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GFI Racing Fall Series North Round 1: Hollister Hills GP Track ens checked in with a well-earned 2-3 score for second on the day. eN Hdistllr Hills &P Tr1ICll Hallistllr, Califon1ia Ileults: SepteMber 1-2, zaDl (llaund 11 Pee Wee Track 50 FfT: 1. lack McCormack (KTM). 50 (4-6) P/W JR: 1. Daniel Gonzales (Yam); 2. Gunner Sigler (Yam); 3. Alexandre Moore (Yam); 4. Derek Silva (Yam); 5. Keith Clarl< (Yam). 50 (4-6) STK: 1. E1ric Flory (Pol); 2. Justin Muscutt (HM); 3. K.J. McKenzie (KTM); 4. Zach Hudson (Pol); 5. Nick Pelte (Pol). 50 (4-6) MOD: I. Mark Braden (KTM); 2. Blaine Franke (KTM); 3. Emil.. Pope (KTM). 50 (7·8) P/W JR: 1. l.lJis Perez Jr. (Yam). 50 (7-8) STK: 1. Aaron Williams (Pol); 2. l.lJcas Jones (Pol); 3. Matthew 511nchez (Pol); 4. Weslee Valerio (Pol); 5. Freddie Bates {Pol}. 50 (0-8) OPEN: 1. Zach Summers (Cob); 2. Kyle Freitas (Cob). Main Track 50 (4-6): 1. E1ric Flory (Pol); 2. Justin Muscutt (HM); 3. Cody Washin~ton (KTM); 4. Sho Suzuki (KTM); 5. Zach Hudson (pol). 50 (7-8): 1. Aaron Williams (Pol); 2. Mark Braden (KTM); 3. Chris Buhllg (KTM); 4. Gabriel Adame (Pol); 5. Travis Holder (Pol). 50 OPEN: 1. Kyle FreiUls (Cob); 2. Luces Jones (Pol); 3. Drew Thomas (Cob); 4. Zech Summers By (Cob); 5. Matthew Sanchez (Pol). 60 BEG: 1. Charlie Moore (KTM); 2. Arrius Pickens (Kaw); 3. Zach Summers (KTM); 4. Chris Spiers (KTM); 5. Chris Aragon (KTM). 60 NOV: I. Zak Fredrickson (KTM); 2. Scotty Creven (Kaw); 3. Crystal Layton (KTM); 4. Taylor Damschot (KTM). 60 OPEN; 1. Ruben Hemandez (Kaw); 2. Crystal Layton (KTM); 3. Charlie Moore (KTM); 4. Zak Fredrickson (KTM); 5. Chris Spiers (KTM). 80 BEG 0-1: 1. Johnny Kerslake (Yom); 2. Matthew Williams (Yam); 3. Robert. Alquist (Yam); 4. Brylln Jannisse (YlIm); 5. Brad Dingman (YlIm). 80 BEG 0-2: I. DavKl Searl (Suz); 2. Jeff Welker (Hon); 3. Brett Knierim (Yam); 4. Casey Smithart (Yom); 5. Logon Cohen (Yam). 80 NOV: I. Garrett Henderson (Kaw); 2. Corey Pennington (Hon): 3. Cary Tiede (Hon); 4. Kramer Patterson (KlJIw); 5. Kent Snyder (Yam). 80 INT: 1. Adam Kowalcyzk (Suz); 2. Jake Osborne (Hen); 3. Garrett Henderson (Kaw): 4. Kyle Kent (Kaw); 5. Jacob Sanchez (Yam). 80S/MINI: J. Adam Kowalcyzk (Suz); 2. Garrett Henderson (Kaw); 3. Justin Enos (Yam); 4. Luke Layton (Suz); 5. Kyle Kent (Kaw). 80 8/W: 1. Curtis Roe (Yam); 2. Greg Karmann (Han). SCHBY: 1. Charlie Morrison (Han); 2. Eric McCrummen (Suz); 3. R. Jarid Blevins (Hen); 4. Tony Shermlln (Yam); 5. Anthony Houser (Yem). 125 BEG 0-1; 1. Nick Knelsly (Yom); 2. David Boaz (KTM); 3. Chris Lofano (Suz); 4. Bobby Morello (Han); 5. Mox Scolari (Han). 125 BEG 0-2: l. Gary Whitmire (Suz); 2. Steve Lerazzano (Yam); 3. Aaron Mersh (Suz); 4. Juon Smyth (Han); 5. Brandon Snow (Yam). 125 NOV 0·1: 1. Anthony Houser (Yam); 2. Jimmy Hazel (Yam); 3. Justin Woods (Yam); 4. Travis Enzweiler (Yam); 5. Mike St.arkweather (Suz). 125 NOV 0·2: I. Dusty Somogyi (Han); :2. Gino Scolari (Yem); 3. Eric Stoke (Suz); 4. Tyler Kalisiak (Yam); 5. Mike Krelzkowski (Kaw). 125 tNT: 1. Charlie Morrison (Hon); 2. Eric McCrummen (Suz); 3. Robert Harold (Yom); 4. Nick Devis (Suz); 5. Matt Barber (Yam). 125 PRO: 1. Steve Mertens (Yam); 2. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 3. Jeff Pestana (Hon); 4. Dlivid Boothe (Yom); 5. Craig Truglio (Kaw). 