Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Close onel: Jake Johnson (14U) barely held off defending Harley-Davidson Spo~rPerlonnanceSerles Champion Bryan Smith (1) for the win in the Sportater serles opener at Claremore. The two expect to have a great battle for the title In 2002. Gary Rogers (Suz); 4. Mike Hinds (Suz); 5. Brandon Cartwright (Suz); 6. Bob Buffington (Suz); 7. Greg Teague (H-D). Time: 5 min., 19.071 sec. SEMI 2 (8 laps; 8 riders. top two transfer): I. Bryan Smith (H-D); 2. Jess Roeder (H-D); 3. Jason Tyer (H-D); 4. Joe Duvall (Suz); 5. Sam Lowe (Suz); 6. Mike Meyer (Suz); 7. Terry Poovey (H-D); 8. Bryon Bigelow (H-D). Time: 5 min .. 18.051 sec. SEMl 3 (8 laps; 8 riders, top two transfer): 1. Don Stanley (H-D); 2. Willie McCoy (H-D); 3. Tim E.des (H-D); 4. John Nickens III (H-D); 5. J.R. Schnabel (H-D); 6. A.J. Eslick (Suz); 7. Yuhlko Hlrao (Suz); 8. Charlie Orr (Suz). Time: 5 min., 17.953 sec. GRAND NATIONAL (25 lops, 18 riders); 1. Mike Hacker (H-D); 2. Jay Springsteen (HoD); 3. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 4. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 5. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 6. Steve Beattie (H~D); 7. Bryan Smith (H-D); 8. Kevin Varnes (H-D); 9. Gee Roeder II (H-D); 10. Paul Lynch (H-D); 11. Joe Kopp (H-D); 12. Willie McCoy (H-D); 13. Shaun Russell (H- D); 14. Jess Roeder (H-D); 15. Chris C.rr (H-D); 16. Dan Stanley (HoD); 17', Jake Johnson (H-D); 18. Ricky Winsett (H-D). Time: 16 min., 07.634 sec. AMA/PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE U.S. FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (.fter 2 of 20 rounds): 1. Johnny Murphree (30); 2. Kevin Varnes (27); 3. Kenny Coolbeth (26); 4. Ricky Winsett (24/1 win); 5. Mike Hecker (23/1 win); 6. (TIE) Terry Poovey/Shaun Russell/Joe Kopp/Jay Springsteen (19); 10. Chris Carr (18); 11. (TIE) Bryan Smith/Kevin Atherton (17): 13. Steve Beattie (13): 14. Bryan Bigelow (12); 15. (TIE) Dan Stanley/Goo Roeder 11(10): 17. (TIE) Paul Lynch/A.J. Eslick (9); 19. J.R. Schnabel (8): 20. Willie McCoy (7). HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER PERFORMANCE MAIN (12 laps: 17 riders): 1. J.ke Johnson; 2. Bry.n SmIth; 3. Rusty Rogers; 4. Scott Scherb; 5. Victor choice of starting spots for the National. Semi wins went to Jake Johnson (Moroney's H-D/Nort Racing), Smith and Dan Stanley (Eaken Racing/BBRP). HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER PERFORMANCE NATIONAL The threatening weather pushed the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance class to the end of the program, but the main was finished as the sun set. R&D Machine/Carl Patrick's Rusty Rogers edged F&S H-D's KC Knodel in the first heat. The second heat was equally close as Moroney's H-D/Nort Racing's Jake Johnson and Nallin Racing/Jim Wagner's Scott Scherb exchanged the lead several times before Johnson took the lead on the last lap. Defending class Champion Bryan Smith (Jim Wagner/Widman H-D) easily won the last heat over Frieze H-D/Airhawk's A.J. Eslick. The 12-lap main event saw four riders break away from the field as Smith, Johnson, Scherb and Rogers pulled clear. As the laps ran down, it was apparent Johnson and Smith would settle the battle for the win. Close behind, Scherb and Rogers were battling just as hard. Charging out of the last turn on the last lap, Johnson dived to the bottom of the track and the pair charged to the finish line. Smith came up just short at the line. "It seemed like he [Smith] could draft me wherever he wanted and I couldn't really draft him," said Johnson. "I saw an opening and I took it, then I just rode my butt off. On the last lap, I slipped up coming off four and it got pretty close. My intention was to go low and break the draft, but that almost cost me, because I got down there and spun a little bit. Oh well, it worked out. I learned from it." Smith said that he followed Johnson for the last eight laps of the race, and that he felt confident that he could get Johnson at the line. "It just didn't work out' I was about a half-a-wheel short," said Smith. "I could draft him anywhere, so I just followed him so we wouldn't screw each other up. He went low, and I kind of slipped and went high off turn four, so I didn't get a draft. I still almost got him. That's just the first race. We've got a lot more races left this year." A short way back, Rogers inherited third as Scherb's Sportster lost fire coming off turn four. Scherb was still able to coast across the line in fourth. "I feel sorry for him [Scherb], but that's racing," said Rogers. "The way things have been going for me, I'll take 'em any way I can." Frieze H-D's Victor McAnally worked his way up to fourth while Gutterridge H-D/4x6 Racing's Josh Toungett passed one rider a lap to move from 14th to fifth at the end of iliern~_ _ Will Roge... Downs Cleremore, Dldehome Results: april 13, ZDDZ [Round Z of ZDI HEAT 1 (10 laps: 9 riders, top three transfer): 1. Goo Roeder II (H-D); 2. