GAS CITY, IN (June 19, 2010) - After rain washed away the first attempt, Round Six of the AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com came to the beautiful Gas City I-69 Speedway in Gas City, IN, this time under clear skies and summer like conditions.
The defending K&N Filters Singles Grand National Champion made it two "Singles" wins in a row as he led the 25 lap National all the way despite a red flag on lap 12 when Canadian Don Taylor fell hard in turn one.
Wiles kept his focus on the restart and his # 1 Monster Energy Kawasaki was never seriously challenged. "It was kind of a cat and mouse game," said Wiles. "I was looking for a good line and every time I thought I had one, I'd slip. Fortunately they were following me and were never able to take advantage."
Joe Kopp was Wiles' first challenger on his # 3 Latus Harley-Davidson / Moto Concepts Honda, but the restart did him in. # 21 Rocky online / Lucas oils' Jared Mees got the better of Kopp and looked for a way around Wiles that never came.
Kopp settled into third as the lead trio pulled away. About a half second separated them as a great battle developed over fourth. Stratton Racing / Snedeker Racing's # 27 Rob Pearson was able to hold off the Woody Kyle Racing / Fredericktown Yamaha backed Halbert Brothers as # 69 Jethro finished fifth and # 7 Sammy was sixth. # 44 Brandon Robinson was also right in the mix on his Action Motorsports / Lancaster Harley-Davidson backed Suzuki. All four finished within four tenths of a second.
Bettencourt Honda's Kenny Coolbeth pushed his # 2 Honda into eighth with Dave Burks Motorsports / Yeager's Cycle's # 87 Mick Kirkness right on his heels. Chris Carr Racing / Dallas Fort Worth Honda's # 4 Chris Carr rounded out the top ten after avoiding the fallen Taylor in the first half of the race.
In a preview of things to come in the K&N Filters Singles GNC Main, Wiles captured the four-lap, six-rider Dash for Cash, winning the 5 points and $1000 that go with it. Joe Kopp and Rob Pearson were second and third.
2000 Grand National Champion Joe Kopp gained 14 points on Jake Johnson and his # 5 Zanotti Racing Honda. Kopp now hold a 14 point lead heading into next weeks Lima, OH Half Mile National.
Vans Yamaha / GYTR's Jeffery Carver on his # 24P Yamaha was almost as dominant in the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Main.
Carver took over the lead from Defending Pro Singles Champion Brad Baker (# 1 Rod Lake Racing / Mike Velasco Honda) on lap three of the 16 lap main and never looked back, building a commanding lead in a few short laps.
Baker was quickly caught by fast qualifier James Rispoli and his # 71B Cycle Dynamics / ANT-Racing Honda. Baker and Rispoli exchanged second throughout the race. Unfortunately, the race didn't make it all the way to the checkers as Baker lost the front end in turn three of the last lap and fell. This handed third to Woody Kyle Racing / West Coast Hot Shoes' # 37C Honda of Brian Tapp. Tapp had just slipped by the # 55A Jake Shoemaker (Montgomeryville Cycle Suzuki). TLC Racing's # 81C Zakk Palmer rounded out the top five.
Jeffery Carver is starting to run away with the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Grand National Championship Points Standings as he holds a commanding 34 point lead over James Rispoli with Brad Baker just one more point back.
Earlier in the night, the first ever Bultaco Astro Cup took place, featuring the famous purpose-built flat track racers from the 1970's. Manhattan, KS rider Bill Snyder came out on top when Nathan Long's Bultaco expired half way through the race. Preston Dorfmeyer and Ken Sallant filled out the first Bultaco Astro Cup Podium.
Decision time for GNC point leader!
Can you count to 5
#3 Joe...
Can you count to 5
#3 Joe Kopp (Duc) #2 Kenny Coolbeth (HD) #1 Jared Mees (HD) #5 Jake Johnson #4 Chris Carr (HD)
Current point leader Joe Kopp has a serious decision to make this Saturday night at the Lima, Ohio 1/2 Mile Grand National. At both the Prescott Valley Mile and Springfield Mile Kopp raced the Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Agip Ducati, taking an upset win at Prescott Valley. The series now moves to the limestone cushion track that many believe the grunt horsepower of the HD is the superior bike. So the question many were asking after the Gas City National Saturday night, "what will Joe ride at Lima?"
Remember Lima two years ago? Henry Wiles and Joe Kopp do. In 2008 Henry Wiles was racing the Lloyd Brothers Aprilia at Lima and appeared to have the race won until coming off turn four Joe Kopp on his HD moved past Wiles at the finish line to win by less than 6 inches, stealing a huge victory for Aprilia and Wiles.
Now Kopp shows up at Lima with the point lead along with the option to race the Lloyd Brothers Ducati or jump on his Harley-Davidson. It is no secret Kopp has been doing extensive testing and development on the Ducati and many insiders say Kopp will race the Ducati.
So far this season the result pages in the Expert Twins division has been anything like the past two decades. Riders have moved around to various teams, tuners have stepped up their game and the sport of Flat Track racing is showing huge growth.
It's time to get down to business...Lima is here!
Lima, Ohio
Allen County Fairgrounds
Saturday, June 26
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AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines.