Post by daj on Jul 21, 2005 6:25:35 GMT -5
Cohen struggles in her return at the Mile-High Nationals
DENVER, qualifying: CMKXtreme Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Connie Cohen made her return to NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series competition this weekend at the 26th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals. After missing three races due to an incident in Atlanta in May, Cohen returned to action in Denver healthy and ready to race.
Cohen started the weekend by visiting with children at the Presbyterian/St Luke's Medical Center in Denver. Then she headed to Bandimere Speedway, eagerly awaiting her chance to return to racing action. Cohen last rode her CMKXtreme Pro Stock Suzuki in competition in Columbus in June and this was only the second time she has raced at Thunder Mountain.
Cohen suffered ignition problems during the first qualifying session and was unable to fire up her CMKXtreme Suzuki. After Cohen's crew chief and husband, Marc Cohen, made the necessary repairs to the bike, the pair returned for the Friday night qualifying session. Cohen launched hard but the bike pulled immediately toward the centerline and Cohen was forced to lift off of the throttle early during the run. She coasted across the finish line to record a 11.665, finishing the first day qualified 23rd.
Cohen was back on the track Saturday morning for her third qualifying attempt. This time she made a respectable pass, especially considering the 5,000-foot plus altitude at Bandimere Speedway. Her 7.756 at 171.75 mph qualified her 19th with one session remaining to make Sunday's 16-bike elimination field.
The Pro Stock Bikes took to the quarter-mile for their final qualifying session just before six o'clock. Cohen again launched hard but the CMKXtreme Suzuki pulled to the left once again and she was forced to back off the throttle and abort the run. Afterward, Cohen was disappointed but still happy to be back on her bike and racing despite not qualifying.
"This was a very tough race for us to make our return," said Cohen. "This is only the second time we've raced here at Bandimere and we don't have very much information to help tune the bike under these conditions. I'm really happy to be back competing again and I feel really good. We'll work on the CMKXtreme Suzuki and be ready to go when the bikes return in Sonoma."
DENVER, qualifying: CMKXtreme Pro Stock Motorcycle rider Connie Cohen made her return to NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series competition this weekend at the 26th annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals. After missing three races due to an incident in Atlanta in May, Cohen returned to action in Denver healthy and ready to race.
Cohen started the weekend by visiting with children at the Presbyterian/St Luke's Medical Center in Denver. Then she headed to Bandimere Speedway, eagerly awaiting her chance to return to racing action. Cohen last rode her CMKXtreme Pro Stock Suzuki in competition in Columbus in June and this was only the second time she has raced at Thunder Mountain.
Cohen suffered ignition problems during the first qualifying session and was unable to fire up her CMKXtreme Suzuki. After Cohen's crew chief and husband, Marc Cohen, made the necessary repairs to the bike, the pair returned for the Friday night qualifying session. Cohen launched hard but the bike pulled immediately toward the centerline and Cohen was forced to lift off of the throttle early during the run. She coasted across the finish line to record a 11.665, finishing the first day qualified 23rd.
Cohen was back on the track Saturday morning for her third qualifying attempt. This time she made a respectable pass, especially considering the 5,000-foot plus altitude at Bandimere Speedway. Her 7.756 at 171.75 mph qualified her 19th with one session remaining to make Sunday's 16-bike elimination field.
The Pro Stock Bikes took to the quarter-mile for their final qualifying session just before six o'clock. Cohen again launched hard but the CMKXtreme Suzuki pulled to the left once again and she was forced to back off the throttle and abort the run. Afterward, Cohen was disappointed but still happy to be back on her bike and racing despite not qualifying.
"This was a very tough race for us to make our return," said Cohen. "This is only the second time we've raced here at Bandimere and we don't have very much information to help tune the bike under these conditions. I'm really happy to be back competing again and I feel really good. We'll work on the CMKXtreme Suzuki and be ready to go when the bikes return in Sonoma."