Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

came out and Alessi took the win, with Hayes in second and Arana third. In the second moto, Hayes had no problems dashing to the front. with Alessi close behind. Once again, Alessi made his pass early for the lead. Alessi rode unchallenged the rest of the moto, with Hayes, Arana and Gores going to battle again, but they were unable to find their way around each other. Alessi took the win, followed by Hayes, Arana and Gores. The night came to close with a SOcc rider getting an early Christmas present, though not from Santa. Whiie the big-track riders earn contingency money weekly, the SOcc riders on the sma)) track ended their series by eaming Toys R Us bucks for the points they accumulated throughout the series. As if that was not enough, their names were put into a drawing to win a 2001 CM Cobra motorcycle, compliments of Starwest, Cobra and AC Racing. The lucky winner was Nick Serrano, who was already a proud Cobra owner, and he was excited to bring home the newer, faster Cobra. Results Moto Grande: Shaun larkin (10G), Ted Mink (14), Jerry Gates (57), Shane Pettis (91), Gary Pettis (708), Mark Davis (31 R) and Bryan Suter (47) line up in Casa Grande, Arizona. crested the first big hill while Nelson was working his way toward the front of the pack. Kirk continued to lead as Phillips and Nelson closed in. On lap two, Phillips blew out the back sweeper and dropped to fourth. Nelson saw his chance and immediately turned up the heat on Kirk, finally getting by in the back sweeper a lap later. Nelson proceeded to bust out a lead forthwith to take race one. Justin Jenson was scrambling to take over second from Kirk, but Kirk held him off to post the runner-up position. Phillips pulled the trigger to lead Jenson and Nelson off the line in the second stanza. Nelson battled his way into second as Kirk joined the lead pack. Nelson and Phillips passed and repassed each other for first, and Kirk was now howling around the track in third. Nelson made a final pass on lap four and opened up a lead, while Kirk moved in on Phillips. Nelson took win number two easily, sewing up the overall Open intermediate crown. Philiips managed to hold off Kirk for second, but Kirk's better second-moto score earned him second overall, ahead of Phillips and Jenson. It was "J Day" in the Supermini class, as Levi Jensen, Justin Jenson and Daniel Johnson all did well. Levi Jensen popped the holeshot to start off the race action, leading Justin Jenson and Johnson down the chute. Justin grabbed the lead but levi retaiiated, repassing him in the back sweeper. Levi Jensen then cranked it up and stretched out a lead while Justin Jenson settled comfortably into second. Johnson was solid in third, and Brady Powell was ahead of a tight battle between Nick Nelson and Tracon Kirk. That was the finishing order. Levi Jensen banged another holeshot in moto two, with Powell and logan Binggeii right behind him. Justin Jenson was moving up, as was Johnson, as the first-lap shuffling began. Levi Jensen was carving up the course out in front as Justin Jenson climbed into sec· ond and Johnson claimed another third. Levi Jensen shot out to a big lead and another runaway win, capturing the overall Supermini title. Justin Jenson's two solid second-place efforts netted him second overall, besting Johnson and Tracon Kirk. Results P/W STK (4·6): 1. Brock Glendenning (Cob); 2. J.Y. leavItt (S",). P/W SlK (7·8): I. GlIrmt Bowers (Lem); 2. Caston Kirk (KTM); 3. Alex Mecham (Pol). P/W OPEN (4·8): 1. Brock Glendenmng (Cob): 2. Alex Mecham (Pol). PP; I. Jllleigh Mecham (Pol). 60 STK (6.8): I. Ollian Glendenning (Kew); 2. Garret Bowers (Kaw); 3. Codi Norton (KTM): 4. Dusty Humphries (Kaw); 5. Koden Murphy (KllW). 60 STK (9·11): I. Joseph Martinez (KTM): 2. Blake Deveraux (Kow); 3. Mike Halch (Kew): 4. Dee Larsen (Kaw); 5. Jaleigh Mecham (P,"). 