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"I just tried to pu t in a couple of hard laps," Chou ina rd said. "I wa tched m y pi t board , looked over my shou ld er a couple of times, then put it on cru ise." Choui na rd thanke d his spo nso r, New England Per forman ce, and Chu ck Giachetta, who built his motors. Free of Cho uinard, Haner had a bet ter d ay. He led all the way in th e first ra ce of th e weeke nd , th e 3D-m in u te Expert Middl e w e ig ht En d u ra n ce, stre tchi ng his lead to more than 12 seconds at one point befo re slo wing at the end to finish w ith a sec ure six-secon d cushi on . Craig Babc ock, who chased Haner's Suzuki on his Honda CBR6DD sa t up , and saw Jim Lester close to within about three bike leng ths . In 't h e 3D-minu te Exp ert Heav y weig ht Endurance con tes t, Haner took over the lead w hen Ch ouinard pitted, but successfu lly stayed in front of Des Conboy most of the way. Conboy did take the lead with a strong pass in tum 10 on the 17th of 22 laps, hold ing it for about tw o laps bef ore Haner to ok it back by di vin g under Co nboy in th e loop in g le ft-hand carousel turn si x. From there they wer e never more tha n a few len gths a pa rt, but Han er held the point to the flag. Chouinard raced back to third , taking the spot on the 18th lap. Haner 's final wi n ca me in Sunday' s Expert Middleweig ht Supers port class . Taking the lead on the second of 12 laps, Haner beat Hayd en to the line by about eight seconds. Both were Su zuki GSXR6DD mo un ted, as was the third-placed rid er, Brent Campbell, who finished abou t six seconds back. Campbell was im p res sed at how qu ickly the Texan Haner and t h e Ke nt u ck ia n Ha yden learn ed the track. 'These guys came in and they caught on to the track real fast," he said. After beating Haner by about three seconds in the first race of the day, the 12-lap Expert Middlew eight Gra nd Prix, Jeffrey Wood had similar feelings. " It's u nbeli evable how fa st H a ner was go ing," he said . "I was just telling the Speedvision guys, the kid picked up th e track like th a t, and he was a lot tougher than I expected." Wood didn't have a hard time in his first win, Saturday's eight lap Expert Lightweight Grand Prix, which was run along wi th three' other classes, including the Expert Supertwin. That race went to Ducati-mounted Th omas Fournier by nine seconds, b u t Wood was second overall, despite s tarting in the second wave. Mixing it up with the bigger bik es, Wood won h is class b y n in e seconds over Thomas Dinar d o. His d ad ' s two wins b ot h ca me aboard his Du cati Supermono 570. The fi r s t was in t he Expert Lig h tweight Superbike a nd he was quickly away, looking like he 'd disappear. Four laps int o the eight-lap race, he had over two seconds on the Yamaha FZR400 of Brett Gu yer, but Guyer wasn't conced ing and reeled Wood back in in traffic. With tw o laps to go, Gu yer was in his shadow but could n' t make the pass and had to settl e for second , les s th an a se cond ba ck . Vahan Buchakjian put his Ducati 750 55 into third. Four raCeS later, Wood was back, and this time he wouldn 't be cha llenged . In th e Exp ert Heavyweigh t Thunderbike class , Wood pu t h is mu ch s m a lle r mach in e up against the lar ger twi ns of t he res t o f th e fi e ld a