Today`s Cycle Coverage Volume 1 Issue 19
Transcription
Today`s Cycle Coverage Volume 1 Issue 19
Inside.... Wiregrass Motocross Championship 4 A Burning Bush Rolls Through Roaring Hills AMA Grand National Championship Flat Track Series 7 8 Race Report from Salinas: Janisch Jams in the TT Race Report from Salinas: Martin’s First Podium of the Season American Suzuki B.I.G. (Best In Georgia) Motocross Championship Series 10 Buller, Lewis, Turpin, Maxey Prevail at Pecan Valley MX Costa Mesa Speedway Spring Classic 17 Flyin’ Mike Upsets Reigning U.S. Champ Janniro at Spring Classic 86th International Six Days Enduro 20 The Road to Finland, Part 1: Team USA Lean and Mean for 2011 ISDE! AMA FIM Supercross Series 23 24 26 Closing Out the Greatest Monster Energy Supercross Season Evernt 2012 Monster Energy Supercross Schedule Announced World’s Top Supercross Racers to Compete for $1 Million Diamond Don’s Ninth Annual Riverport National 27 A Grand Old Time Down at Diamond Don’s Southern California Flat Track Association 34 Dateline Perris: Kocinski Goes Even Faster… West Coast Moto Jam 35 37 Hayes Takes SuperBike Win in Sonoma Hayden Takes Sunday SuperBike Win in Sonoma District 15 Motocross 39 Smith Dominates High Fly Opener Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway 42 Bast Wins Fast Fridays Opener By Hugh Gatlin Photos by George Barrett Enterprise, Alabama’s Don Bush was on fire at Roaring Hills ATV Park, site of round four of the Wiregrass Motocross Championship. The Honda rider rolled to overall victories in the Over 30 and Over 40 classes. Daleville, Alabama’s Mitchell Reese was also double-class winner on the day. The Southside Construction-sponsored rider piloted his RM85 to wins in the Schoolboy and Supermini classes. This race drew the largest rider turnout ever at Roaring Hills. Sponsors for the Kevin Thompson-promoted series include Hooters, Nantze Springs bottled water, and Interstate Batteries. Rhett Peel has been involved in the sport of motocross for decades. He is now offering his years of experience to young riders who are just getting started in the sport. Two of his RP MX School students, Spencer Stokes and Hunter Cordle, posted wins on the day. Page 4 Tim Whited led the first Over 40/Over to finish, over Spencer Stokes and Kawasaki 50 moto, ahead of Tony Hardy and Bush. jockeys Gage Moss and Korey Hatcher. Whited remained in control for the entire race. On the last lap, Bush passed Hardy for second, but then fell. He remounted in time to hold on to third, ahead of Steve Kurtiak’s YZ450. Whited absconded with the holeshot in moto two and looked strong up front. Hardy and Bush ran second and third again. Kurtiak held fourth. On his way to what appeared to be a sure overall win, Whited stalled his 450 Yamaha coming out of a flat, smooth righthander; he was unable to restart his machine promptly and Hardy rode past for the moto and Over 50 overall win. Bush was right behind Hardy; he stole the Over 40 overall win from Whited on a tie breaker, 2-1 to 1-2. Bush didn’t hesitate to mix it up with the younger riders in race five, which included the MX Lites D, Collegeboy, MX Lites E and Over 30 classes. Jeremy Speller won the first moto, over Kyle Touchette and Bush. In race two, Collegeboy rider Speller eased his pace after building a comfortable lead and then cruised to the finish. Bush held second before falling and dropping to last place. Touchette placed second again and earned the D overall win. Bush came from way back for third in the race, and the Over 30 win. Headland, Alabama’s Corey Green was the E overall winner. In the first 65cc (7-9) and (10-11) moto, Cole Castille ran ahead of Kaleb Marchman, Alex Belcher, Lane Marshall and Jantzen Jackson. Castille enjoyed a nice lead over Marchman at the checkered flag. Jackson advanced to third, ahead of Belcher and Marshall. Castille ran out front again in moto two and styled over the finish-line jump aboard his KTM. He won the 10-11 portion of the race, ahead of Marchman. Belcher turned the tables on Jackson this time out and grabbed the 7-9 overall victory, 2-1 to 1-2. The Defuniak Springs, Florida, duo of Marshall and Nick Johnson claimed third and fourth, In race two, a solid-riding Moss respectively, in the 7-9 ranks, and 7-9 rider followed Reese to the flag. Stokes fell in a turn Landon Stevens put a third KTM in the top and placed fourth, behind Hatcher. Reese took five with his 4-5 score for fifth overall. the overall Schoolboy win, while Hatcher Reese kept the throttle pinned on his edged Stokes for the top spot in the 85cc (12Suzuki in the combined 85cc (12-15) and 15) portion with his 2-1 results. Schoolboy contest. He led race one from start Stokes and Hunter Cordle used the Page 5 horsepower of their Honda CR150Fs on the long start straight to each take a turn at leading Reese in the combined 85cc Intermediate, Supermini and 85cc Novice motos. Cordle outran Reese and Moss to the first turn in moto one. By the end of lap one, Reese had moved past Cordle, and he stayed there for the win. Moss was a steady third, over Hatcher. Stokes finished just ahead of KXmounted Glen Key for fifth. Stokes put the power to the ground in heat two and led Reese and Moss through the sweeping first turn. At the end of lap one, Reese emerged from the bottom section with a lead that he would never relinquish. Cordle claimed second, over a closing Moss. In overall scoring, Reese, Cordle and Stokes took home first-place trophies in their respective classes. 1. Drake Partridge (Yam). 1. Jack McDonough (KTM). 1. Rob Draper (Hon); 2. Harley Peel (KTM); 3. Bailey Turner (Yam). 1. Cole Castille (KTM). 1. Kaleb Marchman (Kaw); 2. Nick Johnson (Suz); 3. Landen Stevens (KTM); 4. Jack McDonough (KTM). 1. Lane Marshall (KTM); 2. Alex Belcher (Kaw); 3. Jantzen Jackson (KTM). 1. Korey Hatcher (Kaw); 2. Spencer Stokes (Hon). 1. Reese Mitchell (Suz); 2. Gage Moss (Kaw). 1. Kyle Touchette (Yam); 2. Ara Moore (Yam); 3. Joshua Gray (Yam). 1. Corey Green (Yam). 1. Josh Burk (Yam); 2. Alex Sharkey (Suz). 1. Danny Gable (Hon). 1. Mitchell Reese (Suz); 2. Gage Moss (Kaw). 1. Alex Belcher (Kaw); 2. Jantzen Jackson (KTM); 3. Lane Marshall (KTM); 4. Nick Johnson (Suz); 5. Landen Stevens (KTM). 1. Jeremy Speller (Hon). 1. Cole Castille (KTM); 2. Kaleb Marchman (Kaw). 1. Don Bush (Hon); 2. Tim Whited (Yam); 3. Stephen Kurtiak (Yam). 1. Spencer Stokes (Hon); 2. Glen Key (Kaw). 1. Tony Hardy (Hon). 1. Don Bush (Hon). 1. Hunter Cordle (Hon); 2. Korey Hatcher (Kaw). Page 6 By Jesse Janisch File photo by Revved Up, courtesy of Weirbach Racing Salinas, California, was the site of rounds four and five of the Grand National Championship Flat Track Series. Dick Weirbach made the drive out with the bikes, and it felt great to get back on the bike after a short week off. After getting everything unloaded and through tech, I took a nice look at the fresh track. The track was certainly different from anything the National Series had ever been to. It reminded me of a track we would lay out on the ice more than a track that would be laid out on the dirt. The inside spot for the heat race turned out to be a great spot to start. After some warm-up laps on a wet track, the track was good to go. I pulled the holeshot and headed into turn two but got bumped around from someone on the bottom of the track. I came off turn two in a sandwich between Jeffrey Carver and J.R. Schnabel and was shifted back to fifth. I made a move on Carver a few laps into the race and settled into fourth, and was slowly reeling in Schnabel. I finished out the heat in fourth, which meant a direct transfer to the main event. The first practice was my first time out I lined up on the middle of the second on our new 2009 Honda, and it felt really row, and after a decent start I settled in around good, but it was tough to get all that power to 10th. I was struggling with the drying track and the ground. I switched bikes back to the stock went a few spots backward, but midrace I found one for the two qualifying sessions and some decent lines. I found myself in 11th place finished up 18th, for the final spot on the and started reeling in Jethro Halbert for 10th. I front row for heat race number one. started making up some serious ground around Page 7 lap 20, but I just ran out of time and finished eight-tenths of a second off a top-10 finish – a pretty promising start to the weekend. We showed up early Sunday morning for the freshly built short track. After tech, I took a look at the track, and things were looking up from the day before; there was a different water truck and a nice-looking short track. I was hoping for a good day. Qualifying went less than stellar; I was 30th overall. That meant a second-row start for the heat, after I’d been struggling with traction all morning. I was in heat race one and hoping for a fresh track, for a little more traction. I had another tough heat race, but I got a great start from the second row and filed in behind J.D. Beach and Chad Cose. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hold pace with them and dropped back a little bit, which would leave me with a good starting spot on the front row for the semi. I was excited for my semi; after a few changes and with a good start, I would maybe make my third main event in a row. That all ended quickly when I got a bad start. I dropped back and couldn’t make up the time or spots to make the main this time. All in all, it was a great weekend of riding and – more importantly – learning. Our next National will be in Springfield for the TT and our first twins race on the Mile. For now, I’m going to head back home and do a few local races and keep up the training and hope for better results! Thanks, Dick and Ted Weirbach, for all the support out in California. We now sit 20th overall in the points. And a special thanks to all our sponsors: WeirBach Racing, Mom & Dad, General Engineering, Barnett Clutches, K&N Filters, Motion Pro, Cheney Engineering, Spider Grips, Spectro Oil, Saddleman Seats, Engine Ice, G2 Ergonomics, Pingel, All Balls Racing, Firecoat Custom Powderworks, Foudree Graphics, Bob Berry Racing, Durelle Racing, Cycra Racing, Works Connection, Regina Chain, Supertrapp, VP Fuel, Ron Bailey, Factory Backing, Pro Wheel, PMP Sprockets, Hindle Exhaust, SDR, TNT Honda, Carrillo/CP Pistons, and Web Cams. By Mikey Martin File photo by www.flattrakfotos.com, courtesy of Weirbach Racing qualified third in the first free practice. I switched bikes to see which bike I liked better Hey, everyone, this is my race report and went out for the next practice. It was the for rounds four and five of the AMA Pro first qualifying practice. I felt a lot better on the Singles Championship. This doubleheader race stock bike than our high-horsepower bike. I was in Salinas, California, and it was a TT on qualified sixth and knew I was faster on the Saturday and a short track on Sunday. stock bike, so I took the risk of racing it, I was happy to be back in California, knowing that this was a horsepower track. and I was also happy to have a TT track, After qualifying, there was a long because that’s my favorite discipline in racing. intermission, so I walked the track to see where In the first practice, the dirt was really I could make up time. I went back to our pit and deep, and it was a weird TT for me; it was made some adjustments to the bike. I felt really harder than a usual TT. I felt good and good, but something wasn’t right, so I thought Page 8 about switching back to my horsepower