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/182943
P26 IN THE WIND SANTA ROSA MILE CANCELLED ound 12 of the AMA Grand National Championship ended with a whimper as a persistent drizzle fell on the Sonoma County Fairgrounds Mile oval in Santa Rosa, California on Sunday. With the season winding down and a three-way battle brewing over the 2013 crown the race was shaping up as a great one, but after several attempts to get the finals run it was not to be. Despite the fact the Crosley Radio/Howerton Racing's Bryan Smith and his potent Kawasaki were the odds on favorite, series points leader Brad Baker, on his Dodge Brothers HarleyDavidson, was giving Smith all he could handle as the day went on. The two qualified one (Smith), two (Baker), then each won their heats before Baker was able to win the all important Dash for Cash and the five points that go with the $1000 purse. Unfortunately just after the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles main was red flagged a light rain started to fall. When the air cleared slightly, AMA Pro Racing attempted to run the race, but that proved to be futile too as the riders and crowd tried to wait out the mist. Smith led the first attempted start of the 25- lap National, but it was quickly stopped when Sammy Halbert bailed off in turn two. After lengthy discussions with PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE HOENIG R the riders, AMA Pro Racing was forced to pull the plug on all the remainder of the program. All riders in the Grand National and the AMA Pro J&P Cycles Pro Singles main would be awarded a single point for qualifying and the GNC riders would also get their Dash points, leaving Baker with an 11-point advantage going into the last round at Pomona in two weeks. Baker now has to be the favorite to win his first Grand National Championship at the rip old age of 20. "I am going into one of my favorite tracks of the year in two weeks, but I definitely don't want this race to rain out," said Baker. "The bike is definitely strong. Dave Atherton knows how to build a motorcycle, especially a 750. He's had a lot of experience and we are still getting better. I think that we are about the best that we can be now. It has taken us ever since we hooked up last year in Indy to develop the motorcycle and get all the little quirks out of the engine. It's solid and we have 100 percent confidence in it every time. It is definitely equal to or the strongest XR750 in the series right now." Pro Singles Series points leader Wyatt Maguire was the cause of the red flag in the Pro Singles main, but benefited from the rain as everyone received just one point. Maguire still holds a narrow five-point advantage over Ryan Wells with defending series champion Stephen Vanderkuur 20 points back. Dave Hoenig