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Northern Cup MX Series Round 10: Sports and Competition (Leftl The start of the first 125cc A moto went to eventual overal! winner Matt Hopkins (724) at the final round of the Northem Cup MX Series at Sports and Competition in Denmark, Wisconsin. STORY AND PHOTOS BY PETE EMME DENMARK, WI, OCT. 7 ery chilly conditions greeted over 400 motocrossers for the Midwest Area Championship and the final round of the highly successful Northern Cup MX Series in Denmark, Wisconsin. Temperatures hovered below the freezing mark for the practice sessions, but once the sun started to pop up, things heated up - and so did the action. Vet A Over 30 Northern Cup champ Phil Gauthier also had his hands full in the Over 30 class, as well as in Masters Over 25 competition. Gauthier fell in the first Over 30 A moto and had to fight his way back into contention. John Greaves led part of the moto but fell victim to the track on the first lap. Holeshot ace Tom Nielsen rounded out the first lap in first but was quickly overtaken by Marc Ottenad, with Tom Dretzka in pursuit. Gauthier rounded out the first lap in seventh but moved into third by lap three. Gauthier ran with the pack, but the laps ended quickly and he found himself in third at the end of the moto. Dretzka got the win after making a pass with two laps to go. In moto two, thumper pilot Nielsen once again found himself in front of the 15-rider field. Gauthier rode like a madman along the back stretch after the two long doubles, passing four riders on the first lap to get to the front. Ottenad tried desperately to keep pace, but Gauthier sent a statement that he wasn't going to let this one get away. Gauthier got the overall with 3-1 scores, while Ottenad covered second overall with 2-2 tallies and Dretzka ran 1-3 for third. The 125cc A event brought out some of the best talent to date in Wisconsin. Grafton, Wisconsin's Matt 32 NOVEMBER 28, 2001 • (Above) Tyler Smulders won all four motos In the 125 Band 250 B classes. (Left) Phil Gauthier won the Vet A Over 30 contest b)' going 3-1, and he took second In Masters Over 25 competition. (Bottom) Lukas Ka1ers won the Pee Wee Senior and Mini Junior 8kc classes. Hopkins muscled his way into the holeshot, ahead of David Oettel, but Oettel got him back before the double-double. However, Hopkins stayed low to the ground over the long plateau, moving out front once again as they headed into the back section for some dicing. Hopkins emerged in first as they came down the hill to complete the first lap, with Karter Busse and Oettel behind him. Brad Modjewski followed the sea of blue back up the other side of the hill. Busse made a wicked move to the outside to pass Hopkins for lead as they landed off the spectator triple. The three Yamaha riders soon separated themselves from the rest of the pack, while Modjewski ran alone in third. Suzuki rider Ross Martin found himself on the ground on the second lap. He could've been a contender up front if not for this misfortune. Busse held a nice lead until he slid out on the hardpack right in front of the rocker section, handing the lead n e _ s cue I • over to Oettel, with Modjewski's Suzuki close behind. Moments later, Oettel lost two positions as Modjewski took the lead, with Hopkins in tow. Busse remounted in fifth and quickly moved into fourth, fighting for position with Oettel. Modjewski looked strong out front, but he had nobody to pace him. Hopkins picked some time up in the back section and closed in on Modjewski, the leader. Modjewski got all crooked as he hit the ground hard off the spectator triple, giving up the lead to Hopkins. Modjewski