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CMC Golden State National Series South, Round 2 • Events By Tony Alessi SANJACINTO,CA,JAN.17 t was a dream eome true for Team , Yamaha's teenage sensation, Justin Buckelew, who WOll his first-ever 125cc Pro race during round two of the CMC Sunstar Sprockets Golden State Nationals, held at Competition Park. "Since I was a Pee Wee racer, I always dreamed of being a Pro racer and winning big races like I did today," Buckelew said. Buckelew, who recently took up residence in California said, "We moved here from ew Mexico for the winter and rented an apartment so we can practice, train and race every week." This teen's aggressive approach to racing is beginning to payoff, as was evidenced by his double moto victory in today's 125c.c Pro competition. Buckelew came out swinging at the start of the first 125cc Pro race and made short work of the competition. "It was looking pretty yellow up front at the start of the race, so I just tucked in and went for it," said Buckelew. While Buckelew was carving his way through the small pack of Suzuki riders, Team Green rider Mike Corder was also on the move and was starting to close in on the top five. Just before the halfway mark, Buckelew reeled in and passed Dunlop-sponsored Doug Parsons for the lead; then he quickly opened up a four-second lead. Corder, meanwhile, was also making good progress, and he moved inside the top three. Buckelew kept Parsons in check the remainder of the moto for the win, topping Parsons, Corder, Jimmy Varis and Ted Campbell. The second moto was a slam dunk for Buckelew, who pulled the holeshot and then promptly opened up a 12-second lead over Team SplitFire/Pro Circuit's Nick Wey. Even though Wey made up some time (approximately four seconds) near the end of the moto, he had let Buckelew get too far out in front at the beginning of the race. For Buckelew, the win was a dream come true, but for the rest of the Pro class it could mean the beginning of their worst nightmare. Finishing behind second-placed Wey were Varis, Parsons and Dan Moore. Wey, a second-year pro, did some winning of his own, taking the overall win in the 250cc Pro class. Wey battled YZ400-mounted Billy Joe Mercier in moto one. Mercier, who is a grading engineer, worked a 50-hour week before the event and claimed to qe a bit rusty. Even though Mercier did not practice much before the race, he still put up some good resistance and held Wey at bay for many laps before finally giving in near the end of the moto. Wey took I the moto win, followed by Mercier, Ted Campbell, Mike Corder and Tim Sharp. Cainpbell came out strong in moto two and held on all the way to the finish. Wey started nearly last but worked up to second place, which was enough for the overall victory. Third overall went to Merder, whose 2-5 finish was what he needed to top Cn lee' 4-6 and Roben Naughton's 8-3. Sean Hamblin and Kevin Johnson waged an all-out war in both the Schoolboy and 125cc Intermediate races. Although neither rider cut the other any slack, in the end they were both winners, with Hamblin taking the Schoolboy honors and Johnson hanging tough for the win in the 125cc Intermediate division. Once again, the ~ riders were out in full force, with Team Suzuki's Shane Bess looking the sharpest of the group. Bess, who has been on a riding and training mission since_his less-than-perfect showing during the series opener, was untouchable, with wins in both the Supermini and 80cc (14-16) divisions, sweeping all four motos of both classes. The Pee Wee class was hot like fire after the flaming-orange KTM trio of Bruce Rutherford, Don Kearney and Jake Canada roosted the field in the 50cc (7-8) division. Action was close in the 50cc (4-6) class, as well, after Blake Baggett came out on top of the moto swap with ic Paluzzi for the honor of being Pee Wee (4-6) champ. Glenn Commans was on the gas in the Over 30 Intermediate division, winning both motos of competition over Shock Therapy-sponsored Steve Plattoni and holeshot specialist Chris Radzinski, who was making a comeback after a short break from racing. Commans found the Over 25 division m.ore challenging: Tim McEntee used a pair of runner-up finishes to score the overall win in front of Scott Mumford . (1-3) and Steve Piattoni (5-1). eN Competition Park San Jacinto, California Results: January 17, 1999 (Round 2) 50 (4-6): 1. Blake Baggett (Cob); 2. Nic Paluzzi I~oulfe (KTM); 4. Cody Fa',", (KTM); S. (Cob); 3. Chris Dylan Pemberton (Cob). 50 (7-8): 1. Bruce Rutherford ,KTM); 2. Donnie Kearney (KTM); 3. Jake Canada (KTM); 4. Hayden Commans (KTM); 5. Cody Tithof (Cob). 60 (0-8): I. Cole Seely (Kaw); 2. Travis Christensen (Kaw); 3. Bruce Rutherford (KTM); 4. Bryce Terzian (K..1W); 5. Casey Huntley (Kaw). 60 (9-U), 1. Milce Alessi (Kaw); 2. jeff Alessi (Kaw); 3. Jesse Bowler (Kaw); 4. Justin Mumford (Kaw); 5. Jeremy Johnson (Kaw). 80 BEC: 1. Kim Kordova (502); 2. Michael Schreiber (Hon); 3. Casey Huntley (Kaw); 4. Daniel Roegner (Yam); 5. Austin White (Han). 80 (7·11): 1. Mike Alessi (Kaw); 2. Jake Weimer (Yam); 3. justin Workman (Kaw); 4. Ryan Roybal (Hon); 5. jeff Alessi (Kaw). 80 (12-13): I. Brandon Layton (Yam); 2. Dayton Beavers (}(aw); 3. Anthony BrusceUa (Yam); 4. Scott Simon (Yam); 5. Sean Collier (](aw). 80 (14·16): 1. Shane Bess (Suz); 2. Michael Blose (Yam); 3. Dylan Lord (Kaw); 4. Nick Alvarez (Hon); S. Erilc Meyer (Yam). S/MlNl: 1. Shane Bess (Suz); 2. Jimmy Nelson (Yam); 3. Dylan Lord (Kaw); 4. Michael Blose (Yam); 5. Brandon Layton (Yam). SCHBY: 1. Sean Hamblin (Yam); 2. Keith Johnson (Yam); 3. Randy Norman (Yam); 4. Shane Bess (Suz); S. Ross Garcia (Yam). 125 BEG: 1. T. Eide (Yam); 2. Andres Quantanilla (Yam); 3. Corey Murphy o-Jon); 4. Ryan Phillips (Yam); 5. Charles Dana (Ya.m). 125 NOV: 1. Scott How (Yam); 2. Kane Jamison (Yam); 3. Chad Frank (Yam); 4. Chris McDaniel (Yam); 5. Brent Benton (Yam). 125 tNT 0-1: 1. Kevin Johnson (Yam); 2. Sean Hnmblin (Yam); 3. Ito Posca (Yam); 4. Brian Hulsey (Yam); 5, Randy Norman (Yam). 125 lNT 0-2: 1. Chris Thompson (5uz); 2, Dustin Cashman (Yam); 3. Kurt Long (Hon). 125 PRO: 1. Justin Buckelew (Yam); 2. Nick Wey (Kaw); 3. jimmy Varis (Suz); 4. Doug Parsons (Suz); S. Dan Moore (Suz). Z50 BEG: 1. Alvino Garcia (Yam); 2. Bryan Vazzana (Han); 3. Mike Moore (Yam); 4. Garrett Matthews (Han); 5. Doug Covey (Hon). 250 jR: 1. Niklas Ganstrom (Suz); 2.1ustin Eide (Yam); 3. Chuck Kober (Suz); 4. Tomas Ponce De Leon (YanV; 5. Brian Walker (Kaw). 250 INT: 1. Michael Collier (Kaw); 2. Randy Norman (Yam); 3. D.J. Humphries (Yam); 4. Travis Smith (}(aw); 5. Kevin Townsend (Suz). 250 PRO: 1. Nick Wey (Kaw); 2. Ted CampbeU (Suz); 3. Billy Mercier (Yam); 4. Mike Corder (Kaw); 5. Robert Naughton (5uZ). sao AM, 1. John Blood (Yam). 500 MSTR: 1. Darrin Hoer (Suz); 2. D. Zahrt (Suz); 3. Kenny Zahrt (5uz); 4. Vince Kitchen (Kaw); 5. Bob Shimp (Yam). 25+ AM: 1. Jason L..u son (Kaw); 2. Scott Mumford (Kaw); 3. Steve Piattoni (5uz); 4. Chris Radzinski (Kaw}; 5. Tim McEntee (5uz). 25+ MSTR: 1. Darrin Iioer (Suz); 2. George Merry (I-Ion); 3. Mike McDeritt (Hon). • 25+ PRO: 1. Billy Mercier (Yam); 2. Dan Moore (Suz); 3. Robert Naughton (Suz); 4. Bryan Nelson (Yam); 5. Alberto Zamora (Han). 30+ BEG: 1. Russ Fox (Han); 2. Jason Aeck (Yam); 3. Tommy King (Yam); 4. Billy McAllister (5uz); 5. AI. Garcia (Suz). 30+ JR: 1. Steve Edwards (Suz); 2. Chuck Kober . (Suz); 3. Tom Bell (5uz); 4. Phillip TabOAda (Suz); 5. Roger Oreb (Hon). 30+ INT: J. Glenn Com mans (Yam); 2. Steve Piattoni (Suz); 3. Chris Radzinski (Kaw); 4. David Sarian (Yam); 5. Robbie James. 40+ AM: 1. David Zahrt (Suz); 2. Jeff Gianni (Suz); 3. Phillip Taboada (Suz); 4. Prior Mitchell (Suz); 5. joel Harriott (Yam). WMN: 1. Bonnie Warch. 31

