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/128165
2002 AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships @w@D@ fJ!J@~ [fifiJOO @[j'fiJ1JrJiJ fl]@@OfJJ!J@[fi](Jg []j]fiJ7Jf1w@15!l l!ll@!J@)DfJDfiJfJD Jack Warren celebrates his Over 45 Open half-mile win. the short track and IT on his way to second in the points. Forty-year-old Joe McCormick, from Muskegon, Michigan, used consistency to take third. You had to be over 18 years old to ride the open twin class, and that was no problem for most of the contestants. It was a small class until the half mile and mile portions of the event. Post Falls, Idaho's Gary Hite won the short track and finished second on the IT, giving the 56-year-old a good cushion going into the final rounds. Bob Owens, of Burton, Michigan, Adderson and Cooper won the TT, half-mile and mile. Forty-twoyear-old Rod Hartzel, of Granite City, Illinois, finished second in the points over 54-year-old Larry VanValkenburg, from Adrain, Michigan. The Over 45 Open class was as competitive as any, with nobody dominating the class. Fifty-one-yearold Vince Holt, from Issaquah, Washington, opened the week with a short track win and rode the crest to an overall win over 60-year-old Jack Warren, of Millington, Michigan. Dan Shaw made his appearance at the IT and won that. The half mile feature went to Warren. The mile race was spiced up by the appearance of Gary Nixon and Dave Atherton on potent Harley-Davidson XR-750s. Atherton pulled off the win, and Warren's shot Matthew Weidman (right), of Westerlo, New York, earned the Cycle News Fast Brain Award at this year's AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships in Springfield, topping a tough field of qualifiers by virtue of his 4.0 grade-point average and a solid week of racing. On the academic side of the equation, the l1-yearold Weidman qualified for the Fast Brain by completing sixth grade with flying colors at LoudonviJJe Christian School, posting a straight-A report card. But even that belies his abilities in school. A certifiable math maniac, he has already completed seventh-gradelevel mathematics, accordiog to his mother, Rachel. "Matthew actually skipped over first grade: Rachel said. "He just loves school, and he loves math_ He has always been a very happy-go-lucky kid. He never has tried to get in trouble. We have never gotten a bad report from any of his teachers. He is well-liked by all of them." Weidman himself will admit that he does have a bit of a distaste for writing, although he scored an A in that subject as well. "I just don't like writing all that much," he said. "I like reading okay, though. If I find a good book or a good series of books, I'll read them all the way through." Having started competing at the age of 4, Weidman has pursued his racing with the same vigor that he pursues his studies. At Springfield, he was able to sew up the award with a Grand Championship title in the (7-11) Modified class and a second overaJi in the 85cc DTX class aboard his Honda CR80R. His finishes included three wins and a runnerup on the half mile, and two fourths, a fifth and a ninth in his other main-event starts. "It's really cool to win the Fast Brain," Weidman said. "J like the little brain that is in the middle of it. And I know that It's more than just another racing trophy." Although he said that he doesn't know exactly how to describe his riding style, Weidman did say that he is able to get real comfortable only when he is well ahead of his competition. "Otherwise, Ijust