Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

eMA Friday Night Summer Series Round 4: Little Dkie Raceway The Hinson Clinic By EDDIE GRAVELINE Novice class were very closely matched. Squaw Valley resident Kyle Zarr dominated the lap sheets with 1-1 finishes, but his competition was never far behind. Andrew Desilagua made the short trip from Friant and locked horns with Madera's Dayton Hix all night long. These two put on a great battle in both races. Desilagua took second in the first moto, but KX80 rider Hix beat him to the checkers to take second in the second race. The 3-2 score gave second overall to Hix. There were two other 80cc riders who literally rode in classes of their own. The top dog on this night was Madera's Casey Hinson. Hinson's name isn't well-known at the National Amateur level right now, but it will be soon. This kid goes off. He was the only Expert on the track, but he was still kiIHng it on every lap. Hinson is only 12 years old, but he's built like a high school sophomore. Hinson muscles his bike into every turn and is just relentless in his attacks on the innocent soil. If you want some idea of his riding skills, think about this: He frequently wins in the 125cc Intermediate class as well! The 125cc classes combined had the most entrants on the night, with the Beginner division being the largest. Ryan Knight brought his Yamaha down from the hills of Coarsegold and got off to a disappointing start. He finished fourth in the first moto and appeared to be out of the running for the class win. Mariposa's Andrew Williams won that first one, followed by Drew Gordon and MADERA,CA,AUG.24 ere's a hypothetical question: If you live in a place where the daytime temperatures soar above 100 degrees, what do you do on a Friday night? If you live in central California, you head out to Little Okie Raceway in Madera - that is, if you're a rabid motocross racer. This particular series is different from most. Since Fridays are workdays for most people, getting out to the track by 5 or 6 p.m. is difficult. Most of the racers will be out at the Saturday and Sunday races, but only the hard-core racers go to the Friday Night Series. These are the guys that are on the track every chance they get. As a result, Fridays at Little Okie consist of small entry lists, but they boast some of the fastest riders in the area in each class. Zane Acosta of Los Banos was the lone entry in the 50cc First-Timers class, but he was out there with plenty of other riders from different classes. The 50cc (0-6) class featured some great back-and-forth action in both motos. Logan Poisall ran his KTM to a first-place finish in the first moto; he fell to second in the last race, but that ended up being enough for the overall win. Jacob Atkins actually won the second moto on his Cobra, but a third-place finish in the first moto meant second overall for the Clovis kid. Sanger's Daniel Licon swept both 50cc (7-8) motos on a Polini. Hot on his heels was J.J. Valles, who brought his Cobra home in second in each race. Tulare's Landon Sullivan was a model of consistency as he steadily placed third in both motos. The real story of the evening regarded the 80cc classes. Cen-Cal races always feature hot 80cc action, and the Friday Night Series is no different. Two gates' worth of Beginners showed up. Robert Alquist swept the first with 1-1 finishes, and Michael Marting was the surprise winner in the second diviLittle Olde Raceway: casey Hinson put on a riding clinic at sion by way of 5-2 round four of the CMA Friday Night Summer Series in finishes. The top Madera, California. three finishers in the H 50 (7·8): 1. Daniel Ucon (Pol); 2. J.J. Valles (Cob); 3. Landon Sullivan; 4. Andrew Stettenbenz (KTM); 5. Justin Conell (KTM). 50 OPE/'!: 1. Zachary Summe,. (Cob). 60 (0-8): 1. Brian Alquist (KTM); 2. Zachary Summe,. (Kaw); 3. J.J. Valles (Kaw). 60 (9·) 1): 1. Jenry Cox (Kaw); 2. Mason Boswell (Kaw); 3. Allen Ucon (Kaw). 60 NOV: I. David Fee (Kaw); 2. Charles Sotelo; 3. Taylor Kellstrom (KTM); 4. JlImes Culbertson (KTM). 60 X: I. Taylor Kellstrom (KTM); 2. David Fee (Kaw): 3. Jame. Culbertson (KTM); 4. Jerry Cox (Kaw). 80 BEG D-1: 1. Robert Alquist (Yam); 2. Toby Stettenbenz (Yam): 3. Charles Sotelo; 4. Nacone Herlow (Han); 5. Hunter Alfonso (Yam). 80 BEG D-2: 1. Michael Martin (Hon); 2. Tyler Ash (Yam); 3. Derek White (Yam); 4. Ryan Sanlovlch (Kaw); 5. Paul Calvo (Yam). 80 NOV: 1. Kyle Zerr (Yem); 2. Deyton Hix (Kaw); 3. Andrew Desilegue. 