Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128086
Ty DavisIToys For Tots Christmas Grand Prix Kurt Caselli rode his tried-and-true KX125 to multiple wins throughout the weekend, but he also debuted his new Yamahas, which he will ride for DH Racing next year. A second in the Pro race proved that the Yamahas will fit young Caselli just fine. STORY AND PHOTOS By MATT FREEMAN ADELANTO, CA, DEC. 9-0 y Davis has played many roles throughout his illustrious career but, until recently, he had never acted as a race promoter. In an effort to thank his sponsors and to put on a good, old-fashioned grand prix, Davis put together a two-day event, which was also a benefit for Toys For Tots. Fourteen separate races were scheduled to go off at Sunrise Motorsports Park, utilizing a four-mile course laid out by Davis himself. The circuit consisted of the groomed Sunrise motocross track with sections of desert thrown in as well but, instead of just sending racers out and back in a straight line, Davis ran the course like a slalom through the bushes and Joshua Trees of Adelanto. The result was a fun circuit that was manicured by three water trucks. Saturday's big winners included Kurt Caselli, who ran away with the Unclassified race on his KX 125, and Willy Simons, who did the same in the Senior Expert/Amateur race. Terry Fowler appeared to have the 250cc/Open race sewed up until his YZ426F started running poorly. He headed back to the pits prematurely T 42 JANUARY 10, 2001 • cue in hopes of repairing the bike to compete in Saturday afternoon's moneypaying Team race. American Honda's Tim Staab inherited the overall instead, with traveling partner Trevor Sheridan a close second. Vet racer Ron Shuler rounded out the top three aboard his usual KX500. By the time the gO-minute team race was half over, it looked like YZ250-mounted Gerritt Ordelman and Levi Reid would leave the race $500 dollars richer but, as fate would have it, their Yamaha splintered a spark plug, handing the lead over to the KX250 team of Justin Mace and Ross Garcia. Incidentally, Caselli and Fowler teamed up for the race and put their YZ426F into second with hopes of catching the lead team but, just past the halfway mark, the timing chain went south and Caselli and Fowler were sent packing. The Ordelman/Reid team finished runner-up, with the duo of Trevor Sheridan and Clint Braun rounding out the podium. • e n e _ s Caselli and Simons resumed their winning ways on Sunday morning as Caselli took his Kawasaki to the 200cc/Four-Stroke win just as easily as Simons took the Vet Expert/Amateur event. Simons' brother Brian finished runner-up to his elder sibling in that race. The big race of the day, however, was the Pro event, and some new faces showed up in hopes of taking home some extra Christmas shopping money. The start saw Caselli in the lead on his new YZ250 with Willy Simons, TM-mounted Gordon Ward, Paul Krause, Brian Simons and Brendan Lutes in tow, but midway through first lap things began to spread out fast. Ward found his way around Willy Simons and Caselli to take a commanding lead. Meanwhile, Simons and Caselli battled for the runner-up spot lap after lap. Before second- (Above) Willy Simons actually had the best win record of all the racers. Wins in the Vet and Senior events and a third place in the Pro race proved that Simons still has what it takes. (Left) The man of the hour, all weekend. Ty Davis laid out the course, worked the start, manned sign up and made the trophies himself. He, of course, had tons of help from friends, sponsors and members of the Checkers M.C. (Below) Fresh off his Baja 2000 win and Best In The Desert championship, American Honda's Tim Staab came out to support fellow racer Davis. Staab won the Open and Four-Stroke Expert classes before heading home for some much-deserved rest. He only entered one race all weekend, but It was the one that counted. TM250mounted Gordon Ward grabbed the Pro-race lead early on and held on to It despite a bad crash that left him loopy and visoriess.