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/128392
Briefly... Libhart and Strank Scale The Wall [')ennsylvania riders Phil libhart and Walter "Tiger" Strank Jr. rode to victory in round seven of the 2005 AMA National Championship Hillclimb Series in Bridgeton, Michigan, on August 14, with the Muskegon Motorcycle Club hosting Dan Raymond Park's first-ever Pro hillclimb, And the short, steep hill may just end up being the turning point in the 2005 season. Strank took his fifth 540cc win of the season by .0073 of a second ahead of libhart and Chad Disbennett, while libhart ruled the 800cc class with the day's fastest run. Disbennett was second, .0088 of a second behind, with Strank ending up third. And what of championship points leader (in both classes) Dave Watson? He ended up fourth in the 540cc class and fifth in the 800cc class. The Wall features IS feet of flat off the start, then climbs to a very steep ramp and then the first jump at 40 feet. Then things get rough at around 70 to 90 feet with tons of ruts before the run to the timers at 140 feet. Dr. Bob Racing's 5trank would be the first rider on the hill. Strank launched the Yamaha R6 from the right side of the hill and flew past the timers in 3.301 seconds despite a high-rpm misfire. Disbennett and Watson followed with runs of 2.855 and 2.931, respectively, to lead off the first round of action. Ubhart suffered a broken chain on his first pass, but with two runs remaining, he would get another shot at it. Strank lined up for his second run, and the bike sounded considerably better. "80b [Shreiner] changed the ignition for this run, and it seems to be right now," Strank said. 5trank lined up on the left side and ripped off the line, never backing off over the jump and keeping the bike hooked up as he shot through the timers in 2.653 seconds, a time that would hold up for the victory. "I flew a mile on the jump after the timers," Strank said. "The bike was really pulling hard." libhart wicked it up on the Kreeger and Sons/Amsoil-backed Triumph twin. He had to fight a wheelie in the middle of the run but still recorded a 2.664-second run, while Disbennett ran a 2.70 I. In the final round, Ubhart picked it up a notch and nailed a strong 2.6603-second r time to finish second overall, behind Strank. "We kept spitting the chain, so we geared it up to use a different sprocket, and it went faster," libhart said. "I couidn't catch Tiger [Strank], though." Disbennett would settle for third, with Watson and Chris Van Hyning rounding out the top fIVe. James 'Jammer" Large led off the big bikes with a 2.863-second run, but the winner of round four of the series wouldn't be able to improve on his time later in the day. After Strank put down a 2.794, Disbennett recorded a 2.638 on his Triumph only to be eclipsed by Ubhart's 2.5064. Large's teammate Gerry Bennett was in the running after turning a 2.783-second time. libhart watched as Disbennett and Strank tried to reei him in, but neither could touch his 2.S-second time. Strank was fastest of the second round with a 2.657. ''I'm just shutting off too early before the lights," Strank said. "I have to hold the 800 on longer." The final run was all or nothing, and Strank's run died early as he hit the jump and for the second event in a row broke his AMA Superbike to Utah? AMA Pro Racing has announced that officials representing the AMA 5uperbike Championship visited the Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City, Utah, recently. The purpose of the visit was to explore the feasibility of holding a National event at the 4.5mile permanent road course facility currently under construction. As part of an initial dialogue with Miller Motorsports Park, AMA Pro Racing officials reviewed proposed facility and track designs and gathered input from top competitors such as Yoshimura Suzuki's Mat Mladin and Ducati Austin's Neil Hodgson. AMA Pro Racing then prOVided feedback to the track prior to the onset of construction. "We have been in conversations with track principals since the beginning of this year and have had the opportunity to share our opinions, as well as those of some of our riders," AMA Superbike Series manager Ron Barrick said. "The track's response to our comments has been positive. Depending on the outcome of this meeting and the desire of both groups to move forward, one of our next steps could be to conduct a team test later this year." The meeting, while still exploratory in nature, is expected to further the working dialogue regarding possible event scenarios. One such scenario could result in an AMA Superbike race as early as 2006. John Farris, AMA Pro Racing's vice presi- rear chains. "Tire chains broke