Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

race· long war to nip Atkin at the checkers, while Higdon also beat Geib by a slim margin. Putting the tried and true first-out-has-thebest-chance theory to the test, Valentine ripped another holeshot to start the second half. Higdon and Geib were making sure that this would be a race. Valentine stumbled and Higdon took the lead, but Valentine snatched it back at the off-camber turn. As Valentine was showing off out in front again, Higdon and Geib were brawling ferociously for second with newcomer Tim Parsons (a nonstarter in race one). Valentine wouldn't be challenged this time, as the "Saint" was the winner of the 125cc Novice class. Geib was second and first overall 125cc Beginner. Higdon was second overall 125cc Novice, ahead of Atkin and Reinicke. Results Santa Fe Trail Cycle Park: Doug Stone won the Carbondale Hare Scrambles, the final event of the Forward Motion Hare Scrambles Series, in Carbondale, Kansas. 50 BEG: L Ryan Goodwin (Cob); 2. Mason Rodriguez (KTM). 50 NOV: I. Cole NlInney (Cob). 50 INT: I. Branden Brown (Pol). 50 OPEN: 1. Brllnden Brown (Pol): 2. Levi! Hall (Cob). 60 BEC: I. Tyler Coyler (KlIw). 60 NOV: I. levU HlIlI (KlIw). 60 INT: 1. Prince Kapahulehull (KlIw). 60 OPEN: I. Ronnie Goodwin (KlIw). eo BEC: ). ClImeron Rodriguu (Suz): 2. Justin Hunt (Kew): 3. Nethan Ambrose (KlIw); 4. Ronnie Goodwin (Kaw): 5. Prince Kapahulehua (Suz). eo NOV: 1. Tony Esposito (Suz): 2. Wesley Harrll (Vam): 3. Tony Caputo (Hon): 4. Anthony Hart (Kaw). 60 tNT: I. Josh laFountaine (Suz); 2. Mlchael Parker (Vam). eo OPEN: I. Mkhael Parker (Yern); 2. Tony Esposito: 3. Wesley Harris (Yam): 4. Josh laFountaine (Suz): 5. Anthony Hart (Kaw). 125 BEG: I. Chad Geib (Yam): 2. Matt Kerr (Yam): 3. Jason Mlnc:Iach (Han); 4. Justin Weddle (Yam). 125 f"tOv~ l. Robin Valentine (Hon); 2. Kris Higdon (Vam); 3. John AUlIn (Hon); 4. Matt Rdnicke (Kon); 5. TIm PaDOnS (Hon). 125INT; l. Mark Hermann (Hon). 250 BEG: I. Todd Cobb (Vam). 2.50 NOV: I. John LaBreche (Han); 2. Danny Doyle. BI8K OPEN~ I. Kris Higdon (Vam); 2. John Atkin (Hon). 25 BEG: 1 AndyTemson(Vam). 25 NOV: I Danny Doyle (Sul). 25 EX: I. Caleb Hawkms (Kaw). 30 BEG: I. RICh Guerin (Yam): 2. Paul Barker (YM1): 3. Io\ano IaMucd (Yam); 4. David Coyner (Hon); 5. Scott Free (Suz). 30... NOV; 1. John LaBre<:he (Hon); 2. .Hoff Rogers (Vam): 3. Lanie GiOrdano (Yam). 30... tNT: I. Datnal Wasden (Hon): 2. Chris Rieffer (Yam). the leaders, the action intensified as Anderson and Green were both charging through the pack. While running in fifth, disaster struck Anderson. "A rider went down in front of me in the hairpin and I had nowhere to go, to Anderson recounted. Anderson stalled his machine, which relegated him to last place and derailed his hopes for the overall. "I barely missed the downed rider," said Green, who now found himself in third and catching the leaders. With one lap to go, Leahy picked up the pace and repassed Berg for the lead. Leahy appeared to have the victory in hand. "I was in the lead, thinking, 'I am finally going to win,' when I hit the ground hard and Berg ran me over," said the sore and dizzy Leahy, who had accidentally shifted into neutral, which caused him to do a head-plant. Berg also went down in a heap. With the two front-runners crashing out, Green inherited the lead. Mark Jones