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/128129
7th Annual Suzuki RM Cup Challenge The 250cc C/Novice class crowds tum one with David Bagwell (131. looks like 31 I. Kevin Vldana (961. Keith Hersley (391. Jus1in Dike. (5471 and Ned Lowerre ( up front. RM riders, would ultimately be cancelled altogether. But the support to make it happen in spite of the tragedy was overwhelming, and a month later the show ultimately went on. Unfortunately, many of those who originally had planned to be at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California, in September were not able to make it in October. Rider turnout from the eastern side of the country was relatively light. Approximately 400 Suzuki contingency racers from 24 states did make the show, but that number was down from the nearly 500 entries recorded STORY AND PHOTOS BY PHIL BECKMAN SAN BERNARDINO, CA, OCT. 20-21 II? he events of September 11th had U a significant impact on a number of sporting events around the country. One of those was the 2001 Suzuki RM Cup Challenge. Originally scheduled for September 15th and 16th, the race was postponed in part out of respect for the victims and families of the terrorist attacks, but also because travel suddenly became very difficult, if not impossible. It was feared that this annual event, Suzuki's official "thank you" to at Muddy Creek Raceway in Tennessee the year before. Too bad, because those who could not attend missed a superb weekend for racing. The long and fast Glen Helen course was prepped to perfection, and thanks to mostly overcast skies and mild temperatures (a far cry from what would have been experienced in September), the course remained mostly moist and loamy throughout. Featuring the awesome "Mt. Saint Helen" uphill/downhill section (for everyone but the minicycle and the Vet B/C classes), a rolling whoop section which proved to be a popular passing point, along with several major tabletop jumps that provided major air for those who dared, this track had something for everyone. Average lap times were just under three minutes, so even though each moto consisted of only half a dozen laps or so, saddle time was extensive. Saturday's racing served to thin the field in the four biggest classes of the weekend (125 and 250cc C/Novice, Vet B/C and 250cc A/Expert), while everyone else competed in at least one moto to determine starting-gate-pick order for the single Sunday main event that would distribute the whopping $109,000 total purse. First up was the 250cc B/lntermediate class, which was led at the start by Utah's Cole Siebler. Derek Costella immediately jumped in his slipstream to launch a good battle, which saw them gradually pull away from a fight for third between Rodney Clark and Daton Beavers. Siebler had a big moment on the fourth lap, handing Costella a comfortable lead which he would hold till the checkers. Siebler came home just ahead of Beavers, who had gotten around Clark in the second half of the moto. Kevin Vidana-Barda bolted away from a full gate of 250cc C/Novice competitors and never looked back, which was a good thing because Ned Lowerre was within shouting distance for most of the race after having slipped by David Bagwell in the whoops on the second lap. Bagwell was then pressured by Brett Daugherty, which brought both of them forward to make it a four-way skirmish. Vidana-Barda kept his cool, though, and pulled the Lowerre/Bagwell/Daugherty train across the line. The 85cc (7 -11) class was a showcase for Drew Gosselaar, the youngest of four top-ranked motocrosser brothers and son of factory mechanic Mike Gosselaar. Taking the lead by the end of the first lap, Drew styled to a commanding gap and took the win well ahead of Michigan's Dominic Izzi and Cole Seely, who prevailed in his duel with Alaska's Ben Lemay. Maxima-sponsored Chris Wheeler led the 250cc A/Expert division from wire to wire to collect $2000 cash, but it didn't come easy. The rider to watch in this one was new Suzuki support pilot Turbo Reif. While Wheeler was dealing with Evan Laughridge, Danny Carlson and Rusty Holland during the first three The far inside proved to be the hot gate pick throughout the day. Here, the 250cc AlExpert class blasts off with the eventual top three· Chris Wheeler (56), Turbo Reif (3) and Evan Laughridge (1 09) • all gettlbg good starts from the inside. 20 NOVEMBER 7, 2001 • CUD I • n e _ s