Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

start of the third heat. "I went low so I could see. I didn't want to get blasted," Roeder said. The low line worked and Roeder took the lead as Carr emerged from a group that consisted of Dan Ingram, Tim Mertens, Larry Pegram and Georgie Price, to chase after the leader. Mertens then scattered the group with an engine problem in turns three and four as the halfway flags were displayed. The scattering left Price in temporary control of third. Carr worked the track and waited on Roeder to make a mistake, but that mistake never came and running side by side with Roeder was as close as Carr got to the front. Just before Roeder led Carr across the finish line, Pegram made a last lap move in turns one and two and took over third for good, dropping Price to fourth. "The bike is working really well," said Roeder of his Roeder H-D/Mike's H-D/Sartin Trucking/S.E. H-D/Bellbacked XR750. "A new rear tire and we are ready for the main." Flint, Michigan's Sims sat on the pole for the fourth and final heat. Terry Poovey provided some excitement on the start as he pulled a wheelie that relegated him to fourth place after the opening lap. At the start, Sims went to the top in turns one and two with Ronnie Jones and Rich King alongside, but it was Jones taking the lead with an inside move in turn three. Jones never looked back and Sims was equally determined as he was never challenged for the last direct transfer to the main and finished second. Behind the front-runners, King had his hands (ull with Craig Estelle, Poovey and Canadian Steve Beattie as they all battled for front row starts in the semi. Poovey made the move that counted when he passed King with a high line charge through turns one and two to take third. King's decision to stay low cost him that spot. Semis Chris Evans led the start of the first semi-final from his outside pole position, but he was far from alone. It was crunch time and only three riders would advance to the main. With Evans in front and Price in second,. only one more transfer spot remained. Much to the delight of the crowd, Dave Rayburn, Will Davis, Beattie and Rogers fought over that spot. And it was Rogers, via a wild ride, who took over third and then set sail for the front-runners. Riding the very top line, Rogers somehow managed to pass both Evans and Beattie to score the win. "I was just wide open, and I couldn't see anything!" Rogers said. "I just knew I could win with the throttle." Also riding the high line was Beattie and it also worked for him as he got by Price, who elected to run low, to take third' behind Rogers and Evans and advance to the main. Morehead had clear control of semi number two from the very start. "Gary Stolzenburg and Mike Wheeler made some changes to 01' Paint (Morehead's XR750) and she responded," said Morehead. "Darn, we would like to beat those factory guys." Erichsen kept Morehead honest and finished second with a quality ride that earned him a spot on the second row of the National. Former Camel Pro Series Rookie of the Year Hale drew clear of Ingram and Gordy Schopieray and finished third to earn his ticket to the main. Pegram was not to be denied in the third and final semi as he went to the front at the start and stayed there. Martin Lavoie ran second initially, but Jess Roeder romped away with the Junior Invitational victory. he was dropped back in the pack by Mertens, Poovey, Fletcher and Estep. Mertens, Poovey and Fletcher were three wide in the turns at times. The low line worked for Fletcher and he . led Poovey across the line as the two grabbed the final transfers to the main. Junior Invitational Jess Roeder, Expert George Roeder's brother, wasted no time in establishing himself as the rider to beat in the Junior Invitational main. James Hart led the chase with Joel Barrow and Bret Byer working on one another in clear view of Hart. Although Hart closed on Roeder, close was all he would get and Roeder got the win with Hart second. Beyer held off Barrow to take third. "I started coasting and started to make mistakes," said Roeder. Mike Atkins, owner of Mike's H-D - part sponsor of both Will and George Roeder, said, "This is like Christmas for me!" With the win, Jess had unintentionally added more pressure to his older brother, who was looking for a first-ever Grand National win. Their father, George Roeder Sr., scored eight ational wins in the '60s. National Sporting his new glasses, Parker selected one spot off the outside for the pole. Graham was next, gridding inside the champ. Roeder took the outside pole to no one's surprise and Jones set up camp inside of Graham. Atherton and Springsteen rounded out the front row. On the second row, Carr chose the' spot behind Roeder and Simms, Rogers, Pegram, Erichsen and Morehead lined up to his left. The third row was made up of Evans, Fletcher, Hale, Beattie and Poovey, inside to outside. Parker and Graham led the charge to the first turn at the stan of the 25lap main event, and it was Graham leading the field down the back straightaway. It was hard to watch all the action at once as behind the front-running Graham and Parker, Atherton, Roeder, Morehead, Rogers, Carr, Jones and Springsteen were all bunched up tightly with everyone searching for a good line that was not occupied by someone else. With just five laps in the books, Graham suddenly slowed and .feverishly looked for the problem. The Californian pulled off the track and into the mechanics' area where Goad diagnosed the problem. But Graham' had lost several laps to the field by the time he rejoined the race. (Left to right) Roeder, Parker and Atherton stood atop the winner's podium. Graham's problem left Parker all alone out front and the four-time Grand National Champion had to work hard to stay focused. Atherton had a grasp on second as Rogers, Roeder, Carr, Jones, Morehead and Springsteen were close behind fighting over third. At the halfway point, individual battles developed throughout the field as Parker maintained a three-second lead despite a few scary moments in turns three and four. Atherton was momentarily alone in second, but Roeder broke away from Carr and set out after the leaders. "The bike just started to work better in the second half of the race," Roeder said. Rogers, who had been running strong, began to fade and dropped back to fifth where he would finish behind Carr. "I should have paced myself like Carr and those guys," Rogers said. "They knew I couldn't hold it. I did 15 of the 25 laps up top and came down. I haven't made a main in so long that it was hard to hold on. Hey, we're happy to be here and finish where we did." With just five laps remaining, both Erichsen and Poovey's fine efforts went for naught. Erichsen's engine slipped time and he pulled off the race track to save it. Poovey's engine had a front carburetor full of dirt and he also pulled off. With Parker being the winner a far gone conclusion, attention was given to Roeder who moved in on Atherton but could not get by. Roeder had to settle for third. Atherton, who is still suffering from bronchitis, held off the challenge from Roeder to take second. "Near the end, I lost count of the laps because I was coughing so much," Atherton said. ''I'm better this week, but I am not well yet. I paid $52 for 18 antibiotic pills last week, I should be welll" Springsteen feel prey to Jones and Morehead near the end and was dropped to eighth by the pair. "I can't get away with it up high like I used to, like Scotty (Parker) does now," Springsteen said. Evans got the best of Simms for ninth, but Simms was happy with 10th. "We had a perfect setup. I just need more experience." Pegram wasn't pleased with his lIth place. performance: "It just wasn't my night." eN Results TIME TRIALS: I. Kevin Atherton (26.157 seconds); 2. Rusty Rogers (26.251); 3. GeorgI' Roeder II (26.258); 4. Greg Sims (26.287); 5. Terry Poovey (26.307); 6. Larry Pegram (26.315); 7. Jay Springsteen (26.364); 8. Will Davis (26.378); 9. Scoll Parker (26.405); 10. Darrin Erichsen (26.513); II. Dan Ingram (26.527); 12. Billy Herndon (26.583); 