Race News
Hare Scrambles Wrap-up: Blackwell Takes Indiana Win, Raines Grabs TitleWith one event remaining in the season, defending series champ Am-Pro Yamaha's Jason Raines, thanks to a runner-up finish to Team Suzuki's Doug Blackwell, earned his second-straight series title at round nine of the AMA National Hare Scrambles Series in Lynnville, Indiana. Throttlehead.com/Kawasaki's Josh McLevy was third overall, while Kawasaki Team Green's Chuck Woodford finished fourth at the tough and dusty Lynnville course.
Blackwell grabbed the holeshot at the start of the 3-hour race and never looked back to bring home his first National Hare Scrambles win of the year. Raines, McLevy and Woodford could do no better than watch and wait on the 12.8-mile rugged single-track course in the coal pits of Lynnville Park.
"My race went pretty much like everybody else's," Woodford said after five laps of follow-the-leader in the dust. "You just waited and kind of hoped the guy in front of you made a mistake. You had to be careful in the dust; there were a lot of rocks and stuff sticking up that you couldn't see. Unfortunately for me, the front three guys didn't make any mistakes."
Woodford went into the event with a mathematical chance at the championship, but he needed to finish ahead of Raines to keep his chances alive. His fourth place compared with Raines' second overall sealed the title for the defending champ.
"I was really nervous coming in here," Raines said. "My main focus was to win the championship and get that out of the way so I could focus on the last two GNCCs. So my hat's off to Doug, Chuck and everybody who finished this race; it was tough today." -Shan Moore/Trials Competition Newspaper
Results1.Doug Blackwell (Suz) 2. Jason Raines (Yam)3. Josh McLevy (Kaw)4. Chuck Woodford (Kaw)5. Cole Caulkins (Kaw)6. Andy Shea (Kaw)7. Jeff Cregg (Kaw)8. P.A. Allen (Kaw)9. John Robbins (KTM)10. Justin Williamson (Yam)
Euronews
2004 National Observed Trials Series: Aaron Goes 8-1 to Take His 8th MA/NATC National Observed Trials Champion Geoff Aaron seems to be getting better with age. In 2004, the 32-year-old had his most-dominating year to date, winning eight of the nine rounds en route to an unprecedented eighth national title. With more than 16 years of experience in the NATC's pro class, Aaron is by far the elder statesman in a series dominated by veterans; and he is winning events as much with experience and savvy as he is with technique.
"I worked really hard to win this year, and as a general rule, because of my experience, I think I made better decisions in the sections than some of the rookies coming up," Aaron replied when asked about winning his eighth title. "I'm just glad to be still at the top of my game and having fun doing what I like to do."
In years past, Aaron had gained the reputation of being a slow starter, winning many of the events by coming from behind on the final lap. But in 2004, he avoided the suspense by jumping out to the early lead and then finishing strong for an easy win. Only in Vermont did Aaron show any vulnerability by giving up the win to a very determined Chris Florin on Saturday, then coming from behind to top AMA/NATC veteran Ryon Bell of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, for the win on Sunday.
Bell, riding a U.S.-sponsored Gas Gas, ended the season in the runner-up position. In 11 years on the circuit, he has four runner-up finishes, all behind Aaron. He announced his retirement at the final round of the year. "I had some injuries over the winter and just wasn't able to train, but I rode this year and tried to do the best that I could," Bell said. "This is my 11th year doing the full AMA series, and I just don't have the motivation or drive anymore to do what it takes to stay at the top."