nat ional. w here he finished 14th. u p Las Eric Bostrom was see n handling the groovin g iron for former Bartels ' teammates J ohnny Murphree and Shaun Russell In the pit s at D el M ar. " I' m on the team. " jo ked Bostrom. who won the 883 Notionol at Del Mar in 1996. ' j could have ridden today . but I really don't like thi s trac k. C oming from Northern Calif ornia. more of 'a blue-groove guy~ This track is Boeder-style . ". Bo strom also said that he has signed a deal wi th Erion Racing fo r the '98 season. 'w here he expects to ride some Superbike, Superteams .end the 'entire 600cc Supersport senes . .. I'm " J thought I'd do better. " That' s how Kevin Varnes summed up his dis· appointing season '. ~1 didn't think I'd do worse. This was our .firs t year riding Harley-D avid sons, and we broke a bunch of times~ W e also had problems With the KTM - we 're not even s'ure what we're 9Onn8 do there. But w e'" be better next year. " Va mes made the Del M ar flnale. only to be s ide~ned by breakage again. He w as cred ited ~ th 18th.· Instead o f one angry bee . there,were tw o this yea r. os both Jay Springsteen and Scott P arker climbed aboa rd Yama h a TZ750s and rod e them fo r a few laps durin g intermission . Sp rings teen was once again astride th e Yamaha of Canada TZ 7S0 th at was campaig ned by Steve Baker. whi ch. along with Kenny Roberts ' TZ700 '75 Indy Mi le win ner, now belongs to Stephen Wrigh t . Park er rod e a rest ored ex-Kenny Rob ert s Yamaha 17750 that is virt ually iden tical to the Rob erts Indy bike . Ray Abram s of A&A Racing ow ns that machine, lind finished it 'up just in time for Del M ar. -. When all was said and done, Johnny Goad had nothing but kind word s to say,abo ut the way that his' cha mpion. Ricky Gra ham , 'c onducted himself durinq the 1998 season. ~ He finished fifth, ~ Goad said. ~ In the middle of the year, we were f Bth. He had something.to prove. He sat 'o n his ass for fou r years, and then he came back and ran right w ith these boys . Not a w hole lot of people co uld do, that. ~ Might -as-well~get-it-started dept. : Steve Gardner told Cycle News that he will not fie ld a two-rider team in 1998 . " That' s too damn much work. ~ Gard ner did not make it clear who his' rider was going to be. One rider sure to have a good deal in 1998 is CoZiahr Harley-Davidson's Paul Morgan III . The C entral ia. Illinois. rider ~nished up the ye ar strongly, eaming a seventh-place finis h in the main at Del M ar and st opping in a 14th:p lace tie with Steve Beattie in the final stand ings . " W e're gomg to have three new blke s next Year, ~ M org an said. · W e' ve got two new 750 s coming .·and we're looking forwa rd to next year. ~ Though he was not eligibJe for the Rookie of the Year ti tle based upon the fact that he had not ca mpmgned fo r a full season as an CNC Expert. Bryan Bigelow was argua bly one of the hottest new talents of the year . The A u Gres . Mi chigan, teen had a great day at Del Mar arid wound Steve Morehead was eq ually disappoi nted after dropping out of the up 10t h on the day . " Jneeded so me more horsepower. but I got 10th any~ f i rst semi w hen o n e o f t h e c ar b u ret ors o n h is F &S H arley w ay. " Bigelow said. - It was great racing bac k there wit h Ch ris Ca rr . That Davidson / KKIShepherd XR was tom off by 'flying roo st . " This was just . was a riot. If we find so me mor e money and sa me mo re horsepower, then the perfect ending'to a crappy season,· M orehead said. " The' whole yea r we're go nna kick some ass next yea r. Bu t now I get to go home and go wa s like this. "~ More hea d has vow ed to return next yea r for his 25th seaback to school on Tuesday. " . son, and he has promised to be better prepared fC?r what just might ' be his final full year of c:ompetition. ~We 're gonna start With half the amo unt l?f Bart els ' Harley-David son 's .Johnny Murphree accepted 199 8 Rookie equ ipment. and change a bunch of stuff . - . M orehead co nti nued . ~ We 've of Year ho nors , albeit painful ly, at the Pro fessional M ot orcycle Owners got to Goncentra te more on racing - our race team and nothing else. • G roup award s banque t follow ing the Del M ar M ile'. Murphree entered the ro om in .a full neck bra ce during presentations, where- he w as carefully Jay Springsteen ~id that he was happy WIth the way hi~ day and his . us hered to the pod ium and told he had Won th e rookie honors . " G ene Rom ero once said . 'I don· t .w anna hurt anyo ne, but I go tta get third or season had gon e. ~ Ei ghth in the ra ce ~ eighth in the points , ~ Springsteen .said: ~ l think Joe Kopp beat me by on~' point. W e've had the bes t batt le , come.visit .me ·in th~ .ho s~! tal , · " Murphree said. He ~a n now relate ~ . . . . , ..

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