Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

the next one," said Smith. "We're off to a better start than we were last year. We'll get the thing rolling. Everybody else has kind of been racing and this is [Team Suzuki's] first race. For me, it's a good start," Hatch battled arm pump for the first three laps, lamenting, "I was bummed because I couldn't ride at all. I think I went back to 12th at one "This year I'm just riding smart," Abbot said, "I'm real happy with the way I rode. I just focused on riding my own pace, and it worked out really good. I want to be known as more than a desert racer. That's my big thing. I've been concentrating on riding more motocross, which has helped me a lot. Maybe I'll do a couple more." point." After teammate Mike Kiedrowski passed him on his DR-Z400, Hatch got back on track, passed Kiedrowski back and tried to tow the thumper pilot along to give him pointers. Hatch regained all of his lost ground and more, eventually settling into (Above) Defending series champion Rodney Smith finished round one much like he did last year's entire series - consistent and on the podium. Smith finished second, approximately three minutes behind Watts. (Left) For the most part, where you find Rodney Smith, you find Steve Hatch (3). The two teammates have made it a habit of finishing on the podium together throughout the years, and Okeechobee was no exception. Hatch rounded out the top three. (Below) 1998 ISDE Junior Trophy Rider Jason Raines is no stranger to GNCC competition, which is why he finished fifth ahead of some pretty stiff competition. third. "I just floored it the last lap," he said, afraid that someone was closing on him. "It was kind of Russian Roulette with the mud holes, I just played it smart; I just really want to be on the podium every single time. That's what it's going to take to win the championship. Coming out of here with a third, I'll take it. I really wanted to win. It was a great day all the way around." Hatch's time was 3:11 :32. Kirstin Ranch Abbott stole fourth in the last corner before the finish, which surprised Results: March 8, 2000 (Round 1 of 141 Raines. "He just came up out of the blue," Raines said. "I figured I had a little time on him then all of a sudden I heard him on the gas over that tabletop [on the motocross track]." Abbott said, "I came in here and top-five was my goal, and that was pretty high, considering I've never even really finished one of these without having a problem, I was real happy with finishing fourth. We ran the desert setting out here, and it worked out really well in the fast, choppy stuff. Okeechobbe, Florida O/A: 1. Shane Watts (KTM): 2. Rodney Smith (SllZ): 3. Sleve Hatch (Suz); 4. Destry Abbott (Kaw); 5. Jason Raines (Yam): 6. Jim Jarrett (Suz): 7. Ty Davis (Yam); 8. David Fretigne (Yam); 9. Mike Kiedrowski (Suz); 10. Joel Dengler (Hus). OPEN A: I. Dave Gunn (Hon): 2. Michael Grizzle (Hbg); 3. Jeff Murgel (Yam): 4. Jerald Brownell (Gas); 5. Norman Feth (Yam). 250 A: I. Chuck Woodford (Kaw); 2. Matt Beally (Yam): 3. Aaron Kopp (Su,), 4. Andy Shea (KTM): 5. Todd Morain (KTM). 200 A: I. Cole Calkins (Kaw): 2. Garrell Edmister (SUI); 3. Mike McCrea (Kaw): 4. Chris Galll (Kaw): 5. Jaco Wolmarans (Kaw). 4/STRK A: 1. Curt Wilcox (SUI): 2. John Oechsle (Yam): 3. Darius Lattea (Yam): 4. Ryan Barrett (Yam): 5. Craig Borders (Yam). VET A; 1. Kevin Foley (Yam); 2. Gene O'Nail (Kaw): 3. Dennis Decker (KTM); 4. Jan Hrehor (KTM): 5. Richard Kemman (KTM). SR A: I. Jeff Fredette (Kaw); 2. Keith Rodgers (Kaw): 3. Mark Smith (KTM); 4. David Crain (Gas): 5. Scott Sears (Yam). OPEN B: I. Norm Richards (KTM); 2. Edward BRIEFLY••• Mike Kiedrowski was pleased with his ONCC debut and his new Suzuki DR-Z400. Though he stalled It a couple times and fell over as well, he enjoyed his Rrst big off-road race after a few Mid-South hare scrambles to get his feet wet, so to speak. "It was fun," he grinned. Yamaha YZ250-mounted Jason Raines had a chance to dice with Mike Kiedrowski at one point in the race and observed, "He was on the gas," Raines said of Kiedrowski. "That thing

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