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/1545725
"I never ever would have thought that I would win a National this year," the Virginian admitted. "I thought it would just be a struggle all year. I'm just trying to get back up to speed. Something clicked in that race and it was handed to me with Chris [Carr] breaking. I still had to be there to capitalize – its just one of those deals." On the opposite end of Hacker's elation was Carr. "The front carburetor came off right as I crossed the stripe for the white flag," said Carr. "I put my hand up. I knew I slowed way down. On a fast track like this, I wanted to give everybody a good warning." By then the race appeared to be over. Carr had gapped Hacker and looked well on his way to victory. "Two laps before the end he [Carr] put a little distance on me," said Hacker. "I went into turn two and I noticed he wig- gled a little bit. I went through there a lot harder than I had been going through there. I exited the corner so hard C Y C L E N E W S • JULY 19, 2006 21 For the second week in a row, the AMA was able to try out its new staggered-restart system. Instead of the traditional nose to tail, with tires touching, the riders are staggered back and forth across the track - each a bikelength behind the other. Under the new rules, if anyone rolls before the green light rather, than another red flag coming out, the rider will incur a 10-second penalty. The use of transponders makes the system possible. Johnny Murphree's year has been more down than up, but the team feels that they may have turned the corner. "We're back to ground zero," said Murphree. "Looking at the times and knowing how I felt on the track in the main event, we made a lot bigger step than it appears. I recall back in 2000 and 2001 when I started a roll and got some momentum and finished on the podium regularly, that was my strong point. I was making a lot of time rolling in the middle of the corner with a lot of speed, passing guys on the outside. At Sedalia I was passing guys on the outside there. Then all of a sud- den I wasn't doing that anymore. I don't know if it was just a comfort thing or what was going on. We worked out butts off after not making the main last week. We had a sit down and figured some things out. We're just getting started." The Memphis Shades team is having ignition prob- lems with their Yamaha's and for the first time both riders, J.R. Schnabel and Rob Pearson were aboard their back-up Harley-Davidsons and both made the main. So far the switch has been a big boost for Schnabel. "It's definitely another positive night for us," said Schnabel. "We won the heat race and were pushing hard in the main event. Things are going really well right now. It's an okay night with a top 10. We're still in the top five in the points. Things are good." Bumps, bangs and bruises in the heat of the sea- son finds several riders fighting the effects of get-offs. Joe Kopp was able to return from his Lake Odessa fall and made the main out of his semi, but then rode most of the National at the rear of the field. Sam Halbert suffered a big tumble in a midweek race at Frederick, Maryland, but soldiered to a 12th-place finish in the main. Shawn Baer, who was also injured at Lake Odessa, was in attendance, but his season is apparently over. "I broke my collarbone in four places and they had to operate on it, "said Baer. "I have plates and eight screws holding it together and the doctor said to get ready for Daytona, but you never know." Kevin Varnes' broken fingers still have him on the sidelines, but he was able to make use of this down time by taking the newest member of the Varnes racing clan to the Amateur Grands in DuQuoin, Illi- nois. Young Ryan Varnes came away with a short- track win and third overall in the 50cc Stock 7-8- year-old class. Mike Hacker has been fighting through his injuries for nearly four years, and although he still has issues, they were put aside tonight. "I've felt really good the last few races, but we haven't had the results," said Hacker. "I don't know if it's from being tense or what, but my shoulder was giving me fits. In the heat race I got a bad start, then worked my way to sec- ond. I felt pretty comfortable with the main because the last two laps of my heat race when I got clear I turned a time that was right with Chris' [Carr] times all day. Chris was pretty much the fastest guy here all day. I thought that if I could keep my stamina and keep my stuff going in the main event I could be there. I want to thank everybody who stuck by me. A lot of people thought I should be done, people were wondering what was going on. A lot of people didn't want me to continue racing bikes, but it's what I wanted to do. A lot of people stuck by me, like SuperTrapp, Doc's Harley-Davidson, my parents and Johnny Goad. Also K&N and Tom Norton stuck with me, without all of them I never would have ful- filled this dream." Briefly... MIKE HACKER TOOK ADVANTAGE OF CHRIS CARR'S BAD LUCK TO WIN IN VIRGINIA The oft-injured Hacker surprised even himself by winning the Mineral Wells race. Bryan Smith completed the podium after also getting by Carr when the defending champion had his mechanical problem.