bike, and I did before the heat. We went up to the line. We took off, and I was in about fifth, and there was very little passing, because the track got really slick. The tires were just spinning. I tried pushing as hard as I could but I just was not moving forward. I ended up fifth, which meant a second-row start in the main. I knew I’d made a mistake by riding my fast bike, so I switched again before the main. I was ready for the second-row start, but I knew what I needed to do. We walked the bikes up to the line and got ready. The light went green, I got a great start and was in about fifth in turn one. Then there was a huge crash, so they restarted the race. We got ready and took off again. I was in about third in the right-hander, but there was another crash and there was another restart. The next start wasn’t as good; I was in about seventh, and the track was getting so bad and getting so hard to ride. I passed two more riders and ended up sitting in fifth for the rest of the race. I was happy for another top-five. My teammate Mike LaBelle took a hard Page 9 fall, and I want to wish him a speedy recovery, and I hope he is back on the track soon. The next day was a short track. I knew I could go fast on a short track. I was riding the stock bike, as I had the day before on the TT. We had to be at the track really early. Before we knew it, we had to go out for the first round of free practice. I felt really good. I liked the track a lot – it was shaped weird – and in first practice, I qualified third. Back in the pits, we made some adjustments to the bike and cut the tire to hook up more. The next practice was qualifying. I rode hard and I felt really fast, but the track was changing a lot and getting slick. But I knew what I needed to do to hook up. I ended up qualifying fifth. That put me on the front row, third over from pole. In the heat race, I got a great start – I was in third and was working on passing the guys in front, but it was just really hard to pass because the track was getting slick. I thought I found a fast line for the main, so I was going to try it, since it was too late to make any moves on the top two riders. I ended up third, but that meant front row in the main. I changed my suspension a little to run the high line. There was an intermission and then the last-chance qualifier race. I thought I knew what I needed to do to make the podium. The horn went off and we walked up to the line for the main event. I picked all the way on the top so I could ride my line. We got ready, the light went green, and I came off the line in about seventh. I was getting roosted so bad, and it seemed like I couldn’t make any passes. Then, about halfway through the race, I moved up higher and I started passing riders on the outside. About the last five laps, my line was so fast, I was catching the leaders. I made two more passes on the outside. I got third – I made the podium after being in seventh place for most of the whole race! I was very happy; it was my first podium of the season. Barnett Clutches, K&N Filters, Motion Pro, Cheney Engineering, Spider Grips, Spectro Oil, Saddleman Seats, Engine Ice, G2 Ergonomics, Pingel, All Balls Racing, Firecoat Custom Powderworks, Foudree Graphics, Bob Berry Racing, Durelle Racing, Cycra Racing, Works Connection, Regina Chain, Supertrapp, VP Fuel, Ron Bailey, Factory Backing, Pro Wheel, PMP Sprockets, Hindle Exhaust, SDR, TNT Honda, Carrillo/ CP Pistons, and Web Cams. A special thanks to all our sponsors: WeirBach Racing, General Engineering, Story and Photos by Gary Crider The B.I.G. (Best In Georgia) MX Series moved to Pecan Valley Motocross Park, in the southeast corner of the state, for round two of the American Suzuki/ Thor/ FMFsponsored series. After three years of independent growth, the B.I.G. Series in now running under the prestigious Victory Sports organizational banner. Sam Gammon and his Victory Sports team operate mostly behind the scenes, acquiring sponsorships and doing promotional work for the series. Personnel at the various tracks are the same familiar faces, as seen during the previous three years. Racing conditions were nearly perfect on this day. The entry list topped out just one dozen short of the 300 mark. In the majority of the 36 classes in the day’s lineup, Page 10 there were multiple first-place contenders, making it difficult to predict outcomes. By day’s end, however, a number of dominant performances emerged. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the day’s top winners: David Buller raced his Champion Cycles KTM to the top of both A divisions. Jacksonville Powersports-backed Jeffrey Lewis won both the tough 450cc B and Collegeboy contests. TRP Racing’s Bryan Turpin notched double-class wins in 250cc B and Schoolboy One racing. Beach Blvd-backed Myles Heath used two-stroke machinery to win both the 250 and 450cc C divisions. Tommy Maxey set the standard among the 85cc (9-13), 85cc (12-15) and Supermini divisions, winning all three classes. Zac McClenny aced both the 65cc (7-9) and 65cc Unlimited classes. In some classes, competition was Page 11 particularly fierce. The Over 45, 250cc B, Collegeboy and 450cc A divisions, for example, saw the contending riders and their machinery pushed to the ragged edge of their respective capabilities. Spectators certainly got their money’s worth on this day! The Over 45 riders were the first ones on the gate in the day’s race order. And it came as some surprise to see this “old-timers’ class” helping to set the overall fast-paced mood for the day: Jimbo Hatcher and Ben Harris exploded out of the gate to begin an intense, moto-long, lead-swapping debate. Harris made a late-lap pass and held on for the moto win, over Hatcher. In moto two, Harris took the initial lead and was able to hold off Hatcher’s lastlap bid for the point position. Defending class champion Harris netted a perfect score, over Hatcher, while Scott Sheppard, Craig Cooler and Steve Petty rounded out the top five in this class. Matt Creasy was the odds-on-favorite to win the 250cc B contest. While leading the opening moto, however, Creasy suffered a hard spill and was sidelined with injuries. Blake Weaver moved up to take the moto win, over Bryan Turpin. Florida resident Jeffrey Lewis led both 450cc B motos from start to finish, while local ace Blake Weaver overcame mediocre starts to finish in second spot both times. Moto two was a winner-take-all thriller, as Turpin headed Weaver in a close battle for the point. Weaver stumbled during the late laps, allowing Turpin to take the win by a comfortable margin. Turpin’s 2-1 score earned the gold, over Weaver (1-2). Kyler West posted a pair of third-place finishes to claim the final podium step, ahead of fellow 125cc YZ pilot Logan Murphy (4-4). In the Schoolboy One division, Turpin switched to his two-stroke mount and won both motos, ahead of Murphy (3-2) and West (2-3). Lewis and Weaver squared off again in the Collegeboy class, in which the duo took turns at the lead during the final moto. The overall result was the same as in the 450 B class, as Lewis netted a perfect score, over Weaver. Tanner Hughes was never far behind en route to earning the final podium slot. Tim Myers of South Carolina posted 6-4 finishes to net fourth in a points tie, ahead Page 12 of defending class champion Zack Crosby (55). Yamaha of Byron’s Clint Shealy got the holeshot in and won the opening 450cc A moto, while KTM jockey David Buller turned his fourth-place start into a second-place finish. On the opening lap of moto two, Bubba Crosby showed the way, with Shealy in close pursuit. At about the halfway mark, however, Shealy suddenly dropped into the DNF column, leaving Crosby out front with a comfortable lead. At about that same time, Buller got past Gino Aponte to claim second position. Buller then stepped it up a notch and began reeling in race leader Crosby. It didn’t seem like he would have enough time to close the gap, but on the final lap, Buller caught and passed Crosby for the win. Buller’s 2-1 tally was good for the gold, over Crosby (4-2) and Aponte (3-3). In the 85cc (9-13) division, Suzuki pilot Tommy Maxey was never headed, garnering a perfect score. KTM’s Colton Eigenmann (2-2) and defending class champion Mason Beasley (33), aboard a Yamaha, claimed the remaining podium steps. Hannah Hodges (4-5) and Tristan Lewis (6-5) rounded out the top five in this large class. Eigenmann returned to win both motos in the 85cc (9-11) contest, over Hunter Tyson. Maxey posted another 1-1 score in the 85cc (12-15) contest, over Beasley (3-2) and Landon Jones (2-5). Jordan Camarata (5-3) was fourth, over Hodges (4-4). Maxey seemed to be well on his way to winning every moto in all three of his classes, but a first-lap spill in the opening Supermini Both 450cc C motos saw close one-two- moto held him to an eventual 2-1 in that class. three finishes. Myles Heath kept his two-stroke Fellow Suzuki rider Jonathan Baker challenged Yamaha out front for a perfect score, while Maxey in both motos, but Baker had to settle Branson Blake (3-2) edged out Justin Mullins for the runner-up honors, via his 1-2 tally. (2-3) in a points tie for second. The Heath/ Blake/ Mullins trio returned for a spirited rematch in the 250cc C class but, again, it was Heath’s YZ on top, with an unbeatable 2-1 tally. Blake moved his Honda up from a mediocre first-moto start and notched 4-1 finishes for the silver. Aboard a Kawasaki, Mullins clawed his way back from very poor second-moto start and turned in a 25 score for the bronze. Page 13 In moto one of the 50cc (7-8) contest, defending class champion Jackson Gray posted a runaway win. In moto two, Gray absconded with the holeshot, but he soon ran into problems that knocked him into the DNF column. Ian Haskins took advantage of the opportunity and gassed his KTM to the moto win. When the scores were tallied, Haskins found himself on top of a three-way points tie for the gold, as his 4-1 score bested Stewart Covington’s 3-2 tally and Karson Clements’ 2-3 finishes. Brock Brantley and Sabastian Burnette rounded out the top five. Zac McClenny won both 65cc (7-9) motos, while Josh Gibbs won both motos in the 65cc (10-11) class. McClenny and Gibbs then squared off for a close match in the 65cc Unlimited division. McClenny prevailed to net a perfect score after shaking off a second-moto, last-lap challenge from Gibbs. Gibbs (2-2) had to settle for the silver, over Joseph Santos (33). In the 50cc Open (4-8) division, Clements posted a pair of convincing moto wins, while Ayden Meadows wrestled the runner-up honors away from Chance Wiggins in a close match. Page 14 The 50cc Multispeed/Shaft-Drive decision went down to the wire in a very close second-moto finish: Jerumiah LaCombe’s PW Yamaha got to the flag first, just a bikelength ahead of Braeden Kenan’s Honda. LaCombe’s 2-1 score earned the gold, over Kenan (1-2). In a similar PW Yamaha-vs.-Honda contest, Yamaha rider Trip Rexroat (4-3) edged Honda pilot Wyatt Turpin (3-4) for the bronze. Aboard a four-stroke Yamaha, Cameron Eason completed the top five. For the 50cc (4-6) contest, Kenan and Eason switched to their respective KTM mounts. Kenan won both motos, ahead of Kyle Smith (2-2) and Eason (3-3). Cobrapowered Cade Morgan was fourth. Brewer returned to win the Over 40 contest, via his convincing pair of moto wins. Jimbo Hatcher’s 4-2 tally earned the runner-up honors, while Ben Harris recovered from a botched second-moto start to finish with a 2-5 score, netting third overall. 