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/697689
IN THE WIND P38 ROBINSON SURVIVES LIMA A MA Pro Flat Track returned to its roots for round eight of the 14-race series. County Fairgrounds half-mile ovals were the birthplace of American mo- torcycle racing and the tradition continued at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio, June 25. Grand National competitors Jared and Nichole Mees have taken over the promotional side of the traditional event. The defending champion and his recently retired wife were rewarded for their hard work with nearly perfect weather and a large crowd for the their first promotional effort. GNC 1 The only downer for Mees was the dominating performance of Brandon Robinson on his Ken- nedy Racing Harley-Davidson XR750. Robinson, who was fast all day, posted the second fast- est qualifying time, fastest heat time, was the George Roeder Sr. Dash winner, and led the last 24 laps of the 25-lap Harley- Davidson GNC 1 presented by Vance & Hines Grand National. The final was far from easy, as Robinson had to overcome two restarts at the end of the race. Current points leader Bryan Smith (Crosley Brands/ Howerton Racing) led the first lap on his screaming Kawasaki, but was quickly dispatched by Robinson and BriggsAuto.com's Sammy Halbert. Robinson increased his lead to about two and a half seconds over Halbert with Harley-Da- vidson Motor Company's Brad Baker holding down third over Smith and Mees. Halbert picked up his pace and suddenly was challenging for the lead. "When Sammy came by, I had backed off a little bit. I was in cruise control," said Robinson. "The XR motors are fragile and I just wanted to make sure it would last 25 laps. I didn't really think that anyone was that close. When Sammy came up underneath me I thought I better step on the gas a little more. I had a little something left." Just when it looked like Hal- bert might steal the lead, former Canadian National Champion Don Taylor brought out the red flag on lap 19, when he fell in turn four while running in sixth position. "I felt in control and felt smooth. I was just rolling and clicking off real consistent laps," said Robinson. "Then the track started changing, it was really rough getting into three. I was fine in one and two, but three and four I was struggling. When Sammy poked it up underneath me I thought, 'oh man,' then we had the red flag." After a disastrous restart last week in Oklahoma, when his shifter shaft broke, the pressure was on Robinson. This week all went well. "I got redemption after last week. I hate restarts in general," added Robinson. "Tonight it just all panned out. I knew that for six laps I had what it took to get the job done. I almost tossed it away in the last turn, but otherwise it was pretty good." On the restart Halbert re- sumed his challenge, but it would be brief. One lap in, when The main gets underway under the lights at Lima. Brandon Robinson (44) hung tough in the twice-red- flagged race to get the win. PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE HOENIG