Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Oregon State Motocross Championship Series Round 3: Albany Motorsports Park Bath , STORY AND PHOTOS BY CLAY liGHT ALBANY, OR, OCT. 6 ~. otlage Grove, Oregon's Jesse Bath was on a roll before being sidelined by an injury for nearly four months. Since Bath's return three weeks ago, the Yamaha-mounted rider who had two top-25 AMA National finishes earlier in the year has yet to return to his prior form. At round three of the Oregon State Motocross Championship Series, though, Bath cleaned up the 250cc Pro class with his double-moto sweep at the Albany Motorsports Park. While Bath stood at the top of the 250cc Pro-class podium, his success didn't spill over into the 125cc ranks, as Honda-mounted Keith Kadell was victorious in both motos. Also impressive on the day were several double-class winners, including KTM rider Chris Alldredge, who won the Pee Wee (4-6) and 50cc Open classes; Pete Sannan, who was victorious in the 125cc and Before The Hill Junior classes; Ryan Huege, who conquered the 125cc and Before The Hill Intermediate classes; and Ed Smith, who scored wins in the Up The Hill Intermediate and Over 30 Expert classes aboard his Yamaha YZ426F. Sannan's started off his superb day by convincingly topping both Before The Hill Junior motos aboard his KTM. Sannan's closest competition came from Honda rider Jimi Blackwell, who trailed Sannan in both motos to card second overall, ahead of Yamaha rider Brock Chappelle. Fresh off an 80cc machine, Chappelle went 4-3 to lead Nick Randklev (3-5) and Mitchell Robbins (5-4) into the top five overall. Albany, Oregon's Sannan performed a similar rout in the 125cc Junior class, leading both motos from the get-go. Blackwell ran second to Sannan for several laps in moto one, although it was Suzuki rider Adam Metzler who finished in second to Sannan in the moto. Blackwell eventually finished third, followed by Chappelle, Jacob Oberle and Yamaha YZ250Fmounted David Mills. Metzler overcame a poor start in moto two to snare second overall on a 2-2 tally, followed by Oberle (5-3), Blackwell (3-9) and Shayne Strigle (8-5). Southern Oregon speedsters Curtis Sweezey and Byron Young have gone head to head in the Supermini class throughout the series, but this was W (Above) Jesse Bath's ongoing comeback from injury Improved at the third round of the Oregon State Motocross Championship Series, as the Yamaha rider topped both 250cc Pro motos. (Left) Pete Sannan soared to overall wins in the 125cc Junior and Before The Hill Junior classes at Albany Motorsports Park. (Above) Adam Metzler finished the day with a pai~ of runner-up performances In the 125cc and 250cc Junior classes In Albany, Oregon. (Bottom right) Heidi Koerschgen was the top performer In the Women's class via 3·1 placings. Sweezey's day in the spotlight. Yamaha rider Aaron McClinton snared the holeshot in moto one, but the local rider's best performance of the season ended on the final lap, when Sweezey took the lead and finished out front. McClinton, Kyle Thompson, Young and Kevin Sellon filled the top five at moto's end. Young darted out front at the start of moto two, and the Honda rider remained there to the finish, chased by the Kawasaki-mounted Sweezey. However, Sweezey couldn't find a way around Young and, while Young got the better of the duel, Sweezey won overall due to his first-moto firstplace finish. Young's 4-1 tally earned the 12-year-old second overall, ahead of the youngest rider in the field, 10-year-old Thompson (3-3), who was trailed by McClinton (2-5) and one of two 14-year-olds in the field of 19 riders, Matt Wilson, whose 6-4 finishes netted fifth overall. Bath bolted to the head of the field at the unleashing of the first 2-50cc Pro/lntermediate/Junior-c1ass moto, but he had tough competition from Kadell and Washington's J.R. Vielle. Having also recently returned from an injury, Vielle ran a solid third to Bath and Kadell, but ahead of fellow Pro Jeff Edson and the top-placing Intermediate riders, KTM-mounted Justin Jensen and Suzuki rider Shawn Staley. Kadell was looking to notch his name among the select few doubleclass winners after pulling the trigger fastest in moto two, but Kadell's lead only lasted for three laps, as Bath took control from that point. Bath 80 (9-11): 1. Byron Young (Hon); 2. Kyle Thompson (Han); 3. Jyles Montgomery (Han). 