1. Jerumiah LaCombe (Yam); 2. Braeden Kenan (Hon); 3. Trip Rexroat (Yam); 4. Wyatt Turpin (Hon); 5. Cameron Eason (Yam). The Over 25 class saw a day-long fight between Stephen Houseman and Mike D’Amico. South Carolina’s Houseman had the edge and won both motos, over D’Amico (2-2) and Chris Kelly (3-3). During the first Over 35 moto, Tommy Boyd and David Brewer swapped the lead back and forth before concluding the moto in a near-photo-finish. Brewer got the nod, over Boyd. In moto two, Boyd took the initial lead and held on for the win and the gold, ahead of Brewer. Chris Faircloth (3-3) earned the bronze, over Rock Courson (4-4). Page 15 1. Braeden Kenan (KTM); 2. Kyle Smith (KTM); 3. Cameron Eason (KTM); 4. Cade Morgan (Cob); 5. Aden Whitehead-Pittman (KTM). 1. Ian Haskins (KTM); 2. Stewart Covington (Cob); 3. Karson Clements (Cob); 4. Brock Brantley (Cob); 5. Sabastian Burnette (Cob). 1. Karson Clements (Cob); 2. Ayden Meadows (KTM); 3. Chance Wiggins (Cob); 4. Grace Dietz (Cob); 5. Caleb Rentz (Cob). 1. Brock Brantley (KTM); 2. Bo Hatcher (Kaw); 3. Kyle Smith (KTM); 4. Hunter Alexander (Suz); 5. Tyler Deguevara (Kaw). 1. Zac McClenny (KTM); 2. Gage Linville (KTM); 3. Jackson Gray (KTM); 4. Keaton Eason (KTM); 5. Stewart Covington (Kaw). 1. Jeffrey Lewis (Kaw); 2. Blake Weaver (Suz); 3. Tanner Hughes (Hon); 4. Zack Crosby (Yam); 5. Michael Houseman (Yam). 1. Joshua Gibbs (KTM); 2. Joseph Santos (KTM); 3. Landon Watts (KTM); 4. Kyle Smith (KTM); 5. Noah Adams (KTM). 1. Myles Heath (Yam); 2. Branson Blake (Hon); 3. Justin Mullins (Kaw); 4. Hunter Wheeler (Yam); 5. Randall Giles (Yam). 1. Zac McClenny (KTM); 2. Joshua Gibbs (KTM); 3. Joseph Santos (KTM); 4. Gage Linville (KTM); 5. Jackson Gray (KTM). 1. Brandon Detwiler (Hon); 2. Dustin Shiver (Hon); 3. Craig Bryan (Kaw); 4. Beren Farlow (Yam). 1. Jarrett Green (Hon); 2. Jared Wiggins (Kaw); 3. Trey Purser (Suz); 4. Jake Johnson (Kaw); 5. Chandler Eckler (Yam). 1. Austin Knox (Hon); 2. Cody Shiver (Hon); 3. Brock Mason (Yam); 4. Crandall Parlor (Kaw); 5. Hunter Wasden (KTM). 1. Colton Eigenmann (KTM); 2. Hunter Tyson (Kaw); 3. Tristan Lewis (Suz); 4. Dylan Greer (Kaw); 5. Jackson Turpin (Suz). 1. Reese Camarata (Kaw); 2. Elizabeth Dietz (Yam). 1. Tommy Maxey (Suz); 2. Colton Eigenmann (KTM); 3. Mason Beasley (Yam); 4. Hannah Hodges (Suz); 5. Tristan Lewis (Suz). 1. Tommy Maxey (Suz); 2. Mason Beasley (Yam); 3. Landon Jones (KTM); 4. Jordan Camarata (Kaw); 5. Hannah Hodges (Suz). 1. Tommy Maxey (Suz); 2. Jonathan Baker (Suz); 3. Landon Jones (KTM); 4. Blake Keadle (Suz); 5. Jordan Camarata (Kaw). 1. Brantley Willis (Yam); 2. Shawn Lewis (Yam). 1. David Buller (KTM). 1. Bryan Turpin (Kaw); 2. Blake Weaver (Suz); 3. Kyler West (Yam); 4. Logan Murphy (Yam); 5. Cory Wellons (Kaw). 1. Myles Heath (Yam); 2. Branson Blake (Hon); 3. Justin Mullins (Kaw); 4. Cole Faircloth (Yam); 5. Seth Wallace (Kaw). 1. Austin Knox (Hon); 2. Henry Brown (Hon); 3. Alan Ham (Yam); 4. Carlo LaCombe (Yam); 5. Daniel Deguevara (Yam). 1. David Buller (KTM); 2. Bubba Crosby (Kaw); 3. Gino Aponte (Hon); 4. Mark Waldele (Yam); 5. Tim Myers (Hon). 1. Hannah Hodges (Suz); 2. Mariah McNeill (Hon). 1. Mariah McNeill (Hon); 2. Lexi Kimes (Hon); 3. Hannah Twilley (Hon); 4. Christina Milde (KTM). 1. Bryan Turpin (Kaw); 2. Logan Murphy (Yam); 3. Kyler West (Yam); 4. Jonathan Baker (Suz); 5. Blake Keadle (Suz). 1. Branson Blake (Hon); 2. Kyler West (Yam); 3. Bryan Turpin (Kaw); 4. Seth Wallace (Hon); 5. Kramer Bolton (KTM). 1. Jeffrey Lewis (Kaw); 2. Blake Weaver (Suz); 3. Tanner Hughes (Hon); 4. Tim Myers (Hon); 5. Zack Crosby (Yam). 1. Gino Aponte (Hon); 2. Mark Waldele (Yam); 3. Tommy Boyd (Hon); 4. Clinton Shealy (Yam). 1. Stephen Houseman (Yam); 2. Michael D’Amico (Hon); 3. Christopher Kelly (Hon); 4. Gary Harvin (Yam); 5. Brian McIver (Suz). 1. Christopher Kelly (Hon); 2. Gary Harvin (Yam); 3. Cade Morgan (Hon); 4. Justin Vanderwerff (Yam); 5. Kyle Vanderwerff (Yam). Page 16 1. Tommy Boyd (Hon); 2. David Brewer (Kaw); 3. Chris Faircloth (Yam); 4. Rock Courson (Kaw); 5. Shawn Giles (Suz). 1. Ben Harris (Kaw); 2. Jimbo Hatcher (Hon); 3. Scott Sheppard (Hon); 4. Craig Cooler (Hon); 5. Steve Petty (Hon). 1. David Brewer (Kaw); 2. Jimbo Hatcher (Hon); 3. Ben Harris (Kaw); 4. Craig Cooler (Hon); 5. Rock Courson (Kaw). 1. Steve Petty (Hon); 2. Dan Mauser (Yam); 3. Tommy Greer (Hon); 4. Jeffrey Williams (Yam); 5. Steve Adams (Suz). By Elaine Jones Photos by Jim Thorn The 43rd consecutive year of speedway racing at the Orange County Fairgrounds got off to a rousing start on Saturday night. If the racing that took place is any indication of the season ahead, it’s going to be one for the books! The spectator turnout was awesome, with the Costa Mesa Speedway stands filled to the brim. The program was filled to the brim, too, with 51 races, and the racing was hot enough to take the chill out of the air. It was an all-Scratch program, with three rounds of heads-up racing. The top 10 would go to the semis to pare it down to five riders for the main event. The top dogs were in the house, and the fans had their favorites to root for. Page 17 The first round of heat races set the tone for the night. Charlie “The Edge” Venegas, fresh off another Ice Racing Championship, opened things up with a wire-to-wire ride to win the first heat. Not to be outdone, Janniro also went from green to checkered way out in front in the next heat. This guy gets it done with great gates and fast equipment. Next, Faria threw his helmet into the fray, letting everyone know he was here to play. He had no trouble collecting the precious four points. The final heat of the first round went to Jim “Li’l Animal” Fishback. He’s taking no prisoners this year, and it showed, with one very aggressive ride. In the second round, Fishback would be going up against Venegas; at least one person’s chances of a perfect night would be coming to an end. Fishback got the gate, and “Nasty Nate” Perkins became the spoiler as he got off second, becoming the middle of a Fishback/ Venegas sandwich. Venegas couldn’t find a way around Perkins and Perkins couldn’t find the chink in Fishback’s armor, and they would finish as they started. Janniro got another great gate in his heat, and although Shawn “Mad Dog” McConnell put the pressure on, he couldn’t keep Janniro from taking his second win of the night and keeping his perfect score going. Faria made it look easy in his heat and got the gate and never looked back. He was in the zone and so far perfect on the night. The new player showed up in the final heat: “Battlin’ Buck” Blair, who’d been second in his first ride, took it to the top in his second outing. Russell Green, in his second year in First Division, gave Blair a run for his money but just couldn’t catch him. With two rounds down, three riders were batting a thousand: Janniro, Faria and Fishback. And you couldn’t count out Blair, who was one point behind. Janniro rained on Fishback’s parade, but it was not without a small war, which took place in four laps. Janniro got the gate, but Fishback went at him like a shark after a seal. Intimidated? Not even a little bit. Fishback knew he had enough points for the transfer and used the heat to see what he would need to do to get around Janniro when they went at it again. Faria had a little scare in his final round, as Perkins got the gate and led the first lap. It was short-lived, though, as Faria came right back, got through on the inside and finished the night with another win. Bobby “Boogaloo” Schwartz, who’d had a pretty uneventful night so far, decided it was time to get serious, and he did just that: The “Master of the Gate” held a course in “Speedway Racing 101,” picked up the win, and kept his fingers crossed that it would be enough to make the semis. The heats were in the books and now the real racing would begin. Two riders had perfect scores: Janniro and Faria. The first semi had Faria on the pole, with Fishback in two and Green in three. On the outside, it was Blair and “Fast Eddie” Castro. The final round is where everyone lets The gate went to Faria, with Fishback getting it all hang out. The opening heat saw Venegas out second. As he had against Janniro, Fishback and Blair on the line. Venegas earned the went at Faria, looking for any weakness that nickname “The Edge” because of his ability to would work for him in the main. He was content read the tapes. He didn’t disappoint. He was with second and the transfer. On back, it was off on top, with Steve Russell in second. Blair Blair and Green, who would go back to the pits ran into trouble early on and was running and get ready for the last-chance qualifier. fourth. Venegas had a good trip and ended The second semi had Janniro on the with the points he needed to get to the pole, with Perkins in two and Venegas in three. semifinals. Blair would also have enough. On out, it was Neil Facchini and Schwartz. It Page 18 was quick and painless: Game, match, race to Janniro. Perkins held off everyone else for second and the transfer to the main. Schwartz and Facchini would have one more shot in the LCQ. Venegas was the victim of bike problems. In the LCQ, Schwartz had saved the best for last, because his goal was the main. To get there, he had to get the start, and that’s what he did. Once in front, he is all but impossible to get around, and he would be the final rider in the Spring Classic main event. main. The teams that made it were Joe Jones & Jimmy Olsen, Dylan Beard & Crystal Laurie, Brian Motis & Chris Levitt, and Dave Alexander & Matt Davis. With Sidecars, the starts are always exciting, as they seem to really enjoy scraping paint off one another, not to mention the poor swinger who get stuck on the inside of things. The team of Beard & Laurie got out on top and held the lead for one lap before Motis and Levitt moved them out of the way. Not only did they get through, but right behind them They rolled to the line for choice of came Jones & Olsen the reigning number-one start. The pole went to Faria, with Janniro in team. This was a night of upsets, and the same two, Fishback in three, Perkins lined up in thing happened in the Sidecars, as Motis & four, and Schwartz in five. The tapes went Levitt easily held off Jones &Olsen for the win. down, they loaded in, and the engines revved. Beard & Laurie were third, and Alexander & The light went green, the tapes came up, and Davis rounded out the field. they were away! Joey Holt had no trouble taking the win It was Faria out on top, with Fishback in the Support contest. The former Junior rider second and Janniro third. They were running who proved he was good enough for the First close enough to shake hands and no one was Division was the victim of a large Division One backing down, as Fishback was running up turnout, so he contested the Support class, but under Faria and Janniro was pushing just as he will more than likely be back with the big hard on Fishback. This was the best of the boys next week. Ryan Tovatt was second, and best, going at it as only champions can. The he was very happy with that. Devin Defreece crowd was almost louder than the bikes, with and Geoff Herkner rounded out the field. the fans on their feet as these guys fought tooth and toenail for the win. This race was so good, you wanted it to go for 10 laps, as four just went by too quickly! When the dust settled, it was Faria with the win, followed by Fishback and Janniro – three champions who gave it all they had and put on one hell of a show. Adding to the night of great racing were the always-exciting Sidecars. Eight rigs showed up to vie for the four spots in the Page 19 Gabe Price, a new face at Costa Mesa, will be back, as he took the win in the Support B main. Following him home were Brad Moreau (who broke his back last season), Malcom Roe and Norman Graham. 