St Catharines standard article Jan 2006

Ice racing in Oregon.

SPEEDWAY News
Thursday, 5th January 2006
World Cup Ice Racing off to a flyer.

The historic first ever Manufacturers World Cup Ice Racing Championship was welcomed with enthusiasm by 5,000 plus Portland, OR race fans. A fine field of riders, on meticulously prepared factory 450 race bikes weren't the least bit tentative as they took to the thickened sheet of ice.Racers adapting to the ice immediately and winning both of their two heats were Johnny Murphree from Mt. Zion, IL, Wess Church from Mountlake Terrace, WA and Mica, WA's Joe Kopp.The 8 rider, 8 lap Main Event was everything and then some it had been billed to be. Passing and battles throughout the field gave Murphree an opportunity to take the lead and keep it. Kopp was reeling him in every lap, but fell just a bike length short at the checker. Dan Stanley from Sedro Wooley, WA was a close third for the final podium spot followed respectively by Shawn Russell from San Jose, CA; Kevin Kanard from Portland, OR; Seth Church from Mountlake Terrace, WA; Shane Vance from Macomb, IL and Wess Church.Round 2 of the Inaugural Manufacturers World Cup Ice Racing Championship was set to go with early series rivalries already building. Case in point was Heat 1. A five rider, four lap duel that lined up Joe Kopp and Johnny Murphree side by side in the number two and three starting slots.