Patrick Racing Recaptures Points Lead
By: Jack Korpela
Photos: DragBikePhotos.com
Defending Hot Rod Cruiser champion Mark Underwood reclaimed
the points lead in the AMA/Prostar championship series, after
a much-needed victory at the Schnitz Fall Nationals from Montgomery,
AL.
Underwood, aboard his Yamaha Road Star Warrior, passed up
his Harley-mounted nemesis Rick McWaters, thanks to some extraordinary
performances and a little help from his teammate.
"This is really
good for the team," team owner/tuner Nigel Patrick said.
"This is very uplifting. We were really down a few months
ago."
Underwood qualified
on the pole-position with a sensational blast of 9.47 at 140
mph.
"The bike
was just running flawlessly right from the first pass down
the track," Underwood said. "I knew if we didn't
make any mistakes we were in for a good weekend."
Underwood's teammate
Michael Ray scored a gigantic victory by defeating McWaters
in round number-one with a 9.55 to McWaters' 9.79.
"Mike really
came through in the clutch," Patrick said. "Without
that win we probably would not have left here with the points
lead."
For
the second straight event both members of the team chopped
through their respective sides of the elimination ladder and
were able to produce an all- Patrick Racing final. "We
are on a roll," Patrick said. "We've got both bikes
working very well."
In the final, Underwood
defeated his teammate with a sizzling 9.48 to Ray's respectable
9.75. The win granted Underwood his forth career victory.
Underwood will
now attempt to defend his 10-point lead at the tour's final
race in Gainesville, FL, November 13th-16th. Due to the rain-postponed
spring event, this year's season finale will be a double header,
contesting both the MRE Spring Nationals and the World Finals.
"We've still
got two races to go and we know what we have to do to wrap
this thing up," Patrick said. "We've had a lot more
success working as a team rather than putting all the emphasis
into one bike. We're going to bring two quick motorcycles
to the World Finals and not hold anything back."
If Underwood hangs
on to claim the championship, it will be the second consecutive
number-one plate for Yamaha.
Ray also has a
chance to move up in the points series, currently trailing
McWaters by 65 points.
Patrick
Racing thanked all of its sponsors for their dedication, and
is striving to win them yet another championship:
Yamaha Motor Corporation, CP Pistons, VP Racing Fuels, Web
Cams, Vanson Leathers, Arari helmets, Corbin Seats, RC Components,
MTC Engineering, and Falicon.