1. Mike Faria (Jaw); 2. Jim Fishback (Jaw); 3. Billy Janniro (Jaw); 4. Bobby Schwartz (Jaw); 5. Nate Perkins (Jaw). 1. Gabe Price (Jaw); 2. Brad Moreau (Jaw); 3. Malcom Roe (Jaw); 4. Norman Graham. 1. Joey Holt (Jaw); 2. Ryan Tovatt (Jaw); 3. Devin Defreece (Jaw); 4. Geoff Herkner (Jaw). 1. Brian Motis/ Chris Levitt (Yam); 2. Joe Jones/ Jimmy Olsen (Suz); 3. Dylan Beard/ Crystal Laurie (Kaw); 4. Dave Alexander/ Matt Davis (Yam). Story by Sandy Carter The ISDE Team for the United States will be slightly smaller than in previous years. The number of competitors allowed, as set by the Federation of International Motorcycling (FIM), has been reduced for 2011, but the United States will be sending the maximum allowed, 28 – less than the usual 35. However, returning to the international competition are many ISDE veterans that make up this team; they are seasoned and ready, meaning this will be one of the best prepared teams, with a few rookies added in, just to keep things fresh. The Trophy Team is made up of veteran ISDE riders Destry Abbott from Arizona, Kurt Caselli from California, Russell Bobbitt from Georgia, Jimmy Jarrett from Page 20 These ladies were on the initial ISDE Women’s team 10 years ago in France, along with Suzy Moody. In 2010, Oklahoma’s Kerrie Swartz joined these women for a podium finish in Mexico. They are together again for 2011, and they are determined to be at the top of that podium in Finland. The Senior team – comprised of New Yorker Dennis Decker, Illinois’ Jeff Fredette and Utah’s Jarrko Vainio – will also compete with the ISDE Club teams. Fredette is continuing his long tradition of attending ISDEs: The 86th ISDE in Finland will be Jeff’s 31st; he has only missed three since1978. The Club Teams this year include GoFasters.com, comprised of Utah’s Greg Gillian, Arizona’s Max Gerston and Idaho’s Brent Martell; Tony Agonis, comprised of New Jersey’s Fred Hoess and Glenn Scherer, and Colorado’s Cody Schafer; the Missouri Mudders, comprised of Wisconsin’s J.D. Friebel, Missouri’s Caleb Wohletz, and North Carolina’s Morgan Moss; Carter Engineering, comprised of Tennessee’s Chase Bishop and Michael Sanders, and Alabama’s Bryan Petty. Club Teams compete as rider units against other club rider units from other countries. They also provide a place where future Trophy and Junior Trophy teams may develop. The FIM International Six Days Enduro is a six-day off-road event that will attract national enduro teams from all over the world. ISDE 2011 – or simply “Six Days,” as off-road racers call it – will include five days of special tests, almost a thousand miles of off-road riding, and an eagerly anticipated final sixth day, which is a motocross. This international event also includes magnificent opening and closing ceremonies not unlike those of the International Olympics. The opening ceremonies in Finland will take place in Hammina, near Kotka, on the grounds of an ancient castle. Historically, the ISDE’s roots go back to 1913 in Carlyle, England. This was the International Six Days Trials (ISDT), which had nothing to do with the observed trials of today but was practically born at the same time, with the FIM evolving from the ACU, or Auto Cycle At the 2010 ISDE in Mexico, the riders Union, in England. The ISDE is the supreme who represented the United States in the race test of stamina, featuring trials that evolved for the Women’s World Cup were seasoned into off-road racing. Off-road was here to stay. veteran ISDE competitors Nicole Bradford from Colorado and Mandi Mastin of Ohio. Page 21 Ohio, Nate Kanney from New York, and the new rider on the ISDE trail, Kyle Summers from Florissant, Colorado. These riders were evaluated by members of the ISDE selection committee and chosen based on past performance in their respective series as well as performances at past ISDEs. The Junior Trophy Team is comprised of Virginia’s Brad Bakken, Colorado’s Ian Blythe, Ohio’s Cory Buttrick, and Pennsylvania’s Andrew DeLong. The Junior Team riders are under 23 years of age and were selected based on their scores at ISDE qualifiers in Texas and Tennessee. These riders stated their desire to be considered for the United States team by completing a Letter of Intent at the qualifiers. T.K. Hastings was the first American to compete in the forerunner of the 1912 ISDT/ISDE, the Thousand Mile Reliability Race, held in England in 1905. He sailed from New York on July 27, 1907, and arrived in London, where the competition started on August 17 and ended in London on six days later. He rode a specially prepared Indian motorcycle with a smoking-hot 4-hp, chaindriven engine, which, for the harsh environment, was superior to the leather-belt methods. Hastings went on to be an American reliability racer and set records all over the world. He was the first American to medal with an American machine on British soil in the forerunner of the ISDE 100 years ago. Hastings was a newspaper reporter assigned to cover the 1904 Ormond Beach, Florida, trials (in what is now Daytona Beach) for a New York newspaper. He thought a motorcycle would allow him to cover the speed trials more efficiently, so that winter he purchased a used Metz motorcycle. American off-road racing was born. He was inducted into the American Motorcyclist Hall of Fame in 2000. A century of off-road racing is fascinating in and of itself, and many of the changes in technology are obvious, but some things remain the same – such as fundraising to ride. In 1912, Mr. Hastings had to solicit support. In 2011, the competitors for the ISDE Team have to dig into really deep pockets to fund their efforts, and that includes fundraising. There are many methods of raising money for the cause: Sales of T-shirts, bake sales, sales of personal assets (such as a motorcycle or, in one case, a horse), taking out second mortgages on homes, and direct soliciting for funding are all among the methods that fuel this effort. The financial responsibility of each rider can be close to $20,000 to ride the ISDE. This year there is a short period of time until ISDE Finland 2011 begins on August 8, and efforts to raise funds are happening now. Information regarding contributions or sponsorship to individuals will be forthcoming very soon. “The three women representing the ISDE USA Women's World Cup Team [Nicole Bradford, Mandi Mastin, Kerrie Swartz] have one goal this year, and that is to bring home the World Cup Trophy!” said Mandi Mastin, “We are looking for support and sponsorship that can help us do just that. Help make our dream come true and the USA proud of our women riders!” Page 22 Story and Photo courtesy of Feld Motor Sports The 2011 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, season concluded this weekend, following the year-end awards ceremony held at The Joint by Rogue inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. A total of 20 award categories were presented to recognize the championship’s top riders and industry personnel who enjoyed one of the most monumental seasons in the sport’s history. Prior to the season finale at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium, the Monster Energy Supercross championship saw five different winners in the Supercross class, with only 12 points separating first place from third. Through it all, the championship turned into one of the most captivating title fights of all time. Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Ryan Villopoto was crowned the Supercross-class champion, which marke the first title of his Supercross-class career. Throughout the season, Villopoto led the field with seven wins and earned an additional five podium finishes. “It’s been an awesome season for me and the team,” said Villopoto. “When I ended up getting hurt last year, it was a bummer for sure, and it made me question if it was worth coming back. I couldn’t get it done in the first two years, but I was able to finally get one for the team.” “This was one of the most exciting seasons the sport has witnessed,” said Dave Prater, director of Supercross. “Leading up Page 23 into the final race in the Supercross class, we saw five different winners throughout the season, and three riders sat within 12 points of the highly coveted World title. In both the Western and Eastern Regional Supercross Lites classes, we also saw several riders lining up for the Lites title, with only a handful of points separating the field. I’d like to congratulate all of the riders, sponsors and teams for making the 2011 Monster Energy Supercross season a huge success.” Trey Canard (American Honda). Ricky Jurado (DNA Shred Stix/ Star Racing Yamaha). Kevin Windham (GEICO Honda). MX for Children (accepted on behalf of MX for Children director Brett Wise). Ken Roczen (Red Bull KTM). Broc Tickle (Monster Energy/ Pro Circuit/ Kawasaki). Justin Barcia (GEICO Honda). Ryan Sipes (DNA Shred Stix/ Star Racing Yamaha). Johnny O’Mara. Riders who finished fifth through 20th overall. TwoTwo Motorsports/ Bel Ray Racing. James Stewart (San Manuel Yamaha). Ryan Dungey (Rockstar/Makita Suzuki). Mike Williamson (Monster Energy Kawasaki). Dave Osterman (TwoTwo Motorsports/ Bel Ray Racing). Jimmy Button. Chad Reed (TwoTwo Motorsports/Bel Ray Racing). Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki). Courtesy of Feld Motor Sports Feld Motor Sports announced today schedule of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, featuring the tour’s newest stop on April 14 at Louisiana’s Superdome in New Orleans. Fresh on the heels of the greatest season ever, the 2012 Monster Energy Supercross schedule is the foundation for next season’s highly touted racing championship. Once again the championship will begin at Supercross’ home plate, Angel Stadium, on January 7, and it will conclude at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas on May 5, where the champion will be crowned. Cross Club members will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase tickets on May 9 and 10. Following the Cross Club opportunity, an online-only offer will be available on May 11 and 12. Tickets will be on sale nationally on May 13. Due to the renovations at the Louisiana Superdome, tickets will not be available until July 18. Joining the Cross Club is free and can be done by clicking on www.supercrossonline.com/crossclub/ Monster Energy Supercross’ last stop in New Orleans was in 2009, when Team San Manuel Yamaha’s James Stewart won the main event en route to his second Supercrossclass championship. “The 2012 Monster Energy Supercross schedule is the map to the coveted championship trophy,” said Todd Jendro, senior director of two-wheel operations, Feld Page 24 Motor Sports. “While 2011 is the greatest season ever, it is a primer for 2012. The returning veterans and the youthful challengers are the perfect blend for a paritydriven championship.” “The 2011 season once again proved that the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, is a real thriller,” said FIM president Vito Ippolito. “Who would have thought that, heading into Las Vegas, the championship would be so close? Supercross remains the excellent showcase for FIM motorsports that it always was and keeps the fans on their toes throughout the entire championship. It is still the FIM’s wish to take Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, global. Still, we are pleased to see that there are once again 17 events on the 2012 calendar, and we can start to count down the days separating us from the first race in Anaheim on January 7, 2012.” “As 2011 proved, the Monster Energy Supercross championship has always been about combining the best racers on the planet and one of the most accessible and fanfriendly stadium-based events you’ll see anywhere,” said AMA president and CEO Rob Dingman. “For 2012, we’re proud to work with our promotional partner, Feld Motor Sports, to deliver the exciting racing, compelling stories, and intense thrills of Supercross to fans and new audiences worldwide.” 