Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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don't know, maybe I got a little scared. Brian and David were right behind us, they caught me heading out of the second pit and passed me." The Brian Brown/David Pearson duo, second off the line (Pros starting at one-minute intervals) on their Chevy TruckslTeam Green/Maxima KX500, took over and began to pull away from the field, except for fellow Team Green racers Abbott and Esposito, who were fifth off the line. Abbott and Esposito quickly moved into second place physically, but on corrected time they were right in the thick of it, unofficially gaining the 'ead momentarily by pit three, 72 miles into the race. Brown and Pearson remained in front and out of the dust, while attriition took its toll on the field. Among the DNFs was defending race champion Johnny Campbell. In a fast, rocky section before the second pit, Campbell crashed hard on the Precision Concepts/Dunlop/Acerbis Honda XR650R he was sharing with Steve Hengeveld. Ty Davis was reportedly the first rider to reach the unconscious Honda pilot and stayed with him until Andy Grider, the other American Honda entry, came along. A helicopter was finally dispatched to airlift Campbell to the hospital with serious but .non-life-threatening injuries. Bad luck struck the leaders about 180 miles into the race - before pit six - when the water-pump impeller broke on their bike. It didn't convey any signals to Pearson, who was on the bike in that section, and it led to an overheating situation, which eventually broke the piston. Pearson eventually got the bike to the pit, where Team Green personnel worked furiously to replace the engine and get the duo to the finish to salvage whatever points they could manage. They'd earn seventh in Open Pro, 37th overall motorcycle. (Forty of 56 teams that entered finished.) With Brown/D. Pearson out, Abbott/Esposito had a comfortable lead over Davis (another former race winner) and Russell Pearson on the Montclair Yamaha/Race Tech/Moose YZ426F; the Gosnell/Nick Pearson pair a very close third for a while. "After [partner Davis stopped for Campbell], the leaders kind of checked out from us," Russell Pearson said. "We just kind of rode; it was one of those days. I didn't have any close calls, so I was happy about that. " Abbott/Esposito rode into the finish clocking 4:41 :46. Davis/R. Pearson were over 10 minutes back in 4:52:00. Gosnell/N. Pearson drifted back in the final miles to finish in ,5:05:40. After finishing, a happy Esposito, said, "We knew where we were starting was going to be a tough thing Iwe have Ty right behind us, Johnny • right in front of us. Then with [Kirk] Stephensen in there [and) Nick [Pear- He has produced original artwork for event programs at the Milwaukee Mile and Road America as well as special art projects for Watkins Glen,Memphis Motorsports Park, Gateway International Raceway, the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, Kimberly-Clark, Toyota, Miller Brewing Company, and Ralph Marlin Ties. He has also crested a number 0/ commissions for racers Bnd teams in all forms of matorsports. These Limited Edition stunning color motorcycle images BrB each part of run 0/250 prints. They are signed & numbered by the artist, and autographed by the racer. Each includes a certificate of authenticity with a photo 01 the racer signing the print. They are printed on high quality paper and have generoue borders for framing. Image sizes vary and BrB listed with BBCh. CA residents add 7.75% sales tax • Includes Shipping (U.S. only) To Order, Call Cycle News Products at 714·751·7433 (9am·5pm PST) Now Available Through cgcle news Video Theater SUPERDIKE DUCATI (#1696) 'Superbike Ducati' explores many of the elements of Ducati 'life' that make it stand Out above the rest. In the factory, on the road, in testing - even as the star attraction of a major world gathering - this great video takes you as close to the heart of the Ducati V-twin superbike phenomenon as you're like to get without wearing your helmet! Check out the Ducati: * Racing Sensation Especially in the hands of 4x World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty. * Styling Sensation From the 7S0 of the 1980s to today's 996 Superbike, the stylish Italian V-twins are viewed as the most influential sport bike designs of their era. * Engineering Sensation...Go inside the factory to see how the bikes are built and hear from deSigners and stylists. Then join leading motorcycle journalist Alan Cathcart as he puts the latest Ducati 200 I models through their paces on road and track. * Biking Sensation...Savor the atmosphere of the World Ducati Weekend 2000 as thousands of 'Ducatisti' gather to celebrate the marque. 70 minutes from White Star I Duke Video. ~~~-, To Order Videos. Call 714/751-7433 - Charge to ~ ~ This release $34.95, Order Videos On-Line at _ _cyclene'VIIs_co.,-,/productlvideo_asp cue I • n e includes shipping. _ 'IS • APRIL 17, 2002 47