Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128160
position through turn three, where Acree duly snatched it away. The order on lap two was Acree, Bemisderfer, and Josh Ratcliffe in third. At mid-distance, having cut Acree's three-second gap down to a few lengths, Bemisderfer was trying to make his move for the lead as they began to encounter backmarkers. With approximately 20 minutes having elapsed, Acree's lead was only two lengths. Bemisderfer then made his move for first place, extracting a four-length lead by turn three. Bemisderfer maintained his lead for three laps until once again the leaders found themselves in heavy traffic, and the next time out of turn 10 Acree emerged with a second-and-a-half lead. Bemisderfer wasn't done with Acree; he continued to challenge, cutting the lead again to a few bike lengths. As the riders exited turn 10 three laps from the end of the event, Bemisderfer used traffic to his advantage this time and once again took the lead from Acree. But it just wouldn't stick. On the next lap, Acree, in traffic, was out front by five lengths. Bemisderfer worked frantically to regain the lead, seeming to slide the rear tire through tum three on every remaining lap. But time ran out, and Acree crossed the finish line first for a well-deserved win. In the Expert Akrapovic GTU, Beggs jumped out to a quick lead, with Nate Kern taking the position out of turn two. Within a lap, Acree had the lead, with Kern trailing and Beggs fading. Just like in the GTO, Acree started from row two, and Bemisderfer was coming from row 12. Near the midpoint, Bemisderfer was third, behind Kern, and closing fast. Then the red flag came out for Mark Green. On the restart, Bemisderfer immediately dispatched Kern and set his sights on Acree. By race's end, Bemisderfer, who was gaining four lengths per lap on Acree, was down by three lengths, then one bike length exiting turn 10. Acree had the drive out of the final turn and Bemisderfer could not catch Acree, who led by only a few feet at the flag. In the Expert Speedscreen GP, hail and thunder threatened before the start. Beggs got another excellent start, with Acree taking the lead on lap one. On lap three, lightning erupted, and the temperature dipped 10 degrees as the wind began to gust. By lap five, the rain began to pour. The race was red-flagged, as many riders were on slicks and the officials wanted to avoid a serious incident. The final order was Acree, Bemisderfer and Ratcliffe. Among the Amateur riders, Len Santangelo was once again the class of the field, turning laps two seconds quicker than his nearest competitor. 60 JUNE 26, 2002' cue • • Tomer Levy and James Copeland hung on in many events, frequently placing second and third. Santangelo took the top spot in the Amateur Speedscreen GP, Akrapovic GTU and the GTO races. In the GP, Alex Barrera was second and Urayoan Torres third. Santangelo credited his performance to further suspension tuning by Thermos Man at Suspension Dynamics. "I can't go fast without Thermos Man," said Santangelo. "We have the 600 working well, and now the 750 needs more work." Copeland is getting smoother, as he has dropped a few pounds since last season, and the lower weight has improved his endurance and concentration. He's looking for consistency and smoothness improvements in his riding, and he will probably win a few races this year. Levy exudes a passion for winning; it comes up in every conversation. Levy finished second twice, in the Amateur GTO and Akrapovic GTU, and he's looking for another second per lap, albeit with stock suspension. Winning may not be Levy's middle name yet, but he did chalk up a win in the Middleweight SuperSport event. CN Su 1t "'Iat lIacew1Iy Su 1t Pelllt, West Virliala Results: MlIy 1Z, ZOlIZ AM l./W SPTS"'N: 1. Molthew Potton (S02): 2. 