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Schedule January 7 – Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California January 14 – Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona January 21 – Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California January 28 – Overstock.com Stadium, Oakland, California February 4 – Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California February 11 – Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California February 18 – Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas February 25 – Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia March 3 – Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri March 10 – Daytona International Speedway, Daytona, Florida* March 17 – Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana March 24 – Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 31 – Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas April 14 – Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana April 21 – Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington April 28 – Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah May 5 – Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada Exclusive Cross Club On-Sale Dates: May 9-10, 2011 Online Pre-Sale Dates: May 11-12, 2011 Public National On-Sale Date: May 13, 2011 *Not a Feld Motor Sports event – this date is independently promoted by Daytona International Speedway and the International Speedway Corp. Page 25 Courtesy of Feld Motor Sports The inaugural Monster Energy Cup will invade Sam Boyd Stadium on October 15, 2011. Feld Motor Sports announced today the creation of an inaugural event called the Monster Energy Cup, which will post a purse of a quarter of a million dollars and a potential $1 million bonus, that will take place at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium on October 15. This invitation-only race will showcase the world’s top Supercross racers live on SPEED in a three-hour broadcast. This lucrative event posts a $250,000 purse, with the winner walking away with a $100,000 check, and – for the “first time ever” – a shot at $1 million. The Monster Million will be awarded to the winner of all three main events. “The Monster Energy Cup is designed around a racing format that will challenge the racers unlike any other Supercross event featuring an epic endurance challenge of a three-stage, 30-lap main event,” said Todd Jendro, senior director of two-wheel operations, Feld Motor Sports. “This newly created format incorporates three main events, where riders will engage in three races, battling for rights to win the inaugural Monster Energy Cup. The event will feature a one-class format, offering riders the option to choose the bike of their choice, including 250cc to 450cc four-strokes or 125cc and 250cc two-strokes. The unique ‘all-in’ option presents riders with maximum flexibility, manufacturers with a variety of setup options, and the perfect showcase for Supercross fans.” The unique hybrid track will consist of Supercross/motocross terrain and will have a tremendous motocross-style influence, making it unlike any other stadium race in the world. This track will be the perfect blend of Supercross and motocross combined and created into the ultimate battleground. “We wanted to create a spectacular stand-alone event that we knew would excite the fans, riders, teams and media,” said Bruce Stjernstrom, Monster Energy’s vice president of sports marketing. “With a million dollars up for the taking – and with the world’s best riders all expected to attend – the Monster Energy Cup will be a race no one will want to miss.” For the stars of the next generation and the stars of tomorrow, the Monster Energy Cup will feature the Supermini class and the 250 A class, respectively. The top 15 riders from each class in the AMA Loretta Lynn Amateur National Championships will make up the starting grid for these special events. Cross Club members will receive a 50percent-off discount during the exclusive May 9-10 presale. To join the Cross Club, click on www.supercrossonline.com/crossclub/. Jackpot seats are $60 and regular seats are $50. Tickets for the 2011 Monster Energy Cup can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center box office, the Galleria at Sunset, all Stations and Fiesta Casinos, online at www.UNLVtickets.com or www.supercrossonline.com, or by phone at 866/8-FINALS. Tickets will be available at the Sam Boyd Stadium box office on the day of the event only. Page 26 Story and Photos by Roy Jenkins “This is the year we went from amateur to professional status,” remarked Francene Rainey, wife of “Diamond Don” Rainey. “I noticed it in the vendors, media presence, and the number of Pro riders. Last year we had 1,050 come through the gate. This year we broke a record again with 1,350. Although we were down from 855 to 847 race entrants from last year, this year more racers brought their families and camped out earlier in the week, making this a more family-friendly event. Many remarked that they can now only afford one big race a year, and this is it.” No wonder they chose this venue for a family vacation. Diamond Don’s is quickly becoming the “Jazz Fest” of Vintage racing. Besides the presence of off-road motorcycle racing machines from the past, fans can watch them compete in Observed Trials, Cross Country, Vintage Motocross and Post-Vintage Motocross events – and at a high level of competition, with many of the same riders who made history. Gary Bailey, the “Professor of Motocross,” was honored this year, and he made an appearance at the Observed Trials competition; then he ran a parade lap with Brad Lackey, Steve Wise and Trampas Parker, and they were sent off by Marty Tripes. Fans got to hang out and get autographs from these riders and watch Wise, Parker, Tommy Croft, Trey Jorski and Bill Silverthorn in action on the motocross track. Not to mention Alex Moroz and the Legends And Heroes Tour, where fans could walk up and see the rolling museum and meet a real-life MX legend. Page 27 This will be a well-documented race, as five major publications were on hand to witness the event: Davey Coombs with Racer X magazine, Shand Garcia with Holeshot magazine, Mitch Boehm with Moto Retro Illustrated, and the Australian mag VMX, as well as this humble correspondent from 2wheelcommunications representing Racing Fuel for the Spirit and the “Dirt Bike Ike” book series. Who sponsored this event? Well, I’m glad you asked. The major players were Kawasaki, Longview Cycle and Ski, Yamaha, H&W Honda, RaceTech, ProVue, and Troy Lee Designs. Special thanks to Steve Wise and Christ Ministries for Sunday’s worship service, and to Big Daddy Racing for the trackside communications. The laser-cut-metal trainengine plaques were provided by Route 49 MC Accessories and J&N Fence. The trophy skin was designed by BadBrush. Diamond Don underwrote the expenses of the AHRMA banquet on Friday night, so all of the proceeds could go to AHRMA. How about the racing? I thought you’d never ask. Team Bultaco from Missouri is still the team to beat. Their ace, Mark Stahlman, put a double-moto victory on the Sportsman 250 Expert class to start Saturday’s Vintage racing. Wade Woodall and Rhett Smith went at it hard for the second spot on their CZs and probably had a little paint from each other’s bikes on their own when the dust cleared. Andrew Short’s father-in-law, Tom Hudson, kept things interesting by staying right behind them in the first moto. For the second year in a row, Louisiana legend Trampas Parker continued to prove why he’s the only rider (besides the late Donnie Schmidt) to win two World Championships. Kirk “Doughboy” Spencer showed why he used to make all that dough when he terrorized Texas tracks back in the day by beating Parker in the first Vintage Over 40 Expert moto. Parker watched his lines in the first moto, but Spencer was holding the throttle open through the turns, especially the sweeper into the infield horseshoe, where he brushed the banners on the outside several times. In the second moto, Parker got around him, and then ’round and ’round they went like two tomcats. Late in the race, Spencer tried to squeeze into a turn alongside, where Parker had the line, and down Spencer went. I’d pay to watch those two race again! John Vasquez took second overall behind them with his 3-4 finishes. Trey Jorski was another determined fireball that Parker had to deal with. It’s hard to carry such a big reputation into a race when you’re a legend. Steve “The Wiseguy” Wise said as much. Wise made his first race in more than a decade and decided to tone down the competitive juices and just enjoy his rides. But what he lacked in wins, he more than made up for in preaching the good news at Sunday’s worship service, as he brought the house down under a chorus of “amens” and “that’s rights.” Tony Fox was another rider who led Parker briefly until he disappeared into the woods. The Tacoma, Washington, native had to settle for fourth in the first moto, but he came back and happily took second, behind Parker, for second overall in the Sportsman 500 Expert class. John Vasquez, Rhett Smith, Jimmy Ewing and Karl Alan Poindexter all put on a nice show and finished the day in that order. Ewing carried a straightaway’s portion of banners in his rear wheel, which added some photogeniosity (is that a word?) to the race. Page 28 The Vintage Over 50 Expert contest was a memorable race, with Jorski leading early until bike problems sidelined him near the scoring stand, leaving Rhett Smith and Tom Hudson in the “dance of chance” for the lead. And dance they did – until they bumped in the same turn from which Jorski pulled out earlier, and Smith went down. Hudson waited for Smith after taking the checkered flag, and the two shared a few words of remembrance, ending with Hudson patting Smith on the back good-naturedly. Texan Hudson went on to secure the double-moto victory, with South Carolina’s Smith placing second, Colorado’s Scott Sears taking third, North Carolinian Bob Lee finishing fourth and Kentucky’s Poindexter coming in fifth. Two AHRMA hotshoes from Oklahoma brought a half-dozen bikes and blew up almost all of them! Despite that, Trey Jorski won the Post-Vintage Over 50 class and placed fourth in the Over 40 class, while Elbert Simon won the GP 500 class, took third in the GP 125 class, fourth in the GP 250 class and fifth in the Ultima 250 class – all Expert classes for both riders. Meanwhile, rookie Expert rider Glenn Romero from New Orleans enjoyed a lap in front of the legendary Parker in the Vintage Open Age class. Romero finished second, in front of one of the most Even the small-bore Experts had some