n d bl e w th em aw ay. Th e fight was for seco nd , and it went d own to the fina l laps, Bob Robbin s slicking his Du cali 989 55 into the John Haner (2) leads even tual winner Jeff Wood (9) in the Expert Middleweight Grand Prix. Wood and his fathe r, Jerry, each came away with wins at Loudon. Je ff's brother Eric Wood, last year's Horizon Award winner, served as the ' AMA's' ambass ador to the event. spo t w ith less th an th re e la ps to go, d ropping Dou gla s Coo k to third . "I was going for it," Cook said after finishing third. Robb ins, on e of the older riders in the champ ionships , said his age might have worked in his favor . "I fig u red th e g uys w ould see me and they say, 'Oh, there's the old guy: and let him go by. I think it worked to my advantage this weekend. I hope so, but I'm pretty sure that wrapped up the (LRRS) Heavyweight Spo rtsman Championship." 1:\ New Hampshire International Speedway Loudon. New Hampshire Results: September 27, 1998 EX M/W EN DUR: 1. John Ha ner (Su z): 2. Cra ig Babcoc k (Hen): 3. Jim Les te r (Ho n): 4. Joh n Sa le m i (Ka w): 5 . Mich........l Ga llag her (Ka w ). T ime : 33 m in. D is tan ce: 23 laps, 46.8 mil es Ma rgin of victory: 6 sec . A M HIW S/SPT: 1. Brandon Basho re (Suz); 2. Ja ml"S Willi am s (Suz) : 3. Da ri a n Put a ch (S Uz.); 4. Dan ie l Mou ssea u (Ka w): 5. Wayn e Willett e (Ho nl . Time: 11 min., 46 !M..'C. Dis ta nce : Eigh t laps , 12.8 miles Margin of victory: 2 SC:'C . EX H /W ENDUR: 1. Jo hn Ha n er (Su z ): 2. Dt. s · Co n bo y (Ya m); 3 . Charles C houi na rd (5 uz); 4. T im Sa mson IHon):5. Aaron Spettcl (Suz) . Time: 31 m in.• 3 sec. Di sta nce: 22 laps, 35.2 m iles EX UW EN DU R: 1. Rich Neena n (Hon) ; 2. Bob Robbins (Duel; ·3 . Ste p he n Sc o tt (Han) ; 4. Ro d ney Helsens (Han); 5. Fra ncis Reed (Yam). Ti me: 31 m in.• 34 sec . D is tance: 221a ps , 35.2 mi les Ma rgin of victory: 31 sec. , AM MIW SfBK: 1. Jam es William s (5uz); 2. Daniel Mou sseau (Kaw): 3. Pa u l McGr ath (5uz) ; 4. Da le Sea to n (H on ): 5. Paul Irvine (Ha n). T ime: 11 m in ., 3 sec. Di stan ce: 8 la ps, 12.4 mil es Margin of vic to ry: 8 se c. ... AM UW THUN D ERB K: 1. Pet er Fell er (Ka w ): 2. Jo h n Ca pu to Jr. (Ka w): 3. Kevin Kenned y (MZ ); 4. Fra nk Gerhard IKa w): 5. Roger Williams (Suz ). Ti me: 13 mi n., 11 sec. D istance: 8 laps , 12.8 miles Margin of victory: 2 sec. EX UII.. S/SPT: 1. John Scheeh se r (Yam); 2. Rich ard Doucette (Suz) : 3. Jim Passino (Suz); 4. Micha el Martire (Kaw l; 5. Jo hn Lounsb u ry (Suz ). Time: 12 m in .• 31 sec. Distance. S laps, 12.8 m iles Margin of victory: 8 sec. EX M /W S/BK : 1. C ra ig Babcock (H e n): 2. Ro ger Hayd en (Su z): 3. Bre nt Campbe ll (Suz): 4. Jim l ester (He n): 5. Ro land Willidms (5uz). T im e: 12 m in ., 50 St'C. Distance: S lap s, 12.8 m ilt"5 M.ugin of victory: J St."C. AM L/ W 5 /BK : I. Ke v in Lin k (Yam ); 2. Bru n ' Ulll'rup (V~ m); 3. Pl't er Fellt.'r (Kaw ); 4. Th om .ls Eckfcldt (Du e); 5. Ted Te m ple (Ya m). T ime: 13 min ., 23 sec. D istance: 8 la ps , 12.8 m ik'S Margin of victory: 1 sc.C. ' AM SR S /5 PT: 1. Jo hn Rut he rford (Du d ; 2. D.wid Kno x (Ka w); 3 . Jo h n Carson (Vam) ; 4. Paul H a n!>o n ( ~ Z); 5. Guy Smith (Bue ). T im e: 14 min., 10 St.' C. D istan ce: 8 Llps, 12.8 mi lt"!'