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HENSON, RAY
BATTLE IN ROCK'S RESCHEDULED SPRING BIKE OPEN
After
one false start, Barry Henson and Doug "Underdog"
Ray finally get their hybrid motorcycles back on the Carolinas'
fastest race track this week with the rescheduled Mothers' Day
running of the Max V/Spencercycle.com Spring Bike Open at Rockingham
Dragway.
Henson,
a veteran racer and parts manufacturer from Davie, Fla., is
the defending champion in the featured Velocity Racing World's
Fastest Street Bike Series which begins with the Open.
Ray,
a veteran bike racer from Salisbury, won the 2001 "World's
Fastest" title and led for most of last season before being
overtaken by Henson in the last race of the season.
Among
those expected to challenge the two front-runnrs are Alphonso
Thompson of Blades, Fla., Allen Kea of Elm City, Trevor Altman
of Forest City, John Russell of Charlotte, Dwayne McKinney of
Lancaster, S.C., and John Dobrin of Sarasota, Fla.
The
Spring Open, rained out on its original date, also will feature
the Schnitz Racing Outlaw Pro Street Series, the Mickey Thompson
Tires 60-Inch Pro Sport Bike Series, the Honda-Suzuki of Sanford
5.60 Heads-Up Series and the popular new Cycle Concepts Rock
Heavy Series for riders weighing at least 240 pounds.
Matt
Smith of King and Anthony Smith of Charlotte are the top Carolina
threats in the Outlaw Pro Street class which was dominated last
year by Joseph Long of Hialeah, Fla., and Bernard "Boom
Boom" Cannon of Miami. Smith lost to Long in last year's
Spring Open final when he was guilty of a foul start.
In
the 60-Inch Pro Sport Bike class, Fayetteville's Johnnie "Airtime"
Locklear is expected to resume his rivalry with Alphonso Thompson,
who again will compete this year for two different championships.
Also expected to challenge are Chip Ellis of Columbia, S.C.,
and Ryan Schnitz of Decatur, Ind.
Defending
Spring Open champ in the 5.60 Heads-up class is Salisbury's
Michael Pendergraft.
One
of the most interesting races could be that for the "Heavyweight"
championship. Introduced last fall, the new Rock Heavy class
is expected to draw a quality field including Charlotte's Tyrone
Smith, who beat Chad Milford of Florence, S.C., to win the inaugural
race last November.
One
of the most interesting sidelights to the competition will be
the race to see who gets the free dinner from the Great China
Buffet. Designated the "Official Restaurant of the Rock
Heavy Series," Great China will award a free meal at each
of the four races comprising the series to the heaviest of the
qualified riders.
Gates
will open Saturday at 9 a.m. with time trials at 10 a.m. and
pro qualifying at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Gates open Sunday
at 9 a.m. with time trials at 10:30 a.m. and eliminations starting
at 1 p.m.
Adult
tickets for the event are $20 a day or $35 for a special two-day
pass. Children six to 12 are $5 daily. Children under six are
free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. All tickets include
pit access and free parking in Rockingham Dragway's main lot
although VIP parking is available inside the track for an additional
$5.
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