250 BEG: 1. Brilln Brockman (Yam); 2. Nick Wachter (Yom); 3. Joey Hurlburt (Han); 4. Ed Roth (Suz); 5. Brian Elliot (Han). 250 NOV; 1. Don Bailey (Han); 2. Scotty Guthrie (Hon); 3. Gary Curtis (Hon); 4. Doug Russell (Han); 5. Leo Salazar (Yam). 250 INT: 1. Trefton Chandler (Yam); 2. R. Jarid Blevins (Hon); 3. Rory Radovich (Hon); 4. Steve Thinger (Hon); 5. Rod Kreiss (Suz). 250 PRO: 1. Jeff Pestana (Han); 2. Daniel Blair (Yam); 3. Steve Mertens (Yam); 4. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 5. Craig Truglio (Kaw). 500 BEG: I. Rudy Sanchez (Han). 4-STRK PRO: 1. Ben Shank (Hon). 25. BEG: 1. Jason Ravelli (Hon); 2. Chad FronkJin (Han); 3. Joy Arnold (Suz); 4. Chris Becvar (Han); 5. Robert Pierce (Yam). 25. NOV: 1. Jimmy Pierce (Suz); 2. Scotty Guthrie (Hon); 3. Frank Chavez (Hon); 4. Mark Finley (Yam): 5. Mike Jones (Yam). 25. INT: 1. Brent Nichols (Hon); 2. Steve Thinger (Hon): 3. Erik Kohler (YlIm); 4. Johnny Souza (Hon); 5. Steve Storie (Hon). 25. EX: I. Eric Ducrey (Suz). 30. BEG: 1. Martin Nunes (Yam); 2. Channing Amark (Yam); 3. Dennis Arey (Kew); 4. Dwayne Reed (Kow); 5. Shawn Moody (Han). 30. NOV: 1. Mark Wemyss (Hon); 2. Doug Russell (Han); 3. John Sicley (Yom); 4. Marl< Finley (Yam); 5. Gory Curtis (Han). 30. INT: 1. Steve Storie (Han); 2. Ken McKenzie (Yom); 3. Marl< Silva (Yom); 4. Greg Lepesh (KTM); 5. Kurt Smith (Suz). 30. EX: 1. Eddie Reed (Han); 2. Johnny Souza (Hon); 3. John Moore (Yem); 4. Hank Armendariz (Hon); 5. Mike Newman (Suz). 35. NOV: I. David Adeir (Hon); 2. Bruce Parry (Hon); 3. Stecy Rowe (Yam); 4. Ross Robertson (Yam); 5. Paul Hollister (Suz). 35. INT: 1. Steve Storie (Hon); 2. Gory P1aatje (Yem); 3. Lud Dawson (Hon); 4. Vince Macias (Yam); 5. Gory Parham (Yam). 35. EX: 1. Mike Newman (Suz). 40. NOV: 1. Ross Robertson (Yllm): 2. Stuart Nelson (Yam): 3. Kevin Wilkinson (Suz); 4. Tom Cuirl< (Han); 5. Dove Kelly (Suz). 40. INT: 1. Greg Douglas (Han); 2. Bobby Lynch (Yam); 3. Pat Saugar (Yam); 4. RIlY Buck (Han). 40. EX: 1. Mike Newman (Suz). (Left) Yamaha-mounted Steve Mertens was the top 125cc Pro rider In Hollister, Callfomia. JIM AND JUSTIN ENOS PHOTOS BY JIM ENOS HOWSTER, CA, SEPT. 1-2 ith hundreds of eager riders and spectators converging on the picturesque Hollister Hills GP track, the GFI Fall Series got under way, and it was Clawson Motorsports/ Shift/Fox/IRS-backed Jeff Pestana topping the 250cc Pro class, while Steve Mertens, who aced both motos aboard a Powerhouse/FMF/Troy Lee Designs-backed Yamaha, took the honors in the 125cc Pro class. As a result of last year's huge firstround turnout, promoters Jack and Corky Azevedo decided to go with a two-day format to accommodate the anticipated huge turnout. Sunday's first Pro race featured the 125s. Yamaha/Suzuki Sports Center's David Boothe grabbed the holeshot. Evan Laughridge and Mertens both got less-than-stellar starts, but both riders carved their way throueh the field and by the third lap Laughridge was in the lead. Aboard a Thor/Scott/ Posey Racing-backed Suzuki, Laughridge quickly put a gap between himself and Boothe, who was struggling trying to hold off Mertens, but Mertens persevered and, with his on· the-edge riding style, he caught Laughridge on lap seven. The