Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

stretch, I opted to go for the lead," King said. "Shaun got by me going into three, so he kind of blew my plan to lead it off four. Everything was changing corner after corner. Then Shaun slipped a little bit, and I backed off for a second while Chris held his drive. It was a good race, and we're all walking away from here. I just hope that Dan Stanley feels better soon." Russell's move had put him right where he wanted to be, but the slip that King alluded to spelled the dillerence between first and third place. "I was just trying to tell myself to stay cool," Russell said. "I knew that I had been getting good drives off there all day, and so I knew that I had to be leading. I just couldn't stay cool, though. I was too excited, and I got a little bit throttle happy." Johnson also got a good jump off the last corner, but AMA officials credited him with fourth place in the thrilling finish. "I'm real happy with fourth, coming from the third row," Johnson said. "All of us went to the line, and everything was decided by a wheel. It was great. We have been having an awesome year. Hopefully we can keep it up." Carr took the win in a race so close that the official AMA clocks did not even record a margin of victory. "Nobody had a clear advantage today: Carr said. "The track was rippled in turns one and two, and there were a handful of lines, and sometimes those lines would intersect. All in all, it was a typical Springfield race, but I've never won one coming from third place before. I was fourth off turn four, so we pulled one out of the bag today. I actually would have loved to have been in Rich's shoes, and had a chance to draft Shaun to the line off that last corner. I'm kind of glad I'm not [in King's shoes] now." 505 SUPPORT As happens so often on the mile, Dallas Harley-Davidson/KK Motorcycle Supply's Willie McCoy led only one lap during the Springfield Mile, but it was the only one he needed for the win in the 505cc Support race that is quickly becoming a hallmark of the Labor Day Weekend event. Riding the same Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford Racingbacked factory Vor that Chris Carr had used to finish seventh at the Springfield Short Track on the night before, McCoy came from dead last after missing a gear off the start and ran down the rest of the l8-rider field in just 12 laps. The win marked his third straight in 505cc Support competition at Springfield. Afterward, he celebrated by pulling a Ricky Graham-style speed wheelie down the front straightaway, much to the delight of the packed grandstand. "That thing [Vorl is awesome," McCoy said. "Them Italians know how to build a motorcycle. I missed a shift off that restart, and I thought that there was no way I was going to catch 'em. But I got up there. Kenny [Tolbert] has done'a heck of a job with that engine. I don't know how many in a row that is for me winning the support class... And then I wasn't going to do a whee lie like that, but my hero Ricky Graham used to do that whenever he won Springfield, so I decided to go for it." Kevin Atherton battled with Bryan Smith and A.J. Eslick for much of the race, despite struggling with his Woody Kyle-prepped Honda. At the finish, Atherton ran second, finishing just ahead of Smith. "The thing developed a real bad miss about the second lap, and it would fall flat on its face about halfway down the straightaway," Atherton said. "It was the fastest bike here by far, otherwise. Still, it turned out good. We're happy. I haven't rid- den a 500cc single since 1987. It was a good time. Good race. I was grinnin' the whole time I was out there." Smith agreed. "That was a hell of a race, man," Smith