Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

m @ Own Race Jason Raines It took nine long weeks of surgery and therapy for Jason Raines to get to this point, but he's glad to have just made it out of the race in one piece. "Right now, it's just kind of achy and tired," Raines said of his leg after the race. "I know I didn't re-injure it, which was my goal. And I got a few points. A few are better than none. For the first few laps, I didn't think I could finish. It seems like whenever you're favoring something, you wind up using it more. I kept saying, 'Don't put it (the leg) down,' and then I would do it. Then I got two laps to go, and I was happy because I was going to do it. I know every week it heals a tittle more, so hopefully I'll feel better at the next race." t:B Steve Hatch Since winning the second round of the series in Macon, Georgia, the veteran Suzuki pilot from Arizona has been struggling with assorted injuries. His fourth-place ride at the Penton GNCC/Hare Scrambles was his best one since, and he was ecstatic. "Freddy [Andrews) passed me in the pits," Hatch said. "I wanted to get him back so bad; I knew it was going to get ugly. I started riding really aggressive and just pinned it. I got next to him in a sweeper and we were side by side for a bit before I got by. I just up-shifted to fourth. I think my bike was running a little better at that point. I really like riding with Freddy." Hatch eventually pulled past and was happy to take fourth. "It's just been a huge Mount Everest climb," says Hatch of his return from injury. "I'm so stoked to be back up here." ® Robbie Jenks Jenks waS looking to cash in on the home-track advantage in Millfield, but he was suffering from an infection he caught right before the race. Despite not feeling well, the SCR/yamaha rider grabbed the holeshot but fell in the third turn. Soon after, he put a hole in his radiator and had to drop out of the race. 1] ® Cole Calkins Calkins has spent his rookie-pro season trying to get up to speed, but he was tired of waiting around and wanted to win in his home state. "I worked hard all summer, and I came here knowing I was in just as good of shape as anybody," Calkins said. "I worked on a lot of things. It's just discouraging to have a few things get in my way." Calkins had the holeshot, but he got some wire caught in his rear wheel and lost his rear brakes for a few laps. Then a misunderstanding over when to pull his air filter cover left his bike with a clogged air box. "I know I can run with these guys," Calkins said. "I just have to put one together. • Sunday Creek MX Park M Ilfield, Dh-0 September B, ZOOZ IKaund 1D of 131 ® Barry Hawk The multi-time GNCC ATV champ has had some bad luck in '02, and apparently his streak has continued through the summer. The Am-Pro/Yamaha ace from Pennsylvania had his front brake go out early in the race, and the minutes spent repairing it cost him any shot at a solid finish. "I'm a firm believer in the theory that you make your own luck, but now I'm beginning to wonder," Hawk said. After dropping back as far as 12th, Hawk charged back up to eighth at the finish. 1] ~ Mike Kiedrowski Kiedrowski put in another strong ride to coliect his fourth podium of the year. "I started with Chucky, but I wasn't sure which way to go exactly on the first lap, so he passed me," Kiedrowski said of his start. The former AMA Motocross Champion held second until his teammate Smith passed him during gas stops, and then he held the spot the rest of the way. "It was a good race," Kiedrowski said. collect the five points that go with it. Jason Raines, who broke his leg at the previous round, came to Ohio to salvage as many ONCC points as possible. His stili-healing leg held up well enough, and he ended up 18th overall, maintaining his series lead. Upcoming Rounds: Round 11 - Mount Morris, Pennsylvania, September 22 Round 12 - St. Clairsville, Ohio, October 6 BRIEFLy•••• Race-winner Chuck Woodford owes a lot of hiS new success to the tutelage of his new trainer Gary Semics. "He put me on a weight-training program and some supplemental training to go with my riding. I don't ride so much now, but that's good because every time I do go riding I look forward to it so much. He even gave me some little tips with my riding. showing me a few things I shouldn't be doing that I've been doing. I thonk I can go a lillie bot faster now. You're never too fast to leam something new. - In the Hare Scrambles segment, His lead is dwindling, but he still KTM's Brian Garrahan and Team holds aID-point advantage over Green's Fred Andrews, the winner of Smith with three rounds remaining. last year's Penton race, went to battle Both riders were aided by the O/A: 1. Chuck Woodford (Kaw): 2. Rodney Smith (SUI); 3. Mike Kiedrowski (Suz); 4. Steve Hatch (Suz); 5. Doug Bleckwell (Hon); 6. Brien Garrahan (KTM); 7. Fred Andrews (Kaw): 8. Barry Hewk (Vern); 9. Josh McLevy (Hon); 10. Cole Celklns (Kew). AI'IA GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 10 of 13 rounds): 1. Jeson Reines (202/3 wins); 2. Rodney Smith (192/2 wins): 3. M;ke Lafferry (191/1 win); 4. Mike Kiedrowski (175); 5. Fred Andrews (163/1 win); 6. Chuck Woodford (139/2 wins); 7. Robbie Jenks (135): 8. Brain Garrahen (122): 9. Barry Hawk Jr. (103); 10. Randy Hewkins (100). for their points here, too. Garrahan absence of National Enduro Champi- ended up sixth and Andrews seventh, on Mike Lafferty, who was running advantage going into the final series shoulder blade a few weeks back at round in Indiana in October. Shane Watts update: The Aussie IS recovering from some majOr surgery on his wriSt, which Included the removal of three bones. To test the wrist. Watts entered the momlng Industry-dass race on his KTM, and promptly led the first lap before pulling off. "I can only hold on for about 25 minutes, " Watts said. giving the Garrahan a solid points second in points. Lafferty broke his For obvious reasons, Jason Raines couldn't show off his new leg hardware. but he did see what a rod looks like from another rider "A guy who had one that was really bothering him had it removed," Raines said. "He actually came up to me today and showed me ot. It was really strong. which I was happy to know." Raines' latest x-rays show the leg IS nearly completely healed. but for now he'll deal with whatever pain he has to try and protect hiS POints lead. the KTM dealer show in Colorado. FMF/Suzuki's Steve Hatch finished Lafferty also expects to miss the next fourth, and Honda rider Doug Blackwell, GNCC round, the High Point GNCC in who put together his best ride of the Mount Morris, Pennsylvania, which year, took fifth. Garrahan and Andrews effectively makes the GNCC title run were next, with Yamaha's Barry Hawk a two-rider shootout between Raines eighth, RER-backed privateer Josh and Smith. McLevy ninth, and Calkins 10th. The John Penton GNCC was named after off-road motorcycling pioneer John Penton, an Ohio-native and the man who first started importing KTMs into the U.S. Four mint-condition vintage Pentons were on display at the event ,n his honor. The race was held at the Sunday Creek, the motocross park run by GNCC Trail Boss Jeff Russell and his father, Howard Russell. The 1a-mile course Incorporated most of the moto track's jumps, and with many of the woods sections covered ,n dust. the motocross track presented one of the best opportunities to pass. "You have to be careful out there,' Kiedrowski said. "You can't make up too much time on such a small section of the whole course." Ohio's Andy Shea took his Plessinger Cycles KTM to the top amateur placing at the Wisp, hnishlng a solid eleventh overall. CIIII cue I e n e _ sa • SEPTEMBER 18, 2002 33

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