Cycle News Staff | April 17, 2011
(Updated April 17, 1:00 pm EST: AMA Pro Racing revised the results. Michael Kirkness, who crashed on the final lap, was originally credited with fifth, but was later credited with 16th.)
Coolbeth Over Carr in Du Quoin Short Track
Callies Wins Pro Singles
DU QUOIN, Ill. (April 16, 2011) — Kenny Coolbeth scored a flag-to-flag win at the Du Quoin Short Track National Saturday night on his Chaplin Kawasaki KX450F. For Coolbeth it wasn’t easy – he was dogged most of the way by veteran Chris Carr on his AMA/DFW Honda. In the end it was Coolbeth taking the win by 0.606 seconds over Carr. Zanotti Racing’s Jake Johnson was third on Honda. In Pro Singles action Full Throttle Honda’s Gerit Callies took the win by 0.404 seconds over Jason Isennock.
Coolbeth had been fast all day, earning the fastest time in qualifying and winning the fastest Heat race to earn the pole. He continued that speed in the final, jockeying with Carr for the holeshot and coming out in the lead. Coolbeth opened a small gap on Carr in the early laps, but Carr, who is in his final season as a full-time pro, reeled the leader in the final ten laps of the 30-lap race. With six to go Carr attempted a pass coming out of turn two, but didn’t make it. Right there he lost all the ground he’d made up in the previous five or six laps and the race was won for Coolbeth.
“Chris kept me honest the whole race,” said Coolbeth, the three time AMA Grand National Champ. “The hard work I’ve been putting in during the off season paid off tonight. I felt sharp and focused all day and came out ready to go hard every time I was on the track. That’s what it takes to win on one of these indoor short tracks where anything can happen.”
Defending series champ Johnson came out ahead in a race long battle with 2009 titlist Jared Mees.
Henry Wiles, the dominant Grand National Singles rider of the past several years, had a miserable night. He was hit from behind when he stalled on the line in his Heat race. He took a provisional start to get into the national, but by then the swelling was so bad in his leg from the Heat crash he was forced to retire after 11 laps.
Another pre-race favorite, JD Beach, crashed in his Heat race and had to start from the back row. He ran a solid race, and moved through the field to finish seventh.
Daytona doubleheader winner Sammy Halbert finished fifth. That was good enough for him to hang on to the points lead. Halbert now has 70 points. Coolbeth and Johnson are tied for second with 55 points apiece.
William Cato led the Pro Singles race early, but after a few laps Callies moved underneath him between turns one and two. There was contact and Cato crashed out of the lead. From there Callies rode a sure and steady race to the checkered flag. Isennock was second and Hayden Gillim third. Callies, with two wins, leads the Pro Singles Series by 14 points over Michael Avila.
The series moves to Salinas, Calif., next Saturday, April 23.
Du Quoin Short Track Grand National Results
1. Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. Kawasaki KX450F
2. Chris Carr Honda CRF450R
3. Jake Johnson Honda CRF450R
4. Jared Mees Honda CRF450R
5. Sammy Halbert Yamaha YZ 450F
6. JD Beach Honda CRF450R
7. Brad Baker Honda CRF450R
8. Johnny Lewis Honda CRF450R
9. Jimmy Wood Honda CRF450R
10. Chad Cose Honda CRF450R
Du Quoin Short Track Pro Singles Results
1. Gerit Callies Honda CRF450R
2. Jason Isennock Suzuki RMZ 450
3. Hayden Gillim Honda CRF450R
4. Michael Martin Honda CRF450R
5. Brett Neville Honda CRF450R
6. Justin Minnaert Kawasaki KX450F
7. Wyatt Maguire Yamaha YZ 450F
8. Jake Shoemaker Suzuki RMZ 450
9. Michael Avila Honda CRF450R