said. "There were guys everywhere. My bike stuttered one time, and about five guys passed me. It was all you could do to stay in the top three. I'm happy with third after starting from the fourth roW. I had to borrow Brent Armbruster's bike, and it's the fastest thing I've rode. It was a great race. It seems like Willie [McCoy] has won this race the last 20 years, but this time he was on a Vor, so that's a little different. I've finished third here the last three times. One of these days I'm going to have to move up." McCoy's victory certainly made Carr and tuner Kenny Tolbert happy, the duo taking the time to come over and celebrate with McCoy in victory lane. "That was cool," Carr said. "That's the first win for the Vor 505 in AMA competition, and Willie rode the heck out of it." "We wanted to see if he could blow it up," Tolbert added. "We wanted Willie to run it on the mile and see how it would run, and, hell, he missed a gear and came from last to first." Tolbert said that he has been inside the Vor and has found it to be a pretty unique piece. He also said that the AMA should look at running 505s at all of its Grand National rounds. "These things [singles] have a lot of potential, and I think we should have these every week: Tolbert said. "I think that we should run off the 883s and have a 505 class every week." CN Jaime Aguilar (H-D); 11. Trenton Bailey (Hon): 12. Scott Deubler (Yam). Time: 5 min.. 56.911 sec. HEAT 2 (to laps; 12 riders, top 3 transfer): l. Rich Kina (H-D); 2. Joy Sprlnasteen (H-D); 3. Nicky Hayden (Hon); 4. Joe Kopp (H·O); 5. Dan SUlnley (H-D); 6. Chris Hort (H-D); 7. Aoron Creomer (H-D); 8. Jess Roeder (H-D); g. Devon Pritchord (H·D); 10. Jeff Londrum (H·D); II. Tim Eodes (H-D); 12. Shane Fox (Suz). Tlmc: 5 min., 56.649 sec. HEAT 3 (IO lops; 12 riders, top 3 transfer): I. Kevin Varnes (H· D); 2. Gary Rogers (H-D); 3. Willie McCoy (H·D); 4. J.R. Schnobel (Bue); 5. Joke Johnson (H-D); 6. Steve Beottie (H-D); 7. Brion Thomes (H-D); 8. Dominic Beaulac (H-D); 9. Gerth Bastion (H-D); 10. K.C. Knodel (H-D); II. Chorlie Orr (Suz); .12. Roy Miller (Suz). Time: 6 mm., 00.387 sec. HEAT 4 {IO lops; 12 riders, top 3 transferl: I. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 2. Gee Roeder II (H-D ; 3. Terry Poovey (Han); 4. Johnny Murphree {H-D ; 5. Bryon Smith (H-D); 6. Lorry Pegrom (Suz); 7. Cory McDermitt (Suz); 8. Mjke Hinds (H-D); 9. Jerry Vanderkooi (Suz); 10. A.J. Eslick (H-D); 11. John Nickens III (H-D); 12. Tom McGrane Jr. (Suz). Time: 5 min., 58.447 sec. SEMI 1 (8 laps; 13 riders. top 2 transfer): 1. Joe Kopp (Ii-D); 2. Bryon Smith (H-D); 3. Steve Beottie (H·D); 4. Poul Lynch (H-D); 5. Aoron Creomer (H-D); 6. John Nickens III (H-D); 7. Gorlh Bastion (H-D); 8. Greg Teogue (H-D); 9. Mike Hinds (H-D); 10. Jeff Londrum (Suz); 11. Timmy Mitchell (H·D); 12. Scott Deubler (H-D); 13. Roy Miller (Suz). Tunc: 4 min., 49.732 sec. SEMI 2 (6 laps; 12 riders, top 2 transfer): 1. Jake Johnson (H·D); 2. Dem Stl:lnley (H-D); 3. Bryan Bigelow (H-D); 4. Larry Pegram (Suz); 5. Dominic Beouioc (H-D); 6. Kyle Long (H-D); 7. Tim Eades H-Dj; 8. Jerry VanderkooI (H-D); 9. Jaime Aguilar l H-O ; 10. Tom McGnme Jr. (Suz); 11. Jess Roeder H-D; 12. Chorlie Orr (Suz). Time: 4 min., 46.695 sec. SEMI 3 (8 laps; 12 riders. top 2 transfer): 1. J.R. Schnabel (Bue); 2. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 3. Jason Tyer (H-D); 4. Chris Hert (H-O); 5. Cory McDermitt (Suz); 6. Devon Pritcholud (H-O); 7. Srizm Thomos (H-D); 8. K.C. Knodel (H·D); 9. John Roun Wood (H-D); 10. Trenton Bailey (Hon); 11. Shllne Fox (Suz); 12. A.J. Eslick (Suz) Time: 4 min., 49.492 sec. GRAND NATIONAL (25 laps; 18 riders): I. Chris Carr (H-O); 2. Rich King (H-D): 3. Shaun Russell (H-D); 4. Jeke Johnson (H-D); 5. Johnny Murphree (H-D); 6. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 7. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D); 8. Nicky Hoyden (Han); 9. Joe Kopp (H-D); 10. Terry Poovey (Han); I I. Geo R~er II (H-D!; 12. Bryan Smith (H-D); 13. Kevin Atherton (H-D ; 14. Willie McCoy (H·D); 15. Gary Rogers (H-D); 16. J.R. Schnobel (H-D); 17. Kevin Varnes (H-D); 18. Don SUlnley (H·D). TIme: 14 min., 44.534 sec. AMA/PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE U.S. FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 16 of 20 rounds): I. Chris Corr (241/3 Wins); 2. Johnny Murphree (202/1 win); 3. Bryan Bigelow (192/1 win); 4. Kevin Varnes (1 i3/1 win); 5. Kenny Coolbeth (162); 6. Joe Kopp (138); 7. Jay Springsteen (130); 8. Nicky Hayden (128/4 wins); 9. J.R. Schnabel (123); 10. Jeke Johnson (120); 11. Rich King (115/2 wins); 12. Kevin Atherton (105); 13. Shoun Russell (103); 14. Terry Poovey (101); 15. Gee Roeder II (98); IG. Chris Hort (69/1 win); 17. Shown Clork (64); 18. Willie McCoy (61); 19. (TIE) Steve Beottie (61)/Poul Lynch (61). 505 SUPPORT (I2 laps; 18 riders); 1. Willie McCoy (Vor); 2. Kevin Atherton (Han); 3. Bryen Smith (ATK); 4. A.J. Eslick (Rot); 5. Steve Murroy (Han); 6. Greg Teogue (Rot); 7. Jeff Londrum (Suz); 8. Rich King (H·D); 9. Cory McDermitt (Rot); 10. Brian Vincent (Rot); 11. Cherlle ltalie (Rot); 12. Rick Winsett (Rot); 13. Aaron Cree mer (CCM); 14. Jason Tyer (H·D); 15. Lorry Pegrom (Suz); 16. Joe Eades (Rot); 17. Jeke Zemke (Rot); 18. Jennifer Snyder (H-D). Time: 7 min., 18.186 sec. Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, Illinois Results: September 1, 2002 (Round 1& of 201: HEAT 1 (10 laps; 13 riders, top 3 transfer): 1. Chris Carr (H·D); 2. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 3. Shaun Russell (H-D); 4. Bryon Bigeiow (H-D); 5. Poul Lynch (H·D); 6. Joson Tyer (H-D); 7. Kyle Long (H-D); 8. Greg Teogue (H-D); 9. John Roun Wood (Apr); 10. Upcoming Rounds: Round 17 - Vemon, New York, Sept. 7 Round IS - Tunica, Mississippi, Sept. 14 Chris Carr's factory Vor wasn't the only Italian machine in attendance at the Springfield Mile. Brothers David and Mike Uoyd brought their C&J-framed Aprilia RSV Millepowered Superuacker to Springfield in the hope that Dan Stanley could put together another great run aboard the machine, just as he had done at the Formula USA Red Mile in Kentucky. "The hardest part of developing this bike has been in getting the track time and getting someone with a lot of experience to ride it: David Lloyd, a former GNC Expert, said. "I can go out and ride it around, but the thing scares me a little because it's awfully quick. The engine is strictly stock, and it works fabulously that way. It's got the stock fuel injection on it." Mike Lloyd agreed that all the bike needs is a little more track time to make it really competitive. "AMA was supposed to give us extra practice for it here, but they cut that, and it really hurt us. We had Dan Stanley go out on it the first session, and then we had Raun Wood on it, but this is only his third time on a mile." Stanley had said that the bike "felt a little short,' but that jf he had been given a little more time on it, he may have chose to race it. Instead, he competed aboard a Skip Eaken XR750. Still, the L10yds are optimistic that they can get the Aprilia up to speed with a little more time and assistance. "The Aprilia folks have shown some interest," David Uoyd said. "They may come out and take a look at it when we go to Columbus [Ohio] for the half mile." Does anyone know how they say dirt track in Italian? II: U II: •• n _ _ S • SEPTEMBER I 1, 2002 25

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