powerful men in motocross, Davey Coombs, fireworks, as Jared Lange from California diced who looked strong and smooth in his stand-up it out fellow past series champ Mark Stahlman style and styling JT race gear on his Suzuki. from Missouri. Stahlman would hold his Bultaco on longer going into the turns, but Lange’s Yamaha would pull him out of the corner. Eventually Stahlman got the double-moto victory in the Sportsman 125 Expert class for Team Bull. Following him were Kansas rider Jordy Burnett (2-2), Lange (3-3), Louisiana’s Matthew Leblanc (4-4) and Texan Paul Burnett (7-5). Elbert Simon made a brief appearance at the front until bike problems ended his challenge. The Marty Tripes 100cc Challenge continues to grow by five or six entrants every event. Former Pro rider Jim Gibson, also sporting the new JT race gear, was another smooth operator. He looked like he was in a class by himself as he checked out in each Page 29 moto without breaking a sweat on his 100 Yamaha. Sunday was Post-Vintage day, with many of the same riders displaying their skills and tallying similar results, but on newer bikes. The dividing period for Vintage is about 1974-75, depending on manufacturer, with the newer bikes considered “post-vintage” by AHRMA, which added a new “pre-modern” class for the front-disc-brake bikes. Jared Lange and Matthew Leblanc went at it hard in the Ultima125 Expert class, with Leblanc using his road-racing skills to carry his little Honda through the turns, but he couldn’t make the pass. Terry Gates and Jeff Simon rode their Suzukis into third and fourth, respectively. Elbert Simon suffered more bike troubles, leaving Chris Kasavage to rule the Ultima 250 Expert class. This Florida native bested Texan New Benton and Kentucky’s Karl Alan Poindexter, and that trio filled out the top three spots. John Vazquez was another one of those Okies who sped through the pack on both days, this time winning the Ultima Four-Stroke Expert class, over Arkansan Mike Parker and Illinois’ Chris Brewington. Kasavage vanquished Vasquez in the Post-Vintage Open Age Expert class and punctuated that victory with the longest prefinish-line wheelie of the day on Bobby McClelland’s Honda. Trey Jorski struck early in the second Post-Vintage Over 40 Expert moto by slamming the outside line, with Trampas Parker tucking into the inside. Scott Bland and New Benton settled in behind them. Parker reappeared from the woods in the lead and never let Jorski get close enough to challenge him again, taking the double-moto victory. Benton patiently and consistently worked his way up into second for second overall, with Bland and Jorski (who fell to sixth due to bike problems) rounding out the top four. Jorski made amends in Post-Vintage Over 50 contest with double-moto win, in front of Rhett Smith, Karl Alan Poindexter, Bob Lee and Tom Hudson. In conclusion, Don and Francene have heard the suggestions and are already making changes for next year. They will be at the big race at Freestone to garner ideas for crowd control and security, and they are already interviewing someone to implement transponders for scoring. Also, public-address weaknesses will be turned into strengths. The “Wine Down” party was over the top, with great fireworks and an opportunity for folks to relax and enjoy some fellowship together. If you have any other suggestions or ideas, please contact Don and Francene at info@diamondDon.com. A big thanks to the Leblanc family for cooking Saturday night’s crawfish, and then cooking Cajun food in the pits under their big tent, to the Bayou guitar sounds of the Chris Leblanc Band. Make your reservations in 2011 for next year’s event, because when January comes, the rooms will be full in Jefferson, and next year is the 10th anniversary, which will be “off the hook!” Speaking on behalf of J.P. Parsons, my announcing partner, we are already looking forward to next year and hope to see you there! Page 30 1. Mike Parker (Pen); 2. Keith Voss (Hod); 3. Jules Kennedy (CZ); 4. Corky Root (Hod); 5. Bruce MacFarlane (Hod). 1. Dan Beher (Duc). 1. Mike Parker (Hon). 1. Jim Crain (BSA); 2. John Bergener (BSA); 3. Jonathan Moore (Tri); 4. Wayne Mount (BSA). 1. Corky Root (BSA); 2. William Click (BSA); 3. Beno Rodi (BSA). 1. Bob McNamara (NOR); 2. Jim Crain (BSA); 3. Dan Beher (BSA). 1. Beno Rodi (NOR); 2. David Wilson (Tri). 1. Stan Miser (Hsq); 2. Mike Gray (CZ); 3. Dale Fisher (Che); 4. Sam Chappell (Pen); 5. Patricia Bell (CZ). 1. Tim Moore (Yam); 2. Bob Egan (DKW); 3. John Griffin (Hon); 4. Jeremy Oxley (Hod); 5. Paul Schaffner (Hod). 1. Jared Lange (Yam); 2. Wade Woodall (CZ); 3. Chris Brewington (Hon); 4. Lynn Williams (CZ). 1. Jim Ealer Jr. (Bul); 2. Sam Chappell (Oss). 1. Bill Orth (GRE); 2. Chuck Morris (BSA). 1. Doug Grant (AJS); 2. Dan Johns (AJS). 1. Dwayne Thomas (BSA); 2. Morris Herbert (Tri); 3. Chuck Morris (BSA). 1. Dan Johns (AJS); 2. James Smith (BSA); 3. Claude McElvain (BSA). 1. Stan Miser (Yam); 2. Steve Williams (Hod); 3. Dale Fisher (Pen); 4. Mike James (Hod); 5. Michael Collier (Hon). 1. Curtis Ross (Suz); 2. Mark Eickhorn (Hod); 3. Ronnie Snyder (Yam); 4. Paul Johnstone (Hon); 5. David Cummings (Hod). Page 31 1. Mike Tollett (Hon); 2. Tad Breaux (Hon); 3. David Cummings (Hon); 4. Randy Pierce (Kaw); 5. Phillip Ketchum (Hod). 1. Mark Stahlman (Bul); 2. Jordy Burnett (Hon); 3. Jared Lange (Yam); 4. Matthew Leblanc (Hon); 5. Paul Burnett (Hon). 1. Lindsay Harper (Bul); 2. Jim Vaughan (Hsq); 3. Ryan McGurt (Hon); 4. Mike Gray (CZ); 5. Jason Miller. 1. Bubba Dennis (CZ); 2. Randy Wood (Hon); 3. Robbie Kahn (Hsq); 4. Sam Baugh (Kaw); 5. Steve Papenfuss (CA). 1. Jason Landing (Bul); 2. Brandon Hartner (CZ); 3. Roger Harris (Kaw); 4. Mike Tollett (Hon); 5. Eric Bourgeois (Suz). 1. Mark Stahlman (Bul); 2. Wade Woodall (CZ); 3. Rhett Smith (CZ); 4. Jeff Nagel (Hon); 5. Matthew Leblanc (Hon). 1. John Putkey (CZ); 2. Daniel Ecker (CZ); 3. Steve Duncan (Kaw); 4. Henry Sansing (ROK); 5. Krista Nylander (Bul). 1. Bart Watts (Mai); 2. Nick Stine (CZ); 3. Steve Stasiefski (Mai); 4. Jeff Robertson (Mai); 5. Gary Davis (CZ). 1. Trampas Parker (CZ); 2. Tony Fox (Yam); 3. John Vasquez (Mai); 4. Rhett Smith (CZ); 5. Jimmy Ewing (Mai). 1. Bill Orth (BSA). 1. Janet Ward (CZ); 2. Krista Nylander (Bul); 3. Tammy Ritzheimer-Mount (BSA); 4. Patti Brewington (Hon); 5. Janet Novey (Yam). 1. Connie Elam (Hon); 2. Dawn Winczewski (Pen); 3. Patricia Bell (CZ). 1. Peggy Cozart (CZ). 1. Mark Waller (Hon); 2. Gary Diedrich (Hsq). 1. Brand Wedding (CZ); 2. Louis Leblanc (Hon); 3. Kenneth Jeter (Yam); 4. John Owen (Yam); 5. Eugene Van Lancker (Mai). 1. Ryan McGurt (Yam); 2. Ryan Todd (Yam). 1. Trampas Parker (CZ); 2. Glen Romero (Kaw); 3. Davey Coombs (Suz); 4. Gary Doza; 5. Jeff Nagel (Hon). 1. Albert Newmann (Yam); 2. Mike McCloud (Suz); 3. Kevin Cleveland (Suz); 4. Randy Pierce (Kaw). 1. Jim Vaughn (CZ); 2. Henry Sansing (ROK). 1. Roger Harris (Mai); 2. Jason Landing (Bul); 3. Larry Cooper (Bul); 4. Mike Krause (Pen); 5. Stephen Smith (Suz). 1. Raymond Phillips (Yam); 2. Tad Breaux (Hon); 3. Tom Becker (CZ); 4. John Dowson (Hsq); 5. Richard Huffman (Hsq). 1. Trampas Parker (CZ); 2. Kirk Spencer (Mai); 3. John Vasquez (Mai); 4. Bob Lee (Hsq); 5. J.P. Antoon (Hsq). 1. William Kahle (Hon); 2. Denis Jeffries (Hsq); 3. Bob Hartner (CZ); 4. Daniel Moye (Suz); 5. George Pawley (Yam). 1. Richard Davis (Hsq); 2. Kenneth Ahlstrom (Pen); 3. Robbie Kahn (Hsq); 4. Wesley Wallace (Mai); 5. Troy Rapp (Hsq). 1. Nick Stine (CZ); 2. Sam Baugh (Kaw); 3. Steve Stasiefski (Mai); 4. Mike Hance (Mai); 5. John Putkey (CZ). 1. Tom Hudson (Hon); 2. Rhett Smith (CZ); 3. Scott Sears (Mai); 4. Bob Lee (Hsq); 5. Karl Alan Poindexter (CZ). 1. Frank Sprangler (Hsq); 2. Terry Dailey (CZ); 3. John Bezinque (CZ); 4. Robert Hext (Pen); 5. Jerry Elson (Hsq). 1. Ambrose Watts (Mai); 2. Jim Masterson (Pen); 3. Robert Wilson (Yam); 4. Keith Boyd (CZ); 5. Gary Taylor (CZ). 1. Jimmy Ewing (Suz); 2. Rhett Smith (Mai); 3. Mark Stahlman (Bul). 1. Henry Sansing (ROK); 2. Ethan Stahlman (Bul); 3. Bob Christianson (Suz); 4. Jason Brockman (Bul); 5. Krista Nylander (Bul). 1. Craig Knight (Mai); 2. Potts Thomas (Mai); 3. Ron Greene (Yam); 4. James Sharp (Hsq); 5. Michael Murphy (ROK). 1. Sam Chappell (Hon). 1. Ron Greene (Yam). 1. Mike Parker (Hon). 1. Glenn McGovern (Hon); 2. Becky Hayes (Yam). 1. Mike McCloud (Kaw); 2. David MacLaskey (Suz); 3. David Cummings (Suz); 4. Tad Breaux (Hon); 5. Gabe Leblanc (Hon). 1. Chris Brewington (Suz); 2. Greg Boone (Suz); 3. Elbert Simon (Hon); 4. Jared Lange (Yam); 5. Mark Ray (Hon). 1. Mike Haynes (Hsq); 2. Jim Brown (NOR). 1. William Click (Hsq); 2. Doug Grant (Hsq); 3. Steve Machado (CZ); 4. Wes Willis (Hsq); 5. Loyd Morgan (CZ). 1. Roger Harris (Hon); 2. Tim Wise (Hon); 3. Kerry Malone (Suz); 4. Lenhart Eriksson (Hsq); 5. Skip Miller (KTM). 1. Pete Silva (CZ). 1. Corey Jones (Hsq); 2. Doug Taft (Yam); 3. Jeff Simon (Yam); 4. Elbert Simon (Yam). 1. Bill Fleming (Yam); 2. Wayne Mount (BSA); 3. James Ealer Sr. (Bul); 4. Blaine Stone (Hsq). 1. Gary Anderson (CZ); 2. Zahn Lewis (Suz). 1. Robert Shough Jr. (Yam); 2. Matthew Green (CZ). Page 32 1. Bart Watts (Mai); 2. Sam Baugh (Kaw); 3. Bubba Dennis (Mai); 4. Jeff Robertson (Mai); 5. Tim Wilson (Yam). 1. Paula Waugh (Kaw); 2. Krista Nylander (Bul); 3. Becky Hayes (Yam); 4. Debbie Benson (Yam); 5. Patty Brewington (Hon). 1. Chuck Rule (Yam); 2. Craig Hayes (Hsq); 3. Rhett Smith (Mai); 4. Doug Taft (Yam); 5. Jordy Burnett (Mai). 1. Connie Elam (Hon). 1. Scott Sears (Mai); 2. Mike Parker (Yam). 1. Ryan Branch (Hon); 2. Mike Elshout (Hon); 3. Tad Breaux (Hon); 4. Eric Bourgeois (Hon); 5. Kenneth Leblanc (Hon). 1. Michael Murphy (Yam). 1. Eric Bourgeois (Hon); 2. David Zigmont (Hon); 3. Jeff Marks (Suz); 4. Roy Jenkins (Hon); 5. Scott Shope (Suz). 1. Jared Lange (Yam); 2. Matthew Leblanc (Hon); 3. Terry Gates (Suz); 4. Jeff Simon (Suz). 1. Lindsay Harper (Yam); 2. Glenn McGovern (Hon); 3. Sam Chappel (Hon). 1. Dave Kutskel (Yam); 2. John Munich (Hon); 3. Mike Bruce (Yam); 4. Randy Wood (Hon); 5. Mike Gilbird (Hon). 1. Chris Kasavage (Hon); 2. New Benton (Yam); 3. Karl Alan Poindexter (Suz); 4. Chris Todd (Yam); 5. Elbert Simon (Hon). 1. Robert Shough Jr. (Yam); 2. Donald Harrell (Hon). 1. Ryan Branch (Hon); 2. Tim Wilson (Yam); 3. Mike Owen (Hon); 4. Mike Elshout (Yam); 5. Eugene Van Lancker (Hon). 1. Elbert Simon (Hon); 2. Scott Bland (Hon); 3. Doug Taft (Yam). 1. Patty Brewington (Hon). 1. Curtis Ross; 2. Bobby Paschal (Hon); 3. Jesse Reid (Hon); 4. Zahn Lewis (Suz); 5. Bill Orth (Hsq). 1. John Vazquez (Yam); 2. Mike Parker (Hon); 3. Chris Brewington (Hon). Page 33 1. Mark Waller (Hon). 1. Chris Kasavage (Hon); 2. John Vazquez (Mai). 1. Billy Murphy (Yam). 1. Bobby McClelland (Hon); 2. Richard Hart (Suz); 3. Dennis Harlan (Yam); 4. Carl Browning (Suz); 5. Dave Kutskel (Yam). 1. Trampas Parker (Yam); 2. New Benton (Yam); 3. Scott Bland (Hon); 4. Trey Jorski (Hon); 5. Mark Ray (Kaw). 1. Lindsay Harper (Yam); 2. William Kahle (Yam); 3. George Pawley (Yam); 4. Ambrose Watts (Mai); 5. Glenn McGovern (Hon). 1. Mike Cole (Hon); 2. John Munich (Hon); 3. Jeff Robertson (Mai); 4. Rick Owens (Hon); 5. Potts Thomas (Hon). 1. Trey Jorski (Hon); 2. Rhett Smith (Mai); 3. Karl Alan Poindexter (Suz); 4. Bob Lee (Suz); 5. Tom Hudson (Hon). 1. Keith Parker (Hon). 2. Jerry Elson (Yam). 1. Keith Boyd (Mai); 2. Bob Egan (KTM); 3. Larry Shope (Hon); 4. Greg Steinbeck (Suz); 5. Robert Wilson (Yam). 1. William Click IV (Yam); 2. Wes Willis (Hon); 3. Loyd Morgan (Yam); 4. John Gott (Yam). 