| Suzuki
Regional ATV
Championship Series
Round #1 - Pleasure Valley
Armagh,
PA
April 22nd, 2007
By: Shane Hartman
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Suzuki
ATV Regional
Round 1 - Links |
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Armagh,
PA (4/26/2007) –
Round one of the inaugural Suzuki Regional ATV Championship
Series presented by Fly Racing kicked off this past weekend
at Pleasure Valley Raceway, located in Armagh, Pennsylvania.
A true testament to the growth of ATV racing, nearly 200
racer traveled from six different states attended the
quad only event.
With the North East finally thawing out, this race
would be the first time back on a quad for many D6 and
D5 riders. While temperatures soared into the mid 80’s,
the Pleasure Valley Race track was gearing to unleash
a beating on these riders, with multiple whoop sections
and whooped out straight-aways. Consisting of mostly
table tops, an uphill triple proved to be the only jump
many riders had difficulty conquering. Elevation changes
and hard packed corners were additional track characteristics
that helped measure rider skill levels.
Pro Am Classes:
With 24 riders signed up, the promoter was forced to split
the class up and run a qualifying format. As the gate
dropped in the first qualifier, it was, Factory Honda
rider, John Natalie reaching the first corner with two
quad lengths to spare. Heading through the second set
of whoops, Trent Kandel was holding pressure on Natalie
until a small mishap that buck him over the front of his
ATV. Just Bres would slip into the second spot followed
by Randy Lehr. John Natalie would open up his lead and
cruise to a moto one win. Unable to make up the time difference,
Trent Kandel would be sent to the LCQ, where his win secured
him a spot in the main. Although Shane Hitt was having
quad problems off the start, he fought back to an 8th
qualifying position.
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Tommy
Fink was able to recover from his hard wipe out
in an Early Moto. |
John
Natalie |
The second qualifier saw Kyle Dammann pull the holeshot
on his new Cernics Suzuki LTR. Dammann held a fast pace,
but just it just wasn’t enough to hold off Paul
Gregg who was hounding him from the first corner. Dammann
would keep Gregg within reach, but would not be able
to regain the lead before the checkered flag waved.
Hetrick Racing’s J.R. Hinds would hold down the
third place position despite a loose head pipe causing
a drop in power.
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Honda
factory rider John Natalie takes the holeshot
with two quad lenghts to spare. |
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Kyle
Dammann took no time breaking in his new Suzuki.
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With a full gate of 20 riders, it was John Natalie
grabbing the holeshot in the second moto. Shane Hitt
was hot on the heels of Natalie as they crossed under
the bridge. Paul Greg would snag a great hole only to
get tangled up with Justin Bres before reaching the
first turn. Although he took a hard spill in the first
moto, Trent Kandel looked 100% as he motored past Shane
Hitt to take command of 2nd place. Natalie would hold
a steady pace and swap positions with Kandel for the
majority of the race, until the last lap where he revealed
just how fast he is. Kandel would sail to a second place
finish in moto two and a 6th overall. Randy Lehr held
onto third place although a hard charging Justin Bres
would come up from nearly last place to apply pressure.
Lehr would come with a 2nd overall while Bres would
snag the last spot on the Podium. Kyle Dammann was able
to hold off Gregg in the second moto and secure a 4th
place overall. Gregg would round out the top five while
going 1-6.
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Kandel
would sail to a second place finish in moto two
and a 6th overall. |
Randy
Lehr held onto third place in moto two which put
him in 2nd overall. |
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