2002 AMA U.S. Hillclimb Championship presented by Pace American
Round 10 of
12: Sept. 15 - Middlebury, IN
September 25, 2002
Strank keeps 800-class title hopes alive
with Middlebury win
By David L. Patton Jr.
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| Walter
"Tiger" Strank put in a great 800cc class
ride aboard his Yamaha R1, taking the win and
keeping his title hopes alive. |
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David L. Patton
Jr. photo
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With two rounds remaining, the 2002 AMA National
Championship Hillclimb Series presented by Pace American Trailers
is turning into a head-to-head battle. Last season 2000 540cc and
800cc National Champion Dave Watson was two-thirds of the way
through a repeat when he was seriously injured in a practice
crash. Watson was not able to hang onto the No. 1 plates, but he
is in the driver's seat in the 2002 series. Watson has a huge
18-point lead in the 540 class over last season's runner-up Phil
Libhart on a Triumph Twin. In professional hillclimbing, the top
15 score points with 1 point difference per position. Watson needs
a third place finish or two ninth-place finishes to clinch his
third 540 National Championship (1998, 2000). In the 800 class,
Watson and defending National Champion Walter "Tiger"
Strank, Jr. have put on a great show on their four-cylinder
machines, trading wins at the last round in Middlebury, Ind.
Strank on the Yamaha R1, took his fourth straight 800cc win but he
still trails Watson, who took second by 7 points. They have
combined for six wins out of 10 rounds and have left the rest of
the field far behind. If Watson's CBR Honda can finish nine places
ahead of Tiger, he will also sew up the 800cc crown, but Strank
has a great record at White Rose Motorcycle Club Hillclimb, site
of Round 11.
In 540 class competition, Watson edged out Strank
on his Yamaha R6. BSA mounted Rodney Williams took 3rd ahead of
Honda CR 500 riders Mike Livingston and Jack Mason.
Strank, the 2001 National Champion put in a perfect
ride on his final attempt on the R1 to edge Watson for his
fourth-straight 800cc win as he tries to hang onto the crown.
Libhart took third in only his second ride on the Harley-Davidson
XR 750. Jeff Thomas took fourth on a borrowed BSA and Russ
VanderVeen, Libhart's sponsor, took fifth on the nitro-burning
Harley Sportster. Strank trails Watson by 7 points and needs a bit
of luck to make up that much ground in two rounds. Watson and
Strank both have excellent records at the next two hills so the
battle should go down to the wire.
Next race:
Sept. 29, 2002
Jefferson (York Co.), PA
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Copyright AMA Pro Racing, 2005.
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