13. Rich King (26.605); 14. Chris Carr (26.612); 15. Steve Morehead (26.632); 16. Davey Durelle (26.637); 17. Chris Evans (26.667); 18. Ricky Graham (26.708); 19. Tim Menen's (26.743); 20. Craig Estelle (26.761); 21. Steve Beattie (26.762); 22. Bryan Villella (26.872); 23.. Donnie Estep (26.893); 24. Chance Darhng (26.999); 25. Mike Hale (27.028); 26. Gordon Schopieray (27.029); 27. Danny Koelsch Jr. (27.Q72); 28. John Parker (27.107); 29. Ronnie Jones (27.108); 30. Georgie Price IV (27.139); 31. DaVId Lloyd (27.170); 32. Jean Bourret (27.113); 33. Wink Freitas (27.229); 34. Kris Kiser (27.231); 35. John Holmes (27.312); 36. Ian Segedy (27.317); 37. Aaron Hill (27.370); 38. Todd Conant (27.540); 39. Michael Varnes (27.556); 40. Scott Stump (27.571); 41. Les Washbon (27.607); 42. Curtis Rehnert (27.623); 43. Steve Burkholder (27.629); 44. Jason Fletcher (27.699); 45. Davey Camlin (27.801); 46. David Rayburn (27.807); 47. COlt Buchan (27.848).; 48. Martin Lavoie (28.135). HEAT 1: I. Parker (H-D); 2. Atherton (H-D); 3. Evans (Hon); 4. Hale (H·D); 5. Darling (H-D); 6. Durelle (H-D); 7. Bourret (H-D); 8. Lavoie (H-D); 9. Stump (Hon); 10. Washbon (H-D); II. Freitas (HD); 12. Davis (Hon). Time: 4 min., 23.13 sec. HEAT 2: I. Graham (Hon); 2. Springsteen (HD); 3. Morehead (H-D); 4. Ro~ers (H-D); 5. Estep (H-D); 6. Erichsen (H-D); 7. Kiser (Hon); 8. Lloyd (Hon); 9. Schopieray (H-D); 10. Rehnert (H-D); II. Varnes (H-D); 12. Buchan (H-D). Time: 4:25.76 HEAT 3: I. Roeder II (H-D); 2. Carr (H-D); 3. Pegram (H-D); 4. Price IV (H-D); 5. Ingram (Hon); 6. Villella (H-D); 7. Rayburn (H-D); 8. Koelsch Jr. (H-D); 9. Burkholder (H-D); 10. Conant (H-D); II. Holmes (Hon); 12. Menens (Hon). Time: 4:28.31 HEAT 4: I. Jones (H-D); 2. Sims (H-D); 3. Poovey (Hon); 4. King (H-d); 5. Beattie (H-D); 6. Estelle (H-D); 7. Herndon (Hon); 8. Camhn (H-D); 9. Fletcher (H-D); 10. Parker (H-D); II. Segedy (H-D); 12. Hill (H-D). Time: 4:20.82 SEMI I: I. Rogers (H-D); 2. Evans (Hon); 3. Beattie (H-D); 4. Price IV (H-D); 5. Davis (Hon); 6. Durelle (H-D): 7. Rayburn (H·D); 8. Kiser (Hon); 9. Camlin (H-D); 10. Rehner! (H-D); II. Stump (Hon); 12. Segedy (H-D); 13. Conant (H-D). Time: 3:36.24 SEMI 2: I. Morehead (H-D); 2. Erichsen (H-D); 3. .Hale (H-D); 4. Ingram (Hon); 5. Schopieray (HD): 6. King (H-D); 7. Herndon (Hon); 8. Koelsch Jr. (H-D); 9. Bourret (H-D); 10. Buchan (H-D); II. Parker (H-D); 12. Hill (H-D); 13. Washbon (H-D); 14. Holmes (Hon). Time: 3:35.80 SEMI 3: I. Pegram (H-D); ~. Fletcher (H-D); 3. Poovey (Hon); 4. Menens (Hon); 5. Estep (H-D); 6. Estelle (H-D); 7. Darling (H-D); 8. Lavoie (HD); 9. ViUella(H-D); 10. Lloyd (Hon); II. Burkholder (H-D); 12. Freitas (H-D); 13. Varnes (H-D). Time: 3:36.73 JR INVITATIONAL MAIN: I. Jess Roeder (HD); 2. James Hart (Rtx); 3. Bret Beyer (RlX); 4. Joel Barrow (RlX); 5. Roy Han Jr. (W-R); 6. Tim Selby (W-R); 7. Brent' Armbruster (Rtx); 8. Patrick Buchanan (RlX); 9. Michael Butler (W-R); 10. RQbert Miller (RlX); II. Kevin Varne,s (RlX); 12. Pat Behrle (RlX). Time: 5:28.28 NATIO AL: I. Scott Parker (H-D); 2. Kevin Atherton (H-D); 3. George Roeder II (H·D); ~. Chris Carr (H-D); 5. Rusty Rogers (H-D); 6. Ronme Jones (H-D); 7. Steve Morehead (H-D); 8. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 9. Chris Evans (Hon); 10. Greg Slim (H-D); II. Larry Pegram (H-D); 12. Steve BealUe (H-D); 13. Jason Fletcher (H-D); 14. Terry. Poovey (Hon); 15. Ricky Graham (Hon); 16. Damn Enchsen (HD); 17. Mike Hale (H-D). Time: ll:OO.ll AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP/ CAMEL PRO SERIES POINT STANDINGS: I. Scott Parker (137/5 wins); 2. Chris Carr (117/2); 3. Kevin Athenon (100); 4. Ricky Graham (8111); 5. Larry Pegram (57); 6. Ronnie Jones (46); 7. Will Davis (42); 8. Terry Poovey (40); 9. (TIE) George Roeder II/Jay Springsteen (35); 11. Dan Ingram (30); 12. Steve Morehead (29); 13. Davey Durelle (28); 14. Rusty Rogers (23); 15. Davey Camlin (18); 16. Mike Hale (16); 17. Tim Mertens (15); 18. (TIE) Rodney Farris/Aaron HilllRich King (11). 13

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