Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Moose Northern California Championship Enduro Series Moose Western Regional Cross Country Championship Series Round 6/10: '4ger Qualifier STORY AND PHOTOS BY JILL ASHWORTH PATIERSON ELKINS FlAT, CA, NOV. 11 eam Green's Craig Wesner was hot on the gas and tumed in the best set of test scores to take the overall victory at the second annual '4ger Qualifier. The Polka Dots Motorcycle Club's event was the final round of Moose's Northem California Championship Enduro Series and was also round 10 of Moose's Western Regional Cross Country Championship Series. The dual-points-paying race was also rounds five and four in Motul's B/C Enduro and Cross Country Championship Series. The two-loop, 70-ground-mile race was staged out of the Elkins Flat area in the EI Dorado National Forest and was overseen by PDMC's event and course coordinators, Bill Buffington and Bill Fain. The event was originally scheduled for October but postponed because of overly dry conditions, but rain a week earlier and steady rains the night before and during the event provided welcome relief from the extreme dust for which the area is known. Slick from the start, loop one took 232 entrants onto the first 45 miles of the course through dark woods and on muddy fire roads and single-track trails. The first special test began at 10.7 miles and was 2.5 miles long. Cross Country Series leader Rob Zimmerman clocked the fastest time of 323. Brian Sperle was second quickest with 331, followed by Wesner's 333, Rod Kreiss's 336 and Tim Stowe's 340. Greg Ruffoni and Enduro Series leader Billy Russell were each in the hunt with scores of 349 and 350, respectively. "It was pretty slimy out there," said Race Tech/MSR/Twin Air-sponsored Zimmerman. "It was actually hard to get used to at first." "The conditions were really conducive to being prepared," said Dunlop Tires/Scott/M2R Helmets-supported Wesner. "Goggle prep was key." Thirty more miles of wet, rainy terrain and two more special tests later, riders arrived at the 30-minute gas stop, which was back near the start and camp. Unfortunately, scores for tests two and three had to be thrown out, due to missed riders and rainsmeared backup sheets. '" thought I did much better in both tests two and three," Stowe said. "It was a matter of not getting stuck very long behind so many lappers in the tighter sections where you couldn't pass." "I know my second test was a really good one," Sperle said. "It's too bad we lost those scores." After the break, the rain eased and the second loop wound its way along more winding single-track trails and back through camp on the way to the fourth special test. At 6.1 miles in length, it was the longest and toughest of the day. (Left) Overall victor Craig Wesner negotiates a tight tum between trees and rocks going Into a creek crossing before the start of the fifth special test section at the second annual '4ger Qualifier. (Above) Tim Stowe charges up the hill at the beginning of the second loop of the sixth round of the Moose Northem Califomia Championship Enduro Series, which doubled as round 10 of the Moose Westem Regional Cross Country Championship Series. Stowe placed second overall. that also tested riders' abilities." "I'll take a muddy race over a dusty one any day," Sperle said. "The whole day was fun!" eN '498. Qu.iifier Skins R.t, ClIIifami. IkIaIliI:IaI Results: ~ 11, 2001 UIaonIs 6I1DI (Above) Robbie Zimmennan pulls a wheelle off the starting line at the Elkins Flat area in the EI Dorado National Forest. Zimmennan was the top A 250cc rider and third overall. Wesner railed and took a commanding lead with his best score of 959. IMX/Motowrx/Faultline Suspension-backed Sperle logged a 987. Stowe was next with 990, and Damien Galford scored a 1006, while Zimmerman and Ruffoni each turned in 1008s. Kreiss followed with a 1015. "I overshot a corner in the fourth test," said Hayward Suzuki/Smith/BelRay-supported Kreiss. "I got stuck in some crisscrossed logs and couldn't go. Craig was riding excellent and caught up with me." "It looked like the traction was going to be better after gas," Zimmerman said, "but I was just slipping and sliding all afternoon." "I had a hard time in the tests with the pressure I put on myself," Moose Off Road/Braking USA/Clarke Heating and Air-sponsored Stowe said. "I just couldn't get into a comfortable rhythm all day." Less than three miles later, at 66.5 