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AMAIMBNA 250cc Grand Prix Round 7: Brain.erd International Raceway passing him for second." Zemke needed the lead in the final few corners because his Erion Honda wasn't getting out of the penultimate corner very well. "I was getting killed coming out of the bus stop," he sajd. "I was pretty lucky to get those lappers there. I didn't think I'd be able to hold anybody off coming out of the bus stop, coming out of the last corner there, because I just couldn't get any drive out of there. " Fourth place was decided in the bus stop. Attack Suzuki's Josh Hayes was right on Spies, who was battling with lappers on the way out of the comer. "He was having a temper tantrum, I think," Hayes said, "and he was looking over trying to elbow the guy for no good reason. I didn't think it was for much of a good reason. That's all right because I was going by him on the right side, and he was looking on the left." Spies explained that wasn't the case at all. Like Zemke, Spies was having trouble getting out of the bus stop, though his was caused by a clutch problem that won't be fixed this year. He was also having trouble exiting the final corner, where getting a run onto the front straight is critical. Spies got the worst of the lappers when the lead pack caught them in the chicane earlier on the final lap, losing touch with Yamaha's Hacking when the final lapped rider cut him off. Spies was still trailing the lapper when they went into the bus stop, then made his move on the exit with the lapper to his left. "I barely elbowed him, and I never let off," Spies said. It was enough for Spies to lose touch with Hacking and get caught by Hayes. The loss of position cost Spies a meant that Oliver wasn't able to break his own race record from last year, though he matched the average speed of 105.1 mph. Not that it mattered. He was dominant and happy and openly proud of what has been a nearly perfect season. Of the possible 264 points available, for wins, pole positions, and laps led, Oliver has 263. "Even though it's the last year and 'm sad about that, I'm really thrilled ith the performance that we as a have been able to put in," Olivid. "Where before we always had eed but we didn't have the con- Rich Oliver (97) won his seventh 250cc GP race of the season. There have been seven races! t might have been a race if only Chuck Sorensen hadn't blown up. Chasing the dominant Rich Oliver on the fifth of 12 laps, Sorensen felt hjs engine start to tie up in the ultrafast turn-one sweeper. The Stargel Aprilia rider calmly pulled in the clutch and rode it to a stop, the top cylinder seized - his day over. "He [Sorensen] was riding a good race, and we would have had a battle right to the line, I'm sure, unless I did something in traffic, one of my tricks," Oliver said after winning his seventh race in a row, another perfect season intact. "It would have been a good match-up. The drafting here and the tailwind we had really evened out the bikes. It made it hard to get away." Maybe from Sorensen, but not from the rest. Oliver ended the 12lap, 36-mile race with 22.132 seconds in hand. A few quick downpours before the race meant that running the 250cc race to term might have infringed on the television window for the following Superbike race, so the race was shortened from 13 to 12 laps. It 16 n.",,&: Bv HENNV RAV ABRAMS PHOTO BV BRIAN J. NELSON BRAINERD, MN, J(JNE 29 I JULv9.2003ยท single championship point, after he'd earned one for taking the pole position, and now trails Buckmaster by eight points, 182-174, after six of 10 races. Hayes is third with 163, two up on Zemke. "We're only eight points out of the lead, and we're going to my four favorite racetracks," Spies said. The pack was spread out behind Spies, with Bruce Transportation Group's Marty Craggill six seconds back with two on Attack Suzuki's Jason Pridmore, the defending class champion. Valvoline EMGO Suzuki's Steve Rapp, who'd earlier survived a spectacular near-highside in Superstock qualifying, bending his front rim and blowing the front tire, was eighth with plenty on Corona Extra EBSCO Media Suzuki's Adam Fergusson in ninth. Hooters Suzuki's Vincent Haskovec was well back in 10th. eN eye I .. ~.t;;;'~~l!fY' now we have both." n Sorensen went out, the podijshers were set, the race entirecessional. Priority Racing's n Turner moved into second, 11 seconds back, with Jensenern.com's Colin Jensen third. Turner said the difference this week was that he'd brought a new rear shock from