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/128326
AMA National Championship Hillcllmb Series
Round I: Goshen Iron Horsemen Hill
Disbennett Challenges Watson
By DAVID L. PATTON JR.
MIDDLEBURY, IN, MAY 16
t 'S no secret I'm gunning for Dave Watson
th is year," said C had Disbe nnett. "He 's done
a great Job these last two years , winning the
5400c and 800cc National Championships, and
I've been the ' Inconsistent Disbe nne tt ,' but
we've done a lot of work this winter, and I'm
going to be there all year."
Dl s be nne tt ba c ke d up his pre- race
comments wit h the first 800cc wi n of his
career a t round one of the AMA Na tional
C hamp ionship Hillclimb Series, spon sored by
Pace American . Disbe nnett also led mo st of the
afternoon in th e 540 cc class, but seven-time
and defending Nation al Champion Watson put
toge ther a great ride to edge Disbe nnett, 3.018
to 3.103 second s.
" I knew I co u ld bea t his 540cc t im e ,"
Wat so n said of Disben nett . "Cha d timed the
8000c perfect, but this is a good start for us."
The Gos h e n Iron Horsemen hill is a
manmade hill, 150 fee t high with a huge 40foo t uphill double jump only 30 feet off o f the
starting line. To make things even harder, riders
cannot see the top of the second jump until
they reach the crest of the first jump. Th is hill
was tough for Watson early in his career, but
he's owned it the last four years .
Watson launched his Honda up the hill and
ran hard to the finish line to take the lead with
a run of 3.105 seconds .
Then Disbenne tt put the Triumph on the clock" I Just wan t to survive today," he noted . " I
bro ke my back here last year, so I want to start
the year o ff right."
Disbe nnet t chose the far right side of the
hill , and af ter a solid launch , he timed the
shutoff perfectly and kept the bike low over
the double. The bike just cleared the lip o f the
second jump. and 3. 10 3 seconds later there
was a new leader.
I
Disbenn ett watched as the S40cc class tried
to beat his time. but in roun d two on ly two
riders im proved amo ng the top 10.
On his final 540c( run, Wat so n se t a new
fast time of 3.018 seconds. Disbe nne tt knew
Watson c o uld beat h is 540c c time, so he
settled for second.
In the 800c c class, Watson decided to take
it a little easier o ff the line. Th is paid off with a
run of 3.124 and the new fast time. Disbennett
chose a new line far to the right and nailed the
takeoff on the dou ble; he slid way back on the
seat to keep the bike dose to the ground, and
when he landed , it took off so hard, it almost
Sherwood (Han): II . Jeff Thomas (Hon ); 12. James Wolfe
(Han ); I J . John Bunner (Han); 14. Mike Uvingston (Hon).
);
800 : I . Chad Disbennett (Tn); 2. Phil Libhart (Yam 3. Dave
Watson (Hon); 4. Gerry Bennett (H .D) ; S. John Bunner
);
(Yam) 6. Walter Strank Jr. (Yam 7. Jame s Large (H·O ); 8.
;
David Price (Tri); 9 . Chris Kabo (Kaw ); 10. James Wolfe
(Yam): I I . Il