Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAIProgressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships Round 8: Illinois State Fairgrounds as Carr crossed the finish line, his bike appeared to have a mechanical failure. It was just a wayward radiator hose, and Carr and Kopp were set in the main. The second heat was stopped a couple of times before Bigelow ran away from a great race over the last transfer. A.J. Eslick and Overholt battled down to the last lap, when Eslick stalled his Rotax in the tight turn two while he was attempting to retake second. Overholt was then easily into his first Grand National main event. Heat three was almost ho-hum as Hayden easily led Johnson into the main. Heat-four polesitter Shawn Clark was squeezed off in turn one and fell, but the race continued with Hlebo in front of a closing McCoy. The fifth heat belonged to Atherton, after early leader Brandon Cartwright fell along with Ron Hall and Aaron Creamer. Atherton, picked up on the restart while Murphree and J.R. Schnabel, the latter also getting a guest ride aboard a factory HarleyDavidson, battled over second. Murphree sent Schnabel to the semis. Dan Stanley got the holeshot in the last heat, but was passed by Raun Wood. Wood, in turn, was passed by Terry Poovey and Mike Varnes. Wood's attempt to pass back resulted in a red flag when he fell in turn four. Poovey took the lead from Stanley and was never headed. Cool beth topped a battle with Stanley, Varnes, Chris Evans, Wood, Paul Lynch and Russell, as all had a shot at the last direct transfer. Semi wins went to Springsteen, Kevin Varnes, Wood and Russell. eN IlIIaois StlIte Fairgrounds Spriagfield, IlIiaois Results: July &, ZOOZ [Round 8 of ZOJ Mike Vernes (Rot); 4. Paul Lynch (Rot); 5. Raun Wood (Rot); 6. Shaun Russell (Rot); 7. Chris Evans (Rot); 8. Don Stonley (Hon); 9. Pot Behrle (Rot); 10. Tunmy Mitchell (Hon). lime: 2 min., 42.699 sec. SEMI 1 (8 laps; 12 riders, winner transfers): 1. Joy Springsteen (H·D); 2. Noot Irvin (Hon); 3. Gorth Bostion (W·R); 4. Sam Lowe (ATK); 5. A.J. Eslick (Rot); 6. Ken Voder (Suz); 7. Steve Murrey (KTM); 8. Brion Vincent (ATK); 9. Bret Beyer (Rot); 10. Eric Mischler (Hon); 11. Kyle Long (Rot); 12. Trenton Boiley (<;CM). Time: 2 min., 08.509 sec. SEMI 2 (8 laps; 12 riders 1 winner transfers): I. Kevin Varnes (CCM); 2. Georgie Price IV (Rot); 3. Roger Durkee (Rot); 4. Joe Eades (Rot); 5. Cory McDermitt (Rot); 6. Tom MeGrone Jr. (Rot); 7. Larry Pegrom (Suz); 8. Jeremy Deruyter (Rot); 9. Bobby Lee Decker (Rot); 10. Jennifer Snyder (H·D); 11. Joe Duvon (CCM); 12. Josh Toungelt (Rot). Tune: 2 min., 07.810 sec. SEMI 3 (8 laps; 12 riders, winner transfers): 1. Roun Wood (Rot); 2. Chris Boone (Rot); 3. Morc Willioms (Hon); 4. Ron Holl (Suz); 5. Eric Rickmon (Rot); 6. Poul Lynch (Rot); 7, Nick Willioms (W·R); 8. Den Stanley (Hon); 9. Patrick Behrle (Rot); 10. Kenny Dohlln (Rot); 11. Scot Sledort (W-R); 12. Gory Rogers (Han). Tune: 2 min., 09.946 sec. SEMI 4 (8 laps; 12 riders, winner transfers): 1. Shaun Russell (Rot); 2. Mike Vames (Rot); 3. Tommy Hoyden (Rot); 4. J.R. Schnabel (H·D); 5. Shown Chl:rk (Rot); 6. Jason Tyer (ATK); 7. Chris Evans (Rot); 8. Brandon Cartwright (Hon); 9. Chris Hart (Rot); 10. Mike Hinds (Rot); 11. Timmy Mitchell (Hon); 12. Aaron Creomer (CCM). Time: 4 min., 58.234 sec. GRAND NATIONAL (24 laps, 16 riders): 1. Nicky Hoyden (Hon); 2. Bryon Bigelow (Hon); 3. Joke Johnson (Hon); 4. Joe Kopp (KTM); 5. Kevin Vomes (CCM); 6. Johnny Murphree (Rot); 7. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (KTM); 8. Roun Wood (Rot); 9. Shoun Russell (Rot); 10. Terry Poovey (Rot); 11. Joy Springsteen (H-D); 12. Kevin Atherton (Hon); 13. Chris Corr (Vor); 14. John Hlebe III (Hon); 15. Willie McCoy (ATK); 16. R.J. Overholt (Vom). TIme: 6 min., 33.556 sec. AMA/PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE U.S. FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 8 of 20 rounds): 1. Chris Carr (109/1 win); 2. Kevin Varnes (100); 3. Johnny Murphree (98/1); 4. (TIE) Bryan Bigelow (93/1)/Ken Coolbeth Jr. (93); 6. Joe Kopp (76); 7. Kevin Atherton (62); 8. Nicky Hoyden (61/2); 9. Shoun Russell (58); 10. Terry Poovey (57); 1 I. J.R. Schnobel (53); 12. Joy Springsteen (52); 13. Joke Johnson (49); 14. Gee Roeder 11(44); 15. Poul Lynch (35); 16. Don