Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Oeyeone Beech. FL . March 12. 2CJCXJ Buell Pro "Thunder Round 1 : Daytona International Speedway Conrad's BY HENNY RAY ABRAMS wo things happened in the Buell Pro Thunder race at Daytona International Speedway: Shawn Higbee didn't win and Shawn Conrad did. Tilley's H-D/Buell's Hi.gbee qualified about a second in front of HMC Racing's Conrad on the front row of the 43-rider field and executed such a clean start that it looked like he was going to check out when he came around on lap one. But on lap two, Conrad was on his tail, and on lap three, Conrad was alone out in front. Higbee was forced to the pits with mechanical problems. Conrad took the initiative and ran with it, dominating the rest of the race by charging to nearly two seconds a lap faster than second-placed Jeffrey Nash of Advanced Motorsports to win his first Buell Pro Thunder race - in record time. "It definitely feels good," the defending National champion said of his first win. "I worked real hard in the off-season. I'm really chasing wins this year and looking for the championship. I always ride safe and consistently, and this year I'm just going a little faster." Conrad completed the II-lap, 39.16-mile race in 21 minutes, 40.415 seconds, with an average speed of 108.409 mph. This was much faster than the previous record of 105.625 mph set in last year's race. His margin of victory was a healthy 24.433 seconds.. It was on the first of 11 laps that Conrad knew he'd be a contender. "I got fourth place off the start and managed to get by a few riders ahead of me before we hit the banking," he said. "My bike has a little bit of steam, and I was able to pull them in a little bit. We went into the chicane and hit the east banking and I was able to pull them in a little more and draft pass them on the second lap. I just kept my head down and didn't look back. "We're here to win races; we're heading in the right direction and I'm getting used to riding Ducatis," Conrad said. There was a legitimate and racelong battle for second place. Advanced Motorsport Ducati's Nash T 30 MARCH 22, 2000 cue .... had been at the front of the five-rider pack before Mike Sullivan overtook him when he developed a problem in his kill switch. There was a short that caused his motor to cut out on the banking, which put him in survival mode. Sullivan stayed at the front of the group, even managing to open a small gap before mechanical problems forced him to pull off in the West End Horseshoe on lap nine. That gave the spot to Robison Sales & Service's Pat Mooney, the lone Harley in a sea of Ducatis. Nash was also right there, along with BCM Motorsports Eric Wood, and the trio made the run to the flag side by side. Nash got the nod over Mooney with Wood, on a Ducati, a very close fifth. "I lost the back of [the pack] and got caught up with Pat [Mooney] and Eric [Wood] and all that and it developed into quite the scratch," Nash said. "I was really trying to save the tires and save the motor to make a move." Mooney said, " ...at the end it was just a case of trying to set Jeff [Nash] up for draft and pass, and I timed it terribly. I've got a bit to learn. I think his bike has a little bit more steam, but it has a tall gearing and I thought that would help me pull up in the draft and let the motor rev a little bit freely. I just timed it wrong; I was holding back a bit in fifth gear and rolled the throttle off, trying to time it right in the tri-oval. In hindsight I think I should've backed up a little bit in the chicane and just driven out of the chicane as hard and just kept it pinned. But Eric Wood was there as well, it's kind of hard to just start slowing down when you've got guys behind you. So I did the best I could." n eVIl's Shawn Conrad (1) ran away from the pack in the Buell Pro Thunder, but he had a lot of help when Shawn Higbee dropped out. Behind Wood came a solitary American Road & Racing's Tom Montano, with Project Monza's Bill St. John sixth. Both were on Ducatis. _ a.ytlllIlI IId8rIIlItioIIlII Speedwey a.ytlllIlI 1Ieach, Retia March 12, 2088 l......d 1 of IZl BUELL PRO THUNDER: I. Shawn Conrad (Duc); 2. Jeffrey Nash (Due); 3. Pat Mooney (H·D); 4. Eric Wood (Due); 5. Bill 51. John (Due): 6. Tom Hull (Duc); 7. Dovid Roy (Due); 8. Paul Vitole (Due); 9. Thomas Fournier (Duc); 10. Douglas Gross (Due); II, Dale Corser (Due); 12. Curtis Adams (Sue); 13. Scol Dormier (Due); 14. Cecil Myers (Due); 15. James Uckwar (Due); 16. Christopher Boy (l.llv); 17. Wes Pogue (Due); 18. Gabriel Henning (Bue); 19. Justin Garvin (Suz); 20. David Kieffer (Sue); 2 I. Steve Keener (Suz); 22. Charles Burnett (Hon); 23. Peter Urhammer (Due): 24. Richard Yersak (Due); 25. Tom Chauncey (Due); 26. Mark Cummings (Due); 27. Robert Gonzales (Due): 28. Chris Decelles (Bue): 29. Mike Sullivan (Due); 30. Marc Underberg (Due); 31. Michael Delage (Duc); 32. Martin Sires (SU1); 33. Michoel Goge (Triumph); 34. Shown Higbee (Bue); 35. John Long (Due); 36. Monte Nichols (Due): 37. Richie Morris (Duc); 38. Briggs Willoughby (Hon); 39. S.,dahori Hikit8 (H·D); 40. Steve Smith. Jr. (Due); 4 J. Russell Aylward (Magni); 42. Scott Rich8rdson (BMW). TIme: 21 min., 40.415 sec. Distance: 11 laps. 39.16 miles. Average speed: 108.409 mph. Margin of victory: 24.333 sec. BUELL PRO THUNDER C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 1 of 12 rounds): 1. Shawn Conl"lld (37/1 win); 2. Jeffrey Nosh (32); 3. Pot Mooney (29); 4. Eric wood (27); 5. Bill 51. John (25); 6. Tom Hull (24): 7. David Roy (23); 8. Paul Vitale (22); 9. Thomas Fournier (21); 10. Douglas Gross (20); 11. Dale Corser (19); 12. Curtis Adams (18); 13. Scot Dormier (17); 14. Cecil Myers (16); 15. James Lickwar (15); 16. Christopher Boy (14); 17. Wes Pogue (13); 18. Gabriel Henning (12); 19. Justin Garvin (11); 20. David Kieffer (10); 21. Steve Keener (9); 22. Charles Bumett (8); 23. Peter Urhommer (7); 24. Richord Yersak (6); 25. Tom Chauncey (5); 26. Mark Cummings (4); 27. Robert Gonzales (3); 28. Chris Decelles (2); 29. Mike Sullivan (1). Upcoming Rounds: Round 2 - Sonoma, California, May 7 Round 3 - Braselton, Georgia, June 4

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