80 (12-13): I. Aaron McClinton (Yam); 2. Curtis Sweezey (Kaw); 3. Kevin Sellon (Kaw). 80 (14-16): I. Matt Wilson (Yam); 2. Tony Bollinger (Kaw). 125 BEG: 1. Jesse Rignell (Yam): 2. Jeff White (KTM); 3. Robbie Stevens (Hon). 125 JR: 1. Pete ~nnlln (KTM); 2. Adam Metzler (Suz); 3. Jimi Blackwell (Hon). 125 INT: 1. Ryan Huege (Hon); 2. Randy Pekarek (KTM); 3. Ryan Thompson (Hon). 125 PRO: 1. Keith Kadell (Hon); 2. Jesse Bath (Yam); 3. Jeff Edson (Hon). 250 BEG: 1. Ben Sannan (Yam): 2. Joel Hood (Kaw); 3. Josh Kribs (Kaw). 250 JR: 1. Jason Smith (KTM); 2. Adam Metzler (Suz); 3. Jeremy McLain (Yam). 250 INT: 1. Justin Jensen (KTM); 2. Shawn Stllley (Suz). 250 PRO: I. Jesse Bath (Yam); 2. Keith Kadell (Hon); 3. J.R. Vielle (Suz). OPEN AM: 1. John Thayer (Yam); 2. Cliff Underwood (Yam); 3. Kyle Payton (Yam). OPEN PRO: 1. J.R. Meusling (Hon). OTH JR: 1. Loren Friend (Yam); 2. Scott Helgeson (Hon): 3. Joe Wenzler (Hon). UTH INT: 1. Ed Smith (Yam). BTH JR: 1. Pete Sannan (KTM); 2. Jirni Blackwell (Hon); 3. Brock Chappelle (Yam). 8TH INT: I. Ryan Huege (Hon); 2. Ryan Thompson (Hon); 3. Randy Pekarek (KTM). OTH BEG: t. Erik Anderson (Hon); 2. Eric Massey (Yam); 3. Devin Madison (Hon). OTH JR: 1. DliVid Alexander (KllW); 2. Olin Green (Hon); 3. Bob Kivisto (Hon). OTH INT: 1. Ken Romero (Yam); 2. John Thayer (Yam); 3. Seon Wright (Hon). OTH EX: 1. Ed Smith (Yam). OTH PRO: I. Jeff Edson (Hon); 2. Jllson Smith (KTM); 3. Darby Heck (Hon). Orr JR: I. Mike Oberle (Yam); 2. Glen Gorst (Hon): 3. John Gussenhoeven (KTM). INT: I. Kelly Whelchel (Yom): 2. Mork Mattheisen (Hon); 3. Randy DUVlll (Yam). orr EX: 1. Rod Kentner (Yllm). orr MNY: I. Jeff MacDonald (Suz); 2. Joe Casey (Hon); 3. Randy Tuller (Kaw). 50.: 1. Dan Schaffer (Kew); 2. Randy Layne (Yam); 3. Bill Naylor (Hon). 4·STRK: 1. Aaron Tunnell (Yam); 2. Jeremy Mclain (Yam); 3. Ben Sannan (Yern). then held off the challenges from Kadell to capture the overall win with a 1-1 score, ahead of Kadell (2-2) and Vielle (3-3). Jensen (1-1) posted an overall Intermediate-class win, followed by Staley (2-2). The Junior-class moto winner, Kawasaki rider Jared Ackerman, trailed the Intermediate riders at the finish, but, due to Ackerman's ninth-place finish in moto one, KTM rider Jason Smith garnered the overall win with 2-2 consistency. Metzler, who won moto one, finished fourth in moto two and finished second overall, ahead of local Yamaha rider Jeremy Mclain (4-5), Ackerman (9-1) and Olin Green (3-7). Huege and Ryan Thompson have spent all season in a quest for supremacy in the 125cc and Before The Hill Intermediate classes. It was much the same on this day, as the Honda-mounted duo split moto wins in the Before The Hill class. It was Huege, though, who carded the overall win by virtue of his moto-two victory to compliment his later 125cc Intermediate-class overall win, in which he trailed only Pros Kadell and Bath. CN orr Albany Motorsports Park Albany, Oregon Results: October &. ZOOl (Round 3 of &1 WMN: 1. Heidi Koerschgen (Hon); 2. Rochell Neimann (Yam); 3. Rhiana Stenzel (Suz). P/W (4·6): J. Chris Alldredge (KTM); 2. Sierra Bragg (Pol); 3. Hunter Klug (KTM). P/W (7·8): I. Jeremy Steward (Cob); 2. Austin Blanchfill (KTM); 3. Keenan Bhmchfilt (KTM). 50 OPEN: J. Chris Alldredge (KTM); 2. Nash Blaylock (Hus); 3. Sierra Bragg (Pol). 60 BEG: 1. Justin Conn (Kaw); 2. Charles Fettinger (Kaw); 3. Josh Alexander (KTM). 60 JR: I. Bebo Clark (KTM); 2. Kip Olkoswki (Kaw); 3. Dylan Stone (KTM). 6.0 SR: 1. Danny Gubser (Kaw); 2. Tyler McClinton (KTM); 3. Gared Steinke (KTM). 60 OPEN: 1. Oared Steinke (KTM); 2. Travis McClinton (KTM): 3. Bradley Hillman (KTM). 80 BEG: 1. Shawn O'Brien (Yam); 2. Jeff Jenkins (Kaw); 3. Steve Hagerty (Kaw). e y e ' ... n ... _ 50 • NOVEMBER 21, 2001 39

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