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/128327
Sl"rf)II~ f)I)I~NS I~Illl~ IN 1,rl'I~'Nrrl' U.S. Anny's Angelle Savoie (near lone) picked up he r first NHRA Pro Stock Bike win in nearly a year when she defeOted Shawn Gonn (far lane) in the final of the Summit Racing Southern Nationals in Atlanta. STORY AND PHOTO BY KEVIN M cKENNA er patience tested and confidence at an all-time low after almost a full year out of the winners' circle, threet ime NHRA POWERade Pro Stock Bike champion Angelle Savoie found a qulck cure with her 32nd career victory at the Summit Racing Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Prior to her Atlanta victory over Shawn Gann, Savoie's last win came in May 2003, , in Chicago, one race before she and teammate Antron Brown announced a huge sponsorship deal with team owner Don Schumacher and the U.S. Army. Given the necessary funding, many figured Savoie would roll to her fourth straight championship, but a variety of mishaps kept her winless for the remainder of the season, and Savoie could only watch as Geno Scali claimed the $SO,OOO Powerade title. A slow start to the 2004 season, a pair of early ro und losses in Gainesville and Housto n, further wounded her confidence, but after beating Gann in the Atlanta final, 7.11 to 7.24, all is well again for Savoie. "It's been a long time getting back here [to the winners' circle]," Savoie said. "I thought this would never happen again. I really was beginning to have my doubts . This weekend made me realize why we have to struggle some times. It's so we can remember how good it feels to win. "My team gave me a great bike this weekend, and as far as I'm concerned, the curse is over. Alii can say is, we 're back." H 56 Savoie didn't just win in Atlanta; she dominated . In qualifying, she led the 16bike field with a 7. 12, stealing the top spot away from Michael Phillips in the final qualifying session. On race day, Savoie had the quickest bike in each elimination round, beginning with a pair of 7.15 runs in her wins over lake Mortgage Kawasaki's Josh Helvie and her Army teammate Antron Brown, who red-lighted. "The only good thing about racing Antron was that one of us was going to the semifinals," Savoie said. "He's so great to have as a teammate. He even helps work on my bike and not after he lost. He helped me before we raced because that's the type of person he is. I couldn't ask for a better teammate." Savoie seized an opportunity to gain ground in the points standings when she knocked out Screamin' Eagle HarleyDavidson's GT Tonglet in the semifinals. Savoie made another consistent run with a 7.16, while Tonglet fell off to a 7.21 after a red-light start. A round earlier, Tonglet defeated his teammate and points leader Andrew Hines in one of the best races of the day. Hines had a nearly perfect reaction time, but Tonglet beat him to the finish line by two thousandths of a second for the victory. "I was happy to be able to put a HarleyDavidson in the semifinals this weekend," said Tonglet. "It's unfortunate that I had to beat Andrew to get there, but we had a JUNE 9, 2004 • CYCLE N EW S great race. "It was tough to lose on a red-light, especiallysince I didn't think I was going to red-light, but overall, I'm happy with our performance. I just think this shows that our Screamin' Eagle bikes will be competitive at every race this season, and in order to win that championship, that's the most important thing." Despite the early losses, the HarleyDavidsons remain first and second in the points standings, with Hines clinging to a slim 25-point lead over Tonglet. With both Harleys out of the way, Savoie's path to her 32nd career victory became a littleeasier, though she stillhad to deal with Gann in the final round . Gann wasn't as quick as Savoie on race day, but he was extremely consistent with a pair of 7.22 runs and a 7.23. Not wantingto take any chances, Savoie's team opted for an aggressive tune-up, and it paid off with the quickest run of the weekend, a 7.11 that buried Gann's otherwise solid 7.24. "I don't even know where that 7.11 came from," Savoie said. "In qualifying, we were wondering how we ran a 7. 12, and then this run comes up. One of the most amazing things about this weekend is that we got quicker on every run except one. That just shows how this team has jelled this year. "You wouldn't believe how tough it has been because I'm used to getting a new sponsor and winning right away. It has been almost likea good luck charm for me to get a new sponsor. After a while, I really start- 40th Anmv r y