StonJey (29); 17. Willie McCoy (28); 18. (TIE) Mike Hocker (25/1 )/Chris Hart (25) Upcoming Rounds: Round 9 - Prestonsburg, Kentucky, July 13 Round 10 - Charlotte, North Carolina, July 27 HEAT 1 (10 laps; 10 riders, top two transfer): 1. Chris Corr (Vor); 2. Joe Kopp (KTM); 3. Kevin Vomes (CCM); 4. Gorth Bastion (W·R); 5. $om Lowe (ATK); 6. Larry Pegrom (Suz); 7. Joe Duvoll (CCM); 8. Kyle Long (Rot); g. Eric Mischler (Hon); 10. Josh Toungett (Rot). TIme: 2 min., 38.044 sec. HEAT 2 (10 laps; 10 riders. top two transfer): 1. Bryan Bigelow (Hon); 2. R.J. Overholt (Vom); 3. Roger Durkee Jr. (Rot); 4. Joe E.ldes (Rot); 5. Steve Murroy (KTM); 6. Trenton Bailey (CCM); 7. Jeremy Deruyter (Rot); 8. Jennifer Snyder (H·D): 9. A.J. Eslick (Rot): 10. Brion v,ncent (ATK). Time: No Time - Red Flag. HEAT 3 (10 laps; 10 riders, top two transfer): 1. Nicky Hoyden (Hon); 2. Jake Johnson (Hon); 3. Jey Springsteen (H-D); 4. Noat Irvin (Hon); 5. Georgie Price IV (Rot); 6. Tom McGrane Jr. (Rot); 7. Ken Yoder (Suz); 8. Beet Beyer (Rot); 9. Cory McDermitt (Rot); 10. Bobby Lee Decker (Rot). Time: 2 min., 37.197 sec. HEAT 4 (10 laps; 10 riders, top two transfer): 1. John Hlebe III (Hon); 2, Willie McCoy (ATK); 3. Nick Williams (W-R); 4. Eric Rickman (Rot); 5. Jason Tyer (ATK); 6. Mike Hinds (Rot); 7. Kenny Dohlin (Rot); 8. Chris Boone (Rot); 9. Shown Clork (Rot); 10. Chris Hort (Rot). TIme: 2 min., 40.328 sec. HEAT 5 (10 Laps; 10 riders, top two transfer): 1. Kevin Atherton (Hon); 2. Johnny Murphree (Rot); 3. J.R. Schnabel (H·D); 4. Tommy Hoyden (Rot); 5. Mzlrc Williams (Hon); 6. Ron Hall (Suz); 7. Brandon Cortwright (Hen); 8. Aaron Creomer (CCM); 9. Gary Rogers (Hen); 10. Scot Sledort (W·R). TIme: No Time - Red Flag. HEAT 6 (10 laps; 10 riders, top two transfer): 1. Terry Poovey (Rot); 2. Ken Coolbeth Jr. (KTM); 3. The boys are back: Left to right, Johnson, Hayden and Bigelow reap the spoils of the podium. The 21-year-old Bigelow was the old man of the bunchl 22 JULv17,2002' C U "" •• n _ _ os With Harley-Davidson factory rider Rich King more seriously injured at Uma than was first thought, the Iowan was not in the line-up at the Springfield Short Track. "I'm just really beat up," King said. "I had to go back in the hospital Tuesday, I've apparently had some internal bleeding into soft tissue. I stayed overnight, and they gave me two pints of blood. I've just got to stay quiet and out of the heat. I'll probably be out a couple of weeks." Even so, King's motorcycles were in the line-up at Springfield, as tuner Bill Werner, with the blessing of the factory racing department, assembled a varied cast of characters to carry the factory orange and black colors into battle. Harley h.ad its number-two rider, Jennifer Snyder, back in the saddle at an AMA race for the first time this year, but Werner hedged his bets with the addition of two temps in the forms of former factory hero Jay Springsteen (top) and the stili-progressing J.R. Schnabel (bottom) on King's eqUipment. That made for at least for one night - a three-rider factory team for the first time since 1992. So how did they fare? All three made the 60-rider program. Snyder bowed out after finishing 10th in her semi. Schnabel was close to making the National twice, but ended up third in his heat and fourth in his semi. Springsteen fared better, finishing 11th in the main. "If I'd rode my Rotax tonight, I don't think I'd have made the main," Springsteen said. "When I ride the Rotaxes, they're just so fidgety, Everything reacts so quick. On this Harley, it feels like I'm sitting on my 750. I'm more at ease on my 750 than on my little bike. I don't know, maybe I'll have to build one, or maybe they'll [Harley-Davidson] just give me one. Maybe we'll have to work on that deal. I had a good time other than the heat. Early in the day, I got a little light-headed because it was so hot, but we just kept pounding the water and I was all right. The first couple of laps, everybody was just going everywhere and I just tried to settle in. Then me, Shaun and Poovey went at it, what seemed like the whole race. I never saw the halfway flags, the five-to-go sign. Then, all of a sudden, I saw the white flag. It was good. I had fun. I think they're IH-D factory] happy to get one in the main anyhow. Hey, I hope they give me one."

• Cover