Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Beattie scored a win in Saturday's SM I main. Lewis had taken the holeshot, but Beattie and Jason Conlon managed to get by him early in the race. The two leaders were both able to motor by Lewis' 250 at the same time, taking the inside line through the dirt section. Together, they were able to steadily put ground between themselves and the rest of the field. Conlon then had an unplanned dismount and took himself out of the race. Lewis moved into a distant second, but it was short lived. His rear brake rotor went south, and it completely seized entering into a slow corner. The rear wheel locked, and he skidded to a stop trackside. Beattie shared the podium with Tim Kiener and Andreas Hengarber. Beattie rode Sunday's SM I main like it was the second half of Saturday's race, way out in the front. While everyone was left behind, fighting and defending positions, he effortlessly clicked off the laps. Early in the race, Kiener and second place became the focus of Conlon's efforts. Conlon was taking the inside line entering the dirt, trying to take the race line from the berm-blasting Kiener. Lapped traffic was making it more difficult on Conlon. More than once he had to catch back up to Kiener after getting parked. Late in the race, Conlon went motocross mode and took the position on the tabletop jump. The final race on both days was the SMX main. After two red-flag restarts, Conlon got himself to the front of the pack and did his best to hold off Lewis and the other Beattie that had made the trip from Canada, longtime Canadian National and AMA Grand National dirt track competitor Steve Beattie, who overjumped the tabletop and passed Lewis for the chance to challenge the leader. "I was definitely haVing to work out there, because it is so hard to pass," Steve Beattie said. "I have been around this game for a while, so I just had to think about where I was faster then those guys. I set up the pass maybe a lap before." After haVing to chase and claw past Lewis, Beattie seemed to be waved past by Conlon. "I made a big mistake after the back straightaway," Conlon said after the race. "In the sweeper, both tires kind of skated out, and I missed the line. I went to get back in the line, and he had already got me, so I followed him for the rest of the race, trying to put a wheel in, but there is really nowhere to pass. It is kind of narrow, but I tried my best." Sunday's SMX class entered the dirt section like an overeaters group waddling and shoving their way toward a buffet after their eating coach missed a meeting. Jammed shoulder to shoulder, both of the Beattie brothers, as well as Lewis, Conlon and Matt Burton, ended up at the front of the pack. Doug Beattie and Lewis spent another race together, while Burton was all over Steve Beattie's rear fender. With Conlon blazing around the track in the lead, Burton had figured out how to ride an inside line through the dirt that was equal parts fast and ugly. "I am a flat tracker, man," Burton said. "I could tum the comers a lot better than him, but I couldn't get off that dang little box after the berm. He'd get me right there and then just pull me." After working his way past Steve Beattie for second place, Burton quickly caught up to the leader but had to figure out way around him. "I gassed it up and went on the inside line," Burton said. "I knew I could get him right there, but I wasn't close enough. Then we got lapped traffic, and I got up there. I knew he was mine, for sure. I had him. He slowed down too much and couldn't get back up his momentum. He would have slid out." Burton took the opportunity offered by the back lapper and ducked inside both riders. Conlon held on to second, finishing ahead of third-placed Stephen and fourth-placed Doug Beattie. eN DoWNTOWN CuvtlAND CLEVELAND, OHIO REsws: AuGusT 6-7, 2005 (ROUND 2 OF 5) Saturday MINI: I. Michael johnson (Hon); 2. Emet"SOO Connor (KTM): 3. K"';n Walt... (KTM): 4. J...", McDonald (Yam): s. Dan jannettl!: (Hon). SPORT: I. Bill Ross (Hon); 2. Mike Sturdevant (Hon); 3. Ku" Kaross; (KTM): 4. Roben Vobc (Yam): S. wm Stone< (KTM). VET: I. Scott Pode

• Cover