Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128100
Moose Western Regional Cross Country Championship Series Round 4: Phantom Hare Scrambles Df (Left) Rob Zimmennan rode 10 a solid win at the Phantom Hare Scrambles, round four of the Moose Westem Regional Cross Country Championship Serles. (Right) Craig Wesner negotiates the GP track en route 10 third overall In Hollister, Califomla. "It wasn't a good way to start off the day," said Zimmerman of his slow start, "but I got around a bunch of people on the motocross track. Then I got up front with the front-runners. That's what you've got to do get in the front pack so you can stay on the pace." Galford continued to lead around the motocross track to start the second lap, but then he made a bobble that let both Kreiss and Wesner by. By CHRIS GHIONE AND MICHELLE LEE PHOTOS BY MICHELLE LEE HOWSTER, CA, MAR. 18 T he fifth annual Phantom Hare Scrambles, presented by the Ghostriders MC, brought out more than 400 riders for the day, but in the end, it was 2000 champion Robbie Zimmerman on top once again. The victory was the first of the year for the FMF/Clarke/Steahly OffRoad-sponsored Zimmerman. The District 36sanctioned race marked round four of the Moose Western Regional Cross Country Championship, held at the Hollister Hills SVRA Upper Ranch. The main event started with 180 A and B riders lining up to challenge the fast but technical course that integrated some fast fire roads with some twisting single-track trails. For the first time this year, the participants were faced with dry conditions - a welcome change from the previous mud races. The shotgun went off, and Kawasaki Team Green/Moose Racing/Motul-backed Damien Galford grabbe? the holeshot. After the start, riders had to make their way around the park's gran prix track before heading out onto the rest of the course. Around the first lap, Galford was followed by Team Green Kawasaki jockey Craig Wesner and the Hayward Suzuki/IMS/RG3 Suspension-sponsored Rod Kreiss. Zimmerman suffered a slow start, but, moving quickly through the pack, he was able to quickly make up a lot of ground. 44 APRIL18,2001' cue I . (Above) Suzuki's Rod Kreiss finished second overall despite some nasty crashes on the Hollister Hills SVRA Upper Ranch course. "Craig and Rod came up and battled, but they made mistakes the first lap, so I popped out first at the end of the first lap," said Galford. "At the end of the motocross course, I made a little wrong turn, and Craig and Rod got by me." A little later in the second lap, Suzuki rider Cole Marshall began moving forward, first passing Galford then Wesner. Marshall then moved up and challenged Kreiss for the lead and, after following him for nearly a lap, he was able to make the pass. However, the battle did not end there, as Kreiss then picked up the pace and began to make up ground on Marshall. n e _ s "I kind of snuck up on him," said Kreiss. "I know he didn't know that I was there, because he was by himself for a while. I just snuck up on him and I passed him and I took off and I never saw him again." Shortly after losing the lead, Marshall suffered a crash that put him out for the rest of the day. As the race neared the end, Kreiss still led, but just by a short distance over Zimmerman, who had been battling near the front of the pack the entire race. Wesner was just a short way back, riding alone in third. Galford still held on to fourth, but only by seconds over KTM rider Brian Butler. Also turning heads was the