Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMAIProgressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships Round 13: PMC Race (Above left! Even with the 10.. (his flnt In his last 13 vislta 10 Peorlal, Can' extended another Peoria streak. He has now landed on the podium the last 18 years he's gone 10 the event. (Above right) Coulda, ahoulda, woulda: Schnabel rode his CRF450R Imp.....lvely. He was the fast qualifier, easily won his heat and set fastest time, and sat on pole for the main. If only the checkereel could've come out a lap earlier••• semi to gain entry into the main event, with 1stlegal.com/Rod Lake Racing/Engines Only rider John Hlebo III holding off a determined Eslick for the second transfer spot. Varnes led from start to finish in the third semi, with Russell making his way past Brad Teegarden/RHC's Henry Wiles for the last ticket into the 18-rider main event. The first start attempt in the National was aborted when Nicky Hayden jumped from row three and Atherton from row two. Both were sent to the penalty line. Schnabel then jumped straight into the lead off the start, Kopp, Murphree, Carr, Tommy Hayden and McCoy lining up behind him for the first run over the jump. His first time over it was nearly disastrous, as he appeared to hit it too hard. "That first time over the jump, I don't know what happened," Schnabel said. "I must have hit a dirt clump or something, because it threw me five feet higher and 30 feet farther than I'd gone all day," Schnabel said. Schnabel appeared to be comfortable controlling the early race pace, and he clicked off the first five laps by pulling away from Kopp, who threatened to take the lead in turn one twice. Then Kopp seemed unable to match Schnabel's pace and was picked off by Carr going into turn one on lap seven. "The bike started slowing down a little bit," Kopp said. "It felt like the first five laps I had something for J.R., but then I heard someone breathing down my neck. It was Chris. There were a lot of guys who could have won this thing. I'm kind of bummed at finishing off the podium, but we'll be back. We have a good setup for here, we just have to figure a couple things out with the motor." By lap 10, Bigelow was chasing Tommy Hayden for fifth when Nicky 20 AUGUST 28, 2002' III U III I ark Hayden blew by him. Tommy Hayden got by Murphree on lap 22 to land fifth at the wire. "There was a lot going on back there," Tommy Hayden said. "It took me a long time to get around Johnny. I changed my suspension for the race, and it was definitely a lot better. I was just a little late in getting by Johnny. I should have tried to run a faster pace sooner. But it feels good. I had a good time out there today." King worked his way up from 10th and also got by Bigelow and Murphree to take over the sixth spot by lap 14. "I really felt like I had a shot to win this thing, but I didn't get the greatest start," King said. "I felt like I was going good, getting through traffic. I wish I was on the box. I thought that I was going to be." Meanwhile, Schnabel continued to run in the lead, though Carr was inching closer. On lap 13, Schnabel had almost highsided coming off of turn two, but managed to save it. Carr finally caught and passed Schnabel just past the stripe on the front straight on lap 15. Nicky Hayden had already moved to third, but had his work cut out for him, as there was a whole straightaway between him and the leaders. Somehow he started cutting into their advantage. "It took me a couple laps to get by Kopp and my brother [Tommy], but once I got close to them, I could just gauge off them going into the corner," Nicky Hayden said. "That kind of helped me right there." Schnabel, meanwhile, followed Carr closely, and noticed that Carr was having trouble hooking up in turns three and four. He then made a pass there to take the lead back on lap 21. "I almost ran into the back of Carr a couple times," Schnabel said. "My bike was really working good. I was getting off the corners as good as he was, and that says something, because Kenny Tolbert builds about the best bikes out there." Carr admitted that he was feeling fatigued by then, and that's what was causing his traction problems. "That's what happens when you can't turn the throttle anymore," Carr said. "It becomes like an on/off button. I just got tired out there today. It happens. I had tried a wider line to get through three and four, and he just turned it in under me. You know, I'm disappointed that I didn't win, but I did do well. Hopefully we'll come back stronger next year and maybe start another streak." The last 10 laps went by quickly, with Hayden pulling into contention three laps from the finish and making the money pass in spectacular fashion on the final lap. Russell and Beattie rounded out the top 10. eN PMC Race Parte PeDria, IlIinDis Results: August 18, 2002 (Round 13 of 201 HEAT 1 (10 laps; 13 riders, top 3 transfer): 1. J.R. Schnabel (Hon): 2. Johnny Murphree (Rot); 3. Terry Poovey (Hon); 4. Chris Boone (Hon); 5. John Hlebo III (Hon); 6. Ron Hllll (Suz); 7. Jeremy DeRuyter (Hon); 8. Paul Lynch (Suz); 9. Benny Cerlson (Rot); 10. JtJime Aguilar (Rot); 11. Josh Toungett (Rot); 12. Kyle Long (Vern); 13. Brllndon Cartwright (Hon). Time: 4 min., 33.497 sec. HEAT 2 (10 laps; 13 riders, top 3 transfer): 1. Joe I\opp (I\TM); 2. Don Stonley (Hon); 3. Steve Tommy Hayden rode another CRF450R (a departure from the VZ426F he had been riding in TTsI to a strong flfthplace finish. • n __ s

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