his home in Ireland. "All year the tlting would not handle; it was evil," Turner said in his thick Irish accent. "If you ask me, it was evil to ride it, just dangerous and evil. Got a new shock in it, and it's just really, really nice. I'm only starting to learn to ride it now." Next up is a new engine for the Laguna Seca round. "I've tried so much stuff on it that it doesn't make any difference; it just goes the same," he said. There's an engine waiting at home which he'll bring with him to Monterey. "I honestly believe that if I get my engine ... not at all the tracks, but at some of the tracks, I can push him," Turner said of Oliver. Jensen was on the podium for the second time: His best finish was a second at Road Atlanta. There could be more to come as Jensen adapts to the bike. I.-Inrd InterutioIInl 1llIee.~ hiMrd, Min_ Results: JA" 21, 2003 lRound 6) LOCKHART-PHilLIPS aSA FORMalA XTREME: 1. Jake Zemke (Hon); 2. Demon Buckmaster (Yam); 3. Jllmie Hacking (VllIm); 4. Josh Hayes (Suz): 5. Ben Spies (SOl); 6. Marty CTaggill (Hon): 7. Jason Pridmore (SOl); 8. Steve Repp (Suz); 9. Adam Fergusson (Suz); 10. Roger Lee Hllyden (Hon); 11. Vincent HlIIskovec (SOl); 12. Jason Curtis (SUI): 13. Mark Vendel (Yem): 14. Kevin Shawn Gordon (SUI); 15. Hawk Mallotte (SUI); 16. Jeff Bostrom (SUI); 17. Jason Knupp (SUI); 18. Paul Heinen (Yam); 19. David Bell (SUI); 20. Jeff Purk (SUI); 21. James Kerker (Hon); 22. Kevin Hanson (Suz); 23. Bradley Frey (Hon): 24. David Guy (Suz): 25. Matt Malterer (SUI); 26. Alex Freeman (Yam). Time: 21 min., 8.940 sec. Distance: 13 laps, 39 miles Average speed: 110.6 mph Margin of victory: 1.095 sec. lOCKHART-PHILLIPS aSA FORMaLA XTREME C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 6 of 10 rounds): 1. Damon Buckmllster (182/2 Wins): 2. Ben Spies (174/2): 3. Josh Hayes (163): 4. Joke Zemke (161/1): 5. Adam Fergusson (153); 6. Marty Cragglll (144); 7. Steve Rapp (132); 8. Jamie Hlicking (129/1): 9. Jason Pridmore (114); 10. Jimmy Moore (1 I 1); 11. Roger Lee Heyden (108); 12. JlIson Curtis (75); 13. Chris Ulrich (73): 14. Aaron Gobert (70): 15. Ty Howard (61); 16. Craig Connell (55); 17. Doug Chandler (52); I B. (TIE) Vincent Haskovec/David Guy (41); 20. Geoff May (39). Upcoming Rounds: Round 7 - Monterey, California, July 11 Round 8 - Lexington, Ohio, JUly 26 "I think I have the best bike in the class, and it's a good thing I do because it compensates for my skills," Jensen said. "This is only my third season in the 250 GP, and it takes a while, and I thjnk I'm getting there slowly but surely, but I do think I have the best bike, and it shows at times, the top speeds at time, the handling that we have." Today's difficulties came from his snazzy new red leathers. They were a little tight, and his legs started to cramp up. "I didn't have the same sensation any more, and so I kind of slowed up," he said. "What was the point of pushing a little too hard and falling over and losing a podium for today?" Sunsport's Perry Melneciuc took fourth, holding off Chris Pyles in the early stages before pulUng comfortably away. Oliver's seventh win gives him an 82-point lead over Melneciuc with four races to go. CN .--...-wti ta.. Rnenwn, ~nnE ... IInlIIls: .... 29, ZlD3 la..! 7) I'\IlNA 250 GRAND PRIX; I. Rich Oliver (Yom): 2. Simon Turner (Han); 3. Colin Jensen (Apr): 4. Perry Melneciuc (Yem): 5. Chris Pyles (Hon); 6. Edward Marchini (Vam); 7. Sandy Noce (Yom); B. Greg Esser (Hon): 9. John France (Hon); 10. Sean Wray (Vam): 11. Steve Scott (Vam): 12. Mark Stiles (Yam); 13. Shllwn Murray (Han); 14. Stephen Bowline (Han); 15. Glen Christienson (Yam): 16. James Bonner (YlIm); 17. Sohn Wehseler (Yam); 18. Justin Long (YlIm); 19. Sean McNew (Han); 20. Edward Sorbo (Vam): 21. Jerr Japs (Vam): 22. Charles Sorensen (Apr). Time: 20 min., 32.900 sec. Distance: 12 laps. 36 miles Ayerage speed: 105.1 mph I'Ilargin of victory: 22.132 sec. MBI'IA 250 GRAND PRIX C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 7 of 11 rounds): '1. Rich Oliver (263/7 wins); 2. Perry Melneciuc (181); 3. Simon Turner (177): 4. Chris Pyles (174); 5. Ed Marchini (163); 6. Chuck Sorensen (161): 7. Colin Jensen (142): B. Sandy Noce (136); 9. (TIE) Ed Sorbo/Greg Esser (133); 11. Selin Wray (101); 12. Stephen Bowline (96): 13. Darren Fulce (90); 14. John France (88); 15. Shawn Murray (79); 16. Sean McNew (78); 17. (TIE) Barrett Long/James Bonnett (60); 19. (TIE) Steve Scott/James Bonner (55). Upcoming Rounds: Round 8 - Monterey, California, July 12 Round 9 - Lexington, Ohio, July 27