Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

my Mike Kiedrowski took third, keeping his title hopes lYe (barely). 'L as well. Smith currently holds an II-point lead over Andrews, The multi-time National Enduro Champion had a great shot at making up pOints on series leader Smith but couldn't hold on all day. Still working his way back from a broken shoulder blade, Lafferty also had stomach problems all day. After running as high as fourth and keeping Smith well behind him, several big crashes and the aforementioned physical problems dropped him to a disappointing eIghth at the finish. and 12 points over Lafferty with one round to go. To win his fourth championship, Smith will have to finish third or better if Andrews wins the 1] ~ Mike Kiedrowski final round, the treacherous Ironman GNCC in Craw- The former AMA National MX Champion put in some fast laps at Powerline Park but was held back by an unusual number of crashes. "It was a gnarly track: Kiedrowski said. "It had a couple mud holes where you really couldn't see." The "Off-Road Kied" did his best to make up time from a bad start but was slowed when he crashed hopping over a log and broke off a Bark Buster. With an exposed hand, he was slowed Just enough to where he couldn't catch Hawk or Andrews. fordsville. "I've been chasing Rodney around forever; I'm not think· ing about points," Andrews said. "People remember wins, 1] 1] so I just want to win races. He knows what he needs to do in Indiana." Andrews got the St. Clairsville win Green's Cole Calkins crashed in the by picking smart lines on a tough mud and collected several riders with 10-mile course. Rain early in the him. The crash left Smith and Chuck weekend kept the track slick and Woodford, among others, way back in the pack, but both riders put on a Champion, combined tight woods trails with several water, mud and swamp crossings to create a challenging layout that most everyone of the nearly 1000 participants enjoyed. The Yamahas of Robbie Jenks and Hawk nailed the grasstrack start and took off with the early leads. Andrews, however, maneuvered into the number-one spot at the end of the first of seven laps, while Jenks was slowed when he caught a rock in his countershaft sprocket. Meanwhile, a huge pack of riders was trying to make up time after a pile·up in the first mud hole. Team Mike Lafferty With valuable championship points on the line, the California-based Smith needed to have a smooth race, but it started terribly when he got trapped on a mud hole Just a few miles into the first lap. ·Cole Calkins crashed in the first mud hole, and I hit his bike .and flew off the trail: Smith said. "' had a tough time catching up. J charged real hard all day. The lappers seemed to fall in front of me at the wrong time." Smith tumed it up even more once he got series-rival Lafferty In his sights. "I fmally got some clean laps, and I pushed even harder when I saw him." Smith said. "I ended up leaving here with a bigger points lead than' had coming in." Kiedrowski to vault into contention for the championship Russell, a former National Enduro Rodney Smith 71 Both riders struggled, though, with Lafferty scoring an eighth and Smith taking fifth, allowing Andrews and dust·free. GNCC trail boss Jeff Own Race strong charge to get back to the front. Woodford, who lives just minutes from the Powerline Park facility, climbed past every single Pro rider, including Andrews, and moved into the lead. "I got away for awhile, but then Chucky [Woodford) caught me, and he's a local boy, so I let him go by me," Andrews said. "I didn't want to hold him up. But when he got around me, he made me pick up my pace." The two Kawasaki riders had fun racing each other for the lead. "We were just playing," Woodford said, "looking at each other and yelling." Woodford, however, couldn't maintain the lead pace forever. After riding BRIEFLy•••• Chuck Woodford The hometown boy was looking to collect his third GNCC win of the season, but things didn't start out too well. He was collected in an early mud hole crashfest that claimed a half a dozen riders, and he was forced to come from way back in the pack. "After that crash, I was afraid of coming through the first lap down by a minute and never seeing the leaders again," Woodford said. "So I just went into to full charge mode. I really pushed, along with Rodney (Smith] to get back up there. Then I got all the way into tihe lead, but when I did, I had nothing left. I tried to back it down a lillie bit, but I was starting to cramp up. I really wish I didn't have to work so hard to have gotten with the leaders." ~ Steve Hatch The popular FMF Suzuki rider from Arizona had a rough start to his day. "At the first mud hole, a guy had crashed and it turned out it was Rodney (Smith]: Hatch said. "I didn't want to run him over, he's my teammate. So I stopped. When J did, I leaned my back against a tree, not thinking anything of it, and it put a hole in my water system. And tihat was on the first lap." Hatch managed to climb back toward the front, and even led Smith around for a while. "He looked like he was struggling a little bit, so I got in front of him and tried to show him some lines," Hatch said. "I hope I pushed him a little bit." wide-open to catch the field, he soon ran Iowan energy. "I was hoping' would maybe catch a second wind when I got into the lead, but I didn't," Woodford said. "' was tired from having charged so hard early." Andrews stretched the lead out again when Woodford began to tire, and Hawk put on a charge for the number-two spot. Then, both Hawk and Woodford crashed negotiating a tight, swampy section, which gave Andrews an even bigger lead. "Freddy got over the bank and there were a few lappers behind him," Hawk said. "We ended up having to wait for those guys, and he gained a lot of time on us there. After that, I just charged and charged but I never caught him. He's smart, he outrode everyone today." Woodford, meanwhile, fell into the clutches of Kiedrowski but held on for fourth. Fifth went to Smith, who dug down deep to catch a fading Lafferty and score valuable championship points. Sixth went to Smith's teammate Steve Hatch, with Am-Pro So. Just how good is Fred Andrews in hiS home state of OhIO? Andrews won all three GNCC rounds In Ohio last year. and he won two of the three rounds in OhiO this year. Yamaha veteran Randy Hawkins taking a solid seventh. Lafferty fin· The season IS almost over. and Shane Watts IS finally gett,"g close to getting back on the track again following hiS wnst Injury suffered a month before the season even began. Watts debuted a 2003 KTM 125 at St. Clairsville. and he was ready to go the distance and win again. After ndlng Just one lap at the previous round at High Point. he recorded nearly three laps this time. and hung with the lead pack during those three laps. Unless he can pull off a miracle. Watts will be shut out for wins In 2002. ished eighth, Jenks took ninth, and West Virginia's Doug Blackwell rounded out the top 10. eN Powerline Put< St. Clairsville, Obio October 6, ZOOZ lRaund 1Z of 131 Jason Raines' GNCC title bid offiCially ground to a halt the weekend before St. Clairsville. when he broke hiS collarbone at a Hare Scramble in South Carolina. Raines still showed up at the GNCC to cheer on his factory Am-Pro Yamaha teammates Barry Hawk and Randy Hawk,"s. "I think thiS [the collarbone] is a sign that I should Just rest and take It easy.' the Washington native said. "'Ieamed a lot thiS year.' O/A: 1. fred Andrews (KlIw); 2. 8lIny HllWk Jr. (Yam): 3. Mike Kiedrowski (5uz): 4. Chuck Woodford (Kaw): 5. Rodney Smith (SUl): 6. Steve Hlitch (5uz); 7. Randy Hawkins (Vern); 8. Mike Lafferty (KTM): 9. Robbie Jenks (Yom): 10. Dou9 Blackwell (Hon). AMA GRAND NATIONAL CROSS COaNTRY SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 12 of 13 rounds): 1. Rodney Smith (229/2 wins); 2. Fred Andrews (218/2 Wins): 3. Mike Lafferty (217/1 win); 4. Mike Kiedrowski (214); 5. Jason Raines (203/3 wins): 6. Chuck Woodford (171/2 wins): 7. Robbie Jenks (161): 8. Barry Hawk Jr. (158/ win): 9. Brion Garrahan (129): 10. Randy Hawkins (124). Having an unfair advantage? Chuck Woodford was quick to pOint out that. although he lives just minutes from the Powerline Park facility. he has only viSited the property twice In the last year. With GNCC amateur racers only counting their best 11 finishes in the 13-race series for points. several top A division riders stepped into the Pro ranks at St. Clairsville. The 250cc A Champion. Andy Shea. started well but blew a shock and ultimately finished 11 th overall. Gas Gas rider Marty Aloisio. the Open A champ. also tried the Pro class but had a rough debut and failed to make the top 20. The top amateur at St. Clairsville was Pennsylvania's Ryan Rodgers. who finished 13th overall on his Kawasaki and first In the 250cc A Class. Andrews celebrates his second win of the year. G U G I _ n __ S • OCTOBER 16,2002 9

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