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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127934
Northwest Arenacross series, Round 8
Hagseth's
hottest
By· Clay Light
SALEM, OR, FEB. 22
ational number 95, Brad Hagseth,
fought off an onslaught of
advances in the 125 and 250cc Pro
action to earn both overall wins via 1-1
showings at round eight of Webb Hill
Raceway's Northwest Arenacross Series,
held at the Salem Arenacross.
Hagseth, who recently showcased his
riding prowess in front of well over
50,000 spectators at the Seattle Kingdome, where the Onalaska, Washington,
resident scored an impressive top-20 finish in the 125cc Western Regional main
event, had his hands full with fellow
Washingtonian J. Whipple on this day.
Whipple developed a flat tire in the
first 125cc Pro moto, making things
much easier for Hagseth to score the
win ahead of local Kawasaki rider
Dustin Lenaburg and Russell Chase.
Moto two, however, involved a hardfought victory for Hagseth as Whipple
chased him to the finish. Hagseth's first
1-1 win for the day was finalized, while
Whipple's only shot at an overall win
would come in the 250cc class since his
9-2 showing relegated him to sixth overall in the 125cc Pro class after Hagseth,
Lenaburg, Nick Hansen (4-3), Chase (36) and Paul Conner (5-5).
Suzuki rider Steve Bostick led the
opening-lap parade in the opening moto
of the 250cc Pro class, but his lead didn't
last long as K1M rider Scot Steffy and an
impressive-looking Robert Holtgrew
quickly relegated the RM jockey to rnidpack status. Hagseth was the recipient of
a poor start, but he quickly worked his
way into a contending position. Hagseth
then got around Whipple, Steffy and
finally Holtgrew to take the lead for
good. Holtgrew got around Whipple for
second, while Hansen and Steffy rounded out the top five.
Whipple jumped out in front of the
second 250cc Pro moto, setting up one of
the best battles of the day. The two
Yamaha pilots traded positions several
times during each lap during the early
portioris of the moto. Holtgrew stayed
close enough to challenge Whipple for
the number-two spot, but Whipple finally displaced the impressive-looking KX
jockey at the midway point to chase
down and ultimately catch Hagseth.
Whipple then challenged Hagseth's
every move, but Hagseth rode what
could have been considered a flawless
race to cap off his four-moto sweep of
the Pro classes. Whipple earned second
overall (3-2), followed by Hansen in
third with his consistent 4-3 placings.
Holtgrew netted fourth (2-5) after a laterace crash, while Steffy rounded out the
top five overall via 5-4 placings.
Kawasaki rider Mike Corder won
two classes as well, taking home impressive victories in the 125 and 250cc Intermediate classes with 1-1 tallies. Corder
did, however, have his work cut out for
him in the 250cc class, as Yamaha rider
Ryan Sweet, who was Corder's closest
competition in both classes, pushed him
to the finish. Sweet used 2-2 showings to
take home second in' the 250cc class,
ahead of Jeff Conway's 4-3.
Corder had to fight off Sweet, fellow
YZ rider Josh Fortier and Conway in the
N
(Above) Charlie Venegas slipped and slid his way to the win at the World Cup
Ice Speedway Championships, held in the San Diego Sports Arena.
(Left) Brad Hagseth dominated the eighth round of the Northwest Arenacross
Series by winning both the 125 and 250cc Pro classes.
first 125cc moto, and Tyler Kavaney, Jeff
Hinzman and Sweet in the second 125cc
contest before his two-elass decimation
was finalized. Sweet finished second
overall with 4-4 finishes.
The Supermini class was fiercely
competitive - just ask Tyler Fick, who is
normally a front-runner during local
events. Fick had to make his way into
the 26-rider final by winning the lastchance qualifier. Fick eventually finished fourth behind Keith Kadell, Marc
Jones and Ryan Abrigo.
fN
Salem Arenacross
Salem, Oregon
Results: February 22, 1998 (Round 8)
P/W (4~6): 1. Matt Deatley (Suz); 2. Tevin Tapia
(KTM); 3. Bradley Hillman (Lem); 4. Tommy Weed
(J(TM); S. Jared Wood (J(TM).
P/W (7-8): 1. Sean Berglund (KTM); 2. Danny
Gubser (Lern); 3. Lance Phillips (Lern); 4. Kyle
Hammontree (KTM); 5. Jacob Kannada (Lem),
P/W MOD (4·6), 1. Tevin Tapia (KTM); 2. Mati
Deatley (Suz); 3. Stefan Wilde (Cob); 4. Tommy Weeck
(J(TM); S. Jared Wood (J(TM).
PfW MOD (7-8): 1. Sean Berglund (KTM); 2. Lance
Phillir (Lern); 3. Jacob Kannada (Lem); 4. Eric Hagquisl
Neeley (Hon); 3. Greg Harmon (Hon); 4. Garth
MacDicken (Suz); 5. Tim Harmon (Hon).
.
UP THE HILL INT, 1. J. Whipple (Yam); 2. Scot
Steffy (KTM); 3. Ryan Sweet (Yam); 4. Rod Tapia
(KTM); S. Mark Hoffman (J(aw).
OTH BEG: 1. Kent Church (Hon); 2. Jerry Hale
(Suz); 3. Jeff Kissinger (KTM); 4. Allen ToeUy (Kllw); S.
Bill MacDonald (J(aw).
OTH INT, 1. Ed Smith (Suz); 2. Randy Duval
(Yam); 3. Mark Hoffman (Kaw); 4. Dan Kauffman
(Han): 5. Dan Mathis (Suz).
OTH JR: 1. Wayne Neeley (Hon); 2. Daren Anstett