July 22, 2008

Kopp Wins & Takes Point Lead

Coolbeth is Fourth for Harley-Davidson, Smith Sixth on Darke County Half-Mile

The AMA Flat Track Championship rolled into the Darke County Fairgrounds for the Annie Oakley Shootout and Latus Harley-Davidson / Screamin' Eagle's Joe Kopp picked off his third AMA Flat Track Twins National of 2008. This was the fourth time the Series has visited Greenville, Oh and Kopp has won three of the long rifle trophies. This time it was after a race long battle with American Suzuki's JR Schnabel.

The win moves Kopp one point ahead of Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle factory rider Kenny Coolbeth in the Grand National Twins season points standings. Coolbeth, the two-time defending Grand National Twins champion, finished fourth on Saturday night.

The win and the points lead are momentum Kopp hopes will carry him to reclaim the Grand National championship he won in 2000.

“I feel like I’m ready to win that championship back this season,” said the Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew rider. “I’ve battled Kenny before, and I’m fully committed to getting it done.”

Kopp and Schnabel faced each other in the night’s first qualifying heat. Schnabel prevailed in that 10-lap preliminary round, and in the process earned the pole position for the start of the 25-lap Grand National main. Schnabel was out front at the start of the main, with Kopp on his tail. Nick Cummings slotted into third, followed by Coolbeth, positions those riders would hold for the duration of the race. Running a high line on the race track, Schnabel led the first seven laps before Kopp was able to power past the Suzuki, guiding his Harley-Davidson XR-750 along the low line to take the lead. Schnabel stayed with Kopp and briefly re-took the lead on lap 19, but could not hold the position as Kopp charged back to the front. A last-lap charge by Schnabel fell short as Kopp roared across the line to win by just 0.06 seconds. Cummings crossed the line about four seconds behind Schnabel, with Coolbeth another four seconds back.

USC Racing / Reiman's Harley-Davidson's Sammy Sweet, Zanotti Racing / A&A Racing's Jethro Halbert, Chris Carr Racing / Drag Specialties' Chris Carr and Team SuperTrapp's Matthew Weidman were in a tight race for ninth and finished in that order.

Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew rider Bryan Smith rode the Moroney's Harley-Davidson/Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson XR-750 to a sixth-place finish at Greenville. Blue Springs Harley-Davidson/Screamin’ Eagle rider Jared Mees finished fourth in a semi-final heat and did not qualify for the main.

Following his win at Greenville, Kopp leads the AMA Grand National Twin series with 127 points. Coolbeth is second with 126 points, and Wrecking Crew rider Smith is still in contention with 116 points in third place. Mees is 10th with 53 points.

The 2008 AMA Grand National Twins Championship will race again on July 27 on the Hagerstown Speedway half-mile in Hagerstown, Md.

Screamin' Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing. Screamin' Eagle Pro parts are specifically designed for race-use applications, while Screamin' Eagle parts offer street-use performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for more information.

The Screamin' Eagle Flat Track team is sponsored by Matco Tools.

July 22, 2008 11:06 AM | send page