Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

u.s. PRO MOTOCROSS CHAMP/O Henson stepped up on the Honda for the Virginia event, earning lane choice over Gadson for the final with a hot lap semi of 7.76/184. Still Gadson was just too good, taking the win 7.72 to 7.85. The top nitrous bike was Tommy Miceli, who went to both semifinals on Brad Mummert's "BradziIJa" Suzuki GS with a best timeslip of 7.87/184. With two-time defending Zero Gravity 600 SuperSport champ Ryan Schnitz racing the NHRA Pro Stock tour with Rob Muzzy this season, the number one plate is up for grabs in the hotly contested class. Team Green rider and number three plate-holder Chip Hunter established himself as the performance bike in the field, running a string of 9.70s to take the Atlanta event and qualify number one for Virginia. Hunter got by number 2 plate-holder Eddie Krawiec, who switched from Kawasaki to Yamaha in the off-season, 9.78 to 10.04. Hunter looked to make it two in a row by maintaining his 9.70 pace in early Virginia eliminations, but a slip to a 9.93 in the quarterfinals put him on the trailer as Krawiec took revenge and turned in a holeshot win on the Orient Express R6. Krawiec got a redlight gift in the semis to advance to the final where he met Ed Murphy Jr. on his ZX-6R. Krawiec was simply unstoppable on the tree, getting the holeshot win with a 10.01 to Murphy's quicker 9.95. Krawiec's win was the first AMA/Prostar 600 win by a Yamaha and the first on anything other than a Kawasaki since at least 1997. The Yamaha Hot Rod Cruiser had a strange visitor to the winners' circle for the Atlanta event. Rick McWaters, who, together with engine builder Terry Reed, dominated the class last season and wrapped up the championship until it was discovered that Reed had illegally modified the cylinder head, served his suspension and was back in competition. Out to prove a point, McWaters took the Atlanta win on his Harley Davidson with a final round win with a brutal 9.69/137 against the on-fire Eddie Krawiec on the Orient Express Yamaha Warrior. But for the Virginia event Patrick Racing, whose two riders were eliminated before the postponement in Atlanta, reigned supreme. With class champion Mark Underwood struggling, Patrick's number two rider, Michael Ray, brought the Warrior to an unprecedented 9.60/137 to qualify number one and set both ends of the national record in the first round of eliminations with a stunning 9.56/138 charge. Ray was untouchable for the rest of the day and took out the Team Kawasaki Mean Streak of Chip Ellis in the final, 9.65 to 9.84. eN Upcoming Round: Round 4 - Madison, Illinois, May 31-June 1 lP SERIES JUNE 7 & 8, 2003 • SUZUKI & PARTICIPATING SUZUKI DEALERS 125/250 cc Pro MX Nationals ~DUN:LI'P GENERAL ADMISSION 'YRAD/AL ROVER SUNDAY, JUNE 8 $25 SAT. & SUN. ONLY TICKET $30 I.IGHT TRUCK _ _ _ _ _ _TIRES Limited Pit Passes 'for Sunday 9-12 510 Each rMPG SATURDAY .JUNE 7 NATIONAL MX PROMOTERS GROUP Technical Inspections Pro Qualifying 4PM ~OUTDWI[U SUNDAY • .JUNE B Pro Racing - Practice at 9AM Pro Racing 1 PM Sharp Victory Ceremonies 5:30 PM IApprox) M 530,000 Expert Round Purse America's Greatest Pro Champions 12 Round Series Includes 5300,000 Rider Point Fund Trophies - Promoted by 4 ~1I». . PARTS u.a.r••• ED ~ ~ s6s _ -3 Cli/ .. VIlUEr nO!!!W9!rs 33u MOTOCROSS 338 Southwick. MA ~ .... SS r!A>:9~ 'IIollesen ~ ~ 4't1'!~t~ roN9T~ , ~ ~:'!~~ fY"v.t..<.

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