Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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AMA USA MegaSeries Round 16: Suzuki Top Gun Showdown (Left) Triple MegaSeries champion Chris Leadbeater Jr. (16) endured the slippery conditions at Muddy Creek Raceway's Suzuki Top Gun Showdown to walk off with season titles in the 250cc B, Four-Stroke and Unlimited Amateur classes, even though he didn't win any classes for the day. After getting around 250cc B holeshot artist Ryan Stanesu (35), Leadbeater stayed In front until mud-racer Jason Tucker (84) made an unanswerable pass. By BARBARA WILLIAMS PHOTOS BY LOREN WILLIAMS BLOUNTVILLE, TN, ocr. 20 v-evin Walker was already a double ~champion. This August, he earned AMA Amateur National Motocross titles in Over 25 and Vet Over 30 competition at Loretta Lynn's. At the 2002 Suzuki Top Gun Showdown, the grand finale for the AMA USA MegaSeries, Walker notched three more championships, in the 125cc A, 250cc A and Over 30 A classes. "If you can win on the MegaSeries tracks, you'll be competitive anywhere," noted Victory Sports promoter Sam Gammon. "And if you can keep a positive attitude, you'll have fun even in less than perfect weather - such as we have today." Cold rain early Sunday morning made things interesting. Walker had already locked up all three titles, so he could've stayed in the van and off the slippery slopes of Muddy Creek Raceway. But a winner has to compete, and though Walker had a tough time with his big YZ426F, he salvaged the day's 125cc A win with 2-1 finishes. "The bigger bike just seemed to collect much more mud; it got too heavy to go fast enough to get to the front," observed the Birch Creek Motorsports-backed Walker, who added with a grin, "But you still have to be out there, watching for the chance that the leaders will fall down." Chris Leadbeater Jr. of Columbus, Ohio, also built three MegaSeries championships (in the 250cc B, Four-Stroke, and Unlimited Amateur classes) through consistent riding. Mostly he appeared in the win column, but he was never out of the top three. Leadbeater's younger brother Joey walked off with the 85cc (9-13) and 85cc (12-13) titles. However, neither brother won any of his classes at the Top Gun Showdown. "Everybody was crashing out there," commented Chris Leadbeater Sr. "Chris Jr. wears glasses, and they 70 NOVEMBER 13, 2002' cue fogged up in 250cc B while he had a five-second lead on Jason Tucker. He pulled off on the back stretch, and that's when Tucker got past. But Chris still finished second in that class. Tucker is really good in the mud! In both the Four-Stroke class and Unlimited Amateur, Chris crashed and lost the lead. Joey also was in the top three, battling with Tyler Newton, when he crashed in both the 9-13 and 12-13. However, Tyler crashed, too, so Joey still finished enough ahead of him to save his championships." Because Joey didn't ride two of the 85cc (9-13) classes toward season's end, Newton got close enough to be a threat and could have snatched the title. Chris Jr., a 3.0 student who's in his sophomore year of college while still a senior in high school, has lofty goals for next year: Loretta Lynn's of 2003 will see him take wins or at least top-three finishes. Early this season, he attended Ronnie Tichenor's riding school at the same time he moved up to the four-strokes from 80s and, as his dad says, "He's progressed and progressed." Joey, in seventh grade, also runs and can do the mile in 5:45 with no problem. He's well on his way to figuring out how to be his own man. "Joey will tell you exactly what's on his mind," smiled Chris Sr. "And he rides his own race. If he feels uncomfortable on the track, he'll ride Joey's race." (Above right) Ohio's Kyle Preston wasn't competing for MegaSeries championships, but he won the 125cc Schoolboy and 125cc B classes. Wes Gauldin found that a good start didn't guarantee good finishes. "I got the holeshot in 14-15," recounted Gauldin, "but I made a few mistakes through the mud and Zach Ames passed me." Ames' momentum pulled Gauldin, and the pair stretched out an insurmountable lead on the field, but Gauldin had to settle for runner-up on the day. "In Supermini, I got a decent start - second, I think - but slipped up and fell," Gauldin recounted. "A few got by me, but I knew I should be up top and tried to overwork myself." Gauldin finished seventh for the day but still held on to the season points lead. Homeschooler Gauldin has been racing for six years and works full time to pay for all of his racing himself. Barely 16, he will move up to the 125cc B class for 2003, aiming for two top-three finishes at next year's Loretta Lynn's event. National 51 cc Shaft champion Cooper Webb's racing career was launched early. "I told him he could have a motorcycle when we took the training wheels off his bicycle," said Cooper's dad, Bob. "Four hours later, my wife called me at work - he was jumping ramps in the back yard on two wheels, saying he was Jeremy McGrath and Mike LaRocco." Cooper Webb bagged the 51 cc Shaft and 51 cc (4-6) titles. Webb elected to skip Sunday's Shaft class, since the second-place points racer did, too. However, Kevin Walker stayed clean in the 125cc A contest, taking his only win of the day with 1-2 finishes in Blountville, Tennessee, site of the final round of the AMA USA MegaSeries. Cooper did race the 51cc (4-6) class. From an unremarkable eighth-place start, Webb worked his way up to third. "He just never fell," said Bob. eN Muddy Creek Raceway Blountville, Tennessee Results: October 20, 2002 [Round 16 01161 SI SHAFT BEG: I. Chadney Artrip (Yem). 51 SHAFT: 1. Nathaniel Stover (Yam); 2. Hunter Jones (Yam); 3. Logan Vall (Cob); 4. Thomas Covington (KTM): 5. Corey Thompson (Cob). Sf (4-6): 1. Masnn Gragg ~Cnb); 2. Matt H. cox (Cob); 3. Cooper Webb (Yam; 4. Bryan Chesnee (Cob); 5. Nathaniel Stover (Cob. SI (7-8): 1. Cndy Gregg ( TM): 2. Egen RoseU (Cob); 3. Brent Jernigan (KTM); 4. Shane McElrath (KTM): 5. Justin Wolford (KTM). 65 (7ยท9): 1. len Trettel (SUl): 2. Seen Cunningham (KTM); 3. Cody Robbins (SUl); 4. Tanner Wilson (KTM); 5. Vance Francis (KTM). 65 (10-11): 1. Benjemin Dentnn (KTM); 2. P.J. Larsen (Kaw); 3. Kyle Burlile (KTM); 4. Tony Hursey (KTM): 5. Ryen Smith (Yem). 8.5 D: 1. Jacob Riley (Yllm); 2. ShllY LaFone (Yaml; 3. Cody Petersen (Han): 4. Trampus Mitchell (Kaw ; 5. Matthew Huss (Yam). 85 (7-11): I. Benjemin Denton (KTM): 2. P.J. Lllrsen (Kaw); 3. Kyle Burlile (SUl); 4. Sean Cunningham (Yam); 5. Tony Hursey (KTM). 85 (9-13): 1. Jeke Hele (Kew): 2. Joey Leadbeater (Suz); 3. Tyler Newton (Suz); 4. Wesley Keller (Yam); 5. Ryan Brumfield (Suz). 85 (12-13): 1. Kyle Perry (Kew): 2. Eric R. Been (Suz): 3. Krle Smith (SUl): 4. tyler Newton (SUl); 5. Jake Helle (Kelw). 85 (14-15): 1. Zach Ames (Suz); 2. We! Geluldin (Kaw); 3. Glen Martin (Kaw); 4. Brent Gregory (Suz); 5. Telylor A. Reilly (Suz). S/MINI: 1. Petrick M.ssle (Kaw): 2. Glen Martin (Kew): 3. Kyle Smith (SUl); 4. A.J. Kuschatka (SUl); S. Teylor A. Reilly (Suz). 125 SCHBY: L Kyle Preston (Suz); 2. Matthew McGraw (Suz); 3. Travis Flowers (Yelm); 4. Shane O'&nion (Suz); 5. Shane Mills (KTM). 125 PRO: 1. Kevin Welker (Yam): 2. Kelly Smith (KTM); 3. Jon Boruff (Hon): 4. Tyson Hedsell (Yem): 5. Donnie Adlllms (Kaw). 12S B: 1. kyle Preston (SUl): 2. John Wisenbarger (Yam); 3. Dusty Walker (Kaw); 4. Jason Tucker (Suz); 5. Brandon Belcher (Hon). 125 C: 1. Edgar Robinson (Yam); 2. Brandon Smith (Yam); 3. Tyler Bailes (Yam); 4. Garrett Meek (Yam); 5. Jeffrey Coates (Yam). 1250: 1. Justin samPlesJHOn); 2. Gabriel Stewart (Yam); 3. Ryan Spillman KTM); 4. Brandon Spurlock (Kaw); 5. Ryan Melson ( awl. 250 PRO: 1. Kelly Smith (KiM); 2. Keith Johnson (KTM); 3. Joshua Summey (Yam); 4. Jon Boruff (Hon); 5. Jason McCormick (Hon). 250 B: 1. Jason Tucker (Suz); 2. Chris Leadbellter Jr. (Yllm); 3. Kyle Preston (Suz); 4. John Wisenbllrger (Yam); S. Ryan Stanesu (SUl). 250 C: 1. Justin Lewis (Han); i. Kevin Smith (Yam); 3. Casey Shaw (HQII); 4. Jeremy Morris (Han): 5. Chris Rey (KTM). 250 D: 1. Alex Allen (Hnn); 2. S.m Ch.lk (KTM); 3. Bred Clerk (Yem); 4. Brien Finley (Yem); 5. Sten Steffey (Yem). 25+ A: 1. Mike Blair (SUl); 2. Aaron Bollinger (SUl); 3. Kevin Blelock (Han); 4. Tim Hodock (Han): 5. Ched Anderson (Han). 25+ B: 1. Wes Gannon (Kaw); 2. Allen Brown (Han): 3. Merk Muncy (Yem); 4. Cery Hinkle (Suz); 5. Benson Wolfram (Kaw). 25+ C/O: 1. Edward Johnson (Han); 2. Anthony Jones \Yam); 3. Travis Carlisle (Yllm); 4. Todd MusIck Suz); 5. Alan Fitzmaurice (Han). 30+ A: 1. Mike Bl"ir (Suz); 2. Aaron Bollinger (Suz): 3. Albert Jamie McCoy (Suz); 4. Kevin BI8lock (Han): 5. William Liles (SUl). 30+ B: J. Gery Hinkle (SUl): 2. Chris Shortridge (SUl): 3. Larry Sperks (Han); 4. John Storm (Kew): 5. Mike Gravell (Suz). 30+ C/O: 1. Edward Johnson (Han); 2. Anthony Jones (Yllm); 3. Paul Bryant (Suz); 4. Donnie W. Siegle (Han); 5. Nethan Scism (SUl). 35+: 1. Albert Jamie McCoy (SUl); 2. Keith Maraugha (Suz); 3. Shawn Wyant (Han); 4. Rick Wright (Suz); 5. Donnie W. Slagle (Han). 40+: 1. Jeffrey Dodgen (Yam); 2. Chuck Palmer (Yaml: 3. Keith Maraughll (SUl); 4. Kenneth Pruss (Yem ; 5. Rick Oxley (Yam). 45+: 1, Johnny Gibson (Yam); 2. Rick Oxley (Yllm); 3. James England (Suz); 4. Micha Bradley Byars (SUl). O/L AM: I. Dusty Welker (Kew): 2. John Wisenbarger (Yam); 3. Rllndy Newsome (Yam); 4. Hutch Lee (Yern); 5. Chris Lellidbeater Jr. (Yam). all C/O: 1. Brllndon Smith (Yam); 2. Tyler Bailes (Yam); 3. Marcus John Thompson (Hon); 4. Edgar Robinson (Yllm). 4-STRK AI'!: 1. B.J. Huntsinger (Yem): 2. Joshua D. Wyatt (Han); 3. Jonlllthan Williams (Yam); 4. Matt Lee (Yam); 5. Jeffrey Fields (Yllm). 4-STRK PRO: J. Kelly Smith (KTM): 2. Keith Johnson \KTM); 3. Paul Carpenter (Han); 4. Joshua Summey Yam); 5. Jason McCormick (Han).