Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

CMC Golden State Series Round 1: Victorville Race Complex on second moto - sixth was all he .could manage. Bess was fourth on the day with a 2-6 • tally. Japanese racer Takeshi Koikeda rounded out the top five with a 7 -4 score. The 125cc Intermediate class was the week's largest group and required qualifiers and a main event. Team Thousand Oaks' Yamaha riders Mike Blose and Josh Hansen stole the show. "Our team is very strong this year," said team owner Jef Harriott. "We won over 10 classes this weekend, so I STORY AND PHOTOS BY TONY ALESSI VICTORVILLE, CA, JAN. )3-14 eam Suzuki-backed R.J. Thompson took top honors in the 125cc Pro class during the opening round of the CMC Golden State Series, held at Victorville Race Complex. The twoday event brought out more than 500 racers from six different states and three countries. Race promoter Stu Peters experimented with a new format similar to the one used at many Amateur Nationals, which allowed each class a minimum of a 20-minute moto, with all first motos run on Saturday and second motos on Sunday. The new format delighted the riders and their sponsors and seemed to create a much more relaxed environment for all involved. "Racers can get their money's worth," said Yamaha's Mike Guerra. "Mike is right," agreed Suzuki's Cole Gress. "California needs races like this to help get our riders back on top. The East Coast has moved into that spot now because they have races like this all the time." It didn't look like the new 10lap/25-minute-moto format was an issue for Thompson. He shot into the lead at the start of the first 125cc Pro moto and led for a while. Then he was surprised by senior statesman Chris Young, who put a move on the rookie Pro. "I was getting some pressure from behind," Thompson said, "and I didn't have the best lines, and I Looked over and Chris Young passed me." Young took the lead for a very brief moment before Thompson retook the lead for good. '" was telling myself, 'I think this guy is, like, 40 years old,' and I was like, 'okay, no way this is going to happen.'" After the wake-up call, Thompson, on his Simi Valley Cycles Suzuki, disappeared and went on for the eventual win, followed by Steve Mertens, TRE-backed Turbo Reif, Texan Justin Smith and Chris Wheeler. In the second moto, Thompson took control from the start and simply ran away from the field. Second went to Smith. FMF rider Sean O'Connor rounded out the top three. Wheeler seemed very strong in the 250cc Pro class. Part of the Pit Pro Team, Wheeler rides under the supervision of former National MX racer Russ Wageman. Y 24 JANUARY 31, 2001 • cue (Above) R.J. Thompson (59) won the 125cc Pro class at the opening round of the CMC Golden State Series. (Right) Mike Blose was also victorious in Victorville, California, taking the 125cc Intennediate-elass win ahead of his teammate Josh Hansen. (Below) Josh Hansen must have heeded his teammate's advice on how to go faster, because he eame back to score the Schoolboy win at the Victorville Race Complex. "Chris is loaded with talent," Wageman said. "This new race format is going to help our rider get in shape for the big races." Reif scored the second-moto win, but his 3-1 score only got him to second overall. Wheeler's 1-2 showing was enough for the victory. Thompson seemed at odds with the bigger 250cc machine and had to settle for third. Rookie Pro Shane Bess had a great first moto, charging from last to second, but he had an upsetting •• n .. _ s think everyone will be hearing a lot about the Team Thousand Oaks riders this whole season." Hansen led for most of the race, but Blose had other ideas. "Josh was riding good out there," Blose said, "but I had a few better lines that helped me get by." Blose took over the lead late in the race and scored the victory, with his teammate in tow. "Mike is a good racer, and he told me what I can do to go faster out there," Hansen said. "It's good to have a teammate like that." Hansen obviously learned well from Blose; he came back to win the Schoolboy race for 125cc racers 12 to 16 years of age. Dylan Lord won the first moto but caught the flu and was a no-show for moto two. Hansen led from wire to wire and posted the overall victory, in front of a very fast Cole Siebler. The Mini division was huge. This week's top Mini racer was Jimmy Nelson, whose strength was evident during the 20-minute races. "I like this kind of racing because you don't have to worry if you get a bad start," he said. "There is a lot of time to make up the difference." Nelson posted a four-moto sweep of both the Supermini and 80cc (1416) divisions. Mike Alessi was back on track with a pair of moto wins in the 80cc (1213) class and a second in the Supermini contest, behind Nelson. "Jimmy is the fastest 80cc rider in the country right now," Alessi said. "I am lucky I get to race with him every week. I think it will help me get a lot faster." eN Viclllrville Race Camplex Victorville, California Results: January 13-14, ZOOl (Raund 11 50 (4·6): 1. Kody Thomas (Cob); 2. Damon Tackett (HM); 3. Dalton Zahrt (HM); 4. Michael Waglia (Cob); 5. Ryan Goodwin (Cob). 