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
Briefly... Winner Josh McLevy has battled his share of injuries, and this year has been no exception. After breaking his collarbone at the WORCS kick-off a couple months ago, he suffered a lacerated forearm at the GNCC race in Florida last month. After healing from that, he had only two weeks after their winter break to get ready for the OMA Nationals to resume. Though the Watts/Garrahan/Kanney battle at the end was fierce and featured all three on the ground at least once, the participants insisted they held no grudges afterward but instead reveled in the clashes. After crashing with Garrahan, Watts said, "It was on from there. The rest of the last lap, there was a little bit of anger out there between the three of us, but we're good friends and that, so it sort of stays on the track. The next race, when you get the opportunity, you might come in and give a little bit of a rub just to let him know that, 'Hey, the last time I wasn't so good.' But we're all friends; it's good. It gives us something to think about on the way home." After hitting the first turn in third, series number three Justin Williamson spent the rest of the race up in the lead pack on his Maxxis/Morgantown Yamaha/Thor Y2250 and did most of his battling with Chris Robertson. "I had no falls, no stalls, and that's the way I wanted the day to go," Williamson said. The podium consisted of riders from very diverse geographic backgrounds: McLevy from Connecticut, Watts from Australia (now living in Florida) and Garrahan from California. going to get ready to put on a big push [on the last lap]. I honestly thought a two-lap board was going to come out. I was using my strategy to conserve my energy until that last push." "I totally sucked for the first half of the race," Watts said. "I just couldn't get comfortable out there, and every time I tried to push, I'd make another mistake and get out of control. After the gas stop, I started feeling heaps better and was able to charge." Garrahan seemed content with his third place. "I got out front, and I was just kind of riding my own pace, Garrahan said. "Then Josh came through, and I let Josh by. I hotlined him back, then I let him back by again because he was going faster. The pack was still with me. I was like, 'Hey, maybe I'll follow Josh, maybe he can pull me away from the pack.' It did a little bit, and I was just kind of lonely around in second for a while. Kanney came by, he passed me, then I was sitting in third. Then Watts came by. From there on out, it got pretty ugly. Me, Watts and Kanney, we did some stupid racing out there, but it all worked out." eN WIlDCAT 100 DECATU~, A~KANSAS RESULTS: AP~IL 10, 2005 (ROUND Wa"s clawed his way up to finish second. 2 OF 9) PRO: I. josh Mc.levy (Kaw): 2. Shane Watts (KTM); J. BriMl Garrahan (Suz): 4. Nathan Kanney (KTM): S. Justin W~IWnson (Yam): 6. Chris Robertson (Kaw); 7. Christopher Bach (KTM); 8. D.R. Atwood (KTM); 9. Alan Westerfield (Kaw); 10. Steve Lervan (Yam). CYCLE NEWS • APRIL 27,2005 45