Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

for the lead and end up on the ground because I didn't see a barrel that might get in my way." Stiles rode a consistent third, followed by Gibson and Jim's Motorcycle Sales of Johnson City, Tennessee/Moto Planet's Jon Boruff. Smith built up another commanding points lead in the Fall Classic Series 250cc Pro-Am battle, leading second-placed Josh Summey by 54 points coming into the last round at Muddy Creek. All but three motos of the series had Smith's name in the number-one column. "The opening round at Budds Creek wasn't too good," said Kelly. "They have a concrete start - which I hate! So I got a really bad start, and it was a one-line track, which made it very hard to pass anybody." Stiles got a big jump on the competition in that opening round, going 1-1 for the overall win; Smith's 2-5 for third didn't sit well with him. "I went home and practiced starts all the time," Smith recounted. "After Budds Creek, I started getting the holeshot all the time." And he started winning all the time, too. The only other times he didn't win a 250cc Pro-Am moto were at round four in Casey, Illinois, and here at Muddy Creek. "At Casey, I got together with Nick Weyand crashed, breaking the clutch perch," Smith related. "That moto was actually a DNF for me. And today 1 was winning the first moto but mistimed a jump on the back stretch and went off the track through the banners. But all the other 250cc Pro- Am motos, I've won." Stiles grabbed the first 250cc A moto holeshot, with Boruff and Smith at his elbow, and the herd of 26 more ProAm riders on their heels. Two laps into the moto, Smith had moved Boruff out of the way and taken over second, ready to pick off Stiles. However, Matt Walker had mounted a charge and was coming up through the ranks in a hurry. While Smith was working on Stiles, Walker was doing the same to him. Halfway through the seven-lap moto, Smith caught up with Stiles, with Walker right on his rear fender. Smith made the pass for the lead in another half-lap, intending to use Stiles to slow Walker. On the last lap, Walker also passed Stiles, and he went after Smith. Just then came that little mistake that Smith mentioned, in which he made a detour to start his banner collection and simultaneously handed Walker the win. But where was Gibson? This didn't look like a customary top-three finish, and as it turned out, he was just inside the top 10. "I got a decent start, but, coming down the stairsteps, a Yamaha got tangled in my KTM and we both went down," Gibson explained. "It took a (Left) Hans Neel (517) recovered from a not-so-great start in the 125cc ProAm event by passing three at once Josh Thompson (626), Shawn Schultz (359) and Josh Sims (158). (Bottom) Danny Smith (186) sets up to pass William Simmons II (38) in the tower sweeper. As Matt pulled away from the rest of the 31-rider pack, Gibson laid the leather to his mount in an effort to take over second from Gracyk, but the Kawasaki rider wouldn't budge. Kevin climbed to fourth, just in front of Summey. Kevin followed Smith's 250cc ProAm example in the second 125cc l-o-n-g time to restart my bike. Kevin Walker came by, screaming for me to come on, and about that time, the bike started. I followed him up through the pack." First moto finish: Matt Walker, Smith, Stiles, Pro Circuit's Summey, and Boruff. Smith dropped the hammer on the start of the second 250cc A moto, to put as much ground as possible between his KTM and anyone else, especially Matt Walker. Gibson gated second, Stiles third, Matt Walker fourth and A-class rookie Gavin Gracyk fifth, with Summey close by in sixth. Kevin Walker spotted the field on the start and came past turn one dead last. While Smith and Gibson checked out, Matt Walker closed in on Stiles, making the pass on lap four to take over third. However, the front pair had too much of a lead for the Georgia rider to overcome and Matt Walker finished third, for