ride behind them, figure out what I have to do to pass them, and then go by," he said. Weidman wanted to make sure to thank his sponsors, including his family-owned dealership, Matt's Honda of Coxsaki, New York. The shop, which was purchased by his parents, Guy and Rachel, when he was 4, is actually named after him. Not a lot of young amateurs can claim that. Weidman also receives assistance from Afam, Arai and Parts Unlimited. With the Grand Championships completed, Weidman was excited to let everyone know that he now faces a new challenge. "We picked up a 250 at Springfield, so ['m looking forward to finishing out the year on that," Weidman said. It's a Honda, of course_ Guess you could say that it's Matt's Honda. at the overall went away as he slid down while dueling with Nixon for second. Johnny Isaccs pushed his Yamaha into second, with Nixon fineN ishing third. Illinois State fairgrounds Springfield, illinois Results: July 1ยท6, 2002 ROUND 1: SHORT TRACK July 1.2002 50 P/W: I. Jordan Schoen (Yam); 2. Michael Martin (Yam); 3. Ethan Gillim (Yam); 4. Jake Lewis (Yam); 5. Dan Bromley (KTM). 50 JR: 1. Bailey Spence (Lem); 2. Kyle Schlimme (Cob); 3. Dan Bromley (KTM); 4. Springfield Derosear (KTM); 5. Jake Lewis (Cob). 50 SR: 1. Michael Martin (Cob); 2. Harley Dunn (KTM); 3. Justin Pitman (KTM); 4. Kevin Walter (Cob); 5. Miles Thornton (Pol). 65 OTX: I. Patrick Jacobsen (Kew); 2. OJ Sharkey (Kaw); 3. Derek Hersh (Kaw); 4. Nick Page (Kaw); 5. Charles Gray III (Kaw). 65 MOD (7-11): 1. Chad Cose (Kaw); 2. Michael Martin (Kaw); 3. OJ Sharkey (Kaw); 4. Tony Oavilll (Kaw); 5. Hayden Gillim (Kaw). 85 DTX (9-13): 1. Bobby Fong (Hon); 2. Brad Baker (Hon); 3. Travis Myers (Hon); 4. Austin Greenland (Kaw); 5. Matthew Weidman (Hon). 85 MOD (7-11): 1. Bobby Fong (Hon); 2. Brad Baker (Hon); 3. Travis Myers (Hon); 4. Matthew Weidman (Hon); 5. Cory Hildebrand (Han). 85 MOD (12-15): 1. Shane Narbonne (Hon); 2. Danny Stookesberry (Yam); 3. Brad HlIzel (YlIm); 4. Jake Lewis topped the 50cc Junior class on the half mile. 58 JULv31. 2002' cue I e n e _ s Christopher Miller (Yam): 5. Chllnce McCormick (Yam). 125 MOD: 1. Chase Sconyers (Han); 2. Aaron King (KTM); 3. Shane Narbonne (Han); 4. Gary Conklin (Hon); 5.Joey Ratz (ATK). 250 DTX: 1. Clayton Riggle (Hon); 2. Sam' Halbert (Han); 3. John Lewis (Han); 4. Tom Link (Yam); 5. Kyle Meiers (Hon). 250 MOD: 1. Clayton Riggle (Han); 2. Nicholllls Cummings (Han); 3. John Lewis (Han); 4. Jesse Janisch (Han); 5. Kyle Meiers (Han). 400 M.OD: 1. Aaron King (KTM); 2. Travis Sprong (Han); 3. William Stevens III (Suz); 4. Joe Bromley (KTM); 5. Doug Howard (Yam). 505 MOD: 1. Nicholas Cummings (Rot): 2. Nick Moore (Rot); 3. Jesse Janisch (Rot); 4. Kevin Snyder (Rot); 5. Bryan Hazel (Rot). 600 MOD: 1. Nick Moore (Rot); 2. Nicholas Cummings (Rot); 3. Sam Halbert (Rot); 4. Logan Myers (Rot); 5. Bryan Hazel (Yam). 30+ SGl: 1. Scott Shinn (Han); 2. Kevin Snyder (Hon); 3. Johnny Cooper (ATK); 4. Lyle Barber Jr. (Yam); 5. Greg Donley (Rot). OPEN 40+: 1. Royal Adderson (Rot); 2. Mike Caves (Hon); 3. Russ Briggs (Yam); 4. Dan McKim (Hon); 5. Joe McConnick (Rot). OPEN TW 18.: I. Gary Hite (H-D); 2. Rod Hartzel (Tri); 3. Bob Owens (H-D); 4. Larry VanValkenburg (Yam). OPEN 45+: 1. Vince Holt (Rot); 2. Russ Briggs (Yam); 3. Dale Buck (Hon); 4. Bill Snyder (Hon); 5. Jack Warren (Rot). ROUND 2: TT July 2. 2002 50 P/W: 1. Michael Martin (Yam); 2. Jordan Schoen (Yam); 3. Ethan GllIim (Yam); 4. McFadden (Yam); 5. Kody Vaughn (Yam). 50 JR: 1. Bailey Spence (Lem); 2. Kyle