After trying to qualify for the Daytona Supercross the day before, then driving during the night to the Macon, Georgia, GNCC round, Australian Shane Watts tired while dicing with Rodney Smith and finished second yesterday, ending his quest to win every round of the series.
Kawasaki Team Green’s Fred Andrews led the way on the first lap with the rest of the Pro class hot on his heels, but by the end of the first of six laps, FMF Suzuki riders Smith and Steve Hatch had moved to the front and picked up the pace. As the field came around to gas on the third lap, Hatch, Smith and Watts had pulled out a minute’s lead on Josh McLevy, Mike Lafferty, Jason Raines and Barry Hawk. KTM’s Watts made a mistake in the pits by not getting the tank full, and would have to waste some time fueling again on the final lap.
In the final laps, Watts, Smith and Hatch battled for the lead, with Lafferty all alone in forth followed by Hawk, Raines and McLevy, 35 seconds back. Then when everybody thought it was all over, Hatch ran out of fuel about a quarter of a mile from the finish and had to push it across the line, though not before Lafferty and Hawk had motored on by.
Results: 1. Rodney Smith (Suz); 2. Shane Watts (KTM); 3. Mike Lafferty (KTM); 4. Barry Hawk (Yam); 5. Steve Hatch (Suz); 6. Josh McLevy (Hon); 7. David Fretigne (TM); 8. Jason Raines (Yam); 9. Robbie Jenks (Yam); 10. Mike Keidrowski (Suz).
