7/7/01

Win Streak Ends at DuQuoin, Title Lead Still Intact.

Oppressive summer heat kept spectator turnout low in recent years, so the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association (IMDA) looked for a way to hold the DuQuoin Mile at night. With the help of a state-of-the-art Musco lighting system installed at the state-owned facility, the dream became reality, and for the first time ever, this year's summer running of the 'Magic Mile' was held in the cooler conditions of the evening.

In a race-long battle for the win, Chris came away with a fourth-place finish. Disappointed with the result but buoyed by the loss of only a single point to championship rival Joe Kopp, the H-D of Sacramento team left Illinois with mixed emotions, eager to increase the advantage at the Charlotte half-mile in two weeks time.

This was the first time that the DuQuoin Mile was run under the lights. What did you think of the new format and the track?

"I thought the state of Illinois did a great job in lighting up that place. You knew exactly where you were going. That place was lit up like you can't believe. You could have read a book on the straightaways - or certainly in the turns as well. The IMDA crew, not the crew themselves, but the track crew (the same guys that do Springfield) - the place was just awesome. There wasn't a bump or a blemish in the whole racetrack. There were no excuses for anybody in that department.

"I would have to say it was a resounding success, and certainly they had a better crowd than they've had there in the past, so they're headed back in the right direction with that event, that's for sure."

Let's talk about the race.

"The race went pretty good - except for the finish, I guess. We got outfoxed, outrode, the whole bit there at the end. We were strong, rode up front, never fell further back than fourth place in the entire race, I think. Just one of those things, didn't find ourselves in the right position and hooking up the way we needed to in the last couple of laps. We ended up finishing fourth in the four-rider battle. That's just the way it goes sometimes. Considering the fact that we only lost one point to our closest pursuer, and we didn't have a great night, it didn't turn out as bad as it could have."

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