60 OPEN (6·11): I. Joey M.r.lrtlnez (Kaw): 2. Dmon Glendenning (Kaw); 3. Bltlke Oeveraull (Kow); 4. Kaden Murphy (Kaw): 5. Dusty Humphries (KllW). 80 BEO: I. Cameron Rodrigue:; 2. Timothy Kerr (Hon): 3. Colby Hetch (Hon): 4. Brittoee Devereux (Kaw); 5. loch Gutini (Hon). 80 STK (7·11): I. Trecon Kirk (Yern); 2. Daniel Felix (Hen); 3. Nick Neilan (Suz): 4. Logan BInggeli (Hon); 5. Bryon Bundy (Suz.). 80 STK (12-15): ~1. Devin Sullivan (Klw): 2. Daniel Johnson (Kow); 3. Gerrett Morgan (Yom); 4. Brady Powell (Suz); 5. Jenlca Jenson (Yam). 80 INT: 1. I..m Jensen (Yam).- 44 JANUARY 17, 2001 • cue • e S/MlNI: 1. Levi Jensen (yam): 2. Justin Jenson (Yem): 3. Donie! Johnson (Kaw): 4. Trecon Kirk (Yom); 5. Nick Nelson (Sul). 125/0PEN BEG: 1. Mike Rodriguez (Suz); 2. fl'ttItthew Kerr (Yam): 3. Matt DeCarie (Kaw); 4. John Galvez (Han); 5. lac: Jacob· son (Yom). 125 JR: 1. Dan Philips (Yom): 2. Trevis Jadtson (Hon); 3. Jon Atkin (Han); 4. Man Scott (Yam); 5. Chad Qri) (Yom). 125INT: I. rim Symes (Yom); 2. ChMe Nelson (Yam); 3. Justin Jenson (Yam); 4. Tyler Mortensen (Yom). 125 PRO: I. larry Leovlt1 (KTM). 250 JR: I. Dono Hansen (Yom); 2. Ken Robinson (Yam); 3. Oreg Ahleen (Yam). OPEN JR: I. Dan Phibps (Yom): 2. Dana Hansen (Yom); 3. Nick Freeke (Yom); 4. Shone Bartholomew (Yam). OPEN INT: 1. Chose Nelson (Yam): 2. Ja« Kirk (Kow); 3. Rob Phillips (KTM); 4. Justin Jenson (Yam); 5. Ty\ef Mort~ (Yam). 25+ PRO: l. Sam Mortensen (Yam); 2. Jeff Kilroy (Yam); 3. Todd Gould t....). 40+: I. ~ Mortensen (Yam); 2. Joy Burkett (Yam); 3. Dennis I"'torgan (Hon); 4. Rodger Billie (Han). Ken Carr lined up for battle. Wide open on a quarter-mile oval with motocross treads on is quite a thrill. Can you say "knobby slip", Well, they put on one heck of a show. Grossman led most of the way on his YZ125, with Carr piloting a KTM 380 and Green on another YZ125. The whole race looked like a KTM sandwich, with aU of them staying no more than a bike length apart. It all came down to the last lap. when Grossman slipped in tum two and Green motored around the outside to take the win. Results OPEN I+JIc I. Jerry Gates (Yam); 2. Rich laForme (Yom); 3. Bryan Suter (Yam); 4. Randy Anington (Yam). OPEN PRO: 1. Shoun larklll (Rtx); 2. Gary Pettis (Bul); 3. Ted Mink (Yom): 4. Mark Davis (KTM): 5. Shane Pettis (Hon). KNBY; I. Tom Green (Yam); 2. Ken CM (taM); 3. Dan Gross· men (Yam). Mota Grande Starwest A Lesson From Larkin By BRYAN SUTER CASA GRANDE, AZ, DEC. 10 National Expert Shaun Larkin swept the Open Pro class at the Arizona Dirt Track Association's season opener at Moto Grande. As everyone looked on in amazement, the kid from Phoenix showed what it takes to be a National-caliber rider. He also taught everyone a lesson in humility, as his fire-breathing Rotax came to a sputtering halt during semimain action. When asked what it was that brought on this monster's demise, he smiled a childlike grin and uttered five simple but gutwrenching words: "I ran out of gasl" The main events, however. were packed with sideways action that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. In the Open Amateur main, the holeshot went to Kennedy Equipment Transport-backed Bryan Suter, followed closely by Jerry Gates, Rich LaForme and Randy Arrington, all of them riding Yamahas. On the second lap, Suters glory was all for naught, as LaForme's tail section took a flying leap onto tum four. On the restart, Gates took Suter on the inside and gave him a love tap that raised the eyebrows of official Ted Mink. With no penalty given, the race continued, and Gates came across first, followed by LaForme, Suter and Arrington. Next was the Open Pro main, in which larkin smoked them all off the line and was never seriously challenged. The real excitement came from Mink, Mark Davis and the father-and-son duo of Gary and Shane Pettis. For the first five laps, you could have thrown a blanket over all four, but on iap six, disaster struck. As Shane Pettis was exiting turn four, his Knight-framed Honda performed a wicked high·side that tossed him and his machine to the unforgiving desert floor. Luckily, he was able to walk away from the horrendous crash. On the restart, Larkin led it from flag to flag, with the elder Pettis taking the runner-up spot on his Bultaco. In tow were Mink and Davis. The nail-biter of the day was the Open Knobby main. Tom Green, lIan Grossman and n e _ s Cycle Park Taft Takes the Win By MIKE AND BARBARA PALUZZI Small Treck 50 (4-6) SHAFT: I. Frenz Hehn (Yam); 2. Bryce Ketzel (Yam); 3. Blayze Polthe (Yem): 4. Jackaon Ryan (SUl); 5. Eddie Cerpenter (Yem). 