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/128602
1999 best finish: Third place (Oklahoma City Half Mile) 1999 result: Sixth place 2000 program: Two HarleyDavidson XR750s, built and maintained by Randy Brady; two 600s built by Brian Biliings (BBRP) and maintained by Brady. Additional crew support by the Bigelow family. Personal prediction for top three: 1. Chris Carr; 2. Wili Davis; 3. Bryan Bigelow. A h, yes, we now come to the Rodney Dangerfield of dirt track racing. Whereas Carr merely dripped a little egg on my face, Bryan Bigelow buried me in it up to my neck. Heli, I forgot all about this kid in last year's picks, and he burned me big time. He also burned the competition by running fifth or better at a heck of a lot of races, the high point being a careerbest third-place finish at Oklahoma City. I'd be a fool to pick him higher than fifth, though. Even with the same sponsorship package, and the burgeoning talents of Randy Brady in the motors, climbing further up the ladder will not come without a race vic· tory. I personally don't think that's going to happen yet, but if it does, it wili not have been the first time that I was wrong about Bigelow. and you finished eighth. Last year I said you'd finish eighth and you wound up seventh. Weli, you're not gonna beat me again, pal. Seriously, I couldn't be happier if the new "old man" of the series wins a couple races and finishes right around here on the leaderboard. With a Jim Kelly motor program that seems to constantly evolve toward the better, he's got the tools and the talent. Desire? Weli, lets just say that Springer's still having fun out there. Sure, he wants to win as bad as we want to see him win, and there's no reason that he can't stili do it. But as far as the top five goes, that means making every round of the series, and he already skips Peoria now. Even so, I think tha he can land sixth, unless he decides to march to a different PACE. Rider: Geo Roeder II National #: 66 Team: Schaffer's Harley-Davidson/Las Vegas Harley-Davidson/KK Motorcycle Supply Age: 32 Residence: Monroeville, Ohio Career best result: Eighth place (1992, 1999) 1999 best finish: Third place (Harrington Half Mile, Lima Half Mile, Sturgis Half Mile, Sedalia Half Mile, Dalias Mile) 1999 result: Eighth place 2000 program: Four HarleyDavidson XR750s built and maintained by Keith "Chico" Bednar; two 600s built and maintained Eddie Fatzinger. Additional crew support by Geo Roeder, Deb Mayo and select volunteers. Personal prediction for top three: 1. Chris Carr; 2. Geo Roeder Ii; 3. Rich King. might not sound like much until you realize that two of three of those finishes came on cushions, and two on grooves. This old dog is still learning new tricks. Watching Roeder on a cushion half mile is a sheer delight, and now he can back those performances up with good rides on the car tracks too. I like this team, and I think that the "Chico" Bednar/Roeder match is a good one. Now if someone can just figure out how to build a rear brake that wili hold up to the punishment of Roeder's riding style, he can be Grand National Champion. ..• Rider: Mike Hacker National #: §7 Team: Saddlemen Racing/Lancaster HarleyDavidson/Dodge Brothers Age: 23 Residence: Prince George, Virginia Career best result: 10th place ( 1997) 1999 best finish: Third place (Sacramento Mile) 1999 result: 1 Ith place 2000 program: A "whole barn fuli" of Harley-Davidson XR750s built and maintained by Johnny Goad; two 600s also maintained by Goad. Additional crew support by Sarah Goad and several volunteers. Personal prediction for top three: 1. Chris Carr; 2. Rich King; 3. Will Davis. nother potential match made in heaven. It's no 'iecret that Mike Hacker's riding has been solid enough that even the Harley factory looked at him as a possible factory rider to be groomed as a future champion, but his flashes of brilliance have otherwise been overshadowed by rollercoaster performances and, sometimes, injury. A notso-hot 1999 culminated in his departure from Pat Moroney's team after four seasons. Now he gets to start all over with the A ow here's a guy who only took 10 years to come from out of nowhere and become a factor in the championship chase! So what if Geo Roeder didn't get a win last season, he got five third-place honors. That N REALLY WILD CARDS Shaun Russell, Bartels' Harley-Davidson: Back with Bartels, with tuning from Kenny Mohler (exJohnny Goad assistant). He goes well on the miles, not so good on the half miles. Dan Stanley, Gardner Racing: Could easily slide into the top 10, but overcoming a potential career-ending injury does things to a man. Tirne will tell. D • Rider: Willie McCoy National #: 59 Team: Harley-Davidson of Dallas/Eagle Security Age: 30 Residence: Richardson, Texas Career best result: 17th (1999) 1999 best finish: Eighth (Del Mar Mile) 1999 result: 17th place 2000 program: One HarleyDavidson XR750 and