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/128384
AMA National Hot Shoe Series Warmup win has the Californian looking good for August Grand National TT STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVE HOENIG/FLATTRAKFOTOS.COM pringtime in the Midwest can bring nasty weather, and high winds and heavy rain swept across the Peoria Motorcycle Club's fabled club grounds in the hours leading up to its traditional AMA Hot Shoe National. Fortunately, the skies cleared and the racing went on. For some, the grueling TT capped a long weekend of racing that had started in Wisconsin, proceeded to Ohio and wrapped up in Illinois. Coziahr Harley-Davidson/National Cycle/RTD Motorsports' johnny Murphree won the event last year, and he was looking to tum around what has been a lackluster 200S for him. To do so, Murphree would have to contend with the crowned "Prince of Peoria" this year, Chris Carr. Nthough Carr had missed the last few "spring" races at Peoria, he was back with a full arsenal of his Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford/KTM Sportmotorcycles-backed KTMs. Murphree got his Honda into turn one first in the IS-lap Expert main. KTM Sportmotorcycles/jones Powersports' Kenny Coolbeth and Latus HarleyDavidson/jones Powersports' joe Kopp were side by side right behind. Carr and last year's Peoria Grand National TT winner, Mack Daddy Racing/Kiesow Racing's Henry Wiles, led Saddlemen/Lancaster Harley-Davidson/ Dodge Brothers' jared Mees, American Suzuki's Kevin Varnes and Memphis Shades/Parts Unlimited/Drag Specialties' j.R. Schnabel in a tightly bunched pack. Murphree gapped the field as Carr started to work his way to the front. Once in second, Carr closed on Murphree, only to run into a rolling roadblock. Murphree was on a mission, and Carr could only wait for a mistake that never happened. A few lengths back, Kopp and Wiles were equally engaged in a battle over third that saw Kopp prevail. Former Peoria TT winner Schnabel was working his way up from a poor start, S 46 and he clawed his way into a fifth-place finish. Kenny Coolbeth was able to hold off Bartels' Harley-Davidson/TNT Harley.com's Shaun Russell and Ideal Environmental Engineering/Marshall Distributing's Bryan Bigelow for sixth. Varnes was ninth, and Moroney's Honda & Harley-Davidson/Content Control's Bryan Smith rounded out the top 10. AGR Performance Engines/Binghampton Honda's Gary Conklin led the Pro-Sport main into the first tum and held control for a few laps. Conklin was being stalked by a familiar name in flat track racing, "King," as in Aaron King, the son of factory HarleyDavidson racer Rich King. Aaron King finally took over on his King Racing/KTM Sportmotorcyclesbacked KTM. King looked as smooth as his dad (Rich), pulling to a comfortable lead over series points leader Conklin. Two Illinois riders, Louca Graphics/ Charles Cycle's Keith Davis and Cycle Craft Racing/STX Racing's Ion Stear, were battling over the last podium spot. Stear was able to work his way into the spot. R/j Performance/Maxxis' Danny Stookesberry led Californian Travis Mariks (TRD/Power House/Shift) home fifth. Troy Deiss (Dad/Spu Optic/AXO/Mario Rinaldi), jon Goodwin (R/j Performance/Rick Canode), Kent Briggs (Briggs Auto.com/Terry Poovey) and Aaron Lindfors (HarleyDavidson & Honda of Salina/T&R Racing) rounded out the top 10. CN PMC RACE PARK PEORIA, IWNOIS RESULTS: JUNE 5, 2005 (ROUND 6) 505 EX MAIN: I. Johnny Murphree (Hon); 2. Chris Can (KTM); 3. Joe Kopp (KTM); 4. Henry Wiles (Hoo); 5. JR Schnabel (Yam); 6. Kenny Coolbeth (KTM); 7. Shaun Russell (Hon); 8. Bryan Bigelow (Hon): 9. Kevin Varnes (Suz); 10. Bryan Smith (Hon); I I. josh Buder (Hon); 12. Paul Lynch (Yam); 13. Matt Burton (Yam); 14. Willie McCoy (KTM); 15. Jake Johnson (Suz); 16. Jethro Halbert (Hon); 17. Jaced Mees (Han). 50S PRO-SPORT MAIN: I. ....00 t<;ng (KTM); 2. Gary Conkling (Hon); 3. Ion Stear (Yam): -4. Keith Davis (Hon); 5. Danny Stookesberry (Yam); 6. Travis Marks (Hon); 7. Troy Deiss (Hon); 8. Jon Goodwin (Yam); 9. Kent Briggs (Hon); 10. Aaron Uodfors (Hon); II. Ryan Deiss (Hen); 12. J""'ph Ban- (KTM). JUNE 29, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS