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/128372
Nick Fafard (center), Anthonr. Barlow (right) and Kenny Olsson (left) ce ebrate on the podium at round eight of the AMA X-treme International Ice Racing Sports Series. It's like he's only racing himsel England's Gary Phelps and Canadian Fafard also in close contention. The tight competition for the championship led to very intense racing, starting with heat one. The face-off between the top four series points leaders - Phelps, Meldrum, Barlow and Olsson - saw Phelps leading from his gate-one position, followed by Meldrum, Barlow and Olsson. On the second lap, fUPEKCAD..#'.£CCCD07 OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF SUPERCROSS live Webcasts, Ticket Info &Much More. Photo by Drubn Barlow and Olsson found a way past Meldrum, who ended in last .fter • f.11. On the third I.p, Phelps lifted out of tum four, allowing Barlow an opportunity to get by for a first-place finish. Olsson made it through to second. with Phelps finishing third. Fafard dominated in heat two, taking a win from Alan Ferrow, with Scott Courtney finishing in third place after Australian Adrian Newman experienced mechanical problems. American Eddie Kelley rode strong in heat three, finishing with a well~deserved win, easily besting Newman and Courtney. The second round of qualifiers saw a second win for both Fafard and Barlow, ensuring their places in the main final. With the help of a coin toss, Kelley claimed a place on the front row in the final for the first time this season. Olsson was joined by Phelps and Courtney on the front row for the last~chance quaJifying heat, with Ferrow, Newman and Meldrum lining up on the back row. Olsson dominated from the start, with Phelps chasing hard but having to settle for second. The two were joined by Courtney for back-row position in the finals. An exciting wheel-to-wheel battle between Fafard and Barlow was the highlight of the main final. Fafard led from the start, with Barlow a close second the entire race. After the first lap, Kelley held third place, but Olsson worked hard to catch Kelley and eventually slipped past. It was too late for him to catch up to Barlow, and Olsson had to settle for third. Barlow regained the series points lead over Olsson by a slim margin of one point, with only four championship rounds remaining. "It has been an unbelievable year so far," co~promoter Barlow commented after the event. ''After a slow start this season, Fafard came back today with another great shOWing. Next race, he will be seeded in heat one with the top three riders, and time will tell how he fares. We had a large crowd here last ye.r, .nd being in front of 6000 [f.ns] on • Sund.y afternoon was superb! We're set to come back to Tampa for 2006." The 2005 XIIR tour continues at the Dodge Arena in Hid.lgo, Texas. RESULTS CIA: I. Nick Fafard: 2. Anthony Barlow; 3. Kenny OI1SQn; 4. Eddie Keller. S. Gary Phelps; 6. Scott Courtney. 50 APRil 6, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS