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AMA Fall ClassiclEastern Four-Stroke National Series Round 1 : Budds Creek IVIX Park Smith was third overall, going 2-5 on the day. Fourth overall went to Yamaha rider Aaron Day, who went 4-7, followed in fifth by Team Green's Joshua Summey, who finished 12-2. Team Green/Brockton Cycle's Paul Veracka topped the 125cc Pro class with a solid 2-1 ride. Veracka started the first moto just inside the top five and charged steadily throughout the race, eventually closing in on the race leader, Gibson, on the final lap. In moto two, Veracka shot immediately into the lead and never looked back, taking the decisive win. "I felt really good and was just trying to ride smooth out there," Veracka said. "A bunch of those guys were riding really fast." Crine was second overall, finishing 4-3, followed by Upstate Cycles Husqvarna rider Jim Neese, who went 6-2, for third. Day was fourth overall, posting 3-9 moto scores. Gibson, who won the first moto, could manage no better than 12th in the second moto and finished fifth overall. FOUR·STROKE NATIONAL away, so I didn't have to work too hard the whole time." Finishing second overall to Smith was Sarges Cycles' Clark Stiles, who battled with RRP Cannondale's Ty Wallace in the early laps of moto one before taking over the runner-up position just after the halfway mark. Stiles started the second moto in third, behind Smith and Gibson. By the time Stiles made his way past Gibson and into second, Smith was long-gone, leaving the Tanner, Alabama, resident with a 2-2 finish on the day. "I feel pretty good," Stiles said. "The track got pretty rough. I'll make a few minor adjustments, and hopefully I'll be able to step it up a little bit at the next round." Filling out the Four-Stroke National podium was Gibson, who went 4-3 for third overall. Wallace, who finished 3-4, was fourth overall. "It went real well for me," Wallace said. "We've been fine-tuning the bike, and each time I ride, I feel better on it." By JERRY ATHEY BUDDS CREEK, MD, SEPT. 9 or the third time in as many years, KTM Red Bull's Kelly Smith took the overall win in the Four-Stroke National class at the opening round of the AMA Fall Classic/Four-Stroke Nationals by Yamaha, held at scenic Budds Creek MX Park. Smith, from Ludington, Michigan, piloted his Steve Matthes-tuned 520SX to a perfect 1-1 showing, grabbing the lion's share of the $12,000 pro purse and taking command of the series points lead. In moto one, Smith blasted into the early lead and never looked back, charging to the convincing moto victory. Smith started the second moto on the heels of Cernic'sbacked Jeff Gibson, rocketing past his fellow KTM pilot on the first lap and once again racing to the uncontested win. "That's definitely what I wanted to do today," Smith said. "Just to come out strong, get good starts and pull F 38 SEPTEMBER 26, 2001 • cue I • n ...... Kelly Smith rocI6 his KTM 520 $X to a dominant 1-1 win at the opening round 01 the Eastem Four-stroke Nationals. Posting his best-ever finish in the Four-Stroke National class was JT Motorsports rider Chris Schueler, who went 5-5 for fifth overall. "I just gave it all I had," Schueler said. "I hopped out there and went wide open the whole time. My brother got hurt yesterday, so I wanted to do well for him and also prove to myselt that I could do it. I'm pretty happy." Stiles avenged his earlier loss to Smith in the Four-Stroke National class by charging to a perfect 1-1 score in the 250cc Pro division. Shenandoah Honda's Kevin Crine was second overall with a consistent 3-3 ride. "It was a rough day for me," Crine said. "I wasn't really feeling all that good. With the way I felt and as bad of starts as I got all day long, I guess second's not so bad." Smith blasted to the first-moto holeshot, followed by Wallace and Stiles. Yamaha riders Michael Campbell and Jarrett Rhoades were fourth and fifth, respectively. Vertematimounted Tim Muterspaugh was sixth. With clear track ahead, Smith immediately began to pull away, while Stiles began to pressure Wallace for the runner-up position. Campbell was steady in fourth, now followed by Gibson in fifth. Just after the halfway point in the moto, Stiles moved around Wallace for second and began to close the gap to Smith. Gibson moved into fourth, followed by an intense battle for fifth between Husaberg-mounted Brian Mason and Schueler. Smith took the moto win, just a few bike lengths ahead of Stiles, who charged in for second. "The track was a little slick," Stiles said. "Kelly got the holeshot and just got a little lead that I couldn't make up by the time I got into second." Wallace was third, followed by Gibson in fourth. Schueler rounded out the top five. Gibson took the early lead in moto two, pursued by Smith and, not far behind, Stiles. Schueler started in fourth, followed by fellow Yamaha pilot Barry Taggart. Wallace was