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/128171
onto the front straight and pulled a draft-and- South Fork Dirt Riders pass as they made the run toward the start/finish line. This same traffic would catch up with Knapp a lap later. Struke navigated through cleanly while Knapp balked, dropping from fifth to seventh. For the next few laps, Nodell and Wright Huston Tromps Taylorville By RAcHAEl. MOORE continued to push Gonyou as they tried to Grattan Raceway: Celebrating atop the Diablo Palntball Can-Am 125cc GP Challenge podium In Grattan, Michigan, are (from left to right) Nick Cummings, Stuart Nadell and Dave Wright. ing along Taylor Knapp, Logan Myers, Darren Womack and Ken Morrison. As hot and heavy as the action was in the lead pack, this second group was having its own, equally intense battle! Knapp was making his way through the pack after a poor start. On lap five, he took fifth place from Struke. Once he was clear of Struke, Knapp put his head down and was visibly making up time on the lead group. Up front, Gonyou was maintajning his lead, though he was under pressure every lap. Nadell, Wright and Cummings were really pushing Gonyou, as the lead group was clicking off laps within two-tenths of Nodell's pole timel On lap five, the lead group encountered lapped traffic, and Nodell took advantage of it by grabbing the lead. Gonyou was stalking him, though. Gonyou got a much better drive make some time in the heavy-braking sections, but Gonyou was able to fight them off. On lap eight, with Nodell and Wright becoming frustrated with their inability to get around Gonyou, they both made a last-ditch effort at the bus stop. Both riders were very late on the brakes, almost parking it in the comer as they both found room under Gonyou in the comer. As they exited, they ran Gonyou wide, and Gonyou had to chop the throttle so he didn't end up on the grass. With Gonyou having no drive out of the corner, Nick Cummings was also able to get by. Nodell led Wright by half a bikelength at the white flag, with Cummings right behind and Gonyou about three bikelengths back. In the second group, Struke was also holding off a determined Logan Myers for fifth. Wright was giving Nodell fits in the infield section of the track, trying to put a wheel under him wherever he could, but Nodell was determined to take the win at Grattan after just missing out at round four in Shubenacadie. As the lead pack of four approached the checkers, Wright tried to put the draft-and-pass on Nodell but came up half a wheel short at the line. Nodell took his first win of the season. Cummings was just a bikelength behind Wright, as he just held off Gonyou for the final podium spot. TAYLORVIUE, IL, AUG. 4 The first moto of the 125cc C class headed out of the gate and around the comer at a hot pace. Yamaha-mounted Josh Dalpiaz got the holeshot and started out the first lap on fire. Trying to keep up with Dalpiaz were Jacob Godar and Adam Brachear. Godar held Brachear off every lap, though not without some battles through the whoop section, where Brachear seems to dominate. Each lap, Godar would pull back into second by the next tum. Dalpiaz paced himself and leamed the track and got the checkered flag first. Moto two saw Dalpiaz out front again, but this time Brachear got a better start and moved in behind Dalpiaz for second. Godar was not going to let Brachear get too far away, and he pushed his Yamaha to the edge - but so did Brachear, who was able to hold off Godar untii the end. Dalpiaz took first, followed by Brachear and then Godar. The battle of the day was in the 125cc B class. Shea Knuth took the holeshot in moto one. In hot pursuit were Billy Durbin and Scott McAdams. On lap two, McAdams took the second-place spot away from Durbin at the finish·line jump. However, on lap three, as Durbin and McAdams were battling for the position, McAdams overshot the tum and went over the benn. He got back up and moved in on Durbin. By the last lap, these two riders were so close to each other. they were rubbing grips. As they came around to the finish·line jump side by Side, Durbin hammered his Suzuki throttle down and slid into second by half a tire's length. Grattan Raceway Grattan, Michigan Results: August 25. 2002 (Round 5 of 6) O/A: J. SWart Nodell; 2. D~ve Wright: 3. Nick Cummings; 4. Martt Gonyou: ~. Jim Struke; 6. Logen M~rs: 7. Teylor Knepp; 8. Ken Morrison; 9. Scott Trautman; 10. Larry DeVore. Diablo Palntbell Can-Am 12Scc GP Challenge Points Standings (Afkr 5 of 6 rounds): L Dave Wright (203): 2. Stuart NodeII (185): 3. Corey Shennan (170): 4. Jim Stroke (142): 5. Chris ~ris (142). >- ca Cl W ~ :z w U) w a:: Q. cue I e n e _ s SEPTEMBER 11. 2002 67