two rode bar to bar for several laps, and Mertens tried several unsuccessful moves in a bid for the lead. As the two entered a big left-hand sweeper, Mertens dived low, just as he had on the previous lap, and this time he made it stick as Laughridge clung to the outside line but ran out of track trying to keep Mertens behind him. Mertens went on to take the win, followed by Laughridge, Boothe, Pestana and Craig Truglio. "Once I caught up to him, he kind of held me up in some spots," Mertens said. "I tried to set him up a W couple of times, but he hung tough. Once I got around him, though, I started pulling away. I figured it would be either him or Boothe up front, and next moto I just need a better start." Laughridge, who had recently raced against Mertens at the Loretta Lynn's Amateur Championships, knew he would be tough to beat. "I got a bad jump on the start but came through the pack pretty fast," said Laughridge. "I knew I had to get out front early, because Mertens was on the gas. My dad said our lap times were getting faster as the race went on, but once he got around me, I just didn't have anything left for him." In moto two, Mertens again got a bad start, and the race had all the makings of a repeat of moto one. By the midway point, it had turned into a four-way battle, with Pestana holding the lead position ahead of Boothe, Mertens and Laughridge. However, just as in moto one, Mertens let it all hang out. Once he got by Boothe, he found Pestana just as tough to pass as Laughridge. The two banged plastic on several occasions, as neither let off coming into the carners, but once again Mertens' sheer determination got him by Pestana to take the win. Laughridge again took second, while Pestana held off Boothe for third and third overall. In 250cc Pro action, all eyes were on Mertens as he proved he was the one to beat on the day. In moto one, Mertens used a controversial line across the side of a tabletop that Pestana later commented on as questionable. Once by, however, Mertens took off to take an uncontested win, followed by Pestana. Moto two spelled disaster for both Mertens and Laughridge, as both riders went down three turns into the race. Daniel Blair snagged the win, while Pestana rode smart to card a 2-2 for the overall. "I tried to catch Blair early on, but he was going pretty good, so I settled in and, knowing a second would give me the overall, just concentrated on consistent laps," Pestana later said. "I haven't been riding too much as of late because of some injuries: Blair said. "That win was good for me today, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series_" While Mertens pretty much stole the spotlight in the Pro ranks, Charlie Morrison, aboard an American Honda, turned some heads in the 125cc Intermediate class. He and Eric McCrummen, piloting an Oakley Sport/TCR Suzuki, battled in both motos, with Morrison acing both motos. "I knew Eric would be there, so I made sure I got good starts: Morrison said. "When he would pull up on me, I'd just turn it up a notch, enough to keep my lead." Charlie Moore topped the 60cc Beginner class with a pair of moto wins. The KTM pilot finished well ahead of the field in both motos, while Kawasaki-mounted Arrius Pickcue I • n • _ S • SEPTEMBER 26, 2001 49