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Jeff Ward stretches AMA Supermoto lead in Nashville

Author: Garry Morrow

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Jeff Ward has won round three of the AMA Supermoto Championship in Nashville, Tennessee, over the weekend (Sep-11). Series favorite and Ward's Tory Lee Design's Honda team-mate Doug Henry was once again a victim of misfortune when on lap 11 the SuperPole winner stalled his CRF450 whilst leading. With Henry still trying to get his bike started Ward was left with a clear track and rode with confidence to victory. 17-year-old revelation Chris Fillmore followed Ward home in second. German ace Jurgen Kunzel survived a stalled engine himself to make the final step of the podium from a row five start after having to come through the semi final.
Cheney was looking good all weekend until a first corner crash and brain fade left him 7th. Photo: Mark Battersby
On the Australian front it was a day to forget for Australian Champion mark Willis. Already suffering a shoulder injury as a result of a mid-week testing crash the Queenslander set the 4th fastest time in timed practice but was bought unstuck by an oil spill on the fast Nashville circuit in the first qualifying session, suffering a twisted ankle and a corked thigh. After some hasty repairs to his CRF450 by the dedicated CHM team, Willis was able to recover in the second session with a time good enough for a front row start in his heat. Willis took the last qualifying place in the heat and went directly to the main at the expense of good friend Mark Avard, the two Aussies dicing for the fourth spot until the flag. "I wish we were racing for 3rd and 4th, not 4th and 5th," stated Willis, ‰ÛÏFrankie (Avard) rode well and I wanted to see him go straight through to the final with me." Avard would make it through to the final when he finished 2nd in the last chance qualifier.
AMA Supermoto grid - (74) Mark Willis. Photo: MArk Willis
Things didn't get much better in the final for the former World GP rider. Starting from the fourth row he got caught up in heavy first turn traffic and dropped a further eight places, he then became another victim of an engine stall and when he restarted was dead last. Undeterred he fought his way back through the field until another engine stall by race end he was officially classed in 21st position, one place behind Avard. Willis was clearly disappointed at the conclusion of his race. He never achieved the lap time he had carved out in the very first practice session of the day. "That was poor. To be faster in practice than qualifying or racing is just not good enough.‰Û
Photo: Mark Battersby
Australia's Graeme Cheney made the trip back to the states after competing in the Queensland championship last week but luck once again abandoned him when he crashed in the first corner for the second round in a row. The Queensland champion then put on a spirited display to charge back to 5th, but a small brain fade saw him drop back to 7th when he pulled over to let Kunzel lap him and in so doing let 6th and 7th place past in the process, he ended up being officially classed as 7th. The next round of the championship will take place at South Boston Speedway, South Boston, VA on September 18th Main Photo: Mark Willis (74) passes compatriot Mark Avard

Credit: Mark Battersby
AMA Supermoto (450cc)
Pos. Rider name Hometown Bike
Laps
Gap
1
Jeff Ward Newport Beach, CA Honda CRF450R
24
---
2
Christopher S Fillmore Oxford, MI Honda CRF450R
24
1.000
3
Jurgen Kunzel Heidenheim, Germany KTM 450SMS
24
1.005
4
Alexandre Thiebault Antibes, France Honda CRF450R
24
1.010
5
Leonardo Bagnis Lodi, CA Honda CRF450R
24
1.011
6
Doug A Henry Torrington, CT Honda CRF450R
24
1.012
7
Josh W Chisum Bakersfield, CA Honda CRF450R
24
1.013
8
Steve Drew Winchester, CA Honda CRF450R
24
1.014
9
Micky M Dymond Placentia, CA KTM 450SMR
24
1.015
10
Travis A Pastrana Davidsonville, MD Suzuki DR-Z400
24
1.016
11
Brandon Currie Anaheim, CA Honda CRF450R
24
1.019
12
Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI KTM 450SMS
24
1.020
13
Larry Pegram Baltimore, OH KTM 450SMS
24
1.021
14
Gary R Trachy Orange, CA Honda CRF450R
24
1.022
15
Greg J Trachy Long Beach, CA Honda CRF450R
23
---
16
Brian Capper Johannesburg, KTM 450SMS
23
---
17
Don Hart Antelope, CA Honda CRF450R
23
---
18
Matt J Pursley Bakersfield, CA Yamaha YZ450F
23
---
19
Jason W Baldwin Asheboro, NC Honda CRF450R
23
---
20
Mark Avard Balcolyn, NS Husqvarna TC450
23
---
21
Mark Willis East Brisbane, QL Honda CRF450R
23
---
22
Cory A Call Sacramento, CA Honda CRF450R
23
---
23
Matt W Burton Ottumwa, IA Yamaha YZ450F
22
---
24
Mark Burkhart Pickerington, OH Yamaha YZ450F
9
---

-
AMA Supermoto (450cc) - Points afterRound 3
Pos Rider Points
1 J Ward 73
2 J Kunzel 61
3 A Thiebault 58
4 C Filmore 47
5 D Henry 41
6 S Drew 37
7 J. Chisum 35
8 L. Bagnis 29
9 D. Baffeleuf 29
10 M. Metzger 26

AMA Supermoto Unlimited (over 450cc)
Pos.
Rider name Hometown Bike Laps Int.
1
Jurgen Kunzel Heidenheim, Germany KTM 525 SMR 24 ---
2
Micky M Dymond Placentia, CA KTM 610SMS 24 11.748
3
Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI KTM 525SMR 24 17.152
4
Mark Avard Balcolyn, NS Husqvarna SM630R 24 42.881
5
Darryl Atkins Corona, CA KTM 525SMR 24 44.322
6
Cole T Walsdorf New Holstein, WI KTM 525MXC 24 46.634
7
Graham Cheney Newbridge, NS Husaberg FS650e 23 ---
8
Monte Frank Oklahoma City, OK KTM 525SMR 23 ---
9
Luke E Terlinden Kewaskum, WI KTM 525SX Racing 23 ---
10
Joel A Tarquin Oceanside, CA KTM 525SMR 23 ---
11
Steven L Ayler Bakersfield, CA KTM 525SX 23 ---
12
Paul Nafziger Henderson, CO KTM 525SX Racing 23 ---
13
Justin Ross Hesperia, CA KTM 525SMR 23 ---
14
Jason E Palmer Winchester, VA KTM 525SMC 23 ---
15
Cassidy Anderson Provo, UT KTM 525SMR 22 ---
16
Mitchel D Armstrong Golden, CO KTM 525MXC 22 ---
17
Chris Caplinger Foristell, MO KTM 525SX Racing 22 ---
18
Brian L Lehfeldt Fort Collins, CO KTM 525SX Racing 22 ---
19
Nathaniel Wilder Montpelier, VA KTM 525SX Racing 22 ---
20
Terry Meyer Saint Louis, MO KTM 525SX Racing 22 ---
21
Brian Stephenson Fort Collins, CO KTM 525SMC 22 ---
22
Leonardo Bagnis Lodi, CA Vertemati 570 11 ---
23
Gary Kauk Bakersfield, CA KTM 525SMR 0-DNS ---


AMA Supermoto Unlimited (over 450cc) - Points afterRound 3
Pos Rider Points
1 J. Kunze 76
2 M. Dymond 62
3 K. Nicoll 44
4 B. Carlson 36
5 C. Anderson 36
6 D. Atkins 34
7 D. Baffeleuf 33
8 J. Ross 33
9 C. Walsdorf 31
10 M. Frank 31

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