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Steve Hatch (Suz) won the second
round of the Grand National Cross Country Series in Macon, Georgia, March 10,
Finishing second was Mike Kiedrowski (Suz), with Mike Lafferty (KTM)
completing the podium. Fourth went to
Brian Garrahan (KTM), and Fred
Andrews (Kaw) completed the top five.
Round-one winner Jason Raines (Yam)
finished sixth. Defending champ Rodney
Smith (Suz) did not finish.
In 1985, Scott Russell sat in the stands at Daytona International
Speedway. On the track, Freddie Spencer was dominating the Daytona 200, adding that victory to the two others he'd already scored at
the Speedway that year. It was then that Russell decided he wanted to
road race profeSSionally. Three years later, he competed in his first
Daytona 200. Who knew that 17 years after watching his first race at
the Speedway, Russell would retire as the most decorated motorcycle
racer in the history of the racetrack, Its only five-time winner - and the
man simply known as Mr. Daytona?
On Friday, March 8, Russell held a press conference at Daytona
International Speedway to announce what we knew was coming - that
it was over, the serious injuries he'd suffered in last year's 200 were
simply too much to overcome.
"Right now, I'm retiring because of the injuries I got here last year,·
Russell said. "It's not going to allow me to ride the way I need to ride,
at the level I was riding before - so my career is over. It started and
then kind of ended here at Daytona, which is good_ That's basically
why I'm here - to announce that I will not be racing anymore_·
And what a career it has been. The Georgian came from basically
nowhere, starting his racing career relatively late. What followed was
success, almost immediately. Russell went on to not only win five
D