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/128390
Strank, Watson Take All-Star Challenge ave Watson and Walter "Tiger" Strank Jr. dominated round six of the 2005 AMA National Championship Hillclimb Series, the All-Star Challenge, held in York, Pennsylvania, July 31. Watson claimed the 540cc win with a come-from-behind win over championship rival Strank, while Strank tumed the tables in the SOOcc class after the series' four-week-Iong midseason break. The podiums in both classes were filled with National Champions as Chad Disbennett finished third in the 540cc class and James "Jammer" Large took third in the 800cc class. The points leader in both classes, Watson was the first rider to challenge the White Rose Motorcycle Club hill on his Troy Lee Designs-backed Honda CBRS40 fourcylinder. Watson had a straight launch up to the breaker but caught a little too much air at the top and lost time. Watson leaped 280 feet up the hill to set a 6. I57-second time. Disbennett was up next and quickly eclipsed Watson's run, but the All-Star Challenge is unique in that the top 10 riders all make three attempts at the hill, so the lead would change throughout the day. Defending 540cc National Champion Strank has ruled the 540cc class and the All Star Challenge the past couple of years. Strank lined up on the right side of the hiil for his second pass, launching his Yamaha R6 hard and then breaking the timers in 6.073 seconds to set the pace in round two. "This bike pulls so hard on the top part of the hill," 5trank said. "I can't believe the time I can make up. Bob [Shreiner] builds the D fastest bikes out there today." The hill was a mess as the top 10 riders ran in reverse order for their final chance to unseat Strank's 6.073second time. James Wolfe clocked a 6.224 to claim fifth on his Kawasaki ZX-6R, behind Phii Libhart's Triumph. The hill was definitely tougher, and Disbennett couldn't improve on set- tling for third. Watson lined up on the left side of the hill and put together a smooth, straight run up the hill despite breaking his chain when he landed off the jump. The crowd's reaction told the story, as it erupted with the 6.025 that flashed across the board. "We changed the bike all day, the gearing and the length," Watson said. "This ride I slowed way down on the bottom and tried to make it up on the rest of the hill, and it worked today." Strank had one last chance to snatch the win, but he wasn't as clean over the breaker and his bike had a misfire as he neared the top, ensuring Watson a win. Watson set the pace early in 800cc class as well, rocketing off to a 5.86 I-second time early in the round. Strank's teammate, Chris Kabo, put together a 6.028 effort, followed by Large, who put the Reiser's Cycle XR750 in the hunt. The Pennsylvania fans were on their feet when 5trank dropped the hammer on his Yamaha RI, but as soon as he got to the breaker, he had problems. "I thought the transmission was starting to lock up," Strank said. MotoGP - 2006 The U.S.GP at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has been moved from the eighth to the 10th race on the provisional 2006 Road Racing World Channpionship calendar. The race is now a week after, rather than two weeks before, the British GP at Donington Park. The change Is one of several for the calendar. The f1yaways, excluding Laguna Seca, are bunched at the beginning and end of the season. Following the now tradltJonal season-opener In Jerez tie la Frontera, Spain, the series moves to Qatar, Turkey and China at two-week Intervals. Next comes the heart of the European campaign. Le Mans is first, two weeks later comes Italy, with Catalunya the following weekend. Then there's another weekend off, then two more races - Assen and Sachsenring. The pair of consecutive weekends adds up to four races In fove weeks. Then comes a weekend respite before Donington, followed immediately by the trek to Monterey. The U.S. round marks the beginning of the summer break. The holiday ends with the Czech GP at Bmo on August 20. Then come the three final f1yaways on consecutive September weekends - Sepang on the 10th followed by Phillip Island and Motegi. The calendar returns to the Iberian Peninsula for the final two races, at Estoril on October and the traditional season finale at Valencia on October 29. 12 AUGUST 10, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS It turns out that his rear-tire chains broke, destroying his stainless-steel rear fender and chewing up the swingarm. Strank and defending 800cc champion Disbennett were the fastest in round two as Strank posted a blistering fast 5.630-second run to stun the crowd and the competition. "I just wanted to get a top-10 ride in, but when I dropped the clutch on that thing, it was gone," Strank said. "I don't even remember what happened it was so quick." Disbennett settled into fourth with a clean, nearly perfect run for a 5.939-second run. In the final round Watson and Disbennett ran in the sixes but couldn't improve. They would finish second and fourth, respectively, while Large held on to third. Kabo continued to ride well and posted the round's fastest pass, a 5.990, to claim fifth, but the day belonged to Strank. "We didn't have to change the bike all day," Strank said. "The bike is so fast. We got lucky on that tire chain." David L Patton Jr. The 2006 series schedule is as follows: March 26 - Spain, Jerez BORN: Kelisa lliana-Rose Corser, to World Superbike Championship points leader Troy Corser and his wife, Samantha, on July 24 in Monaco. April 8 - Qatar, losall April 23 - Turkey, Istanbul May 1 - China, Shanghai May 21 - France, Le Mans June 4 - Italy, Mugello June II - Catalunya, Catalunya OPENED: Southem Califomia Victory in Brea, California, by owner Tom Hicks. For more information, visit www.socalvictory.com. OPENED: Patriot Motorcycle Corporation's (Patriot) home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following addresses: www.patriotmotorcycles.com or www.yamoto.com. OPENED: Photographer Mike Doran's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the follOWing address: www.mdimages.net. June 24 - Netherlands, Assen July 2 - Germany, Sachsenring July 16 - Great Britain, Donington Park July 23 - United States, Laguna Seca August 20 - Czech Republic, Bmo September I0 - Malaysia, Sepang September 17 - Australia, Phillip Island September 24 - Japan, Motegi October 8 - Portugal, Estoril October 29 - Valencia, Valencia NAMED: Freestyle Watch Co. as the "official time keeper" of the 2005 /'Ur Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn's. In addition to its overall sponsorship of the race, Freestyle Watch Co. will provide watches to each and every one olthe 33 class championship winners. OPENED: Advanstar Communication's home page on the World Wide Web for its Arenacross Series. The site can be found at the following address: www.racearenacross.com. OPENED: Motocrosser James Stewart's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: www.jamestewartonline.com. BORN: A baby girl, Rico Shimada, to Greedy Leathers designer Kenny Shimada and his wife, Keiko, on July 20 in Tokyo, Japan.