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/128205
Oglethorpe Speedway - Half Mile Kopp~:mKTM u®~@ Daytona Opener hard-earned second. Defending Grand National Champion Lancaster HarleyDavidson's Chris Carr topped the STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVE HOENIG/FLAT TRAK FOTOS SAVANNAH, GA,FEB. 28 T he opening round of Bike Week flat track racing included more than 120 entries battling away on the Oglethorpe Speedway Half Mile. Despite rain all day, former Grand National Champion Joe Kopp got the 2003 dirt track season off to a flying start when he rode his KTM Sportcycles/ Jones Powersports-backed HarleyDavidson to the 750/1000 main win. Kopp took over the lead on the sec0nd lap of the 12-lap main. His KTM teammate Kenny Coolbeth worked his way up from the back and took a The 505 Pro-Sport class was the first to be contested. After the qualifying heats the 34 riders were placed tightly contested 505 Expert main on his VOR. Bartel's Harley-Davidson's Shaun Russell led most of the race but slipped to second on lap ten. Noot Irvin rode his Augusta Harley-Davidson to the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance win. 2002 AMA Horizon Award winner Logan Myers looked to have the 505 Pro Sport main wrapped up, but Eaken Racing's Dan Gedeon spoiled Myers' professional debut when he took over the lead on lap seven and then held off the young charger. into three heats. Dad/Gusset Design/Varner Motorsport's Shawn Burr won the first heat over Bobhillmotorsports.com's Jim Wood Jr., Jesse Watkins and Matt Shuart. The second and fastest heat of the night went to Ultimate Edge Racing/Tucker Rocky's Myers. Ohio's Gedeon led Shane Arndt and Lowell Carson into the main. The last heat went to Fat Boy Racing/Overland Shade Company's Nick Daniels. Jason Storms, Jerry Cartwright and Eric Kvinlaug chased Daniels home. Joe Kopp was the big winner in the 750/1000 main. 44 MARCH 19, 2003' eye I ... newvs Chris Carr won the 505 Expert Main on his VOR and finished sixth in the 750/1000 main on his HarleyDavidson. The Pro-Sport main brought out the red flag on the first lap. Myers, Storms and Wood led the field into turn one, only to have Wood go down. As the other nine riders scrambled to miss Wood, Watkins was forced off the top of the turn and also fell - both riders were able to make the restart from the penalty line. Daniels nailed the restart, leading Myers and Storms in to turn one. Daniels finally gave in to Myers' pressure on lap five. A lap later Gedeon passed Daniels on his way to the lead by lap seven. Dad £, Mom/Buzzi Racing's Carson rounded out the winner's circle. Storms, Arndt and Burr made up the top six finishers. The 505 Expert class was the largest of the night with 51 riders. Steve Beattie won the first heat over Bryan Smith and Tom McGrane. Gardner Racing/Walters Brothers Harley-Davidson's Bryan Bigelow took the second heat over Charlie Italia and Ricky Winsett. The third heat was a battle royal as Carr and Kopp swapped the lead repeatedly. Kopp ended up with the win, with Garth Bastian in third. JR Schnabel carded a win in the fourth