50 (7·8): 1. Tanner Krahenbuhl (Cob); 2. Cody Farrar (KTM); 3. Brenden Brown (Pol). 60 BEG: 1. Armando Aguilar (Kaw); 2. Kruz G,;ffith (Kaw); 3. Cody Young (KTM); 4. Coie Young (Kaw); 5. Cody Thomas (Kaw). 60 (0·8): 1. Michael Truglla (KTM); 2. Chris Plouffe (Kaw); 3. Blake Baggett (KTM); 4. Brett Downey; 5. Bryce Stewart (Kaw). 60 (9-11): 1. Jeff Alessi (KTM); 2. Dustin Pipes (Kaw); 3. Trent Pugmire (KllW); 4. Michael Leib (KTM); 5. Jake Canada (Kaw). 80 BEG: 1. Shllwn Hillion (Yam): 2. Keith Franklin (Kaw); 3. Chad Abbott (Yam): 4. Don Greer (Kaw); 5. Brandon Urzull (Yam). 80 (7-11): 1. Jeff Alessi (Yam); 2. Drew Gosselaar (Suz); 3. Cole Seely (Suz); 4. Mark Proscelle (Yllm); 5. Kevin Wageman (Yam). 80 (12·13): 1. Mike Alessi (Yllm); 2. Justin Keeney (Kaw); 3. Jake Weimer (Yam): 4. Jarred Browne (Yam); 5. Robert Memoli (Yam). 80 (14·16): I. Jimmy Nelson (Yam); 2. Cale Wallace (Yam); 3. Kelly Tedder (Kaw); 4. Daryl Ecklund (Hon); 5. Charlie Morrison (Hon). 80 OPEN: I. Robert Memoli (Yam); 2. Paul Percy (Yam); 3. Chris Blose (Yam); 4. Brett Rothas (Suz); 5. Michael Parker (Yam). 5fMlNl: I. Jimmy Nelson (Yam); 2. Mike Alessi (Yam); 3. Daryl Ecklund (Hon); 4. Cale Wallace (Yam); 5. Kelly Tedder (Kaw). SCHBY: 1. Joshua Hansen (Yam); 2. Cole Siebler (Suz); 3. Edc Nye (Yam); 4. CMs Norr (Hon); 5. Kyle Partddge (Suz). 8TH: 1. Brilln Jllramillo (Hon); 2. Jimmy Eberle (Yam); 3. Matt Armstrong (Yam); 4. Justin Eide (Hon); 5. Brian Morgan (Yam). 125 BEG: I. A.J. Gallemore (KTM); 2. Matthew Williams (Yam); 3. Jennifer Caputo (Suz); 4. Brandon Unua (Yam); 5. Cody Whipple (Yam). 125 tNT: 1. Michael Blose (Yam); 2. Joshua Hansen (Yam); 3. Tim Weigand (Hon); 4. Josh Stice (Yam); 5. B,;an Mulsey (Yam). 125 JR: 1. Matt Gomez (Yem); 2. Ryan Reiss (Yam); 3. Ryan Happy (Yam); 4. Dan Roegner (Hon); 5. Randall Hall (Yam). 125 INT CONS): I. Matt Armstrong (Yam); 2. Nick Call (Yam); 3. Alvino Garcia (Hon); 4. Brian Morgan (Yam); 5. Cory Murphy, 125 INT MAIN: 1. Michael Blose (Yam); 2. Joshua Hansen (Yam); 3, Tim Welgllnd (Hon); 4. Josh Stice (Yam): 5. Brian Mulsey (Yam). 125 PRO: 1, R,J. Thompson (Suz); 2. Justin Smith (Kaw); 3, Turbo Reif (Hon); 4. Sean O'Connor (Yam); 5. Ch,;s Young (5uz). 250 BEG: 1. Joe Unard (Kaw); 2. Brock Snider (Yam): 3. Ben Wageman (Hon); 4. Jonllthlln Belding (Hon); 5. Mitch Mora (Yam). 250 JR: 1, Bryan Ehrman (KlIw); 2. Brian Anderson (Hon); 3. Scott Roegner (Hon); 4. Don By (Yam); 5. Nick Sweany (Hon). 250 'NT: 1. Richie Owens (KlIw); 2. Tim Weigand (Hon); 3. Michllel Blose (Yam): 4. Ross Glircia (Yam); 5. Warren Tittlem.ier (Hon). 250 PRO: I. Chris Wheeler (Suz); 2. Turbo Rei! (Hon); 3. R.J. Thompson (Su,); 4. Shane Bess (5uz): 5. Takeshi Koikeda (Yam). 500 PRO: 1. Craig Davis (KTM); 2. Andy Anaya (Yam). 25. AM: I. Mike Horton (KTM); 2. Dlivid Martinez (Hon); 3. Kevin Montgomery (Yam); 4. Mike UcilTa (Suz); 5. Don Goettling (Suz). 25. 1'15TR: 1. Dan Berg (Hon); 2. Jon Zahrt (Suz); 3. Damn Hoe~ (Suz); 4. Johnny Souza (Hon); 5. Danny Cooper (Yam). 25. PRO: J. Ch,;s Young (Suz); 2.. Brian Roth (Hon); 3. Todd Mitchell (Suz). 30. 1'15TR: 1. John !ahrt (Suz); 2. Darrin Hoeft (Suz): 3. Dan Berg (Hon); 4. Johnny Souza (Hon); 5. David !ahrt (Suz). 30. PRO: I. Ch,;s Young (Suz); 2. Craig Davis (KTM); 3. Todd Mitchell (Su,). AM: 1. Matt McB,;de (KTM); 2. Tom Bell (Hon); 3. Bernard Unhassoblslay (Yam); 4. Rlindy G,;ffith (Yam); 5. Jim Masters (Kaw). OfT 1'15TR: 1. David Fontes (Hon); 2. David Zahrt (Suz); 3. Steve Pillttoni (Suz); 4. Bob Shimp (Yam); 5. Greg Briles (Hon). WMN.: 1. Tanya Elbers (Suz); 2. Tayler Lacey (KllW): 3. Rory Helckwood (Suz); 4. Nikki Puentes (Su,); 5. Tiffany Smith (Yam). WI'IN PRO: J. Heidi Henry (Yam); 2. Jennifer Caputo (Suz); 3. Bonnie Warch (Suz). VET JR: 1. Don Goettling (Kew); 2. Robert Goetlling (Kaw); 3. Matt McBride (KTM); 4. Tom Bell (Hon); 5. Ch,;s Carroll (Suz). VET INT: 1. Kevin Montgomery (Han); 2. Mike Horton (KTM); 3, David Fontes (Hon); 4. Mike Ucitra (Suz); 5. Vincent Baioni (Suz). orr

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