500n Mortln (Vom); 3. Chris Dunn (Vom). EX L/W SPTS"'N: 1. Robert Lee (Kow): 2. George F1tz (MZ). AM I'lIW SPTSI'IN: I. TImothy Bollord (Apr): 2. Nothon Hortmon (Vom); 3. Robert Glittone (Due); 4. Ken White (Suz); 5. John Abell (Apr). EX "'/W SPTS"'N: 1. Brion Kcroget (Apr); 2. DonDld Unger (Duc); 3. Brian Roach (Apr); 4. Randy Nusboum (H·D); 5. Robert Lee (Kow). AM H/W SPTSI'IN: I. Do"en Donllowlcz (S02); 2. Potrick O'Horo (Due); 3. Douglos Burton (Bue); 4. Allon Josephs (Due); 5. Troy Honsen (S02). EX H/W SPTSI'IN: 1. Grody Anderson (S02); 2. Steve Keener (Suz); 3. Bryon Bemisderfer (Bue); 4. Donold Unger (Due); 5. Jason Smith (Bue). AM GT UGHTS: 1. Darren Danilowicz (SUl); 2. Shonnon Sentoni (Suz); 3. Reet Dos (Hon): 4. Troy Honsen (Suz); 5. Nothan Hortman (Vom). EX GT UGHTS: I. Brion Kcroget (Apr); 2. Steve Keener (Suz); 3. Grady Anderson (SUt); 4. Brylm Bemisderfer (Bue); 5. Bob Robbins (Suz). AM F·40: 1. Patrick O'Hefli (Duc); 2. Douglas Burton (Bue); 3. Bruce Tome (Yam): 4. Fredrick S100ne (Yom); 5. Allon Josephs (Due). EX F-40: I. Joe Ribeiro (S02); 2. TIbcr Sulyok (Suz); 3. Jim Bonner (Vern); 4. Grady Anderson (S02); 5. Gil Schweitzer (Hon). AM aTU: 1. Len Santangelo (Suz): 2. Tomer Levy (Yam); 3. James Copeland (Suz): 4. Mark Denisluk (Yam); 5. Kenneth Dreyer. EX QTO: I. Lee Acree (Suz): 2. Tim Bemlsderfer (Han); 3. Fred Stucky (Due); 4. Michael Garofalo (Suz); 5. Gregory Faiella (Vom). AM GTO: 1. Len Santangelo (Suz); 2. Tomer Levy (Yem); 3. Alex B.Hrera (Suz); 4. Jemes Copelond (S02); 5. Joel Sherrnon (Suz). EX GTO: 1. Lee Acree (Suz); 2. Tim Bemisderfer (Hon); 3. Joe Spino (Suz): 4. Josh Rotcliffe (5uz); 5. Note Kem (502). AM l/W S/BK: 1. Derren Danilowicz (Suz); 2. Richard Shilling (Suz); 3. Shennan S8ntoni (Suz); 4. Rosario Farruggia (Apr); 5. Douglils Burton (Bue). EX L/W S/BK: I. Joson Smith (Bue); 2. Sebastien Pinto (Suz); 3. Doneld Unger (Due); 4. Steve Keener (Suz); 5. Grlldy Anderson (Suz). AM I'lIW S/BK: I. Len Sentangelo (S02); 2. Brod Justice (Hon); 3. Mark Denisiuk (Yem); 4. Kenneth D..,yer: 5. Robert Smith (S02). EX "'/W S/BK: 1. Fred Stucky (Due); 2. TIm Bemisderfer (Hon); 3. Michael Garoflilo (Suz); 4. Gregory Faiella (Vam); 5. Nate Kem (SuI). AM H/W S/BK: I. Len Sontongelo (Suz); 2. Uroyoon Torres (Suz); 3. Joson Boyce (Suz); 4. Chris Sweigard (Kaw); 5. Tomer Levy. EX H/W SIBK: 1. Joe Spino (Suz); 2. Note Kem (502); 3. Josh Rotciiffe (S02); 4. Michoel F1tzpotrick (S02); 5. Art Di.. (Vom). AM l/W QP: 1. Dlirren Denilowlcz (Suz); 2. Shonnon Sentoni (S02): 3. Douglos Burton (Bue): 4. Tom Bollord (Apr); 5. Nothon Hortmon (Yom). EX l/W QP: 1. Brian Kcraget (Yam); 2. Jim Bonner (Vern); 3. Mark Johnson (Hon); 4. Grady Anderson (S02); 5. Rondy Rego (Suz). AM S/TW: 1. Richord Shilling (Suz); 2. Joel Sherman (S02); 3. Shannon Sentoni (Suz); 4. Troy Honsen (S02); 5. Joey Thomos (Suz). EX S/TW: I. Fred Stucky (Due); 2. Robert Nigl (Due); 3. Brondon Boshore (Apr); 4. Donold Unger (Due); 5. Frederick FafUllhnegan (Suz). AM I'lIW S/SPT: 1. Tomer Levy (Yom); 2. Jeff Lee (Yam); 3. Mark Denisluk (Yam); 4. Brad Justice (Hon); 5. Shown Brown (Yom). EX M/W S/SPT: 1. Lee Acree (S02); 2. Dovid Vookov (Suz); 3. Scott Horwell (5uz); 4. Michoel Goroloio (502); 5. Art Di.. (Vom). AM GP: I. Len Sen"mgelo (S02); 2. Alex Borrero (Suz); 3. Urayoan Torres (Suz); 4. Tomer Levy (Vom); 5. Jomes Copelond (S02). EX GP: 1. Lee Acree (Suz); 2. 