50 STK STRTR (4·6): I. Bryce Kmel (KTM); 2. Storm Welker (Hus): 3. Joey Gutierrez (Lem); 4. Jason Grltten (Suz): 5. Dylan Townley (Han). 50 STK STRTR (7·8): 1. John Bell (KTM); 2. Taylor Hahn (KTM); 3. C.J. Zub-Bmner (KTM). 50 STK BEG (....6): 1. Jacob Ptschke (Cob): 2. Paul Nelson (Cob); 3. Dillion Trotter (Cob); 4. Jackson Ryan (Cob): 5. Brandon Scharer (Cob). 50 MOO BEG (4·6): I. Jacob Pischke (Cob); 2. Paul Nelson (Cob) 3. OOIion Trotter (Cob); 4. Brandon Sdlam (Cob); 5. Nick $er. moo (Cob). 50 MOO (7.8): 1. Dylon Evans (Cob): 2. Colt Hubbs (Cob): 3. Tyler Lukes (Hus). 50 ST1< NOV (7·8), I. Cody Howell (Lom). SfPfW: I. Dylan Evans (Cob); 2. Dahon CampbeU (KTM). Main Track 50 (7-8): I. Shown Gritten (KTM): 2. Jeremy McCool (KTM); 3. Nigel Johnson (KTM); 4. Andrew Mulgrew (Cob). 60 STRTR: I. James Fluscette (Kaw); 2. Cadren Probst (Kaw). 60 (6·8): 1. Jeremy McCool (Kaw). 60 (9·11): I. Jeff A161l (KTM); 2. Scott Noble (Kaw); 3. Garrick Noble (KTM); 4. Annando AguilM (Kaw); 5. Drew W~ver (Kaw). 80 BEG (0·11): I. Nick Brown (Kaw); 2. Parker Eckman (Han); 3. Patrick Haney (Yom). 80 BEG (12-16): I. Don Greeon (Kaw); 2. Brendan Unua (Yom); 3. EJimbeth Bash (Yam); 4. Anthony Rondon (Kaw); 5. Shoun Hillion (Yern). 80 (0·11): I. Jeff Alessi (Yam); 2. Shown Hayes (Kaw); 3. Jonathan Arana (Yom); 4. Chad Gore. (Suz); 5. Cody nthof (Suz). 80 (12·13): I. Mike Alessi (Yam); 2. Corlos Gonzoles (Kaw), 80 (14-16): I. Gil Esquiver (Yam); 2. MaraJs Enriquez. (Hon). 125 BEG: I. i\drian Feliciano (Hon); 2. Zachary Saethoff (Kaw): 3. John Ferrell (Hon): 4. Brad Onley (Hon); 5. Elizabeth Bosh (Yom). 125 NOV: 1. Donie! Taft (Hon): 2. Eric Wood (Yam): 3. Brendon Prlhm (Hon); 4. Jimmy Gonzales (Yam). 1251NT: I. Ryen McGee (Yam); 2. Ben Remslran (Yam); 3. Brenden MilsteDd (Su:). 125 PRO: I. Donny Corlson (Suz): 2. Jorney Grosser (Sw:). 250 BEG: 1. Tyler Swolls (Yam). 2SO NOV: I. Jeff McClure (Yam). 30+ EX: I. Phil Dowell (Hon). MORENO VAllEY, CA, DEC. 16 Race Signs-backed Daniel Taft took his Honda to the overall win in the 125cc Novice class Saturday night at Starwest. In the first moto, Taft was a streak of red as he dashed out of the gate with the hoieshot. Taft seemed to be in total control, even though Brandon Prahm was quickly closing the 'gap and challenging him for the firstplace position. Taft reacted quickly and was able to set a faster pace and distance himself for the win, followed by Prahm and Jimmy Gonzales. In the second moto, Taft scored a repeat holes hot and took the early lead. Eric Woods. who seemed to have appeared from out of the woods this moto, was gaining ground on Taft, who found himself in trouble after about the third lap when Woods was at his side down the back straightaway. Woods made his pass before the turn and took the lead. Woods continued on for the win, followed by Taft and Prahm. Taft's 1-2 finishes were good enough for the overall win. In the 80cc (0-11) division, Jeff Alessi scored two moto wins. Shawn Hayes nailed the first-moto holeshot, followed by Alessi Starwest Cyc:le Park: Nic:k Serrano got a Cobra in his and Jonathan Arana. Alessi Christmas stocking; he won the drawing In Moreno Valley, quickly took over the lead California, and took home the new 2001 CM, c:ompliments of while Hayes, Arana and Starwest, Cobra and AC Rac:ing. Chad Gores battled for second. The checkered flag

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