went from fifth to second in a flash. "I barely missed the wreck: Jones said with a huge grin. "I was able to squeak through." In the end, Green took the win, followed by Jones and Hamilton. Results BEG: 1 John Costello; 2. Albert Serrano: 3 Sieve Schneider: 4. David ZetterllWld; 5. Jeff McEntee. HOV: I. ~Io Gulnasso: 2. Brian Smotskrs; 3. MIke Tucker: 4. Steve Emler, 5. Steve MelonI. tNT: I. Robert Bolton; 2. Bob ~s; 3. Anthony R05e: 4. Rob· bie Wexler, 5. Dwane ObblIrd•. EX: I. Kevin Montgomery; 2. Jim HeM; 3. Greg Wolfe: 4. Bruc:e Criswell: 5. Ken Erb. PRO; I. Craig DavIS; 2. Gordon Ward_ 38... BEG: l. Ronbld Wutske; 2. Garth Callocker; 3 Laura Tucker, 4. John Treadway; 5 Don Huckleston. 38.. NOV: L Jad. TIU'lI'Mer, 2. Richatd Rey; 3 Craig Manln; 4. Reid Franke; 5. John Adams. 38+ INT: I. Randy Glftn; 2. Craig Hamilton; 3. Mark Jones: 4. Arnie Davis: 5. Brad Anderson. 38+ EX: I. Jeff Scott: 2. Mark Dwyer; 3 Hany Leary; 4. Marty Westerman; 5. Don Caneva. 38... PRO: J. Paul Needles. Perris Raceway Santa Fe Trail Cycle Park Las Vegas Motor Speedway Stone Hits Carbondale HS Rodriguez Rocks Vegas By BRAD JONES By DICK GOODWIN CARBONDALE,KS,DEC.3 Doug Stone did it again, winning another first overall at the final round of the Forward Motion Hare Scramble Series. The 27-year-old auto mechanic took the holeshot, pulled out a lead and finished 20 seconds ahead of the 1995 series champ, Mike Kruger. "I just had a blast out there: Kruger said. "I did my best to stay close to Doug. I'm going to train hard this winter and give it my best shot next year. Harper was on me the entire race. He kept pushing me the whole way." Scott Harper ran his final event carrying the series' number-one plate. Tragedy befell the Learjet mechanic when he crashed hard while leading last summer's Drexel round. Harper suffered a severe concussion at Drexel and was warned to stop riding for fear of permanent memory loss. Harper came back for two of the final races of the year. Shane DiPasquale ran third early in the scramble, but a trip into the bushes gave Harper enough time to zip past and chase after Kruger. Harper finished only four seconds behind Cycle Zone's Kruger. Sixth overall on the day went to Santa Fe Cycle's Adrian Bryant. who put in his best ride of the year. After winning the B class in the 1999 Forward Motion Series, Bryant moved up to the A class. He continually improved his results throughout the year. winning his final race of the year convincingly. LAS VEGAS, NV, DEC. 2 Club MX staged its last race of the season at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Suzuki speedster Cameron Rodriguez took full advantage of the great weather and track conditions to lay waste to the 80cc Beginner class. Ronnie Goodwin nailed the first-moto holes hot, ahead of Rodriguez and Michael Stark. Rodriguez launched off the first set of doubles to grab the lead while Justin Hunt was fighting his way into third. Hunt soon skyed over another set of doubles to sail into second, but Goodwin waited for th~ next double challenge to take second right back. Not worrying about all that stuff going on behind him, Rodriguez was racing the track - and winning, on his way to a first-moto smackdown of the competition. Kawasaki-mounted Nathan Ambrose made his move over the doubles on lap two and moved into third. Nevertheless, Rodriguez