miles into the race, the fifth and final test caught many riders off guard. At 1.8 miles long, the test was the shortest one of the day. (Above) Brian Sperle topped the A 200cc class and came in fourth overall. The top four finishers were all medal winners at the ISDE Wesner, Stowe and Zimmennan all got silvers, and Sperle got gold. Wesner once again was fastest, carding a 466. Kreiss was right behind him with 467, and Stowe and Zimmerman each scored 468s. Galford was next with 480, followed by Sperle's 483 and Ruffoni's 484. "I wasn't expecting another test," Wesner said. "I was almost into the 'already going home' mode. I had to dig deeper to stay focused." "One test had a pretty long fireroad section in it," Kreiss said. "I just eat that stuff up!" After the points were all tallied, Wesner's second 4ger Qualifier victory was confirmed with the winning score of 1758. Stowe edged out Zimmerman for second with 1798 over 1799. Sperle took fourth with 1801, and Kreiss finished fifth with 1818. Joel Ray easily claimed the 5class overall victory, placing well ahead of the majority of the A class in the event's 19th overall position. Eighteen-year-old Cory Narog Jr., riding on a flat tire for much of the race, took his first C-c1ass overall title. "The Polka Dots did a great job," Wesner said. "They used fun sections cycle nu a/A: 1. Craig Wesner (Kaw); 2. Tim Stowe (Suz); 3. Rob Zimmerman (Yam); 4. Brian Sperle (KTM); 5. Roderick Kreiss (Suz). AA: I. Craig Wesner (Kaw); 2. Tim Stowe (Suz); 3. Damien Galford (Kaw): 4. Dave Wood (CRE); 5. Brian Butler (KTM). A 200, 1. Brion Sperle (KTM); 2. Morty Wolden (Suz); 3. Theron Miller (Hon); 4. Heather Wilson (Kaw); 5. Ryan Gouldthread (KTM). A 250: I. Rob Zimmerman (Yam); 2. Roderick Kreiss (Suz); 3. Greg Ruffoni (Hus); 4. Billy Russell (KTM); 5. Jim Motheson (Hon). A OPEN: 1. Richard Jung (5uz); 2. Christopher Slechta (KTM): 3. Brody Borgogno (KTM). A 4·STRK: I. Cole Marshall (Hon); 2. Glenn Martinson (KTM); 3. Russell Pereira (Yam); 4. Jason Edie (Hon): 5. Danny Martinez (KTM). A VET: I. Dean Joyner (Suz); 2. John Mason (Yam); 3. Brian Sumrall (KTM); 4. Garrett Binns (Hon); 5. J.R. Mason (Hon). A SR: I. John Wells (Hon); 2. Michael Harper (Kaw); 3. Wayne Hatch (Kew): 4. Chris Von Kleist (KTM); 5. Kent Parker (Kaw). A S/SR: 1. Peter Prichard (KTM); 2. Al Garrahan (KTM); 3. Richard Howe (KTM): 4. John Hampton (KTM); 5. Jeff Hollfelder (Yam). B O/A, I. Joel Roy (Yam); 2. Jeffrey Page (Hon); 3. Gary QUigley (KTM); 4. Jeff Mauro (Yam); 5. Donald Chamblee (Hon). B 200: 1. Eric Rollin (Suz); 2. Nolan Irwin (Hon): 3. Ryan Bird (Hon). B 250, I. Joel Roy (Yam); 2. Jeffrey Poge (Hon); 3. Donald Chamblee (Hon); 4. Michael Christensen (KTM); 5. Matthew Workman (Hus). B OPEN: 1. Jeff Mauro (Yam); 2. Jay Gordon (GG): 3. Raymond Leonardi (Hon); 4. Craig Hill (Hon). B 4·STRK, I. Gory Quigley (KTM); 2. Christopher Otis (Yam); 3. Jeff Nickson (Yam); 4. Howard Dingman (Yam); 5. Brian Chase (Yam). B VET: 1. Eric Elvin (Hon); 2. Cindi Roberson (Yam); 3. Ron Facciano (Hon): 4. Michael Dixon (Yam). B SR: 1. Jack Lanto (Hon): 2. Nick Dobbel (Kaw); 3. Nick Collin (Kaw): 4. Jonathan Spilker (KTM); 5. Jack Pedersen (Yom). B S/SR: 1. Hugo Zwetsloot (Hon); 2. Donald Chase (KTM); 3. Jim Peacock (KTM); 4. Dennis Edie (Kow); 5. Brad Bkd (Yom). CO/A: t. Cory Narog Jr. (Hon): 2. Craig Guidinger (Hon); 3. Steve Glover (Hon); 4. Charles Rand (Kaw); 5. John Bessa (KTM). 200: 1. Cory Narog Jr. (Hon); 2. Charles Rand (Kaw): 3. Anthony Simontacchi (Suz); 4. Darrell Johnson (Kaw); 5. Darlene Sumrall (KTM). e 250: I. Craig Guidinger (Hon); 2. Steve Glover (Hon); 3. Robert Sumner (Yam); 4. Jeff Hendrix (Hon); 5. Chris Dannan (Hon). OPEN: 1. John Bessa (KTM); 2. Bert Deaton (GG); 3. Russell Fowler (Yam); 4. Erik Jorrick (Kaw); 5. Shylo Stelnthol (KTM). e 4·STRK: 1. Gary Winnie (KTM); 2. Mike O'Connor (KTM); 3. Wayne Skicki (Hon); 4. Jeff Hollfelder Jr. (Yam); 5. Nick Gscho\?f(Suz). VET: I. Mike Magann (KTM); 2. James Craig (KTM); 3. Kelly V.ndever (K.",); 4. Jeff Hoel (Suz); 5. Robert Blackard (Yam). SR: I. Dennis Scarpete (Hon); 2. Rory Dow (KTM); 3. Cory NaroQ (Hon); 4. Daniel Blum (Hus); S. George Tuma (Hon). C S/SR: 1. Rick Rinks (Suz); 2. Gary Gambill (Yam); 3. Ron Zibulka (Hon); 4. Bruce Saxton (KTM); 5. Ronald Lacy (Kow). e GENT: 1. Raymond Haney' (Hon). e WMN: 1. Jessica Ghione (Kaw). __ S e e e e DECEMBER 12.2001 35

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