second overall. As for Kevin Walker, by the time he saw the white flag, he had blasted back to seventh place. Walker's 22position improvement in six laps showed why he holds a double Loretta Lynn's championship for 2001 (in Over 25 and Over 30 competition). Gibson won the war in the 125cc Pro-Am "support" class mainly by Pro-Am outing, absconding with the getting good finishes at all six rounds of the Fall Classic Series. "I did win two motos - not at the same event, though," Gibson chuckled. "Guess consistency counts." By eaming the 125cc Pro-Am title, Gibson has proved that he has the "sand" to return from an extensive period of downtime, in winning form. At least, so think his sponsors, which include Cemic's Suzuki, Axo, Dunlop, Cycra, and Shoei. "In March, I dislocated every bone in my wrist, and to put it back together, the doctors used six pins," commented Gibson. "It wasn't until July that I was even allowed to ride again. The next week, we went to Kenworthy's in Ohio for the Outdoor Motocross National, and I did make the cut - didn't place very well, but still, I was there." Since the Troy race, Gibson concentrated on qualifying for ensuing National e~ents, and he did, in fact, ride in every final. Coming into the final 125cc Pro-Am round at Muddy Creek, Gibson had a comfortable lead, but not one that would allow him to relax too much. And he knew that Matt Walker was out to make a good showing, so he had to dowell. Matt Walker got the jump on Gibson in the first 125cc Pro-Am moto, winning it handily after dispatching holeshot-grabber Gracyk in less than a lap. Summey settled into third, following Gracyk, with Gibson coming up behind him, recovering from a bad start. Kevin "Never Say Die" Walker also gated poorly yet worked his way up to fifth, but then he slid out in the sweeper turn by the announcer's tower. Almost as if in sympathy for Kevin, Summey took a spill on lap three. He was able to scramble back up and not lose more than a couple of spots, recovering in sixth. cue' e n holeshot and refusing to give it up. Boruff got a good start, in second, just ahead of the snarling pack of Matt Walker, Vinemont, Alabama's Jon Boy Monk, Summey and Grand Rapids, Michigan's Nicholas Vaughn. Matt Walker quickly moved into second to pressure Kevin Walker (no relation, by the way - except that in these classes they both rode Yamahas), but Kevin stretched out his lead to four seconds over Matt before the checkered flag ended his fun. Summey held down third against Gibson and Gracyk, who moved up through the pack to fourth and fifth. For almost two whole, long laps, Gibson rode Summey's rear fender, looking for a way around the Yamaha. Then Gibson found an opening and moved up to third, but there was not enough time to catch the two frontrunners. The second moto finished as Kevin Walker, Matt Walker, Gibson, Summey and Gracyk. Matt Walker took the day's 125cc Pro-Am overall victory, followed by Kevin Walker, Gibson, Gracyk and Summey. Gibson intends to "test and train for the Supercross season" over the winter, looking forward to racing in the 125cc East division. CN Muddy Creek IIM:eway B1D11ntvill., Tenne_ Results: October 21, 2001 (Round &16) 125 PRO-AM: I. Mott Welker (Yam); 2. Kevin Walker (Vern); 3. Jeff Gibson (Suz): 4. Gavin Gracyk (Kaw); 5. Joshua Summey (Yam). 250 PRO·AM: I. Kelly Smith (KTM): 2. Molt Wolker (Yom): 3. Clork StUes (KTM); 4. Joshuo Summey (Yam); 5. Jeff Gibson (KTM). 4-STRK PRO: 1. Kelly Smith (KTM); 2. Molt Walker (Yam); 3. Clark Stiles (KTM); 4. Jeff GIbson (KTM): 5. Jon Boruff (Hon). Final Standings 125 PRO-AM: 1. Jeff Gibson; 2. Joshua Summey; 3. Kevin Walker; 4. Matt Walker; 5. Jeffrey Baker. 250 PRO-AM: 1. Kelly Smith; 2. Jeff G;bson; 3. Clark Stiles; 4. Joshua Summey; 5. Brian Mason. 4-STRK PRO; I. Kelly Smith: 2. Jeff Gibson; 3. Clark Stiles; 4. Scott Muterspaugh; 5. Brian Mason. e _ S • NOVEMBER 21, 2001 37

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