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/128601
KICK OFFBIKE WEEK WITH !! banging bars then he got by a lapper, and he got away from me then. It was awesome. I had the holeshot, though; that was cool-that's always a good feeling." Haaker completed seven laps in 2: 10:31 to win it. Von Urff settled for second overall, second Senior A, while CRE-mounted D-36 star Dave Wood claimed third. SUNDAY KTM's Shane Watts jumped into the early lead of the weekend's feature race on his MSR/Scott/FMFbacked 125cc E/XC, followed by two-time and defending AMA National Hare Scrambles Champion Doug Blackwell on his Answer/Scotts/FRP YZ250. Andrews, series number two Brian Garrahan, D-36 hotshot Steve Silvestri, former pro motocrosser Mike Pascarella, Edmondson, Eric DuCray and Ed McCoy also got good starts. Before too long, however, the lead pack became a five-man unit, with Watts heading Andrews, Edmondson, Blackwell and Brian Garrahan, with Patrick Garrahan fairly close. "I was out in front [early], but I just didn't feel right· like 100 percent - to go for it then," Watts said, "so I [dropped back and] sat behind the guys and thought, 'Well, I'll wait 'til right near the end and then put a pass on them. ," Andrews and Edmondson traded the lead on their Team Green/Pro Circuit/Moose/Shoei-sponsored KX250s just in front of Watts, as they put in the miles. Most of the field pitted for gas on lap three - the halfway mark though Brian Garrahan pulled in a lap before on his Fox/Maxxis/FMF-sponsored KTM 250. "We haven't really done much testing on the bikes, and we noticed we were burning a lot of gas, so I didn't think I could do 36 miles, so I pitted on the second lap," he explained. "I got like a fourthplace start, and , was riding with all the guys up in front. We pretty much kept swapping spots. I got by them all, so my strategy was when they pitted to try to pull a lead, because I knew I was going to have to pit twice." At least Garrahan had enough time to plan for his thirstier-than-expected bike. It turns out that series rival Blackwell's bike gulped more gas than he expected, as well, but it took him by surprise on the last lap. "f was just riding my race," he commented. "I wasn't worried about leading; the last lap's the only one you want to lead. I was just kind of sitting back there, just biding my time, waiting for the end to make a charge. " However, Blackwell never got the chance, because his bike ran dry on the last lap. "I think I should've made it. Compared to last year's bike, maybe this one's sucking a little Featured Classes: II II Cash and Awards: *Unllmited SuperlJlke *Sportbike * Aprilia cup Challenge * Buell Ughtning series *CCS Classes *$70,000.00 Purse *$150,000.00 Point Fund * Cash, Awards and Contingencies In all CCS Classes II II formulausa.com c u e ' .. n e _ S • FEBRUARY 23, 2000 33