1. David Zigmont (Hon). 1. Matthew Leblanc (Hon); 2. Derek Wedding (Yam). 1. Billy Click; 2. Jordy Burnett. Robert Sabatini. 1. Skipper Kennedy; 2. Curtis Ross; 3. Dan Jennings. By Jamey Blunt Photos by Janice Blunt John Kocinski showed up at Perris Raceway for round four of Southern California Flat Track Association action with yet another engine configuration in his Knight frame, ready to contest the Vintage 250cc Expert class. Kocinski went on to set a new personal lap record of 14.42 seconds in the process of running away and hiding from the rest of the field. This time is the second fastest ever turned at Perris and more than a full second and a half faster than any other air-cooled 250cc motorcycle has ever achieved. This was also the 1. Paul Johnstone; 2. Skipper Kennedy; 3. Wes Sealy. 1. Tommy Croft; 2. Matthew Leblanc. fastest lap time of the entire evening, and on a bike more than 30 years old! Next up for Kocinski: He will be heading home next week to Little Rock, Arkansas, where he is sponsoring a dirttrack race. However, he has promised to return to California in time for round five at Perris on June 11. Billy Katkov started out the night with a new set of wheels, but after the Men’s Four-Stroke heat race – in which he finished second to Mark Cernicky – he changed back to his original setup for the main event. He then shot from the line to lead every lap and win with a two-second cushion! Page 34 By John Cardinale Photos by Robert Redmond Yamaha’s Josh Hayes continued his mastery of Infineon Raceway on Saturday, May 14, taking the victory in the 22-lap feature for AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike at the West Coast Moto Jam. It was Hayes’ third consecutive win on the 12-turn, 2.32mile road course, and his fourth in five races in Sonoma. Tommy Hayden took second, with his fellow Suzuki jockey Martin Cardenas placing third in the AMA Pro Road Racing event. Hayes is hoping to make it a sweep of the doubleheader weekend on Sunday. “That was hard work,” Hayes said. “Tommy rode a fantastic race, but what can I say? This has been three years in a row to win a [SuperBike] race here, and that’s fantastic. I said when I got here that we’ve set the bar pretty high, but I’m really glad we’re maintaining. We’ll come back tomorrow and hopefully make them wait another year before someone else wins.” Page 35 Starting from the second position, Hayden took the lead at the start of the race, but it would be short-lived. Hayes, the polesitter, regained the top spot on lap two with an inside pass in turn nine. It was a lead he would never relinquish en route to his 15th career SuperBike victory and his sixth overall win in Sonoma. “I knew it was going to come down to the end, but he held on, and unfortunately I used my tires too much to try and make up time in different spots,” Hayden said. “Overall, I feel good about the race; I’ve come a long way at this track.” Polesitter Jason DiSalvo took advantage of an early-race mishap by his fellow Ducati rider Jake Holden to take the victory in the 22lap feature for Daytona SportBike. Holden went off course at turn four on lap five, enabling DiSalvo to build a sizable cushion. DiSalvo led from wire to wire to post his firstever feature win at Infineon Raceway. Holden held on for second. Suzuki rider Danny Eslick, who won in 2010 in Sonoma, was third. “Jake [Holden] made a mistake, and I was able to put it on cruise control and ride around a bit, but the next thing you know, the gap to second was shrinking,” DiSalvo said. “Jake was pushing hard. I just put my head down to hold the gap. I’m glad to reward the team with a win at Infineon.” Honda rider Benny Solis took the checkers in the Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport 18-lap feature on Saturday, with Yamaha pilots Tomas Puerta and David Gaviria finishing second and third, respectively. It was Solis’ first career AMA Pro Road Race win and the first for Honda since June 6, 2009. Solis took the win by nearly nine seconds. “This is my first season and I’m on the only Honda, and that motivated me,” Solis said. “To take this win was pretty special for me.” In other racing action, Chris Fillmore took the win in the 11-lap Vance & Hines X1200 Series feature, while Steve Atlas (Formula GP, Brammo) and Kenyon Kluge (Formula 75, Volt) claimed victories in the TTXGP North American Championship main event. This marked the second consecutive event in Sonoma for the zero-carbon, electricmotorcycle series. Action resumes on Sunday at Infineon Raceway, with main events scheduled in Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport (at 12:30 p.m.), Daytona SportBike (at 1:30 p.m.) and National Guard SuperBike (at 2:45 p.m.). There will also be main events in Supermoto USA, Flat Track and AHRMA National Motocross. Gates will open at 8 a.m. For more information, visit www.infineonraceway.com/ama. 1. Josh Hayes (Yam); 2. Tommy Hayden (Suz); 3. Martin Cardenas (Suz); 4. Blake Young (Suz); 5. Chris Peris (BMW); 6. Steve Rapp (BMW); 7. Larry Pegram (BMW); 8. Geoff May (Bue); 9. J.D. Beach (Kaw); 10. Chris Ulrich (Suz); 11. Chris Clark (Yam); 12. Chris Trounson (BMW); 13. Chris Siebenhaar (Suz); 14. Tony Kasper (BMW); 15. James B. Randolph (BMW); 16. Jeremy Toye (BMW); 17. David Anthony (Suz); 18. Roger Hayden (Suz); 19. Ben Bostrom (Suz); 20. Jordan Burgess (Suz). 1. Jason DiSalvo (Duc); 2. Jake Holden (Duc); 3. Danny Eslick (Suz); 4. P.J. Jacobsen (Duc); 5. Tommy Aquino (Yam); 6. Cory West (Suz); 7. Cameron Beaubier (Yam); 8. Paul Allison (Yam); 9. Tyler Odom (Hon); 10. Tyler O’Hara (Yam); 11. Taylor Knapp (Suz); 12. Bryce Prince (Yam); 13. Fernando Amantini (Kaw); 14. Josh Galster (Yam); 15. Huntley Nash (Yam); 16. Matthew Sadowski (Duc); 17. Craig Mason (Yam); 18. David Sadowski Jr. (Duc); 19. Melissa Paris (Yam); 20. Oscar Covarrubias (Kaw); 21. Kevin Boisvert (Suz); 22. Santiago Villa (Suz); 23. Patrick McCord (Kaw); 24. Dane Westby (Suz); 25. Josh Herrin (Yam). 1. Benny Solis (Hon); 2. Tomas Puerta (Yam); 3. David Gaviria (Yam); 4. Corey Alexander (Suz); 5. Travis Ohge (Yam); 6. Wyatt Farris (Yam); 7. Greg McCullough (Yam); 8. Dustin Dominguez (Duc); 9. Sebastiao Ferreira (Yam); 10. Jason Lauritzen (Yam); 11. Jett Chandler (Yam); 12. Rocco Horvath (Kaw); 13. Nadr Riad (Yam); 14. Roi Holster (Yam); 15. Brandon Cleland (Yam); 16. Nicholas Hayman (Duc); 17. Kelly Barnett (Yam); 18. Bruce Bleecker (Yam); 19. Shelina Moreda (Yam); 20. Garrett Kunkel (Bue); 21. Howard Crow (Duc); 22. Sam Nash (Yam); 23. Richard Cotton (Kaw); 24. Jose Flores (Duc); 25. Cristian Olguin (Kaw); 26. Luke Luciano (Yam); 27. Elena Myers (Suz). 1. Chris Fillmore (H-D); 2. Michael Barnes (HD); 3. Steve Rapp (H-D); 4. Tyler O’Hara (HD); 5. Michael Beck (H-D); 6. Michael Corbino (H-D); 7. Chase McFarland (H-D); 8. Bradley Adams (H-D); 9. Joe Kopp (H-D); 10. Josh Chisum (H-D); 11. Michael Morgan (H-D); 12. Paul James (H-D); 13. Sammy Halbert (H-D); 14. Kyle Wyman (H-D); 15. Gerry Signorelli (H-D). Page 36 Hayden. “I put a lot of thought into this race and a lot of preparation, and I really wanted to By John Cardinale redeem myself here after the last few years at Photos by Robert Redmond and Mike Finnegan this race. It feels really good to come in here and get this. Josh kept me honest and didn’t make it easy on me.” Suzuki’s Tommy Hayden claimed his first AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike victory on Sunday at the West Coast Moto Jam in Sonoma, California. The win ended Yamaha’s Josh Hayes’ recent domination on the Sonoma Valley road course. Hayes has won four of the last six SuperBike events at Infineon Raceway, including a victory on Saturday. “My bike was a handful today,” said Hayes. “I was trying so hard because Tommy wouldn’t leave me alone. I did the best I could all the way through the end. I wanted to beat him really bad, but he did a really good job. I hated to lose the streak.” Hayden took the lead on lap 17 of the 22-lap feature and went on to take the checkers by 1.925 seconds over Hayes. The win marked Hayden’s sixth career SuperBike victory and his third AMA Pro Road Racing win in Sonoma. (He also won the SuperSport race in 2005, and the Superstock race in 2003.) Hayden’s Suzuki teammate Blake Young was third. “I’m really happy about this one,” said Page 37 Young entered the weekend leading the AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike points standings but left the Sonoma Valley in third, with 99. Hayes leads the standings by just six points over Hayden, 107-101. Polesitter Jason DiSalvo posted a repeat victory in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, leading 13 of 22 laps in the main event on his Ducati. It was a hard-fought win, as DiSalvo, second- place finisher Danny Eslick, on his Suzuki, and Yamaha jockey Josh Herrin, who finished third, exchanged the lead numerous times before DiSalvo took the lead for good on lap 10. The race was stalled for a 27-minute red flag on lap five due to a brief period of rain. “All my experience from the 22 laps yesterday was leading at the front, and that’s what I was used to; I wasn’t used to having Josh [Herrin] or Danny [Eslick] blocking my sight in a few corners, and I had to get used to that,” said DiSalvo, who posted his first Sonoma victory on Saturday. “Once I got out to the head of the pack, it brought me back to yesterday and I got back in the rhythm and got back in that zone.” Honda rider Benny Solis completed a sweep in Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport action with a 12.5-second victory over Yamaha pilot Tomas Puerta in the 18-lap feature. Solis, who posted his first AMA Pro Road Racing win on Saturday, took the lead from Puerta on lap six and never looked back. Yamaha’s Travis Ohge was third, marking his first AMA Pro Road Racing podium finish. “I got a good start, but Tomas got a better start,” said Solis. “My plan was to stay behind Tomas for a bit and see if I could learn anything and win at the end. Once I saw that he made a mistake, it was my time to go, and I put my head down and I was able to build up a good gap.” 1. Tommy Hayden (Suz); 2. Josh Hayes (Yam); 3. Blake Young (Suz); 4. Steve Rapp (BMW); 5. Larry Pegram (BMW); 6. Ben Bostrom (Suz); 7. Roger Hayden (Suz); 8. Martin Cardenas (Suz); 9. Chris Peris (BMW); 10. Chris Clark (Yam); 11. Jeremy Toye (BMW); 12. Geoff May (Bue); 13. James B. Randolph (BMW); 14. Chris Trounson (BMW); 15. Chris Siebenhaar (Suz); 16. David Anthony (Suz); 17. Chris Ulrich (Suz); 18. Jordan Burgess (Suz); 19. J.D. Beach (Kaw); 20. Tony Kasper (BMW). 1. Jason DiSalvo (Duc); 2. Danny Eslick (Suz); 3. Josh Herrin (Yam); 4. P.J. Jacobsen (Duc); 5. Cory West (Suz); 6. Cameron Beaubier (Yam); 7. Tommy Aquino (Yam); 8. Dane Westby (Suz); 9. Taylor Knapp (Suz); 10. Paul Allison (Yam); 11. Fernando Amantini (Kaw); 12. Bryce Prince (Yam); 13. Tyler O’Hara (Yam); 14. Santiago Villa (Suz); 15. Josh Galster (Yam); 16. Huntley Nash (Yam); 17. David Sadowski Jr. (Duc); 18. Matthew Sadowski (Duc); 19. Craig Mason (Yam); 20. Oscar Covarrubias (Kaw); 21. Melissa Paris (Yam); 22. Kevin Boisvert (Suz); 23. Patrick McCord (Kaw); 24. Tyler Odom (Hon); 25. Jake Holden (Duc). 