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 3. Shllun Russell (H-O): 4. Dan Stanley (H-O); 5. Bob Buffington (Suz); 6. Brylln Bigelow (H-D); 7. John Nickens JlI (H-D); 8. Gary Rogers (Suz): 9. Charlie Orr (Suz). Time: 6 min., 33.246 sec. HEAT 2 (10 laps; 9 riders, top three transfer): 1. Kevin Atherton (H-O); 2. Chris Carr (H-D); 3. Paul Lynch (H-D); 4. Bryan Smith (H-D); 5. Ricky Winsett Jr. (H·D); 6. J.R. Schnabel (H-D): 7. Joe Duvall (Suz): 8. Brandon Cartwright (Suz); 9. Yuhiko Hirllo McAnally; 6. Josh Toungett; 7. Yuhiko Hirllo; 8. John FlluJkner Ill; 9. James Hart; 10. Brilln Kromroy; 11. Mark Witham; 12. Shane Fox; 13. Merle Scherb; 14. Bret Sowders; 15. Mike Meyer; 16. KC Knodel; 17. Time: 6 min., 29.873 sec. HEAT 3 (10 laps; 9 riders, top three transfer): 1. Steve Beattie (H-D); 2. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 3. Kevin Vames (H-D); 4. Willie McCoy (H-D); 5. J.son Tyer (H-D); 6. Greg Teague (H-D): 7. A.J. Eslick A.J. Eslick. Time: 8 min., 15.311 sec. HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER PERFORMANCE SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (after 1 of 13 rounds): 1. Jake Johnson (23 pts/l win); 2. Bryan Smith (19): 3. Rusty Rogers (16); 4. Scott Scherb (15); 5. Vietor McAn.lly (14); 6. Josh Toungett (13): 7. Yuhlko Hir.o (12); 8. John Faulkner ill (11); g. (Suz); 8. Mike Meyer (Suz); 9. Terry Poovey (H-D). Time: 6 min., 37.284 sec. HEAT 4 (10 laps; 8 riders, top three transfer): I. Mike Hocker (H-D); 2. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 3. Joe Kopp (H-D); 4. Jake Johnson (H-D); 5. S.m Lowe (Suz); 6. Tim Eades (H-D); 7. Mike Hinds (Suz): 8. Jess Roeder (H-D). 6 min., 28.549 sec. James Hart (10); 10. Brian Kromroy (9): 11. Mark Witham (8); 12. Shone Fox (7); 13. Merle Scherb (6): 14. Bret Sowders (5); 15. Mike Meyer (4): 16. KC Knodel (3): 17. A.J. Eslick (2). Time: SEMI 1 (8 laps; 7 riders, top two transfer): 1. Jake Johnson (H-D): 2. Ricky Winsett Jr. (H-D); 3. BRIEFLY••• Mike Hacker's second Grand National win was almost as emotional as his first. "They build me some awesome bikes." Hacker said of his team. -I can't say enough about them. George at the shop builds my motors, and then I have Clayton at the track. We struggled in practice, but Clayton just dialed me right in. It still doesn't seem real. I don't think I'll believe it until I see it on TV. This almost feels better than the first [National win], maybe because it's with a new team. It's a big step for me and Clayton getting back together. I don't know, we just really click. I knew we would win one this year, but I never thought it would be this early. I thought we would have some growing pains and we still might, but this is an awesome way to start a season. I can't ask for a better team, better tuner, better sponsor. It's just what I've been waiting for. When I got home from Daytona, I stuck my head down and worked my butt off. I had 10 make up for not doing what I was supposed to do down there. I did it - unbelievable" Joe Kopp has seen his career in turmoil the last couple of weeks, and it apparently took its toll at Claremore. -I flew in Thursday and just feel weaker than heck today," Kopp said. -I just wasn't Into It. mentally. It's a bummer deal. I wasn't up to speed all day. (I was] good enough to get into the main event. I guess, but all day I was struggling. The bikes were working good. It was just me." Kopp labored to an 11 th-place finish in the National. The race was a real battle of attrition, as mechanical problems abounded. Daytona winner Ricky Winsett was the first to hit the sidelines, as his Parents/Patriot H-D-backed Harley only lasted three laps. Rookie of the Year candidate Jake Johnson was running ninth when he lost his brake and decided to pull off on lap 12. Chris Carr and Dan Stanley kept circulating, with Stanley credited with 19 laps to Carr's 21 . The only injuries of the day came without either rider falling down. Charlie Orr somehow got his foot tangled up in his Suzuki and apparently broke it. and Bryan Bigelow pulled off in tum two in his heat race when he dislocated his shoulder. Long known for his spectacular riding style WShowtime" Johnny Murphree used a newfound consistency to move into the points lead. Two fourth-place finishes in two rounds gives Murphree a three-point lead over Kevin Varnes, 30-27. Kenny Coolbeth is just one more point back, with 26. Besides the prestige of winning his first mile National. the payday was pretty good for Mike Hacker too. Hacker's share of the $50,000 purse was $7165, with Jay Springsteen and Kenny Coolbeth collecting $5316 and $3350, respectively. Jake Johnson pocketed $1400 for his Sportster win. The first test of the new rules allowing the former SuperTrackers into the GNC class saw 11 Suzukis entered along with 24 Harley-Davidsons. J.R. Schnabel and Kenny Coolbeth each had a Suzuki in their pit. but rode their Harleys. The main event was made up entirely of Harley-Davidsons. (Suz). cue I e n e _ s • APRIL 24, 2002 33

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