AMAlProgressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships
By
(Above) Kevin
DAVE HOENIG
Atherton (23) npped
PHOTOS BY FLAT TRAK FOTOS
to the holeshot on
the rain-soaked
Claremore Mile, but
Mike Hacker (67) took ----::::=~_
over the lead just a few laps Into the
race and went on to score his first
career GNC mile victory.
(Right) Together again: Hacker shares
the victory lap with tuner Clayton
Oliver. The win marked their their first
AMA Grand National victory as a team.
CLAREMORE, OK, APR 13.
~pring rains are already putting a
l:.)strain on the AMA U.S. Flat Track
Championships' 2002 touring circus.
Last Sunday's rained-out event was
rescheduled for Saturday, and the
weather was only marginally better.
It was six days late, but round two of
the Progressive Insurance Grand
National Championship sloshed
around the Will Rogers Downs mile
track for most of the day. The sun
finally broke through just as the
heat races came to the line and the
day's races ended under sunny conditions.
At the end of the day, the sun was
shining brightest on SuperTrapp/
Moroney's H-D's Mike Hacker. The
26-year-old Virginian dominated the
National and pulled to a six-second
lead over wily veteran Jay Springsteen and his Bartels' H-D/Corbin XR,
and Corbin/Samson/Dave Burks'
Kenny Coolbeth.
Hacker said he was a little nervous
before the start of the main event at
round two of the Progressive Insurance Grand National Championship
Series, but it was the other 17 riders
in the race who should have been.
"I guess I always doubt myself, I
never thought that would happen,"
said Hacker. "It wasn't easy, but it
30
APRIL 24, 2002'
II:
U
II:
•
was awesome. The bike worked
unbelievable. "
Kevin Atherton and Kevin Varnes
led the 25-lap National into the first
turn. After setting the second fastest
heat time, the fact that the Saddlemen/National Cycle-backed Atherton
was up front was no surprise. Varnes
(Memphis Shades/Parts Unlimited)
on the other hand had shot from row
two to challenge.
"I got a great start, from the second row inside, just like Daytona,"
said Varnes. "I think I was in third by
the first turn, passed most of the first
row, then a couple of guys had more
momentum around the outside and
they went by down the back straight."
Quality Checked Ford Racing/
David Liles' Chris Carr led the first
lap, but the defending Grand National
Champion's day was soon cut short.
"Mechanical problems," said the
disappointed Carr. "The shock lost all
•
n
•
_:IS
