Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Round 1: Prairie City Grand Prix Moose Western Regional Cross Country Series Bv CHRIS GHIONE AND MICHELLE LEE PHOTOS BV MICHELLE LEE RANCHO CORDOVA, CA, JAN. 14 TM-backed Patrick Garrahan took ~ the top spot at the Prairie City Grand Prix on January 14th. The race - held just outside Sacramento, California, at the Prairie City Off Highway Vehicle Area - marked the first round of the Moose Western Regional Cross Country Series. Nearly 200 riders took to the line at the start of the first race of the year. The wet and cold condWons leading up to race day left riders with a muddy and challenging course that was guaranteed to test the skills of even the top racers. At the sound of the gun, the "Le Mans style" (run to your bike) start put racers in a foot race for the holeshot. Defending series champion Rob Zimmerman wasted no time moving his Yamaha into the lead and was the first rider down the long section of pavement that led out to the muddy course. Following closely behind were Team Green's Craig Wesner and KTM/Maxxis' Garrahan. After the first lap, the top three riders remained close together, trying to get a feel for the course. "First lap was pretty mellow," explained Wesner. "Everybody was kind of checking out the course." Just slightly back were LE Suspension's Brian Garrahan and Rod Kreiss, now aboard a Suzuki. Brain Garrahan battled his way up from the back of the pack after suffering a slow start. "This place is super-dangerous, so I just kind of cruised by and picked off riders slowly and pretty much just tried to be safe the first few laps," Brian said. "After I pitted, I picked up the pace a Little bit and rode a few hard laps and I caught up to a few people." The top positions remained almost the same until about midway through the third lap, when Zimmerman crashed and fell off the lead pace. For the next two laps, the battle for the lead was between Patrick Garrahan and Cycle Pro of Santa Rosa/Faultline Suspension/Posey Racing's Wesner, who remained glued to Garrahan's rear fender until an incident with a lapper set him back a short ways. "I got roosted, actually by a lapper - I was coming up over this rise and I didn't see the rock, but it hit me kind V 38 FEBRUARY 14. 2001 • "" U "" of on the forehead and I was seeing stars for a second," said Wesner, who was forced to stop until he could see clearly. From that point on, Patrick Garrahan put it on cruise control and took home the victory. "I noticed Wesner was on me, and after a while, he wasn't," said Patrick, "so then I just cruised the rest of the time, looked back and I didn't see anyone, so it was a fun race." Back in the pack, many battles continued for the top positions. Hayward Honda/GPR Stabilizers/Moose Off-Road's Kreiss rode in fourth for much of the race, but he was challenged by Yamaha rider Terry Biel. "He [Biel] kept poking his wheel through," said Kreiss. "He passed me a couple of times, but he was kind of riding out of control a little bit." (Above) Brian Garrahan salls through the air at the second round of the Moose Westem Regional Cross Country Series In Rancho Cordova, Califomla, barely taking second place after running out of gas Just 400 yards from the finish. (Left) KTM's Patrick Garrahan easily took the overall win at the Prairie City Grand Prix, finishing 11 minutes before the second-place finisher - his brother, Brian. . Prairie City Off Hlghwly Vehicle An. Rencho Cordov., California Results: Januery 14, ZOOl (Round 11 O/A: 1. Patrick Garrahan CKTM); 2. Brian Gllrrehan (KTM); 3. Craig Wesner (Kaw): 4. Roderick Kreiss (Suz); 5. Cole Mllrshall (SU1): 6. TIm Stowe SUZ); 7. Rob Zimmermen (Yam): 8. Brian Butler KTM); 9. Greg Ruffonl (Kaw); 10. E,;c DucTOY Vam). A 200: 1. Theron Miller (Hon); 2. Brian Sperle (KTM); 3. Loren Higley (KTM). A 250: 1. Patrick Garrllhan (KTM); 2. Brian GZlrTahan (KTM); 3. Craig Wesner \tUJw). A 4-STRK: 1. Cole M.arsha I (Suz); 2. Brian Toline (Suz); 3. John Poor (Hon). A OPEl'!: 1. Ed McC01 (Hon); 2. Curt Wilcox (Yllm); 3. Nick ~inbridge (Yam). A VET: 1. John Mason (Yam); 2. Ron Picken (KTM); 3. David Clemons (Hon). A SR: 1. Duane Scott (Vam); 2. Charlie Marshall (KTM); 3. Scott Un!< (Suz). A S/SR: 1. Peter Prichard (taM); 2. Rodger Mercer (KTM); 3. Fnod Sumrall (KTM). B 250: 1. Jason Alosi (Hon); 2. Jeff Bauer (Vam); 3. Matthew Workman (Hus). B 200; 1. Bryce Olson (KTM); 2. 2eb Ziganli (Vam); 3. Grant Glenn (KTM). B 4-STRK; 1. Paul Park jvam); 2. Mark Lema (Vam); 3. Dale McKenzie (Vam . ! Brian Garrahan also continued moving forward, eventually catching and passing Wesner just before they started on their final lap. The Garrahan brothers and Wesner were the only riderS' fast enough to make it out onto a seventh lap. Patrick came home well ahead in first, but the battle for second did not stop until the very end. The highlight of race came when Brian Garrahan ran out of gas just 400 yards from the finish, with Wesner right on his tail; it appeared that Wesner would end up taking second. "I could still see him [Brian Garrahan) a little bit, and I came up to this hill and I see him on the side of this hill, so I go by him and he's kind of faking like he's going to tackle me, and I'm like, 'Whoa, this is Brian Garn __ s •• rahan! He might really do itl'" said Wesner, laughing after the race. Wesner was able to avoid Brian's "tackle," but the race did not end there. About 200 yards past where Brian had stopped, Wesner ran out of gas himself. Brian Garrahan was able to tip his bike over and get just enough gas into the carburetor to get it started and ride just past Wesner but not quite to finish line. Brian then pushed his bike up the final hill to the finish while Wesner got gas from another rider. The Garrahan brothers and Wesner rounded out the top three. Kreiss finished in the fourth position. Rounding out the top five was Shift/Zoom Cycles/Ernie's Motor Sports-backed Cole Marshall. _ B OPEN: t. Troy Danie s (O-G); 2. Clinton Vogan (Kaw); 3. Neil Belvoir (Kaw). B VET; 1. Ted Cabral ($uz); 2. Joseph Bonded (Hon); 3. Stewart Ferrie (KTM). Il SR: 1. Keith Mundy (KTMI; 2. Anthony Kaminski (Hon); 3. Frank Ward (KTM . B 5/SR: 1. Johnny Stevens (Hon); 2. David Rosenquist (Hon); 3. Jim Peacock (KTM). C 200: 1. Janod Washabaugh; 2. Terry Miller; 3. Brien McDonald. C 250: 1. James Maltbie; 2. Jack Elliott; 3. Randy Eagen. COPEN: 1. Bob Devonshire; 2. Zeb Bradley; 3. Marty Barry. , C 4-STRK: 1. Jeson Simpson; 2. Robert. Orr; 3. Billy Hilton. C VET; 1. Mike Austin (KTM); 2. John Felder (Suz); 3. Allen Yturralde. c:: SR: 1. Michael Marshall; 2. Donald Melvin; 3. Dutch Pad

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