A M AlPa c e A merican National Championship H illclimb S e r ie s
R o u n d 1 : Moons hine H ill
STORY AN D PH OTOS BY
D A VID PATTO N JR .
DELBARTON, WV, MAY5
e i g n i n g 800cc and 540cc
National Champ ion David Watson sent the rest of the fie ld a message at round one of th e 2001 AMA
Nationa l Championship Hillclimb
Series, sponsored by Pace American,
when Watson blasted hi s Kl eeberg
Sheet Metal/Mac 's Kawasaki /Spectro
Oils-backed CBR Hondas to convincing wins in both classes at the first
evening National of the year, held on
Moonshine Hill in Mingo County. Jeff
Thomas (800 Yamaha) and Tim Freidhoff (540 Honda ) he aded Watson
early in the program , but th ey had to
settle for second place in th e ir
respective classes.
R
540
Jeff Thoma s wa s the firs t rid er to
challenge the 400-foot hill, but his Honda
CBR went flat early in the run , and he
pulled off rather than hurt the bike.
"We had to rush to get it together
and something 's not ri ght," Thomas
said. "We'll have it ready by th e next
round."
Dan Watson whe eled th e number one 540 Honda four- c ylinder to the
l i n e for hi s son Da vid , who proclaimed: "I' m ready . It 's my first ri de
with th e nu mber-one plate, and I'm
glad it' s on a we ll -prepared hill like
this one. Hopefully we 'll have a little
fun today. "
(Above left) Still the one: Reigning AMA
540 and 800cc NatIonal Hillclimb
Champion David Watson cleaned house
aga in at the ope nIng round of the 2001
seri es in De lbarton, West Virg inia.
Watson bagged both class wins.
James Wolfe got bit by the Moonshine Hill wh ile attempting to make a run in th e
540cc class. Wolfe came up short on one of the doubles and executed th is no-handed
lander. Thi nk he saved it?
20
MAY 23, 2001 •
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