Kcraget Wins at New Hampshire and Sets 125GP Track Record

By Laura Roach

Loudon, NH, June 30, 2004 — Round 3 of the USGPRU series was held this last weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway’s (NHIS) 81st Loudon Classic, and the 125 and 250GP races were combined with USGPRU, Can-Am series, and LRRS series racers. After high-siding his way out of the points in turn 2 last year at Loudon, Brian Kcraget was back with a vengeance.

Friday’s practice brought bike frustrations for Kcraget, but having his tuner, Phil Dodd by his side all weekend proved to be Kcraget’s saving grace. Dodd tirelessly worked after each session to get Kcraget’s bikes set up perfectly so he could get ready for Saturday’s practice and qualifying session, which proved critical because competition this weekend was going to be fierce.

Saturday’s practice was used for testing of both Kcraget’s A- and B-bikes for the 125 race, and after some minor changes, he decided his Nesba.com/Acid Cigar’s B-bike would suit him best for this track. His Nesba.com/Speedwerks.com Honda RS250 was working well and was ready for Saturday’s qualifying session.

The 125GP qualifying session was up first and Kcraget took to the track looking for poll. During the fourth lap, he lost a chain, and wasn’t able to complete any more laps, and still qualified second with a time of 1:17:361 behind Paul Duval with a best time of 1:17.335. Forty 125 riders qualified for the Carrera/Infinity 125GP race to be held on Sunday. The Rising Sun 250GP qualifying session was up next, with 23 riders taking to the grid. Kcraget qualified fourth with a time of 1:17.286, behind USGPRU’s Steve Wenner who qualified third, and Loudon locals Chris Reynolds and Sean Wray.

Sunday morning’s practice brought sunny and windy conditions, but Kcraget was ready to get some final practice in before his races. Kcraget took to the track for the 125 practice on his B-bike and unofficially broke Jason DiSalvo’s track record with a lap time of 1:16.185. Although Kcraget was ecstatic about his lap times, he knew he’d have to make it official by setting a blistering pace during the race.

The rider’s had to set up for pre-grid for both of their races Sunday afternoon, something that hadn’t been done yet this year, so it added an additional level and stress for both riders and their crew. After a fifteen minute pre-grid, Kcraget was off for his warm up lap, along with 39 other riders, whose lap times were all tenths from each other. This race would prove to be a nail biter.

Kcraget got a great start, and came out of turn 12 onto the front stretch in the lead, with Todd Puckett of Team Incomplete close behind. Kcraget was able to build a two second lead over the first few laps but Puckett wasn’t going to let him get away so easily.

Puckett closed the gap to one second and the pace for both leaders began to quicken. In Lap 8, Kcraget beat Jason DiSalvo’s lap record by .887, with a time of 1:15.773. Kcraget’s next lap was a 1:15.922 and from there he built his lead to over four seconds. He took the win over Puckett and third place finisher Eric Yoo. Kcraget gathered 50 more points towards his battle for the USGPRU East Coast and National Championship.

The Rising Sun 250GP race proved to be more of a challenge with local Loudon fast guys ready to battle it out with USGPRU riders Steve Wenner and Kcraget, who had qualified third and fourth, respectively.The race proved to be a challenge, with the locals blazing the track ahead of Wenner and Kcraget, but they hung in tight, with Wenner and Kcraget battling it out during the entire race. With Kcraget turning his fastest time on lap 14, he finally found a way past Wenner in turn 9, and hung on for a fourth place finish.

All in all, a great weekend for Kcraget at New Hampshire International Speedway. Kcraget heads to VIR this weekend for Round 4 of the USGPRU East Coast series and National Championship.

Kcraget is sponsored by NESBA.com, Acid Cigars, SpeedWerks.com, Team Tucker Racing, Phil Dodd Tuning, OGK Helmets, AGV Sports Group, Dunlop, Rising Sun Cycles, and VP Fuels, Tyga Pipes, EBC Brakes, and Silkolene.