80 INT: 1. Nicolas Beker (Yam). 80 EX: 1. Casey Hinson (Suz). 80 X: 1. Casey Hinson (Suz); 2. Nicolas Baker (Yl:lm); 3. Kyle Zarr (Yam); 4. Andrew Desilagua: 5. Dayton Hix (Kaw). 125 BEG: 1. Ryan Knight (Yam); 2. Glenn Eskelsen (Yam); 3. Drew Gordon (Hon); 4. Andrew Williams (Yam); 5. Bryan Wenzel (Yam). 125 NOV: I. Steven Bates (KTM); 2. Joey Stewart (Yam); 3. Chris .Podergois; 4. Michael Fargher (Hon); 5. Shewn Steinheuer (Han). 250 BEG: 1. Brad Lucich (Hon); 2. Charlie EVllnS (Yern); 3. Austin Kelsey (Hon); 4. Micheel Kempe (KTM); 5. Chris Lawson (Yam). 250 NOV: I. John McCracken (Suz); 2. Michael Fargher (Hon); 3. Morgan Crewford (Kaw); 4. Aaron Ambrister (Hon). VET NOV: I. Alex Rouch (Yam). VET PRO: 1. Frenk Darnley (Hon); 2. Rendy Alvarado (Yam). OIT NOV; 1. Mark Mansfield (Hon); 2. Mark Hewkins (Yam). Glenn Eskelsen. Knight found more speed in the second moto and won it. Williams had a complete reversal of fortune and found himself in fourth at the end of the second heat. Gordon and Eskelsen swapped positions in the second race as well. The end result was that four riders were tied at five points apiece. The tie breaker went to Knight after IUs great comeback win in the second moto. In this case, perseverance definitely paid off. The Vet classes aren't usually very big at the Friday night events, but there were two entries in the Pro division. Frank Damley rode a borrowed CR250 and proceeded to click off the fastest lap times of anyone that night. He did it consistently and cruised to two very convincing moto wins over Randy Alvarado. eN UttIe Dlde Raceway Mdera, California ResaJts: August 24, 2001 lllaund 41 50 F{f: I. Zane Acos.. (KTM). 50 10-6): 1. Logan Poisall (KTM); 2. Jacob Atkins Cob); 3. Tyler Moore (KTM); 4. Jerrick Merrell; . D.J. Uoren (KTM). DMRA ISDE Qualifier Series Round 2: Devit's Head Enduro Whitcomb Out1Nits the Devil's Head By of trail, the course was above the cloud bank. The first special test began as a sharp drop-off from a high ridge to the valley floor, landing onto a fast skidder road embellished with a couple of "Laurel and Hardy" mud puddles. First 250cc Expert and second overall rider Matt Faletti aced Whitcomb. by two seconds, but Matheney ripped through the test with an amazing 20-second cushion. The second test was a "spectator" test situated at the pit area. This test, a short rip meandering through the trees in true "Oregon Motocross" fashion, was repeated two more times during the day. It provided quite a bit of entertainment for the pit crews and racers at the check. The occasional panic rev or debarking of a tree could be heard as well as seen. The 200cc Expert winner, Tommy Whitcomb, posted the fastest time in this test on his last pass. The second loop took the riders into the further reaches of the Tillamook Forest and also provided three special tests. Conditions were perfect, as three inches of rain had fallen four days before the event. The fourth special test, a combination of technical and high-speed single-track known as "Frank-n-stein," was the longest of the day. Tyler Whitcomb and Faletti matched scores on the test and maintained the lead from that point on. The Devil's Head is not a race to take lightly, however, ADAM ACHEPOHL TILl.AMOOK, OR, AUG. 26 yler Whitcomb will be the proud owner of the infamous brass Devil's Head trophy this year following his winning performance in the six-hour, 97-mile race in the Tillamook State Forest. Racing in the AA class for only the second time this year, the 18-year-old Oregonian demonstrated patience and endurance beyond his years as he posted consistently fast times in all six special tests. Riding a YZI25 on the first minute with his younger brother Tommy, Tyler Whitcomb served notice to all concerned that another young rider is coming up in the ranks. After the first three tests, Anderson Cycle-backed Jason Matheney held an impressive 38-second lead over Whitcomb, but a flat tire put an end to his ride, and Whitcomb took the lead. "The club did a great job and opened up some excellent old trails," said a smiling Tyler. "The special test here at the pit area was really fun, too - a good idea." The course offered the riders a great variety of terrain and many hours to contemplate their decision about entering the event. The first loop was only 20 miles but kept the riders on their toes as two special tests came up. Key time began in a low fog, but within the first five miles T cue •• n • _ S • OCTOBER 3, 200t 43

• Cover