11m Bemlsderfer (Hon); 3. Josh Rotcliffe (Suz); 4. Mlchoel Fitzpotrick (S02); 5. Note Kem (Suz). Rider's Summer Shootout Series Round 1: Dixie MX Baker, Van Patton Van Patton swept wide through the first turn and grabbed the holeshot in the first 85cc (12-15) race. After passing Andrew Phelps for second, Brantley, Alabama's Jody Cook put his home-track experience to work and went after Van Patton. Running his machine hard through the turns, Van Patton was able to stay ahead of Cook for the win. A fall by Phelps gave James Devilbiss third. Van Patton controlled moto two from start to finish. Cook placed second again, although he was not as close to Van Patton as in race one. Devilbiss posted another third. In Supermini competition, Van Patton led every lap of both motos. Cook passed Ashley Vickery over a jump in moto one and finished just ahead of the KX rider. In moto two, Vickery held second, ahead of Cook. On the final lap, Cook tried a last-chance pass by railing a berm, but Vickery held firm and kept the position. Forty-five-year-old Joey Bruer took on all comers in the Over 30/0ver 40 contest. The crafty veteran found an overlooked inside line through a left-hander in practice and used it to his advantage all night long. Bruer pulled a strong holeshot in race one and led Randy Brown and fellow Kawasaki rider John Havck, who had moved to second, but then slowly slipped off Bruer's pace. By race's end, David Armstrong and Honda rider David Rewis moved to third and fourth. The second moto got under way just after midnight, with Bruer grabbing another holeshot. A determined Havck tried his best to stay with the leader, but the end result was another overwhelming win for Bruer. After running at the tail end of a battle for third with Brown and Carl Drummond, Rewis picked up the pace and Gun 'em Down Bv HUGH GATLIN OZARK, AL, MAY 14 awasaki-mounted Rion Baker and Suzuki Mini sensation Jesse Van Patton scored wins at round one of the inaugural Rider's Summer Shootout Series, held at Dixie MX. Despite being involved in a large pileup in the second Youth (16-29) moto, Baker took the win with a 1-3 tally. He swapped moto wins with James Willis in the 125cc C class and finished second overall. A broken frame incurred in practice couldn't stop Van Patton's RM85; it went the distance and took him to double-moto wins in the 85cc (12-15) and Supermini classes. Tallahassee, Florida, riders made a strong showing on the night; led by Baker, 23 riders took home four first-, five second- and five third-place trophies. n _ vv • K Along with Dixie MX, FasTrac MX Park and Riverside MX will also host rounds of the series. Willis got the holeshot in the first 125cc C moto, followed by Baker and Dustin Admire. The trio stayed close until Baker ran into trouble and dropped to last place in the 11-rider field. Willis wasn't able to get any breathing room over Admire until the final lap. Cody Johnson and Cole Reese were the next two across the line. Baker worked back up to finish sixth. Baker led Willis, Johnson and Admire in race two. The four stayed on the same straight for most of the race and finished in the same order. Behind overall winner Willis, Baker's 6-1 tally broke a points tie with Johnson's 3-3 efforts and Admire's 2-4 showings. Dixie MX: Brandon Devilbiss raced to a second-place finish in the Z4-rider 85cc Beginner class In Ozark, Alabama, site of the opening round of the flrst-ever Rider's Summer Shootout series.