Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Joe Kopp netted his best finish of the year, landing fourth aboard his factory KTM. Like several other riders, Kopp saw his fortunes go up and down with the many red flags that were thrown during the night. many guys go so fast. On these small tracks, everybody's bikes are more equal, not like on a mile or something. It's just fun racing when everyone is so close." Hayden actually needed two holeshots, as the first start was redflagged when Terry Poovey fell hard in the first turn. "I blew it tonight," the USC Racing/I stlegal.com-sponsored Poovey said. "I got into the first tum too hot, then I think someone touched me, but that's short tracking. That's the way it goes. I was just riding. I think I was fast enough to run in the top three or four tonight if I started with them, but I didn't." Poovey had earned a frontrow start because of his heat-race win, but then had to start from the penalty line. It made Hayden's job that much easier. "I'm really pretty surprised. I didn't know if I'd be able to get it done tonight, but it all went so good," Hayden said. "The race track changed a little bit, and I just tried to stay smooth. I looked back a couple of times. I was starting to get a little nervous. Turns one and two were getting dry - slick. I just wanted to keep doing what I was doing." The second start pretty much mirrored the first, as Hayden led Gardner Racing/Lancaster Harley-Davidson's Bryan Bigelow and 1stlegal.com/Rod Lake Racing's John Hlebo III into the first tum. Hlebo then bobbled, turning third over to Chris Carr. The defending Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Champion then turned his Quality Checked Ford Racing/Dave Liles Fuel-backed Vor loose on Bigelow. It took eight laps, but Carr worked his way into second. ") felt like I ran his [Hayden's] pace once I got around Bigelow and into second," Carr said. "I felt like we were even, but I just had the darnedest of a time getting by Bryan. Had I gotten off the line a little better, I might have given him a run." Despite the fast and furious pace, the first three settled into their positions quickly, Bigelow maintaining third. ") was really having problems in turns one and two and Chris was all over me," Bigelow said. "I should have let him go and then watched what he was doing and followed him. Once he got by me, I felt better on his line." Moroney's Harley-Davidson/Super Trapp's Jake Johnson had quickly disposed of Hlebo and settled into fourth. The top four positions appeared to be set, then suddenly, as the white flag came out, Carr's Vor coasted silently to a stop at the finish line. "It just quit running - didn't lock up or anything, just felt like it lost fire," a disappointed Carr said. "It must have been something electric, but we don't have it pinpointed yet." Bigelow moved up one step on the podium while Johnson stepped up to the podium for the first time in his young Grand National career. "Chris broke and I got second. That's a bummer for him, but that's the way it goes," Bigelow said. "Nicky was on the gas. I didn't think that motocross bike would handle that well, and I didn't think he could ride it like that for 25 laps. The track didn't suit my style and all the fall downs in my heat really screwed me because there was not time for my heat and we had to start on the out- side. We still managed to do pretty good from there." Rookie of the Year candidate Johnson joined two former RoY winners on the podium. "It's great," Johnson said. "I still can't believe it. We were struggling early, but were just fast enough to get into the main event. I wasn't really expecting much. The shape of the track was a little tricky, so we decided to ride the Honda today, and it handled great. With the egg shape of the track, I would have had to shift my Rotax, but we could set the Honda up to run one gear. It looks like it was the right choice." Johnson was working his way forward the whole race, but ran into late-race trouble of his own. "I was right on Bigelow and was finding some good lines," Johnson said. "I guess, with eight to 10 laps to go, my brakes started getting hot and faded. The last few laps, I had no brakes and had to ride defensively. Unfortunately, Carr had trouble, but we'll take it. Fourth last week, third this week, second next week, I just have to work up the ladder." Jones Powersports/KTM's Joe Kopp enjoyed his best result of 2002 as he moved from eighth to fifth and fmaUy fourth on the last lap. "Fourth, that's my best this year," Kopp said. "I don't like saying that, but it's the best one this year. I had fun tonight. The KTM was working pretty good all night long. I kind of messed up the start of the National. I got a great start the first time, but the red flag killed that." Kopp's starting-line problems were unique. "I always hold my foot on the brake, so I don't jump," Kopp said. "The light tree started, and when the second yellow light came on, I started Jake John...n continued his push toward the top of the finishing orders with a career-best third· place run. The Rookie of the Year candidate chose to ride a Honda CRF450R, rather than his usual Rota><. CUD. e n e _ S • JULY 17. 2002 19

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