Sat, 17 May 2003, 10:33 AM Four Bikes Down in Same Week

By Larry Sullivan

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. - In an unusual round of Pro Stock Bike qualifying, three riders went down during the first qualifying session Friday at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

First, Wesley Wells was unable to stop his Kawasaki and went through the sand pit and slid into the catch net at the end of the track. He was not injured and his motorcycle was not badly damaged.

Second, John Smith was blown to the right by a wind gust on the top part of his run. He leaned way off the left side of the motorcycle, trying to steer away from the wall, but his Kawasaki slid out from under him. He slid and rolled down the track, but his safety gear did its job and his injuries were limited to bruises and abrasions ("road rash"). His motorcycle was badly damaged.

In the following pair, Matthew Smith, son of driver Rickie Smith, qualified in the middle of the field with a 7.175 second, 183.52 mph career-best run, but his Suzuki was also blown to the right by a wind gust. The motorcycle hit the wall hard with the front end, trapping his right foot between the motorcycle and the wall. He suffered four broken bones in his foot and flew home to North Carolina for surgery to repair the injuries.

It was a tough week for Kawasaki Pro Stock Bikes. In an unrelated testing accident at Darlington Dragway, Ryan Schnitz received minor injuries, but the Muzzy Kawasaki was destroyed.



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