> M.ug in of victory: 2S ~. AM PROD TW: 1. Branch Wo rs ham ( Kitw); 2. Pa trick Hard y (Kaw); 3. M.ltt he ..... Lli (K.tw); 4. Fra n k Cerhard lK.lw ); 5. Jos hua west (K.1w). Time: 14 min ., 10 sec . Di stance: S lolps, 12.8 mi les Ma rgin of victo ry: 1 SC:'C . EX U/ l S/T W: l. Thoma s Fo u rn ie r (D u C> ; 2. Tim o th y Kisiel s k! (Suz) : 3. Doug las Coo k (D ue) : 4 . Da vid Bloom (Du e); 5. Bob Robbins (Due) . Time: 12 m in., 7 St"C . Distance: 8 laps; I 2.8 miles Margin of victory: 9 sec . EX Llw CP : 1. Jeffrey Wood (Yarn): 2. Tho m as Dina rd o (Ya m ); 3. C h r is Reyn o ld s (Ya rn): 4. Ric h Neenan (He n): 5. Jerry Wood (Yam) T ime: 12 mi n., 14 sec . Distance 8 la ps , 12.8 mi les Margin of victory: 9 sec. AM lJ}'\' CP: 1. Scott Mo xey (Yam); 2. Rus l Tu sa; sel 3. Kevin Li n k (Yam ); 4. Bruce Ulleru p (Yam) ; 5. Joseph Bilin ski (Hon) . T im e: 13 m in ., 31 sec. Distance: S la ps . 12.8 m ites M~rgin o f victo ry: 16 sec. AM HIW THUNDERBK: 1. Don Motl ey (Bue) ; 2. J im La fr ance (H o n ); 3 . Ric h Be c ker (Su z) : 4. Mark Rozema (Hen): 5. Michael You ng (5uz) . Ti me: 14 min., 48 St"C. Distance: S laps, 12.8 mi les Ma rgin o f victory: 1 sec. EX lJW srrw. 1. Thoma s Fou rn ier (Due) ; 2. Vah an Bucha kj ian (Du d; 3. Bo b Robbins (Dud; 4. Dou gla s Cook (Due) ; 5. Freddy Ma ru ca (Du d . Ti me: 13 mi n., 3 Sl"C . Distance. 8 1. ps , 12.8 m il e , s Margin of victory: 1 sec. EX SR S /SPT: 1. Jim Pass ino (Su z); 2. Buzz Pov all (Hen): 3. Robe rt En gla nd (Suz); 4. Raymond Sw en to n (Due) ; 5. Michael O hlstein Il-lon). Time: 12 min., 55 sec. Distance. 8 laps, 12.8 miles M~ rgin of victo ry: 9 !*"C. AM HIW ENDUR: 1. Mario Martin (5uz); 2. Sco tt Ma xey (Yam) ; 3. Bra ndon Ba..bore (Su z); 4. Nic k Yoski n (Suz ); 5. Kenna rd Litt le [Kaw) . Time: 21 min., 23 sec . D istance: 15 la ps, 24 m iles Margin of victory: 8~. AM U W El'i'DUR: 1. Ke vin Lin k (Ya m) ; 2. Sco tt Aikcnbu rgh (Yam ); 3. Fra n k Cu po (Ya m ); 4. Ted Tem p le (Yarn ): 5. Robert Dem etrius (Kaw). Ti me- 21 min., 49 sec . Distance: 14 laps, 22.4 mil es Marg in of victory: 19 St.'C. EX set: 1. Rich Neena n (Hen ): 2. Rodn ey He lsen s (H onl, 3. John Kabacin sk i (Ha n) ; 4. Mich a el C la rk (Hon ); 5. Jam es Sm ith (MZ). Time: 12 rnin ., 22 sec . Distan ce: 8 laps, 12.8 m iles Margin of victory: 4 ~"C. AM SC I.: 1. Ph ilip Turk in g ton (Hon); 2. Richard Demetriu s (Han); 3. Etha n Grossma n (He n): 4. Ke vin Kennedy (MZ); 5. Da no Meisner (He n). Time: 13 min., 16 sec . Di stance: Sla ps , 12.S m il e s A M UIL srrw: 1. Zacharv Hew son (Duc); 2. John Rutherford (Due); 3. Joseph Ciampi (Due) ; 4. Richa rd Yersak (Du e); 5. G ran t G ui lbeault (Du d . Time: 13 min., 44 sec . D istance: B laps , 12.8 miles Ma rgin of victory: 13 sec. AM M /W GP: 1. Da ri a n P111ac h (S u z); 2. Jame s W illia ms (5 u z) ; 3. Danie l Mou sseau (Ka w ); 4. Dal e Seato n (Ho n); 5. Arti Ha nsen ( K..,W). Ti m e: 13 min ., 8 se c.' Di stance: 8 1 .1ps, 12.8 mil es Margin of victory: 9 St."C. . EX M /W G P: 1. Je ff Wood (Ya m) ; 2. Joh n H ,m e r (Su[.); 3 . Cra ig B.l bcock (H o n ); 4 . Jim u-sh:- (H on) ; 5. r Matth e w Silva (Ho n). Tim e: 17 m in ., 52 St."C. Di stan ce: 12 laps, 19.2 m iles M a rgin of vict ory: 3 sec . EX UW 51BK: I. Jerry Wood (Due); 2. Brett Guy er (Ya m ); 3 . Vahan Bu chakjian (D ud; 4. Bob Robbin s (Due); 