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/128375
Round 2 OFF-ROAD osh McLevy whooped, hollered and pounded the fuel tank on his Throttlehead.com/Kenda/Moose KX250 as he crossed the finish line - not because he was upset, but because he was completely delighted. After a I, he'd just won the Powersport Grafx Wildcat 100, round two of the Parts Unlimited Off-Road Motorcycle and ATY Nationals. But more significantly, it marked McLevy's very first victory after several years as a Pro-class racer, and he was understandably overjoyed. "That's the first time I've won anything!" he said before accepting the $1000 in prize money from promoter Bill Gusse. "I was completely surprised, caught off guard [by the checkered flag]. That's why I was so excited, because I didn't even know that I was going in for the win. I thought I was coming in for the two-lap board. I forgot it was two hours [long] and not three [like a GNCq." Shane Watts closed in fast after a mediocre start to claim the runner-up slot on his KTMHutt.com/Fun Mart Cycle/ Moose 200 EXC, just four seconds behind McLevy. Early leader Brian Garrahan 44 APRIL 27,2005 • ~ Parts Unlimited Off-Road Motorcycle and ATV Nationals rounded out the podium on his Maxxis/ Race Tech/Moose Suzuki RM250. Gusse laid out a challenging and fun course about eight miles long on the several hundred acres belonging to landowner and racing enthusiast Mike Snook. The start/finish/scoring area sat on a flat grassy area below the pits, looking more like a soccer field than a dirt bike racing venue. Once into the woods, racers would confront both open and tighter, technical woods, hills (including a very puckering downhill) and a long creek section. With round one taking place in November, the Wildcat 100 really served as the kick-off for the 2005 portion of the series, and it included a special $1000 holeshot bonus, courtesy of Red Bull and local dealers Bill Eddy, Action Honda, and Dick Lane Motorcycles. Chris Robertson got the jump off the line on his MaxxislThrottlehead.comlTroy Lee Designs KX250 and could probably see dollar signs as he made his first Pro start. However, the first turn didn't determine the winner of the $1000. The actual line was several turns later before the course turned into the woods. CYCLE NEWS "The first few corners I was leading, then Jimmy Darrett] snuck by on the grass track," Robertson said. "We made a little mistake and we thought everybody was going to get by, but Jimmy managed to pull it off, and I ended up three behind him." Robertson would fall later on and end up sixth at the finish. Defending series champ Jarrett enjoyed only a brief time at the front on his Andrews Cycle/Kenda/Moose RM250. A DNF caused by a sliced coolant hose on the third lap ensured he'd be unable to collect more than the $1000 holeshot award. Instead, it was Garrahan who bulled his way into the lead, though McLevy and Nathan Kanney soon got by him. All three took turns at the front at one time or another. "It was like a gentlemen's race - or something like that - when 1 was racing with them," McLevy said. "Everyone was pretty courteous. There was no contact with the passes - it was just good, fun racing." And it continued that way for McLevy as he pulled a small yet comfortable gap on the field, leaVing the other four in the lead pack to fight among themselves for the scraps. Watts came from behind to battle with Garrahan and KTMHutt.com/Fun Mart Cycle/Shift 250 EXC rider Kanney, and a battle royal it become. As they dropped into a deep section of the creek on the final lap, instead of making sure they didn't create too much of a splash and risk drowning out, all three charged it at full throttle. All three machines sputtered in protest but continued to run. Watts and Garrahan caught up to Kanney and, as Watts put it, "all hell broke loose. That half lap [to the finish] produced many stories - and for me quite a bit of blood and no skin left on my elbows. If we weren't friends, then there probably would've been a bit of push and shove back in the pits after the race! It was pretty eXciting." Kanney concurred: "That was such a rush; it was so much fun!" Despite banging and falling as they raced toward the finish, all three managed to make it, with Watts breaking away first after tangling with Garrahan. Kanney was unable to keep pace and finished a somewhat disappointed fourth. Officials missed giving McLevy the white flag, but that didn't cost him anything. "I was kind of just letting [Watts, Garrahan and Kanney] catch up a little, because I figured that little group behind me was expending a little bit of energy trying to catch up," McLevy said. "I was