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/1541594
Track. Robinson battled for the lead with Daniels and Rackley Racing's KTM-mounted Davis Fisher over the contest's open- ing half before seizing command of the race and stretching out some distance in first. "It went through my mind. Man, I might actually do this thing!" Robinson said. "But I had this funny feeling. I was stuck in my line, and I didn't know what the other guys were doing be - hind me at that point. But I was committed to it. It was live and die by the sword at that point." Despite his concerns, that line was more than good enough to hold off Daniels and Fisher. How - ever, Bauman, who could only manage fifth in his heat and circu- lated as low as eighth early in the main, surged up through the field, arriving on Robinson's rear wheel just in time to strike with less than two laps remaining. "When Briar got around me, it didn't really give me a lot of time to go to work and study and see what he was doing. It was just all surreal." Bauman and Robinson gave the once-maligned ma- chine a magnificent 1-2, laying the groundwork for what was to come. Bauman said, "I'll be honest, I felt bad for Brandon, because he's my guy. But, also, I'm kind of a dog as well. I wanted to get that first win. So, the feeling was awesome. "Brandon was super cool afterward. I know it's easy to be bitter. And I'm sure it was a little bitter for him, but he's such a good dude; the vibe for that 1-2 was awesome." characteristics (the Springfield Mile I & II), which made wins there a long shot at best. "Getting that win on the bike was the one thing I wanted to accomplish all year," he said. "Man, it was looking like it wasn't going to happen for us. Senoia was a bit of a heart - breaker, and we were just never close after that. It was kind of hard watching Briar have as much success as he was [having], but he's probably the most naturally talented guy in our sport. And it was good in a way, because he proved it was possible. I basically just had to get my head out of my ass and go get the job done." Robinson finally got that job done at the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track II, a race best re - While he put on a brave face, Robinson later admitted, "I was just like a bag full of mixed emotions. I mean, I wanted to be the first guy to win on it. I've been saying that since day one. To come that close to it and then just lose out..." For Bauman, wins two and three came immediately, and he kept stacking them from there. Ten races in, he boasted six wins, three seconds, and the championship lead. Robinson, meanwhile, found himself running out of time, and fast. While he finished on the podium four times over the sea - son's opening 10 rounds, four of the year's remaining six races were either less than ideally suited to his skillset (the Sturgis and Peoria TTs) or the bike's P84 FEATURE I AFT HARLEY-DAVIDSON XG750R Brandon Robinson narrowly missed giving the XG750R its first win but he achieved one later in the series.