1. Benny Solis (Hon); 2. Tomas Puerta (Yam); 3. Travis Ohge (Yam); 4. Corey Alexander (Suz); 5. Sebastiao Ferreira (Yam); 6. Jason Lauritzen (Yam); 7. Nadr Riad (Yam); 8. Jett Chandler (Yam); 9. Rocco Horvath (Kaw); 10. Sam Nash (Yam); 11. Roi Holster (Yam); 12. Brandon Cleland (Yam); 13. Nicholas Hayman (Duc); 14. Kelly Barnett (Yam); 15. Shelina Moreda (Yam); 16. Cristian Olguin (Kaw); 17. Bruce Bleecker (Yam); 18. Howard Crow (Duc); 19. Luke Luciano (Yam); 20. Jose Flores (Duc); 21. Wyatt Farris (Yam); 22. Garrett Kunkel (Bue); 23. David Gaviria (Yam); 24. Greg McCullough (Yam); 25. Dustin Dominguez (Duc); 26. Elena Myers (Suz); 27. Richard Cotton (Kaw). Page 38 Story and Photos by Mark Buchanan Mother Nature wasn’t kind to High Fly MX Park for the opening weekend in Crothersville, Indiana. Saturday’s opener was washed out, with thunderstorms starting just before the riders’ meeting. Day two on Sunday was a District 15 double points race, with a great turnout of 169 entries. The High Fly crew did the best they could after Saturday’s rain, but track conditions were still muddy for the first round of motos on Sunday. The combined Quad Amateur C and Expert A riders volunteered to go first, to help iron out the muddy conditions, and Chris Nice took the holeshot on a Kawasaki, in front of KTM-mounted Andrew Nice. Yamaha rider Ryan Withered ran solo in the Quad Expert A class and quickly moved into the lead for the win. Chris Nice suffered a mechanical DNF early in the moto, and Andrew Nice took the lead in the Quad Amateur C class on the first lap and stayed there for the win. Yamahamounted Mackenzy Withered moved into second place, with Jesse Wells finishing third on a Polaris. Page 39 Andrew Nice took the holeshot in the second moto and held off the rest of the field for the first lap. Ryan Withered took the lead in the moto on lap two, with Andrew Nice still holding first place in the Amateur C class. Chris Nice passed Mackenzy Withered for second place in the Amateur C class on the second lap, and Wells got by Withered late in the moto for third place. Andrew Nice took the overall victory with both moto wins in the Amateur C class. Wells claimed second overall with a 3-3 score, edging out Withered’s 2-4 finishes. Mark Smith dominated the Expert Over 30 A and Vet Over 40 classes, taking all four moto wins on his Thumper Racing/ Fox’s Cycle Yamaha. Mark Harshman, riding a Suzuki, took the holeshot in both motos of the Vet Over 40 class. In the muddy first moto, Harshman held the lead for two laps before Smith took the lead and kept it for the win. Smith took the lead from Harshman on the first lap in the second moto and pulled away for an easy win. Dane Barrett finished third overall on a Yamaha with a 4-3 score, ahead of Kawasaki jockey Joseph Bastin (5-4). Honda-mounted Brett Terchila finished third in the first moto but didn’t start the second moto. Smith easily took both moto wins in the Expert Over 30 A class, with Terchila finishing second. With nineteen riders, the Lites Novice C class was the largest of the day, and Kawasaki-mounted Kenneth Stumler nailed the holeshot in both motos. Spencer Smith, riding an FMF/Decal Works/ Seymour Powersports-backed KTM, took the lead on the first lap of moto one, ahead of Honda riders Randy Riggle and Brandon Winters. Riggle passed Smith for the lead on lap two, with Winters taking second place from Smith on the last lap. KTM rider Devon McVey finished fourth. Stumler worked his way back up to fifth place late in the moto. Riggle took the lead early in the second moto and stayed there for the win. Stumler passed McVey on the last lap for second place. Winters finished in fourth place, followed by Smith. Riggle took the overall victory with both moto wins, and Winters claimed second overall with a 2-4 tally. Stumler finished third overall with a 5-2 score, edging out McVey, with 4-3 finishes. Lane Wienhorst had a great day, taking the overall win in the Junior Mini (7-11) and Senior Mini (12-15) classes, riding a Lucas Oil/ Columbus Motorsports Kawasaki. Wienhorst nailed the holeshot in the first moto of the Senior Mini (12-15) class and went wire to wire for the win. Hondamounted Jim Jewell took the holeshot in the second moto but almost crashed on the first jump, allowing Honda rider Stephen Vuckson and Wienhorst to get by. Wienhorst passed Vuckson for the lead on lap two, but Vuckson stayed close and retook the lead on the last lap for the win. Wienhorst claimed the overall win with a 1-2 punch, in front of Vuckson, with a 3-1 score. Jewell finished a consistent fourth in both motos for third place overall, in front of Kawasaki jockeys Cameron Dudukovich and Dylan Skaggs. Wienhorst took the holeshot in both motos of the Junior Mini (7-11) class, but problems on the first lap of moto one dropped him back to fourth place. KTMmounted Vincent Smith took the lead on the first lap, followed closely by Kawasakimounted Jared Morton. Then Morton passed Smith on the next lap for the win, and Wienhorst worked his way back up to third place. Wienhorst went wire to wire for the win in the second moto, in front of Smith and Morton, giving him the overall victory with a 31 score. Smith finished second in both motos for second place overall, edging out Morton’s 13 finishes. Bennett Cycle Repair-backed Nick Hayes finished fourth in the second moto and fourth overall, in front of Lucas Oil-backed Bailey Baker, on a Kawasaki. Hayes and Baker both took wins in the 65cc classes. Hayes went wire to wire for both moto wins in the 65cc (10-11) class. Baker held second place throughout the first moto but fell back to third place on the last lap. Baker held second place again in the second moto, but FCA/ Tucker Rocky/ Suspension Plus/ S&S Powersports-backed Marshall Barnes passed Baker on the last lap. Hayes took the overall with both moto wins, and Baker claimed second overall with two third-place finishes. KTM-mounted Ryan Nelsen finished third overall with a 2-4 score, in front of Barnes and KTM rider Jack Ragland. Page 40 Barnes took the holeshot in the first moto of the 65cc Open (7-11) class, in front of Bobby Panarisi, riding a Cobra. Panarisi took the lead on the first lap but went down in the first turn on lap two, giving the lead back to Barnes. Baker took the lead from Barnes later on lap two but then slipped back to finish second. Panarisi took the holeshot in the second moto and went wire to wire for the win, in front of Baker and Barnes. Baker finished second in both motos for the overall win, edging out Barnes’ 1-3 score. Panarisi claimed third overall with a 6-1 effort, followed by KTM-mounted Jared Jaggers and Nelsen. 1. Lane Wienhorst (Kaw); 2. Vincent Smith (KTM); 3. Jared Morton (Kaw); 4. Nick Hayes (KTM); 5. Bailey Baker (Kaw). 1. Tanner Sims (Hon); 2. Jim Jewell (Hon); 3. Tyler Stearns (Yam); 4. Sebastian Mathis (Hon); 5. Peyton McVey (KTM). 1. Lane Wienhorst (Kaw); 2. Stephen Vuckson (Hon); 3. Jim Jewell (Hon); 4. Cameron Dudukovich (Kaw); 5. Dylan Skaggs (Kaw). 1. Vincent Smith (KTM); 2. Gaige Klingsmith (Yam); 3. Stephen Vuckson (Hon); 4. Brady Myers (Kaw); 5. Taylor Nash (KTM). 1. Jay Buckman (Yam); 2. John Hall (Hon). 1. Skyler Corbin (KTM); 2. Clayton Kidd (Yam); 3. Alexis Ragland (KTM); 4. Bryce Butler (Yam); 5. Brock Hunter (Suz). 1. Randy Riggle (Hon); 2. Brandon Winters (Hon); 3. Kenneth Stumler (Kaw); 4. Devon McVey (KTM); 5. Spencer Smith (KTM). 1. Lane Parton (KTM); 2. Blake Lowe (Hon); 3. Logan Hall (Suz); 4. Brian Luther (Kaw). 1. Lucas Grounds (KTM); 2. Devin Gordon (Hon). 1. Jason Schlenz (Suz); 2. Jared Mills (Kaw); 3. Logan Smith (Kaw). 1. Bobby Panarisi (Cob); 2. Kylan Pitman (KTM); 3. Skyler Corbin (KTM); 4. Ben Presslor (KTM); 5. Shane Nelsen (KTM). 1. Jesse Housemyer (Kaw); 2. Greg Dow (Hon); 3. Corey Shafer (Suz). 1. Bobby Panarisi (Cob); 2. Shane Nelsen (KTM); 3. Kylan Pitman (KTM); 4. Ben Presslor (KTM); 5. Ethan Sowder (KTM). 1. Matthew Kemp (Kaw); 2. Keenan Sims (Kaw); 3. Robert Mosier (Kaw); 4. Ethan Sowder (KTM); 5. Justin Ensor (KTM). 1. Bobby Panarisi (Cob); 2. Jared Jaggers (Kaw); 3. Justin Ensor (KTM). 1. Nick Hayes (KTM); 2. Bailey Baker (Kaw); 3. Ryan Nelsen (KTM); 4. Marshall Barnes (Kaw); 5. Jack Ragland (KTM). 1. Bailey Baker (Kaw); 2. Marshall Barnes (Kaw); 3. Bobby Panarisi (Cob); 4. Jared Jaggers (Kaw); 5. Ryan Nelsen (KTM). Page 41 1. Mitchell Corbin (Yam); 2. Jacob Rakowski (Kaw). 1. Samantha Nelsen (Yam); 2. Katelyn White (Suz); 3. Breana Ragland (Suz). 1. Tina Carter (Hon); 2. Ashle Harshman (Suz); 3. Halie Mouser (Kaw). Lane Parton (KTM); 2. Brady Myers (Kaw). 1. Blake Lowe (Hon); 2. Jacob Rakowski (Kaw). 1. Michael Corbin (Yam); 2. Randy Riggle (Hon); 3. Jesse Housemyer (Kaw); 4. Cory Robinson (Suz); 5. Jack Ragland Jr. (Yam). 1. Mitchell Corbin (Yam). 1. Michael Mathis (Kaw); 2. Eric Boyd (Kaw); 3. Frankie Spicer (Kaw); 4. Donald Short (Yam). 1. Jaylynn McMurray; 2. Samantha Blackwell. 1. Mark Smith (Yam); 2. Brett Terchila (Hon). 1. Andrew Nice (KTM); 2. Jesse Wells (PLS); 3. Mackenzy Withered (Yam); 4. Chris Nice (Kaw). 1. Mark Smith (Yam); 2. Mark Harshman (Suz); 3. Dane Barrett (Yam); 4. Joseph Bastin (Kaw); 5. Brett Terchila (Hon). 1. Jeffrey Griffith (Kaw); 2. Danny Pridemore (Yam); 3. Richard Trimble (Yam). 1. Mark Harshman (Suz); 2. Rory O’Neill (Yam); 3. Keith Carlson (Hon); 4. David Crawford (Yam); 5. Brock Hunter (Suz). 1. Brady Eason (KTM). 1. Ryan Withered (Yam). 1. Lane Parton (KTM). 1. Cory Fisher (Suz). Story and Photos by Michael Kirby The 2011 Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway season opened with a great night of racing action at Auburn, California’s Gold Country Fairgrounds Friday night. Speedway fans yearning for racing action after the winter layoff were treated to some great riding by returning familiar names. For Bart Bast, the night ended perfectly when he won the Scratch main event, facing 2010 USA National Speedway Champion Billy Janniro, veteran Pro Charlie “The Edge” Venegas, and Greg Hooten in the last race of the evening. Bast, a veteran rider and crowd favorite, missed a crash that took down Hooten and Janniro on the first lap and outlasted Venegas and Hooten on the restart. Janniro was not able to restart due to mechanical problems sustained in the crash. “You always wonder what’s going to happen on the first night, what your pace will be, do you still have it going on,” said Bast. “The bike was working great. It was a good night.” Fast Fridays owner David Joiner and his crew had the track in nearly perfect condition for a packed opening night, and the fans were treated to some great action. Janniro did well, winning his Scratch heat race and Scratch semifinal, but he did not make the restart after his crash with Hooten in the Scratch main. Page 42 Bast also had a strong night, losing nothing of his game over the winter months, and he even seems to have adopted a more relaxed racing presence, which served him well: He garnered four first-place finishes, one second-place finish and one third-place finish for the night. On the program but missing from the racing action was local rider Chris Kerr, who is back from racing in Europe and should be a regular at upcoming races at Fast Fridays this season. Bryce Starks was also not racing this week; he was in Europe racing in the U-21 World Championship qualifier. Russell Green won the Handicap main event. Richard Fehrman took the Division Two main-event victory. The Division Three main event was won by Chris Casey, and Tanner Kane won the Youth Division main event. 1. Bart Bast; 2. Charlie Venegas; 3. Greg Hooten. 1. Russell Green; 2. J.T. Mabry 3. Bart Bast. 1. Richard Fehrman; 2. Vince Bertolucci; 3. Robert Mellor. 1. Chris Casey; 2. P.J. Byrne; 3. Tyler Warren. 1. Tanner Kane; 2. Luke Becker; 3. Colton Hicks. Page 43 Seen at Pecan Valley GA on 5/1/2011 Page 44