remounted, dazed and confused, and slowly idled around the track until the cobwebs cleared. Hopkins took over the lead, with Oettel and Busse in tow. Rodney Van Eperen rode all alone in fourth, where he would finish. Illinois rider Andy Thyberg sat in fifth. Hopkins got the win in front of a talented pack. Honda-mounted Kyle Garro nailed the holeshot from the inside gate to start the second 125cc A moto. Busse sneaked to the inside, with Hopkins and Modjewski battling it out for third. Busse took over the lead through the switchbacks but landed hard on the ground in a fast left-hander and possibly made contact with Garro. Busse remounted in last. Bernie Plummer came from out of nowhere to inherit the lead, much to his own surprise. Plummer led the whole lap until Modjewski took over soon after before the spectator triple. Oettel was also on the move during the second lap, moving into second, with Hopkins right on his rear fender. Modjewski moved out to a three-second lead while Oettel and Hopkins battled for second. Hopkins made a risky pass down the hill, outjumping Oettel. Modjewski stayed in the lead while Hopkins remained in second for the 1-2 scores to garner the overall. Oettel wound up in third and second overall with 2-3 tallies. Van Eperen scored a well-deserved 4-6 for third. Second-moto winner Modjewski ended the day with 10-1 scores for fourth overall. Thyberg ran consistent 5-7 motos for fifth overall. Hopkins also won the 125cc Junior event, with 1-1 moto scores. eN Sports snd Clllllpe1ition Denms"'. Wisconsin Rnulls: Dc:toIIer 7. 2001 IRound 10J WMN: 1. Kirsten Raemisch; 2. Nalissa Wienke; 3. Kimberly Wilcheck; 4. Heather Roach: 5. Brooke Fluger. P/W JR: 1. Chris Benavides; 2. Brody Breitzman; 3. Ryzln Nystrom; 3. Ryley Roeser; 4. Colton Greeves. P/W SR: 1. LukZlls KllIters; 2. Phelan Stillman; 3. N8thene laPorte: 4. Dele Kathan; 5. Hunter Nystrom. MINI JR 65: I. Luk•• K.tel$; 2. Kyle Duppler; 3. Cody Behrens; 4. Casey Pennau; 5. Wede Gilbert. MINI JR 80: J. Cody Sokolik: 2. Jesse Frossetto: 3. Trevis Fressetto: 4. Kyle Duppler, 5. Thomas Falk. MJNI SR 80: 1. Frank Kutzler; 2. Jesse Janisch; 3. Brian Collins; 4. Dennis Roushie; 5. Doneld Neg.l.ki. 125 JR: I. M.tt Hopkin.: 2. Ry.n Gilbert: 3. Dylan Martin; 4. Frllnk Kutzler; 5. Mlltt Kesper. SPTSMN A; J. Joe Skodro.; 2. Tr.vi. Moyne: 3. Charles Cisler: 4. Kyle Garro. SPTSMN B: 1. Eric Weise: 2. Michael Wendricks; 3. Chris Junkllns; 4. Crllig Wllilace; 5. Jeremi Smith. MSTR 25+: 1. Rodney Ven Eperen; 2. Phil Gauthier; 3. Jason Warner; 4. Man:: Ottenad; 5. Tom Oretzk•. VET A 30.: I. Phil G.uthier; 2. Otten.d; 3. Tom Dreukll; 4. Rod Mineau; 5. Tom Nielsen. VET B 30+: 1. Brian Jochman; 2. Shane Visintlliner; 3. Brylln Barstow; 4. Joe Ludwig; 5. Scott Fifarek. SR 40+: 1. Tom Oretzkll; 2. Pete Szlllewski; 3. Mike Frenkini; 4. Shawn O'Brien; 5. Bryan Wienke. SR 50+: 1. Doug Baumann: 2. Mel Piontek. 125 A: 1. Matt Hopkins; 2. David Oeuel; 3. Rodney Vlln Eperen: 4. Brlld Modjewski: 5. Andy M."" Thyberg. 125 B: 1. Tyler Smulders; 2. Eric Weise: 3. Ryan Gilbert; 4. Dylan Martin; 5. Crllig Wallace. 125 C: 1. Jake lllCount; 2. Micheel Groleeu: 3. Mike Spedafina; 4. Luke Terlinden; 5. Devin Haws. 250 A: I. Ross Martin; 2. Brad Modjewski; 3. David Oertel; 4. Andy Thyberg; 5. Jason Werner. 250 B: 1. Tyler Smulders; 2. Michllel Wendricks: 3. Chris Junkans; 4. Shawn Keller; 5. Jeremi Smith. 250 C: 1. Cory Augustine; 2. Brian Hess; 3. Joshua Campion; 4. Brandon Rohde; 5. Scott Fittshur. OPEN: 1. Rod M.ineeu; 2. Keith DeGrand; 3. Tom Nielsen; 4. Eric Peters; 5. Robert Edler. VINT: 1. Andy Bowmen; 2. Scott Fiferek; 3. Shawn O'Brien; 4. Jonathan Hyde; 5. Mike Donn~m.