Suzuki of Fox/FMF/ProX Pistons-backed Harold Hageman, who had been moving up through the field the entire race after not being able to get his bike to start on the line. Kreiss held the lead until an incident on the final lap changed the outlook of the race. "On the last lap, I was passing a lapper just after the motocross track, (Above) Suzuki Jockey Harold Hageman flew 10 a fourth-overall finish after his bike wouldn't start on the line. and I was kind of on the very edge of the hill," said Kreiss. "It was a trail on the hillside, and my rear wheel fell off the hill and I just slid really fast, like third gear." Before Kreiss could get going again, Zimmerman was able to move well ahead into the lead. Zimmerman went on to finish the race strong, taking his first win this year. Kreiss remounted and finished second. Team Green/Faultline Suspension/ OffRoadRider.com-sponsored Wesner took the third spot. Before the race came to a close, Hageman was able to pass both Galford and Butler to claim fourth overall. Galford rode in fifth, closely followed by Butler in sixth. Coming in next were Yamaha riders Eric Ducray and Vet-class winner John Mason in seventh and eighth. Rounding out the top 10 were KTM riders Travis Sluder and John Romanoff. In the afternoon C race, Yamaha rider Craig King narrowly defeated Suzuki-mounted Joshua Devonshire to take the overall win. eN Hollister Hilll SVRA Upper bnch Hollister, California Results: March 18, 2001 [Round 41 O/A: 1. Rob Zimmerman (Yam); 2. Roderick Kreiss (Suz); 3. Cntig Wesner (Kaw); 4, Harold Hageman (Suz); 5. Damlen Galford (Kaw); 6. Brian Butler (KTM); 7. Eric Ducray (Yam); 8. John Mason (Yam); 9. Travis Sluder (KTM); 10. John Romanoff (KTM). A 200: 1. Harold Hageman (Suz); 2. Brian Sperle (KTM); 3. Matthew Wallace (Yam). A 250: 1. Rob Zimmerman (Yam); 2. Roderick Kreiss (Suz); 3. Crlllig Wesner (Kaw). A OPEN: 1. David North (KTM); 2. Curt Wilcox (Kaw). A 4-STRK: 1. Russell Pereira (Yam); 2. Brian Toline (Suz); 3. Steve BaniUl (Suz). A VET: 1. John Meson (Yam); 2. J.R. Mason (Hon); 3. Nick Thorn (Kaw). A SR: 1. Michael Harper (Kaw); 2. John Wells (Hon); 3. Wayne Hatch (Kaw). A S/SR: 1. Louie Marsh,,11 (Hon); 2. Peter Prichard (KTM); 3. John Hampton (KTM). A WMN: 1. Heather Wilson (Kaw). B 200: 1. James Maltbie (Yam); 2. Terry Miller (KTM); 3. Johnny Mason (Yam). B 250: 1. Joel Ray (Kaw); 2. Jeriah Gurley (Hon); 3. Chris Zito (Yam). 8 OPEN: 1. Danny Martinez (Yam); 2. Troy Daniels (G·G): 3. Craig Hill (Hon). B 4-STRK: 1. Dustin Soldano (Yam): 2. Jason Simpson (Yam); 3. Jim Aveggio (Yern). B VET: 1. Ken Moeller (Hon); 2. Aaron Reynolds (Suz); 3. Mark Davis (Hon). 8 SR: 1. Mike Norton; 2. Art Higgins; 3. Jeffrey Void. B S/SR: 1. Jeff Hollfelder (Yam); 2. Donald Chase (KTM); 3. Jim Peacock (KTM). C 200: 1. Joshua Devonshire (Suz); 2. Rick Berhorst; 3. Jonethen Estes (Suz). C 250: 1. R. Craig King (Yam); 2. Jason Jensen (Hon); 3. Bill Heidt Jr. (Yam). COPEN: 1. Robert Orr (Suz); 2. James Craig (KTM); 3. Erik Jorrick (Kaw). C 4-STRK: 1. Douglas Hooten; 2. Ryan Villanueva (Yam); 3. Jeff Nickson (Yam). C VET: 1. Marc Palmer (Kaw); 2. John Sicley (Yam); 3. Mike Austin (KTM). C SR: 1. Frank Tibbens; 2. Dave Celentano (Hon); 3. George Lowery (Hon). C S/SR: 1. Joseph Butler (SUl); 2. Gary Gambill (Yam); 3. Joseph Vasquez (K8W). C F-100: 1. Jim Reger; 2. J850n Vincent; 3. Robert Hilton. C WMN: 1. Nikki Frohlick (Hon); 2. Suzie Dault (Kaw); 3. Megan Armhurst (Kew). C GENT: 1. Bob Collins (KTM); 2. James Dingman (Kaw).