Jake Johnson led flag to flag to win Saturday night’s TT GNC Singles race in the return of AMA Grand National Championship racing to the famed Castle Rock Race Park in Castle Rock, Washington.
The American Suzuki rider, who’d qualified third fastest, got the jump at the start of the 25 lap main on the all new TT course and was never passed. His margin of victory was 1.619 seconds.
The win, his first of the year, put Johnson into the lead in the singles championship. After four rounds of the championship Johnson leads Washingtonian Joe Kopp (Honda), ninth today, 69 to 58. Kopp, sponsored by Latus Harley-Davidson, Renton Honda and Beaverton Honda, led the championship coming to his home state.
Castle Rock last hosted a national championship race 12 years ago. The Saturday night TT was the kick-off of a weekend double-header. A short track on the new quarter-mile oval is scheduled for Sunday.
Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford’s Chris Carr finished second, by far his best singles result of the year.
The battle for third went to Jared Mees (ATK) over Henry Wiles (Hon). Wiles took control of fourth on the 20th lap.
Memphis Shades’ J.R. Schnabel (Yam) was nearly a second in front of the four-way battle for sixth. Harley-Davidson/Screamin’ Eagle’s Kenny Coolbeth (Hon) edged White’s H-D’s Sam Halbert. Schenk Racing Enterprise’s Kyle Ragsdale (Hon), who’d run second early on, came narrowly in front of Kopp. Sixth through ninth were covered by .9 secs.
Results:
1. Jake Johnson (Suzuki)
2. Chris Carr (KTM)
3. Jared Mees (ATK)
4. Henry Wiles (Honda)
5. JR Schnabel (Yamaha)
6. Ken Coolbeth (Honda)
7. Sam Halbert (Rotax)
8. Kyle Ragsdale (Honda)
9. Joe Kopp (Honda)
10. Robert Pearson (Suzuki)
