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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128223
AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships Round 8: Sharon Speedway Jay Springsteen (9) didn't find the pocked Sharon racing surface exactly to his liking, and he slipped to 13th place. J.R. Schnabel (partially hidden) finished 10th. BB3 NATIONAL Aupperle Racing/Young America's Rob Pearson's Sportster had not finished a race all year, but when it finally did, the youngster found himself on top of the box, the winner of I never realized I was that far the Harley-Davidson Sporster Perfor- up. I was hoping I was in the top 10. I mance Series main event at Sharon looked up, and I was in fourth, my Speedway. front. Cape best finish ever." Fear Harley-Davidson/ Coziahr Harley-Davidson/National Harley-Davidson of High Point's Cycle/Kiesow Racing's Johnny Mur- Robert Lewis led the first lap, then phree had locked onto Lynch as he Pearson took control. Lewis was left passed by, and Murphree came home in a five-rider war over second. Doc's fifth, leading a gaggle of riders made Harley-Davidson/Jim Wagner's Merle up of Geo Roeder (Las Vegas Harley- Scherb, Smokin Moes/Simons Perfor- Davidson/KK Supply). Mike Hacker mance's Scott Stump, Lima Harley- (SuperTrapp/Moroney's Harley- Davidson), Carr, Kenny Coolbeth Davidson/Roeder Racing's Dan Gedeon and Battlefield Harley-David- (KTM Sportmotorcycles/Jones Pow- son's Shawn Baer were banging ersports) and J.R. Schnabel (Mem- around in their drive for second, with phis Shades/Parts Unlimited/Drag each taking a shot at Lewis but in the Specialties) . end coming up short. Stump filled out working real good, and I was running finished fourth. "I kind of got a bad Number 11 was 11 th, as Gardner the podium with Baer, Gedeon, Merle right with those guys," Carr said. "For start and was sliding around. I Racing's Bryan Bigelow led lap one Scherb, Josh Toungett, Scott Scherb, some reason it went away. I couldn't couldn't get anything to work. Then leader Kevin Atherton (National series points leader Cory McDermitt, get a hold of the ground any more; on the restart I think they put me Cycle/Kersting - Perry Harley-David- and Timmy Mitchell filling out the top the track changed that much." back farther than what we were. I son) across the finish line. Bartels' ten. guess it made for a good show for the Harley-Davidson's Jay Springsteen, Pearson won the first of the three Almost undetected, Johnson's Moroney's teammate, Paul Lynch, fans. Once that tire came in, we start- Jason Tyer (Allen Racing). Shawn heats with the fastest time of the was having the best race of his ed picking guys off and going to the Clark (Cayuga Tool/Sunoco) and night, giving him the pole for the Raun Wood (Scott Powers ports/ career. "We put a fresh tire on for the main, and it took five or six laps for it Rob Pearson won the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Series main to start working," said Lynch, who event. National. Much to the delight of the SuperTrapp) rounded out the finish- large crowd, local Pro-Sport rider, ers. Lancaster Harley-Davidson/Sad- Dan Gedeon came from behind to dlemen's Jared Mees and Agles Exca- beat Ben Siudara in the second heat. vating's Chris Boone failed to finish. The last heat fell to defending series BRIEFLY••• It was looking more and more like Chris Carr would easily repeat as the 2003 Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Champion. but suddenly Carr is showing small chinks in his armor. Former champion Joe Kopp is taking full advantage as the series swings into a four-week, midseason lull. "It's frustrating. but we've got a month to regroup." said Carr. who has seen his points lead shaved to 18 over Kopp. While many riders are headed to Laguna Seca for the AMA Redbull Supermoto Championship Series - including Carr. Kopp. Coolbeth and Schnabel. many are headed in other directions. "I had a lot of plans for our break, but I think I'm going to nix those plans and stick around the house and really work on my training program." Johnny Murphree said. "It's time to get down to brass tacks. We nibbled away a few more points on Chris, which is totally good. As long as we can stay ahead of Chris. we're in this thing. I'm going to go out there and try to win races; that's what we need to do. We're going to put our best foot forward every week the rest of the year." "Hopefully this will be a confidence builder; we need to get back into the game." said Mike Hacker. "I hate this. I don't want to take any time off. We're going to try and hit local races and that Hot Shoe in Augusta. GA. on July 26. I've got to get my rhythm back." "We're going to hit some Amateur races," Rich King said. "[Son] Aaron is coming off a great week at the Amateur Nationals. and this off time for me will let us hit a few races. I was really Impressed With Aaron. He won all three races he was in yesterday on the n. He has really been looking forward to the short track and n. He won all the 125cc races he was in. On the short track he won the 400cc and led the 450cc until about two laps from the end. and the Halbert kid got him. On the n he was setting some amazing times. The kid is unbelievably smooth. If the speed IS there, he'lI run within a tenth of a second for twenty laps. He was turning laps quicker than I was at the National on the same race track... While the track was obViously not in ideal condition, it was not due to lack of effort. "Despite the fact we had a rough race track. we've got to thank the Blaney family for bringing us here," Chris Carr said. "We had a great crowd tonight, and the fans I've talked to tonight thought it was great. I think it makes for a good recipe to come back and try again." Possibly influenced by his podium finish. Rich King was pretty much of the same opinion. "It turned out pretty good." he said. "I was really dreading going out there early; the track was terrible. I couldn't believe they put us out there for that first practice, but they worked it and worked it. It was still pretty shaky in the main, but at least you could race on it. It was the kind of track where you just try to keep it on two wheels. It could bite you at any time." Since joining the Moroney's Harley-Davidson/1800FASTHOG team. Paul Lynch has been enjoying the most successful season of his career. "We're happy with our first top five, but maybe we can get a good start and win one of these things." Lynch said. "Pat (Moroney) likes it when we win heats and semis; he gets a little extra coverage. All of us in the top 1O. I think we had a pretty good day." 20 JULY 16, 2003' cue I e n e _ s