again," Strank said. "It gets a little scary. At least we are back in the points race and we have a shot." Disbennett was gunning for the win when he launched off the left side for the final time. He stayed low over the jump and was really flying as he hit the timers and crashed over the top. "We geared the bike up, and I figured I might have a chance to get Phil [Ubhartj if I held it on to the lights," Disbennett said. "I was so high over the top that 1had to bail off. You have to take your hat off to Phil. He did a great job." Disbennett ended the day in second with a time of 2.5 I5 seconds, ahead of Strank and Chris Kabo, with Watson fifth. Ubhart had his first win in what has been an up-and-down season. 'J\n excellent day," he said. "Chad [Disbennettj almost got me there at the end. The key was to stay with it over the jump and getting the rear wheel down first and not gMng it so much gas that you wheelie." David L. Patton Jr. dent of commercial development, looks forward to the possibility of adding a race at Miller Motorsports Park to the AMA Superbike Championship calendar. "So far our conversations are progressing nicely," Farris said in the AMA Pro Racing release. "Under the right business terms, we would welcome the opportunity to bring an AMA road race to this part of the country." Farris added that it has been very beneficial that AMA Pro Racing officials and riders have had the opportunity to review and comment on track designs. The 2006 AMA Superbike Championship schedule is expected to be announced before the season-ending Road Atlanta round, scheduled for Labor Day weekend, September 2-4, according to AMA Pro Racing. Millville & Wildwood Harley-Davidson/ Buell rider David Estok rode his Buell Firebolt to victory and put his team into the series points lead at the Formula USA Thunderbike National at Barber Motorsports Park on August 14. Estok was the top qualifier for the event and led from the start of the 14-lap Thunderbike National, but he was hounded until the final lap by Hal's Performance Advantage/Richie Morris Racing rider Dan Bilansky. During the course of the race, Bilansky set a new race lap record of I:34.004. "Dan challenged me throughout the race, but I held on in the end for the win," Estok said. "I'm excited to be on top of the points race with two races remaining." Bilansky aboard a Buell Firebolt finished second. CAD Cycles rider David Yaakov on a Suzuki was third. Sound Waves/Hal's Performance Advantage rider Sam Rozynski finished fourth on his Buell Firebolt, followed by Blue Springs Harley-Davidson/Buell rider Walt Sipp, also on a Buell Firebolt. After six of eight Formula USA Thunderbike National events, Estok leads the Thunderbike series with IS9 points, as Yaakov dropped to second with 149 points. Rozynski is third with 100 points. NHRA has announced that the minimum weight requirement for the Suzuki entries in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class will be reduced by 10 pounds - from 600 to 590 pounds - effective at the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Mid-South Nationals presented by Pennzoil in Memphis, Tennessee, August 19-21. "This has been an extremely competitive season in Pro Stock Motorcycle, with eight different winners in nine events, and it is NHRA:s goal to see that kind of parity continue in the category for the future," said Don Taylor, director of national technical operations, NHRA. Working in conjunction with the Sarpy County Sheriffs and the Iowa Highway Patrol, the G-Squared Motorsports NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Team has recovered its race bike, three race engines and several other parts that were stolen from the team's race transporter in Omaha, Nebraska. Other items remain missing, but the team was able to compete aboard its own bike at the 24th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minnesota, August 13-1 S, where Ellis reached the second round. After the news of the recovery came word that arrests have also been made in the case. Yamaha of Santa Cruz County will be celebrating its fifth anniversary with an open house on Saturday, August 27. To add to the celebration, the dealership has contracted the LivFast Freestyle Motocross Team to perform four free shows in the YSC parking lot. Th.e first show starts at 10:30 a.m. YSC will have food available and participating vendors will have numerous giveaways. There will also be a storewide sale on new motorcycles, ATVs, parts, accessories and clothing from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Yamaha of Santa Cruz County is located at 1895 Main St. in Watsonville, California. For more Continued on page I I CYCLE NEWS • AUGUST 24,2005 9