Canadian's Sweep Podium In Round One Thriller

(Attached Photos Copywright Raoul Duke Media LLC)

19 May 2002
Shannonville, Ontario Canada
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Round One of the Diablo Paintball Can-Am 125GP Challenge got off to a
spectacular start as three riders battled to the flag.

Round one went off under cold, but clear skies in Shannonville.  2001
Series champ Mitch Baghdoian was unable to start as he lost his motor in
Friday practice and could not continue for the weekend.  Jeff Chen grabbed
the holeshot from his front row starting spot and went for the check out
move straight away through corner one.  By the end of lap one, Chen had 15
bike lengths on second place Corey Sherman, with Dave Wright and Stuart
Nodell right behind Sherman.

On lap two, as Chen came into Shannoville's signature corner, Allen's,
named after Canadian Superbike legend and current Dunlop Tire guru Jim
Allen, Chen made a mistake going in too deep and running off into the
muddy infield.  Chen kept the bike upright and rejoined the race in eighth
spot.  As Chen battled with Dave Thompson and Honda Canada's Chris Peris
down the back straight. Thompson went in too deep for the right hander off
the straight as he tried to draft and pass Peris, and ran off, Peris with
no where to go and had to check up to avid hitting Thompson, when he did
that Chen touched Peris and low sided.  Chen and his bike hit a rut in the
soft infield and went kartwheeling.  Chen got up right away unhurt, his
bike was totaled and the frame split in two.

Up front Corey Sherman was trying to check out from Nodell and Wright.  
At the half way flags Sherman had 20 bike lengths on second and third
place. Nodell and Wright worked together though to close the gap and two
laps later were right up Sherman again.

The lead trio were nose to tail coming down the back straight on lap nine, 
rapidly closing on lapped traffic.  The lead three riders closed up on
two backmarkers having their own battle for positions right as they
approached Allen's.  In a corner where two bikes fit, they were five wide
into the corner.  Stuart Nodell Had the best line through the corner and
took the point.

Nodell led Wright from Sherman for two laps.  Nodell and Wright were able
to put a small gap on Sherman as they battled for the next two laps.  On
the white flag lap, Wright made it around Nodell in turn four and had to
work hard to hold off Nodell down the back straight.  Nodell tried to
throw a "Hail Mary" up in Allen's but Wright would have nothing of it.  As
they came around the last corner and made the sprint to the checkers it
was Wright over Nodell by two bike lengths with Corey Sherman just behind
to take the final podium spot and make it an all Canadian podium.

Two seconds back from the lead trio, Mark Gonyou held off Jim Struke and
Honda Canada's Chris Peris after a good three way dice in the last half of
the race.

In a show of support for their fellow 125 racer, a collection was started
by Dave Knapp, father of 14 year old young gun Taylor Knapp, for Jeff
Chen. Knapp raised $1,000CN for Chen. Race winner Dave Wright donated
$500CN and several other racers contributed their winnings to the pot in
the hopes that Chen can get a new frame and make round two.

Round two of the series will be June 14-16 at Grattan Raceway

Final Results


Dave Wright
Stuart Nodell
Corey Sherman
Mark Gonyou
Jim Struke
Chris Peris
John Dempsey
Logan Myers
Matt Dennie
Andrew Hillier
Taylor Knapp
Rob Rawlins
Angela Hiba
Dave Thompson
Luke Krukar
Doug Brown
Mark Rabo
Jesse Herrera
Don Murphin
Dean Hoelscher
Don MacPhail
Steven Campbell
Glenn Thomson
Ade Barah

DNF
Paul Nelson
Jeff Chen

DNS
Mitch Baghdoian
Yvon Desi
   

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