Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

GFI Racing Fall Series North Round 2: Hangtown National MX Track IIllDI'-" ....... IIX Tr8dl IluclHo c.n.va, Califw11i11 IleSlIIls: Sepl hr S, 2011 [...... 2J Bv JIM AND JUSTIN ENOS PHOTOS BV JIM ENOS (AIghtI steve Mel'tens (55) won both the t25cc and 25Gec Pro classes at the second round of the GFI Racing Fall SerIes North. (Below) Shawn Trantham _ the RANCHO CORDOVA, CA, SEPT. 9 ound two of the GFI Racing Fall Series descended upon the infamous Hangtown National track and, just like the first round, it was Steve Mertens - piloting a Powerhouse/ FMF/Troy Lee Designs/IRS-backed Yamaha - who dominated the Pro ranks. And this time he came away with double class wins, acing both 250cc Pro motos as well as carding a 2-1 score in the 125cc Pro class. Mertens still struggled with starts all day, but that didn't matter, as he carved out lines on the track en route to leads that, at times, baffled his competitors. "I was a little bummed after last week, because I should have won both classes, but I felt good today," said Mertens. "I used the whole track because it got a Uttle one-lined out there and [Nathan] Tieamey was definitely riding good today." Mertens' only glitch came in the first 125cc moto. With Nathan Tiearney out front, Mertens locked horns with Yamaha of Modesto/TMR/ O'Neal/Spy-backed Craig Truglio in a battle for second. Mertens tried several desperate attempts to get by him and then appeared to have the pass made with an inside move, but both riders went down. "We didn't make contact," Mertens later said. "He saw I was coming to the inside and I just caved in the front end. It screwed him up, too, because he was right there." Mertens rebounded quickly but couldn't catch Tiearney before the checkers. Although Mertens returned in moto two with a solid victory, he still made it interesting. While enjoying a comfortable lead, he went down at the top of the hill and got back under way just as Tiearney made his way by. A surprised Tiearney, knowing the victory would give him the overall, turned it up and kept Mertens at bay for a lap and half, but after a few barbanging incidents, Mertens eventually made his way by for the victory. "He was a little bit faster than me today on the 125s," said Thor/Pro Action/MCW/Scott-backed Tiearney, "but it was fun, and I'm good with a second today." Many of the more than 550 riders on hand were caught off guard as the normally hard-clay track surface was nearly nonexistent, thanks to a weeklong dumping of sand. The track set up perfectly and stayed dust-free, despite temperatures in the 90s. R 40 OCTOBER 3, 2001 • cue 25Gec Intennedlate winner on the Hangtown National MX Track. While Mertens swept both 250cc Pro motos, Daniel Blair and Oakley Sport/Posey Racing/TCR-backed Matt McCrummen split holeshot honors. McCrummen shot out to the lead in moto one and gave Mertens a battle, eventually taking second and, coupled with a fifth in moto two, a well-earned third overall on the day. Blair, after carding a third in the first moto, looked good in moto two as he led for several laps, only to give up the lead to Mertens after several costly bobbles. Blair ended the day with a 3-2 score for second on the day. In 250cc Intermediate action, Shawn Trantham capitalized on Trafton Chandler's costly first-moto error. Chandler got the holeshot and slowly began stretching out his lead on Trantham but then went down on lap three. Trantham motored on for the victory while Chandler fought back to take sixth. Chandler returned in moto two with a solid win over Joey Rodriguez, who ended the day second overall with a 3-2 score. However, Trantham rode smart, checking in third to take the overall. Eric McCrummen also took advantage of a mishap in the 125cc Inter· mediate class, as moto-one winner Charlie Morrison came to a screeching halt in the second moto. While the two battled in moto one, with Morri- I • neVIl's (Above) Nathan Tlearney won the first t25cc Pro moto In Rancho Cordova, California. son crossing the finish line a mere half a bike length ahead of McCrummen, moto two saw Morrison jump out to a huge lead while McCrummen suffered a midpack start. On lap three, however, Morrison came down the big downhill and suddenly pulled off the track. He then began walking his bike over to the mechanics' area and watched helplessly while McCrummen made his way to the front, eventually taking the win and the overall on the day. Morrison later stated that the bike seized just as he was cresting the hill. Kurtis Batey topped the 80cc Novice class with a pair of moto wins over Kramer Patterson. The two had a good second-moto battle; Patterson held off Batey early on and appeared to be headed for the moto victory, but Batey hounded the Kawasaki pilot and eventually made his move on the white-flag lap. Patterson hung with Batey all the way to the checkers, chalking up a 3-2 score on the day. CJIII Pee Wee Track 50 (4-6) P/W JR: 1. Gunner Sigler (Vam); 2. Keith Clark (Vam); 3. AI..andra Moore (Vam); 4. Demariee Braziel (Suz); 5. Derek Silva (Yam). 50 (4-6) STK; I. Elric Flory (Pol); 2. K.J. McKenzie (KTM); 3. Jordon Bender (Pol); 4. Zach Hudson (Pol); 5. Nick Pelte (Pol). 50 (4-6) MOD; J. Mark Broden (KTM); 2. Blaine Franke (KTM); 3. Emilee Pope (KTM). 50 (7·8) STK: 1. Aaron Williams (Pol); 2. Weslee Valerio (Pol); 3. Melisse Johns (KTM); 4. Chris Buhlig (KTM); 5. Derek Bee (Cob). 50 (7·8) MOD; 1. Calvin LaCurelle (Cob); 2. Brion Vorton (KTM). 50 (0·8) OPEN: 1. Joshua GT

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