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Pro Challenge Swan Cycle Park Josh Demuth walked away from the Pro Challenge in Tyler, Texas, with the most money, having won the 125cc Pro class and tallied up two second-place finishes in the 250cc Pro class. the two began to check out on the field. Behind the dueling duo, Dub€! found himself ahead of Keith Johnson, who was busy holding off Demuth. Demuth made his move on Johnson, and Short crept into the picture in sixth. Reynard had an eight-second lead over Carpenter at the halfway Bv BRIAN COMEAU PHOTOS BV CONNIE JOHNSON TYLER, TX,SEPT.23 he seventh annual Pro Challenge at Swan Raceway Park had $22,000 in purse money up for grabs. Although Oklahoma's Robbie Reynard and Texan Josh Demuth would split the 125cc and 250cc Pro-class win count, Demuth walked away with the most money by adding two second-place finishes, behind Reynard, in the 250cc ranks. Reynard suffered bike problems in the 125cc class and was forced out with two DNFs. Thousand Oaks Yamaha/Thor/ FMF rider Jacob Martin took the holeshot in the first 125cc moto, but his lead was short-lived, as Demuth passed him in the rhythm section. Kevin Johnson got by Martin early on, trailed by his older brother Keith Johnson. Team Green's Andrew Short was after fourth-placed Johnson early. Reynard and Johnny Marley found themselves deep in the pack, finishing the First lap outside of the top 10. Demuth began to run away, opening up a five-second lead over Martin, who had repassed Johnson. California's Ryan Morais charged forward out of the pack to catch Johnson (who appeared to suffer bike problems), passing him in the rhythm section at the Five-minute mark. The four-rider pack of Keith Johnson, Short, Morais and Kevin Johnson circulated the track, with Reynard trailing a step back in seventh. Reynard caught a break when both of the Johnson brothers had trouble Kevin pulled out with a flat tire, and Kevin made a big mistake that sent him back to sixth to battle with a charging Marley. Reynard continued his charge through the field, pressuring Morais briefly before passing him before the downhill into the woods. Reynard's charge came to a sudden end when his [:like quit running deep in the woods, eliminating him from the moto prematurely. This moved Marley into a lonely fifth, behind 1 44 OCTOBER 17,2001 • Morais and then Short, who was aggressively working on Martin. Short took over second from Martin, and Morais followed before the white flag came out. Demuth had an easy last lap, finishing ahead of Short and Morais, who were second and third, respectively. Fourth went to Martin, over Marley. "I did what I planned," said the Shogun Motorsports/Motion Cycle Sports/Pro Circuit-backed Demuth. "I wanted to get the start and I came out in second and was able to get around [Martin] coming around the second corner. I got out front and rode a little tight but rode my race and was able to take a win." Demuth took an lead early in the second moto, followed by Morais, who held off Reynard and Shane Doughty. Martin moved into fourth, in front of Team Motoworld's Keith Johnson. Reynard stalked Morais and made his move for second around the seven-minute mark, setting out after Demuth, but he once again suffered motor gremlins and was sidelined. "Robbie had damaged the cylinder in the First moto, and this caused the bike to quit again in the second," said Reynard's father and mechanic, Robert Reynard. Morais moved back into second, with Martin third, ahead of Johnson, n • _ s cue •• who was followed by Marley and Short. At the halfway point, Johnson disappeared from the top five, falling back into the pack after a mistake. With the leaders well established, the laps clicked off with no change. Demuth took the checkers, ending with a perfect 1-1 score over Morais, whose 3-2 gave him second overall. Third overall went to Martin. "The YZ250F is my favorite bike," Demuth said after the moto. "I had a really great start that time. I timed the gated really well and was able to get out front. I was just happy I could win for all my sponsors." The 18-year-old Morais was equally pleased with his results. "A three and a two in the 125 gives me second overall," Morais said, "which I am really happy about. I came out here wanting a top three, and I got that. I'd like to thank Yamaha, McGrath Racing, One Industries, my mom and dad, my mechanic Zach, and Troy Lee Designs." In the first 250cc moto, Reynard snagged the holeshot ahead of a pack of thundering four-strokes. Paul Carpenter, Ryan Terlecki and Marco Dub€! were chasing Reynard, but the Reynard Modifications-backed rider wanted to pull away early. Reynard found himself getting pressure from KTM/MSR-backed Carpenter early as point. Carpenter found himself getting all kinds of pressure from Demuth in third. Demuth passed Carpenter late in the moto to take over second. When the white flag came out, Reynard had a 13-second lead over Demuth, and he had a relaxing ride to the finish. Carpenter took third, ahead of Dub€! and Johnson, with Short taking sixth. "It makes it much easier to get a start and just ride it out," Reynard said. "That 125, I had to work to catch up. I had a little bit of bike problems, but I will be out there in the second moto of the 125 and hopefully I can get a good start. Same thing in the 2505." There was some tension at the start of the second 250cc moto, with Paul Carpenter unable to start his KTM at first. He took the holeshot ahead of Reynard and Demuth and the rest of the 32-rider Field. Terlecki was in fourth before Dub€! passed him in the technical rhythm section. Reynard attacked Carpenter early, taking the lead before the end of the second lap. Demuth followed Reynard's move and took over second from the KTM rider. The field began to spread out in short order, with Reynard maintaining a nine-second lead over Demuth, who had three seconds over Carpenter. The running order went unchanged throughout much of the rest of the second moto, and at the finish Reynard had run another perfect moto. "I got a second-place start, behind Carpenter, and that 520 runs pretty good out there," Reynard said. "It's a fast track out there, and that roost hurt pretty bad. I finally got around him later on." Demuth took second overall, ahead of Carpenter, who took third in both motos. CN Swa. Cycle Part Tyler, Texas Results: September 23, 2BBI 125 PRO: 1. Josh Demuth (Vam); 2. Ryan Morllis (Yam); 3. Jacob Martin (Yam); 4. Andrew Short (Kaw); 5. Johnny Marley (Hon); 6. Shane Doughty (Vam); 7. Taylor Watts (Vam): 8. Chase Romero (Hon): 9. Chris Kraft (Vam); 10. Ryan St. Cyr (Kaw). 250 PRO: 1. Robb;e Reynard (Vam): 2. Josh Demuth (Vam); 3. Paul Carpenter (KTM): 4. Marco Dube (KTM); 5. Andrew Short (Kaw); 6. Ryan Morais (Yam); 7. Keith Johnson (Yem)i 8. Ryen Terlecki (Hus): 9. Shane Doughty (Vam); 10. Nathan Hale (Vam).