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/128218
helped us fix that problem, but then we lost all our top-end power. For this morning's practice it ran okay but were too rich. This morning, Robert [Ward - his mechanic] leaned the bike out and got set temperature of the engine right, and it just flew. I just worked really hard in the race to be smooth as I could and be easy on my tire. It was a great race, and the bike ran well, and it made it easy on me. That was probably the easiest I've had to ride all weekend. I had a good time. It was a lot of fun." Sorensen said the pain wasn't as bad as you would think. Still the man: Rich Oliver dominated the 250cc GP at Pikes Peak, just as he has dominated both the class and the facility. It was Oliver's fourth consecutive Pikes Peak win, his fifth career win at the track, and his fifth consecutive win this season. "I feel pretty good right now," Sorensen said after the race. "The adrenaline is still going, so I think it takes over. I came to this race, and we played it with an open mind whether we would get to ride. I wasn't sure if the hand was going to be bad, but it turned out not being so spun up, so then I was just, 'That'll do.' I've had a rough weekend as it is, so that was my race. I just settled in and tried to keep a pace, but not that fast of a pace." Behind Turner came a lonely Colin Jensen, the Idaho resident riding his Aprilia to fourth place, well clear of fifth-placed Ed Marchini on his Araibacked Yamaha. Behind Marchini came a gaggle of riders led by Perry Melneciuc and his Sunsports Yamaha. He was shadowed by Chris Pyles, Greg Esser and Sandy Noce. eN bad if I changed my style a little bit and let some muscles take over for others. Immediately, Friday we were going good, and our times were right there, and sadly I highsided on Friday' morning in turn three. It just cracked a bone in my foot. It's not something that really hurts me when I'm on the bike, but it just swelled up. I have a size lOon one foot and a size 8.5 on the other. I've been wearing my friend Perry Melnecuic's boot. "The race went really well. I would have liked to have pushed at the front, but for me it is something that I needed to get back out and get some points - and get myself established again. After the big accident in Atlanta, they put some pins in my hand, and those will come out after Elkhart Lake. It was a great race. I got into the 55s finally, and that's what I wanted to do. Simon [Turner] pushed hard in the first few laps, and as they say in England, it was a real ding-dong battle. That was fun. I just watched my pit board." Simon Turner again showed well, riding his Priority Racing Honda to an easy third place. "I tried to go at the start, but Rich [Oliver] pulled away a wee bit," Turner said. "Then I had a big scare. Going into turn one, in second gear, it Pikes Pelk International Raceway Fountain, Colorado Resuhs: June I, 2003 [Round 51 2S0 GRAND PRIX: I. Rich Oliver (Yam): 2. Chuck Sorensen (Apr); 3. Simon Turner (Han): 4. Colin Jensen (Apr); 5. Ed Marchini (Yam); 6. Perry Melneciuc (Yam): 7. Chris Pyles (Han); 8. Greg Esser (Yam); 9. Sandy Noce (Yam); 10. Ed Sorbo (Yam); t 1. Darren Fu1ce (Yam); 12. T. Russell Strobridge (Yam); 13. John France (Hen); 14. Selin McNew (Han); 15. Ben Welch (Yam): 16. David Gallant (Yam); 17. Stephen Bowline (Han); 18. Sean Wray (Yam); 19. Silbanio Trujillo (Yam): 20. Shawn Murrtly (Hon); 21. Steve Scott (Yam); 22. Glen Christianson (Yem); 23. John Burbach (Yem). 250 GRAND PRIX C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 11 rounds): 1. Rich Oliver (188/4 wins); 2. Chuck Sorensen (128); 3. Perry Melneciuc (127); 4. Chris Pyles (122); 5. Edward Mtlrchini (121); 6. Simon Turner (116); 7. Colin Jensen (113); 8. Ed Sorbo (103); 9. Dorren Fulce (90); 10. Simon Noce (87): II. Greg Esser (86); 12. John Frence (66); 13. Stephen Bowline (65); 14. Setln Wray (64); 15. Setln McNew (46); 16. Stephen Murray (43); 17. Ben Welch (41); 18. (TIE) Rolf Hellstrom (38)/Jeremy Bonnett (38); 20. Stirrett Long (37)/Sean Crane (37)/Mark Watts (37). Upcoming Rounds: Round 6 - Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, June 8 Round 7 - Brainerd, Minnesota, June 29 MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE D~D~. • cue I e n e _ 55 • JUNE 1 1. 2003 19