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/128119
4th Annual Buell Old Hwy 40 Motorcycle Days Donner Ski Ranch The courses vary somewhat, but common features include pavement and dirt sections with turns, elevation changes and at least one jump. These events attract racers from dirt track, pavement and motocross who compete on what are essentially dirt bikes, modified to one degree or another to suit the specific course. The Sportsman or entry-level class generally runs a more or less straight motocross setup, knobbies and all, while at the upper end, the premier classes make significant changes, which might include road race wheels and tires and suspension changes. The Donner course started on the pavement with half an oval run clockwise, into a hairpin left hander and uphill through a fast S-turn. A hard right onto the dirt section took riders downhill through another S-turn, a tight left hander, another right, over a small jump and back onto the pavement, plus or minus 35 seconds in the faster classes. The strategy for many riders was to smoke the pavement sections and try not to fall in the dirt. Racing got underway on Sat- hillclimb as racers rocketed up the hill and over the Rainbow bridge every couple minutes. A Pro purse of $4000 attracted six of the top 10 North American riders. Five-time AMA champion Geoff Aaron came out on top, the Gas Gas rider dropping only 10 points over two days and 24 sections. Canadian Champion and second-ranked AMA rider, Ryon Bell, was second on the Montesa with 20 points and Gas Gasmounted Wilson Craig finished third with a 62. Unfortunately, She reo rider, Spaniard David Chaves, broke his wrist when he dropped off a big rock in section five. SUPER TT The STTARS (Super TT American Racing Series), a popular event among riders and spectators alike, returned to Donner again this year for round four of seven in the STTARS Southwest Series. For those unfamiliar with the Super TT Series, it is similar to the current SuperMotard events in Europe and to the Superbikers events that aired on ABC in the '80s. urday morning with heat races and a last chance qualifier in each of the five classes. In the l2-lap Premier main, David Hopfe, riding a Spears Electric and Blur Optics-sponsored YZ250F, came away with the checkers in his firstever Premier-class appearance, followed across the line by Aaron Howe. Mark Cernicky came to Donner with a five-point lead over Rick Pearce in (Left) High School Champion Andy Johnson successfully clears this rockface section. (Below) Mike Simming won the Vintage 750cc class In the Paved Hillclimb event. 42 AUGUST 29. 2001 • cue I e n e _ s (Above) Winner David Hopfe (477) leads Aaron Howe (6) and Casey Yarrow (93) through the first tum In the Premiere Super TT. this competitive class. Cernicky's fourth-place finish in this event was enough to maintain a narrow lead over Pearce. who took third here, while David Deveau rounded out the top five. Leonardo Bagnis led David Deveau and Mark Cern icky to the finish in the Middleweight class, while Joe Thomas topped Brok MacAllister and Jeff Hagen in the Lightweight final. The 10-lap Novice main saw a total of 45 entries this year and was won by Colin McDonald. Paved Hillclimber Cory Call followed in second