5 . Stepht."n Scott (Hon). T im e: 12 m in ., 4S sec . Di stance: aups, 12.8 m iles EX PROD TW.: 1. Ro bert Beno it (Ka w); 2. Douglas Sch eer ( K.1W); 3. Bob Perkins IKa w): 4. Kend ell Edward s (Kaw); 5. Jason Rice IKaw). Tim e: 13 min., 47 !Ot'C. Distance: 8 laps, 12.8 mil l'S Ma rg in of victory: 8 sec. EX HIW S/BK: 1. C ha rles Chou inard (5u z); 2. Joh n H an er (Suz): 3. Thoma .. Fo urn ie r (D ud; 4. Mich ael Cal d ero n (Suz ): 5. Step hen Cooke (Du d . T ime: 17 min ., 17 Sl.."C. Distance: 12 11ps, 19.2 m iles . Margln of victory: 19 !ot.'C. AM MIW S /SrT: 1. Darien Polac h (Suz ): 2. Jam es Will iams (Su z): 3. Mark Cusson (Ho n ): 4. Da le Se e to n (Hen ): 5. Pa ul Dal zell (Yam ). Time: 12 min ., 49 sec . Distance: S la ps , 12.8 mi lt'S M~rgin of victory: 7 sec. AM UW srrw: 1. Joseph Cia m pi (Due); 2. Richa rd Yersak (Du e); 3. Peter Feller (Kaw): 4. Thomas Eckfeldt (Oue); 5. Mark Ro zema (Ho n). Ti me: 13 min ., 52 sec . Distances 8 taps, 12.8 mil es Margin of victory: 1 sec . U/L S/ BK : 1. C h a rles C ho u ina rd (Ka w ); 2. John Ha ner (Suz ); 3. Dt.S Conboy (Ya m); 4. Richard Doucette "' (Suz); 5. Sha ne Go nyea (Suz). T ime : 17 min ., 15 sec . Dista nce : 12 la ps, 19.2 mil es Ma rgin of victory: 19 sec . HIW THUND ERBK : 1. Jerry Wlxld (D ud; 2. Bo h Rob b in s (D uel ; 3. Do u gf ns Coo k (D ue) : 4 . Jo seph Dim uccio (Due); 5. Brian Gregory (Hen). Ti m e: 17 m in ., 55 sec. Distanc e- 12 laps, 19.2 miles M~rgi n of victory: 6 St."C. AM MIW EN DUR: 1. Da le Sea to n (Hon): 2. Pa u l McGr ath (Suz); 3. Larry G raffa m (Ho n): 4. Pa u l Lue van o (Han ); 5. Th omas Novelli Jr. (Ka w ). T im e: 31 min ., 34 sec. Distance 8 taps, 12.8 mile s EX M /W S/SPT: 1. Jo h n Haner (Suz): 2. Ro g e r Ha yd en (Suz): 3. Bre n t Campbell (Su z ): 4. Matthew Silva (Han); 5. Pet er Dou vris (Su z). T im e: 17 min., 30 sec. Dista nce 12 laps, 19.2 mil l'S Ma rgin of victoJY: 8 St."C. A M H /W S/BK : 1, Nick Yos kin (Su z]: 2. Kenna rd Little (Ka w): 3, Robert Go u dy (Sua) : 4. Eric Dineen (K aw ): 5. Brian Cus hi ng (H a n ). Time: 1Umin ., 5 St.--"C. Dista nce: 6 laps, 9.6 mi les M argin of victory: 10 !>('C. AM UW S /SPT: 1. Bruce Ullerup (Ya m ); 2. Kev in Lin k (Yam) : 3. Je re my lebla n c (Ya m ): 4. Fra nk Cu po (Ya m ); 5. Robert Demetrius (Yam ). Ti me: 13 min ., 41 sec. Distance 8 laps. 12.8 miles Margin of victory: 5 sec. EX HIW StSPT: 1. Charles Chouinard (Su z ); 2. John Haner (Su z ): 3. Richard Dou cet te (S u z ); 4. Ro g e r Ha yden (Suz) : 5. Bren t Campbell (Suz) . Ti me : 17 m in ., 34 ~. D is tan ce: 12 1ol ps, 19.2 mil e s Margin of victo ry: 12 sec. EX lI W 5 /5PT: 1. Fra nci s Reed (Ya m ); 2. John Dlma ld (Vam); 3. C ha rles 5.1ndol (L.. ); 4. Rick Pa tro li" w (Ho n); 5. Anth o ny Paglia roli (Yam) . Time: 13 m in., 3 sec . Distance: 8 laps, 12.8 m iles Margin o f victory: 11 St.'C. EX UW THUND ERBK: 1. Dou gl'1S Coo k (Du c); 2. Steve Scott; 3. Jo hn Aksel (Du el ; 4. J.lme .. Ca ll.l h.ln (Dud; 5. Rona ld Taylor (Kaw ). T im e: 12 min ., 27 sec . D istan ce: 8 laps , 12.8 mi le!' Margin of victory: 11 sec. EX U/L C P: l. Charles C hou ina rd (Ka w) ; 2. Jeff Wood (Yam ); 3. J)es Co nboy (Y.lm); 4. Brent Glm p bt."ll (S Ul); 5 . Tim Sam~n (Ho n). T im e: 16 min ., 56 sec . D ist an ce: 12 laps , 19.2 mil~ Mugin of victo ry: 23 !*"C.