Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128125
the corner and that's about as many saves as I've done probably, I'm not kidding you, in the last 10 years. Finally, I smoothed out and started braking a tiny bit earlier, and once I smoothed, I was able to actually move the braking markers back up to where they were and the fastest laps were the last laps. I got a couple of 29s in the last laps and I've only done one 30 all year." Renfrow, Himmelsbach, and Turner were covered by 1.7 seconds, with Filice another six back with an eye on his tail. He'd left the fight for third after feeling his Yamaha TZ250 surge on the front straightaway. Earlier in the weekend, it'd seized in the same spot and he didn't want a repeat. "I just slowed down and started short-shifting and tried to roll a little easier and not overrev and I just rolled around," Filice said. "I knew that I had a gap on Michael Hannas so I just did what I had to do I guess. I wanted to race with the guys; there's no way I could've run with Rich." PJ1's Hannas was seventh with Sunsports' Perry Melneciuc eighth. Hannas ended up third in points with 249. eN V1...... I - U........., 1It8a, VIrJIIIIII ....Its: s.,tndIeI 31,2Ml I....... 111 MBNA 250cc GRAND PRIX: I. Rich Oliver (Yam); 2. Charles Sorensen (Yam>;'3. Randy Renfrow (Hon); 4. Michael Himmelsbech (Apr); 5. Simon Turner (Yam); 6. Jimmy FiJice (Yam); 7. Michael Hannas II (Vern); 8. Perry Melneciuc (Yam): 9. Edword Sorbo (Vom); 10. Cory Denlon We.t (Vom); 11. Monty Warsing (Yam); 12. Greg Esser (Hon); 13. Chris Pyles (Yam); 14. Shane Breeding (Hon); 15. William Himmelsbech (Yam): 16. Ty David Piz (Yam); 17. Eric Stephens (Hon); 18. John France (Hon); 19. James Bonner (Yam); 20. Jemes Worthington (Apr); 21. Christopher Holske (Yam); 22. Glen Christianson (Yam); 23. Michael Deblanco (Yom); 24. Seon Wroy (Yom); 25. Aloin Broull (Yom). Time: 25 mins., 44.225 sec. Distance: 17 laps. 38.25 miles. Average speed: 89.567 mph. I'Iorgl. of victory: 6.362 sec. FINAL I'IBNA 250cc GRAND PRIX C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS: I. Jimmy Filice (309/2 wins); 2. Rich Oliver (308/7); 3. Michoel Honno. II (249); 4. Perry Melneciuc (224); 5. Simon Turner (221); 6. Charles Soren.en (211); 7. Greg Es.er (169); 8. Ty Dovid Pi< (163); 9. Edword Sorbo (155); 10. Cory Denton Wesl (153); 1I. John Fronce (147); 12. Chris Pyle. (124); 13. Rand)' Renfrow (110); 14. William Himmelsbach (106); 15. Rolond Sond. (105); 16. Edword I'Iorchini (95); 17. Seon Wroy (73); 18. Jeffrey Leggitt (71); 19. Derek King (63); 20. Colin Jen.en (61). AMAILackhart-Phillips USA Formula Itre. Series Final Round: Virginia IntematioRlI Racewa (Above) Gobert took the race win, then sprayed newly crowned Champion Hopkins directly in the face with the champagne. (Right) John Hopkins (21) and Aaron Gobert (98) battle on the track in Formula Xtreme action at VIR. By HENNV RAV ABRAMS PHOTOS BY ABRAMS AND BRIAN J. NELSON ALTON,VA,SEPT.29 or the second year in a row, John Hopkins beat Damon Buckmaster for a class championship. Last year it was the 750cc Supersport crown. Today it was the Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula· Xtreme title. The pair had come to Virginia International Raceway tied in points. Whoever finished ahead would earn the numberone plate. It was Hopkins by one spot, fourth to Buckmaster's fifth, in a race that the duo played only a small part in. The drama was at the front. Graves Motorsports Yamaha's Aaron Gobert took the lead from Hopkins on the fifth of 17 laps and then rode like a Gobert, using the rear of his Yamaha R-1 to wave goodbye to the field, captivating the crowd with his brash, confident style. Sliding like he was on ice, but always in control, Gobert sped to victory by 2.788 seconds. F "That's just my riding style," Gobert said after beating Valvoline EMGO Suzuki's Grant Lopez. "I like the bike to feel loose underneath me. I guess if its got traction I don't feel right. That's the difference between me and [Damon] Buckmaster, so we don't really share much setup. That's the way I set the bike up, and I was happy. That's what I said to my brother before I went out. I said, you watch, I'm going to get some good slides on TV today. " Gobert and Lopez were supposed to be the supporting act for their titlechasing teammates, Buckmaster and Hopkins, respectively. Early on, it wa.s clear that Buckmaster didn't have the machine under him to challenge. The team had struggled all weekend, but no amount of changes could make him comfortable. "I never really got the combination right all weekend," Buckmaster said. "We struggled with getting the right balance." Buckmaster said that every time they corrected one problem, another would pop up. "Basically, we ran out of time to get it correct," the Australian said. "We tried off-sets, different pivot angles, everything we could change feaSibly in the allocated amount of time." Gobert hoped to be able to help his teammate, but was out front from the start. "I guess like any championship in a team, you know, if I wasn't capable of winning the race and I'm behind him, I'd push him along, I guess," Gobert said. "You know, there's only so muc~ you can do. You can't control the way a race is going to go. I just did the best 1 could, and when I was in front, I just thought, 'Well, it's up to him now.' You know? And that's the way it should be." Lopez had raised a few eyebrows when he passed Valvoline EMGO Suzuki's Hopkins on the 12th lap. Shouldn't he have stayed behind his cue •• n. _ S • OCTOBER 10,2001 19