Cycle News

Cycle News 2022 Issue 29 July 19

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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have been reasonable for Smith to feel extra pressure, but he insists otherwise. He was fo- cused on the task at hand and was never seriously challenged as he made his way past Marc Ingwersen and three-time world champ Angelle Sampey to reach the final. Smith's slowest run of the day was a 7.12 and that was still more than enough to cover Sampey, who slowed to a 7.25. "I had a great bike, but there were plenty of fast Suzukis out there," Smith said. "Joey [Glad- stone] ran a 7.15 and Eddie [Krawiec] ran 7.14, so they were fast. I said from the beginning that those guys would be fast, but they just missed the tune-up a little. It's not easy to race up here on this mountain. Sometimes it takes a few runs to get the hang of it. The Suzukis will be better up here next year. I guarantee it." As for Gladstone, the final round loss was his second in as many races. The Reed Motors- ports rider also went to the final at the Norwalk, Ohio, round last month and he appears destined to win his first NHRA event in the near future. Gladstone rode past Ryan Oehler, Krawiec, and Smith's wife, Angie, to reach the final. Against Angie Smith's Denso Buell, Gladstone made his best run of the weekend with a 7.15, while Smith's bike slowed after a throttle-position sensor report- edly malfunctioned. "I really wish I'd have run Angie in the final, but her bike slowed up," Matt Smith said. "Her bike was every bit as good as mine and she could easily have won this race but it was just bad luck. Fortunately, we put a Denso Buell in the winner's circle and that's most important." With the win, Smith has of- ficially overcome his slow start to the season. He's climbed to third place in the Camping World NHRA standings and is just 19 points behind leader Steve Johnson and nine points behind second-ranked Sampey. Glad- stone has moved to number four and is just 46 points out from first place. The NHRA Pro Stock Motor- cycle class now goes from the slowest track on the tour to one of the quickest, Sonoma Race- way in Central California. There are three races remaining before the start of the Countdown to the Championship, NHRA's six-race playoff to determine the season champion. Kevin McKenna IN THE WIND P56 After a slow start to the season, Smith is now right there in the hunt for the 2022 title.

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