Cycle News

Cycle News 2014 Issue 26 July 1

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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FLAT TRACK AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 5/JUNE 28, 2014 ALLEN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS/LIMA, OHIO P62 ert Pearson, Jake Shoemaker, Dustin Crow and Jake Constan- tine rounded out the top 10. The AMA Pro Flat Track se- ries continues next Saturday at the Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland. CN GRAND NATIONAL 1 Jared Mees (Harley-Davidson) 2 Brandon Robinson (Kawasaki) 3 Bryan Smith (Kawasaki) 4 Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. (Harley- Davidson) 5 Jake Johnson (Ducati) 6 Stevie Bonsey (Harley-Davidson) 7 Robert Pearson (Harley-Davidson) 8 Jake Shoemaker (Kawasaki) 9 Dustin Crow (Harley-Davidson) 10 Jake Constantine (Kawasaki) Briefly... in 1984. Since then the race has become a staple in the series and annually attracts a big crowd. There was another big turnout for 2014 in spite of rain showers in the region all day. Former racing great and Motorcycle Hall of Famer David Aldana was on hand to watch Lima this year. Aldana was in the area competing in a vin- tage event and was enjoying watch- ing the current crop of riders take on the challenging Lima cushion. "We had some rough tracks like this back in my day," Aldana said. "These tracks really bring out the best and worst of riders and after watching these guys bouncing all around this place it makes me glad I do this just for fun these days. I stand in awe of the talent these guys have. It's hard to compare eras, but there are defi- nitely some really talented riders in the series these days." Yet another generation of Varnes has made it to the AMA Pro level. Ryan Varnes, 16-year-old son of former AMA Grand National racer Kevin Var- nes, won his semi to qualify for his first Pro Singles final at Lima. He fin- ished 12th in the Pro Singles main. "I've won a few championships at the local level, but this is my first time at the pro level," Varnes said. "My dad has been helping me, making sure I do everything right out there." JOHNSON WINS BACK-TO-BACK PRO SINGLES RACES It was back-to-back wins for Kyle Johnson as he ran away with the overall win in the Pro Singles class at the Half-Mile in Lima, Ohio. Fresh off the win from Knoxville, John- son put his Parkinson Brothers Racing Honda back on top the box in an impres- sive display of qualifying and a main event win that out-distanced the field by a whopping 5.439 seconds. Davis Fisher was second on his TJ Burnett Farms/Bob Lanphere Honda. Robert Descenna made it a Honda sweep of the Pro Singles podium. He came home a lonely third on his Bob Weirbach Racing entry. "We rolled into Lima with some mo- mentum from our win at Knoxville and the Allstar race in Ashland the week- end before," Johnson said. "Since I got started in the flat track game a little later than most of the other guys, I didn't have as much experience on a track like Lima. I knew I would have my work cut out for me. After free practice and qualifying I was the fast- est Pro Singles qualifier, which gave me a front row start in my heat. "In the heat I got a decent start and a comfortable lead which boosted my confidence for the main. The main event started with a good battle with Bobby Descenta and with some pa- tience I was able to find a line to take the lead and make it stick and from there I just kept extending my lead. It felt really good to gain the much- needed points in the chase for the championship. I am hoping to carry this momentum to Hagerstown. Big thanks to all my sponsors, family and friends for their support." It's a tightly packed points battle. Brandon Wilhelm (who took fourth) and Fisher are tied atop the Pro Singles standings with 64 points each. Ryan Wells is third with 62 and Johnson now fourth with 61. Kyle Johnson is flanked by Davis Fisher (left) and Robert Descenna (right) as he celebrates his victory in the Pro Singles final.

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