Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Elk Creek Raceway Finding Forrester Out Front By FRArtK LEIVArt LEBANON. MO. MAR. 4 The Missouri Hare Scrambles Championship kicked off on a beautiful afternoon at Elk Creek Raceway. Brandon Forrester got his season off to a great start by taking the overall win on his St. Louis Powersports KX250. For- rester rode a strong race and pulled away on the final lap and took the checkered flag with a minute to spare. Some 274 riders showed up to do battle on a 7.4-mile course. Bobby Duncan grabbed the holeshot. with the rest of the AA class in pursuit. Negotiating a slippery right-hand tum midway through the first lap, Duncan slid out. handing the lead over to Aaron Shaw, but he also went down, allowing Forrester to grab the lead. Chris Nesbitt took over second. Jerry Hemann was third. Duncan and Shaw recovered to round out the top five after just over 24 minutes of racing. While Forrester cruised out front, Duncan overtook Hemann and Nesbitt on lap two to take over second. After two circuits, Forrester led by 21 seconds over Duncan. with Nesbitt, Hemann, and Shaw all within 10 seconds. Nesbitt stopped for fresh goggles and dropped a couple of spots while everyone else kept the throttle pinned through pit row. Shaw positioned himself just behind Forrester with only a mile left in lap three. The two front-runners encountered a creek crossing and Forrester chose the original line. which was becoming rutted. Course officials had opened up another line to the left, and Shaw chose to go that way. &th riders exited the creek at the same time and a drag race ensued across a field to the final woods section. Shaw got the nod. Shaw held the lead and blasted down pit row without stopping while Forrester halted for fuel. Duncan headed out on lap four 30 seconds later, and 20 more ticks back Hemann came through. Nesbitt, who was right on Hemann's fender, stopped for fuel and set out in fifth. Behind the top five guys. Gary Mittelberg was having a good ride in his first AA race, rolling along in sixth. The top A rider at this point was Pat Schmidt. who was running in seventh overall in his first series appearance in several years. Lars Valin, Kevin Borts, John Struckhoff and Kevin Boyle were in a dogfight, with only eight seconds separating those four after more than an hour and 20 minutes. The only change among the leaders on lap four was that Nesbitt moved ahead of Hemann for good. and Shaw and Forrester increased the gap over the rest of the field. Those two went into the final lap 10 seconds apart, with Shaw in control but Forrester hard on the gas. Forrester moved around Shaw and pulled away. On his final lap, Forrester posted the fastest lap of the day and the only sub-24minute one, a 23:48. The pace was too much for Shaw, and Forrester took his third career victory and his second at this venue. Duncan rounded out the podium with a solid performance. Re.vlta CIA: 1. Brendon FOlTester (Kew); 2. AMon Shew (Yem); 3. Bobby Ouncen (Kew): 4. Chris Nesbitt (Kow); 5. Jerry Hemenn (KTM.): 6. John Struckhoff (Kew): 1. Kevin BoltS (SUl); 8. Kevin Boyle (Hon): 9. Gory Mittelberg (Yem): IO.1"\arit Kendell (Yem). M; I. Aeron Shew (Yam): 2. Bobby Duncan (Kew): 3. Chris . . . - (Kowl: 4. Jeny HII: 5. Gmy """""'"' (Y....). A: I. John Slruckhoff (Kew): 2. Kevin Borts (SUI); 3. Kevin Boy\oe (Hon): 4. tan Velin (Han); 5. Pet Schmidt (KTM). 200 B: 1. SCephen Slmmoneeu (Kew); 2. Mett Jameson (KTM); 3. Scott Lappe (KTM); 4. Jeremy Wisecup (Hon). 2.50 B: I. Merk Kendell (Yam); 2. Derek Zinchudt (G-G): 3. Gory Wetheml (Kaw): 4. Denny Crawford (Hon): 5. Gery Wolf (Suz). OPEN B~ I. Robbie Reed (KTM); 2. Devid Teylor (KTM); 3. Trecy Boumen (KTM); 4. Weyne Hetfield (KTM): 5. John StIchnoth (KTM). 4·STRK B: I. Nick Crewford (Yem); 2. Cnllg Delong (Suz); 3. Rolph Gerding (Yllm); 4. Gery Pilant (Hon): 5. Joseph Armon (Hon). VET: 1. Jon Simona (HuI); 2. Mark Gudde (KTM); 3. John Bones (Kew); 4. Chris HIIITIlI (YIlITI); 5. Robert Armon (KTM). SR: I. Steve Crews (Kew); 2. Mike Burkhert (Hon); 3. Everett ShlnDult (KTM); 4. Tom Eidam (SlJ.z); 5. Andy Long (KTM). S/SR: I. Gereld Frericks (KTM); 2. MIke Romentum (KTM); 3. Dennis Nichoills (Hen); 4. Tony Schleder (Hon). JR: 1. Petrick Myers (Hon); 2, Jeremy Hllnsen (Yem); 3. Brad Toylor (Kew); 4. Travl, McWhorter (KDW); 5. Trovls Leppe (Hon). WMN: I. Amtlndll Lappe (KTM): 2. Michele Eidam (KTM). 200 C: I. Vince Wohelu (KTM): 2. Jeff Nellthery (Kew); 3. Josh Morgen (Yem); 4. Cory Frericks (KTM); 5. Andy Thompson (KllW). 250 C: 1. Justin Smith (Hon); 2. Dustin Mothis (Hon); 3. Josh Welters (Hon); 4. Scott Crowder (Hon): 5. Demilltl Mehoney (Hon). BEC: I. Tom PInkston (Suz); 2. Brent WDlters (Suz:); 3. Joseph Ce1us (Yem); 4. Clint Celloway (KTM); 5. Ron Queen (KTM). eye I • n e vv s MARCH 28. 2001 45

• Cover