one spare motor built and maintained by Willie McCoy under the supervision of Kenny Tolbert; four 600s built and maintained by KK Racing. Additional crew support by DPe Racing (883) Team with outside assistance by Tolbert and Travis Smith. Personal prediction for top three: 1. Chris Carr; 2. Rich King; 3. Wili Davis. et's just throw this washed up 01' Pennsylvania guy in here somewhere ... Really, though, I expect more from Varnes than the cruddy 12th that he earned last season. So, the Goad thing didn't work out; that's the way it kay, here's the thing: Up until now I probably haven't been ali that dangerous with my picks. But just in case you thought that I was going to play it safe ali the way through to the end, I present you Wiliie McCoy, my not-so-dark-horse candidate for a spot in the top 10. Sure, a 17th in '99 is a long way from a ninth in 2000, but I think that this young Texan has a few things going for him. First, he is the defending HarleyDavidson Sportster Performance Champion, which is a great morale booster. With that series conquered, a Grand National top- 10 now seems to be a more O Okay, I'm not going to waste much time naming them all, but keep an eye on these guys, anyway: amn you, Springer, you did it to me again! Two years ago, I picked you to finish ninth, Rider: Kevin Varnes National #: 89 Team: Memphis Shades, Coziahr Harley-Davidson Age: 25 Residence: New Holland, Pennsylvania Career best result: Sixth place (1998) 1999 best finish: Fourth (Rapid City Half Mile) 1999 result: 12th place 2000 program: Two HarleyDavidson XR750s built and maintained by Babe Demay, plus an additional (AMlegal) experimental Suzuki SV650-based machine for mile and half-mile use; two 600s built and maintained by Jimmy Varnes, with access to three additional Coziahr 600s. Personal prediction for top three: 1. Rich King; 2. Chris Carr; 3. Kevin Varnes. L • Rider: Jay Springsteen National #: 9 Team: Bartels' Harley-Davidson Age: 42 Residence: Lapeer, Michigan Career best result: AMA Grand National Champion (1976, '77, '78) 1999 best finish: First place (Hagerstown Half Mile) 1999 result: Seventh place 2000 program: Two Jim Keliybuilt Harley-Davidson XR750s to be maintained by Joe Bisha; two 600s built and maintained by Bisha. Additional crew support by Judy Springsteen. Personal prediction for top three: N/A, gone snowmobiling! attainable step. Second, he rode better in the second half of the season than he has during any time in his career. And third, he's on the Kenny Tolbert "B" plan, whatever the hell that is. Make no mistake about it, I expect Willie McCoy to go places in 2000. Please, Willie, don't make me look any dumber than I already am. man who gave him his first shot, championship-winning tuner Johnny Goad. Say what you will, but I believe that Hacker's third-place finish at Sacramento is indicative of how good he can be, and with Goad threatening to take a hickory switch to his ass if he does any less than his best, you can bet he's motivated. I think that Hacker is ready for a breakthrough season, and even if it doesn't happen this year, his best riding is stili ahead of him. Steve Beattie, Gardner Racing: The new guy on the Gardner team, the crazy Canadian has the talent, but (and how can we put this nicely?) his consistency sucks. goes. Time to move on. Like Hacker, Varnes is far more capable than he has shown, but I think that joining his third different team in three se~SOnS is going to maybe force him to hold the line - at least in the first part of the season. He thinks differeptly, claiming that the half-mile-dominated schedule plays right into his hands. Thing is, they have all been halfmile-dominated schedules, dating right back to '95, when he won two races. Hopefully he can put Tim Coziahr's wallet and Babe Demay's tuning to good use and win a couple more this year. If so, he'll finish higher than 10th. eN Johnny Murphree, Memphis Shades/Coziahr Harley-Davidson: Perhaps the wildest of the cards. Hey Murphree, slow down to go fast! Dan Butler, Saddlemen Racing/Lancaster HarleyDavidson/Dodge Brothers: Leg still under construction, but if he comes back. he will need to do better than he was doing before the big crash, Dave Hoenig's Flat Trak pies 1. Chris Carr 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Kevin Atherton, Tom Cummings Racing: I don't expect this fan-favorite to be back on track this season, but Just thought I'd say hello anyway. 7. Geo Roeder II 8. Jay Springsteen Scott Parker, Team Harley-Davidson: Bet you never thought you'd see a nine-time champion way down here. He will race some, and he might win some, but four wins will only add up to 92 points, max. Normally, that's not quite enough for a top- 10 spot. cue I EO n e Rich King Joe Kopp Bryan Bigelow Will Da\lis Mike Hacker 9. Kenny Coolbeth 10. Steve Beattie Wild cards Kevin Varnes Willie McCoy Terry Poovey _ s MARCH 1, 2000 21