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/1542351
Oglerhorpc GA DIRT TRACK Round I Morch 3, 2006 AMA Hot Shoe National S=ries Eann Sweeps Savannah- Chris Cor showed thol he i5 still the mqn to beot by winning rhe 75oll flx)rc mqin evenl ot the Florido flot-lrock opener ot Oglethorpe Speedwoy in Sovonnoh, Georgio. by to get on the podium. Latus Hadey- Davidson's Joe Kopp dropped Smith to flfth late in the race. l.'lechanical problems ended Bigelow's race, while Murphree slipped to sixth, ahead of the factory Suzuki of Varnes and Kenny Coolbeth, the latter making his first appeamnce on the factory Harley- Davidson. SjS Racing's Paul Lynch led the factory Suzuki of .lake Johnson and Schaeffer's Harley-Davidson's Raun The 450cc Expert main was somewhat the same, as Zanotti Racing/A&A Racing's .lethro Halbert shot straight to the front, with the KTM of Carr right on his tail. Scott's Powersport's Raun Wood held down third over Bettencourt Honda's Coolbeth, Motorcyclist Post-backed Logan Myers and Renton Honda's Joe Kopp. Carr quickly dispatched the young Halbert but couldn t pull away from him. Halbert dogSed Carr all the way to the finish, but Halbert couldn't llnd a way around him, Wood, Kopp and Coolbeth were baftlinS over third. Coolbeth found a hole and went from fifth to third. Kopp also got by. wrth wood evenrually losrng the fifth sport to Bartels' Ha.ley- Davidson/TNTHarley.com's Shaun Russell. The 2006 class of Pro-Sport riders is as strong as at has been in many years. Tonight's races featured two former AMA Horizon award winners and a number of Amateur National Champions. KTi''1/Shoei-backed John Lewis, 2004 Horizon Award winner. led 2005 winner and A&A Racing/Hlebo Racing's with lYack Daddy Raong s John Olmsted in third. Bonsey slipped the groove and fell into a battle with Harley-Davidson of Macon's Brett Sassaman as they swapped third place back and fofth. Olmstead stalked Lewis for almost 12 laps before wedging his way to the front on the last lap. Lewis felt the pass was too aggressive, but Olmstead came away with the win. Bonsey ropped Sassaman - son of for- mer Harley-Davidson factory racer Greg Sassaman - for third. Pearson Racing's .)ustin Hittle and Harv's Harley-Davidson's Kyle Wyman filled out the top six. The small Harley-Davidson Sportster Pedormance class was a war of the Carolinas. South Carolina's William Seyle and North Carolina's Robert Lewis took their battle well ahead of the eight-rider field. Low Country Harley- Davidson's Seyle was able to fend off Simpson Helmets/Dennis Thurlow Racing's Lewis for the win. 14CR Suspension/EMC Cycle's Kyle Whitis filled out the podium. C]{ OGlsfHoRP: sP:rDwaY SavaNNAH, GEoRGTA REsuL6: ItAaRcH 3, 2006 450 PRo'sP,oRT l. John Olmt€ad (Hon)i 2. lohi L*it (fi|'l)i l. St* Boftey (Hon)i 4. Br.tt ssamar (Ho.li5.justin Hittle (Hd):6. Kyle !!rm (Roi)i 7.Adm Carpinello (Hon); 8. Brck sch@nbachEr (Hon): L Ma.[ zedle. (qor]. 10. Logan khsb rHon). ll Cor/ Iexls (Hon)i 12.lon Goodman l:/ ). 450 EXPERT l. Chns Car (KTM): 2.lethro Halben (Honli 3. &nny coolbeth (Hon)i a. lc Kopp (Hon)i 5. sl" n RlsEll(Honl.6. ftua w@d rHonr. / Seve BaR'e (Hon);8. Losan l'1y* (Hon)r e.lared l'1e3 (Hon); l0.lim w@d (Htr); ll. l'aike Rush (Hon)r 12. Gary Conklin HARIEY.DAVIDSON SPORTSTER PEAIORi{ANCE: L William Seyler 2. Foben Lewis: 3. Kyle Whitiei 4- ldon Goodwin; 5.lohn Wnret 6.loe Hoot rhyder 7. Foxi I 750/1000: L Chrit Carr (H-O)i 2. lared Hees {H'D);3.shaln Rusell(H o):4.JoE Kopp (H O)r5. Bryan Smith (H D); 6. lohni), l'lurphree (H-O)i 7. Kev'n Vames 1su2)i 8 Kehny CoolbEth (H-D)i 9. Faul L/nch (H-O): l0 hke lohison (5oz): 1l Raun wood (H-D)i 12. Brrdn Biselow (H-D). istoric Oglethorpe Speed- way hosted round one of the AMA Hot Shoe National Series on its smooth, fast Half Mile. Shaun Russell and Lima Harley- Davidson/ldeal Environmental's Bryan Bigelow all beat Carr into the first turn. h didn't take the champ long to come to the front, howeven as he grabbed sec- ond, behind Smith, within a few laps. The Michigan rider couldn't hold off Carr for long, and after Carr made a pass for the lead the battle was on for second. Smith's tire appeared to be going away, and Lancaster Harley-Davidson/Saddlemen's .lared Mees was the first to take advan- tage. Shaun Russell also worked his way Srony ffto PHoros By Davr Horlrrc/turrRAKFolos.coAr Over 130 riders trekked to Savannah from all around the United States and Canada to contest the four classes that make up rhe series. Traditionally, thrs Fri- day-night race kicks off the new season and Daytona Bike Week, giving riders the chance to shake off the winter rust. Seven-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr showed that the Qualiry Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford Team has not spent an idle winter. lt wasn't easy, but Carr swept both the new 450cc Singles Expen class and the 750/l000cc main. The 750/l000cc main saw Moroney's Harley-Davidson & Honda's BrTan Smith and American Suzuki's Kevin Varnes blast to the front, but a bobble in turn two dropped Varnes back into the pack. Carr struggled off the line as Coziahr Harley-Davidson/National Cycle Supply's Johnny Murphree, Baftels' Harley-Davidson/ TNTHarley.com's Corr (I) hod to come fiom behiod to poss eorly-rote leoder Bryon smirh {42}. a] I FI tEr' t F t ? ,,U t l L I ,il I I CYCI.E NEWS APRIL 12,2006 5