streaked through the pipes with a solid win. Goodwin claimed second, over Ambrose, Hunt and Prince Kapahulehua. Goodwin demonstrated his mastery of the start-gate procedure once again in race two, flying out in front of Hunt and Alex Matteson. Hunt made a quick pass, but it was Rodriguez who was really on fire, blasting into the lead in the first few tums. While Rodriguez stretched it out once again, Hunt and Ambrose established themselves in second and third. As Rodriguez carved up another huge lead, Timothy Kerr came up to challenge the front-runners. When Rodriguez scored his second straight victory, it ensured him of the overall eocc Beginner crown. Hunt and Ambrose nashed across in second and third to capture second and third overall . Valentine's Day came early this year. Robin Valentine blew kisses to the crowd and shot arrows through hjs foes in the 125cc contest. Mr. V. shot out of the gate like an arrow to lead the knaves off the gate, with Chad Geib (a Beginner rider, for goodness' sakel). John Atkin and Matt Reinicke chasing him down. Atkin busted a move and Kris Higdon followed, moving into second and third. Higdon and Geib were whacking on each other, going at it bar to bar. Valentine survived this Results M: I. Doug Stone (Kaw); 2. Mike Kruger (KTM); 3. Scott Herper (Yam); 4. Shant DIPasqullle (G·G): 5. Jeff Boyer (KTM). A: I. Adrian Bryant (G-O); 2. Dan Johnson (KTM); 3. Mike Btmahan (Hoo). B: I. Robbie Johnson (KTM): 2. Mike Shown (KTM); 3. Bred .Jones (VlIm): 4. Bob Seering (KTM): 5. Jerry Moore (Yam). 250 C: I. David Russell (Hon): 2. Scott Henion (Kaw); 3. Butch Taylor (Kaw); 4. MIke Hynson (Yam); 5. Jay Noel (Kaw). OPEN C: I. Kevin Enyart (Hus); 2. Blilin Bertrand (KTM); 3. PhUip Enman (Hon): 4. Robert Yohr (Vam); 5. John Tempel (Suz). 200 C: I. Shawn Gowing (G-G); 2. Tim Short (KTM); 3. Anthony McDenlel (Kaw); 4. Brian Donley (Kew); 5. Jeff Nellthery (Kew). 35... C: I. Robert Wood (KTM): 2. Gary Short (KTM): 3. Glen lftds (Hon); 4. Sieve Cline (Kew); 5. Mike Durst (Hon). SO... C: l. Gary Russell (Hon); 2. Bob Copeland (KTM); 3. John Ayers (Kaw) lOS C: l. PhllJp Olne (Kaw); 2. Bntd Taylor (Kaw): 3. John Lee (Kaw). TR~ I. Jeff Armstrong (KTM); 2. Mere MIller (Suz); 3. Nate Scott (Yam); 4. Gary Helvl (Hon); 5. Chip Smith (Hon). Green in the Limelight at OTHG MX Zion Motocross Association By CHRIS SANCHIRICO By DICK GOODWIN Nelson Zaps Zion PERRIS, CA, DEC. 12 MESQUITE, NV, DEC. 9 The final round of the Over The Hill Gang's O'Neal-sponsored Chase Nelson dominated 2000 season came to a conclusion at the infathe action in the Open Intermediate class in mous Perris Raceway. While the rest of AmeriMesquite, Nevada, at Zion Motocross Associaca was in a deep freeze, the OTHG racers tion's two-day racing weekend. enjoyed perfect aO-degree weather and sunny When race one got under way, Jace Kirk skies. Chaparral-backed Randy Green finished had the quick draw, leading Tyler Mortensen off the season in style, securing the overall in ane! Rob Phillips into the first comer. Phillips the second moto. passed quickly to fight for the lead as they With his headlight burning bright, Brad Anderson ripped off 12 the holeshot on his WR400F. a: "I blew out third gear on my 'i: u other bike, so I had to ride the z « dual-sport," Anderson explained.

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