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Southern Invitational Grand Prix Monster Mountain Motocross STORV AND PHOTOS BV STEVE AND PEGGV CORLEE TAllASSEE, AL, DEC. 1-2 litl ..... lark Stiles and Florida's Bryan ~ Johnson met again for the second time at Monster Mountain in Tallassee, Alabama, as Alabama's finest national motocross facility held the inaugural Southem Invitational Grand Prix. Riders from 17 states were on hand for the weekend program, held to raise money for the Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital. Stiles had his hands full as he and Johnson met in both the 125cc A and 250cc A classes. Johnson gave Stiles a run for his money on both days, even besting national number 53 in Saturday's 125cc A class. Another fast Floridian, Jarrett Tipping, was on form all weekend, finishing second to Stiles in Sunday's 250cc A event. Promoter Gary Blackwell and his staff again put on an outstanding event, as usual. Track conditions were perfect and the weather cooperated as well. In addition to many door prizes given out all day, Riverside ChevyOlds in Wetumpka, Alabama, provided a new, extended cab S-10 pickup for the charity raffle. The truck was won by a very happy and excited DeAnn Coursey of Senoia, Georgia. Karts International of Roseland, Louisiana, provided a Polaris pit bike to be given away in a special drawing for the riders, and the prize went to local rider Jacob Morrell. A great deal of money was raised for this worthwhile charity, and plans are already under way to make next year's event even better. In keeping with the promoter's pledge to continually make Monster Mountain even better, an inflatable Space Walk play station was brought in for the kids, and it proved to be very popular, as it stayed full all day. Sunday's Pro races provided one of the best shows seen on the Mountain this year. The ranks of both the 125cc and 250cc divisions swelled for the second day's program. When the gate dropped in moto one of the combined 125cc AlB contest, Stiles jumped out to an immediate lead, ahead of Tipping, Johnson and Kentucky's William Simmons II. Hot on Simmons' tail was 125cc B rider Michael Sisemore. Johnson quitkly moved into second and then just as quickly dropped out entirely, due to mechanical problems. This gave Tipping the second-place spot, and he and Stiles started to check out on the rest of the field. In third was Alabama's Ronnie Ramiscal, aboard a KTM 125 SX. Following the three A riders were Sisemore and another 125cc B rider, Matthew McGraw. Simmons had begun to fade and would eventually end up midpack. Moto one ended with Stiles on top, ahead of Tipping and Ramiscal, with Sisemore taking the B-c1ass win over McGraw and Georgia's Brandon Priegel. In moto two, Stiles again took the lead, ahead of Tipping and Johnson - 30 JANUARY 16, 2002' cue ;It Clark Stiles was unbeatable in 250cc Pro action at the first·ever Southern Invitational Grand Prix in Tallassee, Alabama, leading every lap of both races. (Left) Jarrett Tipping scored a strong runner-up finish in the 250cc A class and came back to best Alabama's finest in the 125cc A class. and then immediately ran off the track and dropped to eighth. Johnson took over the lead, ahead of Tipping and then Sisemore, who was on the gas. Stiles put his head down and mounted a charge that would put him within striking distance by the white flag. Stiles passed Tipping and moved to the rear of Johnson as the two neared the last corner before the uphill finish straight. Stiles made his move in the last comer, passing Johnson and taking the win. Johnson, who won Saturday's 125cc event, was runner-up, but his first-moto DNF meant sixth place overall. Sisemore took the overall win in the B class, ahead of Priegel, as first-moto runnerup McGraw did not start moto two. Sisemore would come back later to top the Unlimited Amateur class, also. The 250cc Pro class was pretty I • n eVIl'S much a Stiles affair, as he led nearly every lap on the day. Second went to Tipping, with yet another Floridian, Jordan Peeples, rounding out the top three. Peeples carne out on top of the 16-24 class on both days, sweeping Saturday's race and taking overall honors on Sunday after second-moto winner Matt Driza did not finish his first time out. Suzuki's Davi Millsaps made the trek to the Mountain and was again dominant, winning nearly every class he entered all weekend. Millsaps took the 80cc (12-13) class wins on both days and finished second to fellow Suzuki pilot Johnson in the Schoolboy class aboard the only 85cc bike in the field. The Mini classes also featured impressive displays of riding skill. Especially notable was the performance of Hamilton, Georgia's Taylor Johnson, (Below) Darryl Heisler (506) grabs the holeshot, ahead of Florida's Jordan Peeples (191), eventual 250cc A winner Stiles (53) and the rest of the pack at Monster Mountain Motocross. who dominated the fields in both the 65cc (10-11) and the Junior Mini classes, wowing the crowd each lap as he cleared every obstacle on the track both on his KTM 65 and on his YZ85, sweeping every moto on both days. Another great ride was put in by Tallahassee, Florida's Hunter Link, who put his Cobra out front in the 50cc (7 -8) group on both days. eN Manmr Mountain Motocross Tallassee, Alabama Results: December 1-Z, ZDDI Saturday 50 OIL-INJ: 1. Kyle Clark (Vom): 2. Joke COfSey (Yem): 3. Coleman Martin (Yam); 4. Patrick Lumpkin (Yam); 5. Casey Eure (Yam). 50 (4-6): I. Kyle Clork (Vam). 50 (7-8): 1. Hunter Unk (Cob): 2. Jacob Hayes (Cob): 3. Parker Trouille (Cob): 4. Rio Barnhart (Pol): 5. Brendan Hubbard (Pol). 65 (7-9): 1. Wesley Ethridge (Kaw): 2. Hunter Unk (Ki!lw); 3. Beau Hudson (Kaw); 4. Corie Barbee (Kaw): 5. Jacob Hayes (KTM). 65 (10-11): 1. Taylor Johnson (KTM): 2. Cody Harper (KTM); 3. Alex COVington (1<8W); 4. Nathan Belt (Kaw); 5. Cash Barnhart (KTM). 80 JR MINI (7-11): 1. Toylor Johnson (Vom): 2. Jacob Patterson (Yam); 3. Hunter Walters (SUl); 4. Steven Squire (Suz); 5. Kendall Mason (Suz). 80 (12-13): 1. David Millsaps (Suz); 2. Jesse Van Patten (Suz); 3. Chose Berders (Kaw); 4. Lorry Partin Jr. (Kaw); 5. Blane Mason (Suz). YTH 65-85: 1. Steven Squire (Suz): 2. Kendall Mason (Suz); 3. Wesley Ethridge (Kaw); 4. Cody Harper (KTM): 5. Hayden O'Kelly (Vam). SR MINI (12-15): 1. Chase Borders (Kaw): 2. Blane Mason (Suz); 3. Hunter Lellthers (Yam): 4. Amanda Clark (Yam); 5. Austin Belsterling (Hen). SR MINI 80-110: 1. David Millsaps (SUI); 2. Jesse Van Patten (Suz); 3. Zach Lawler (Yam); 4. Lorry Partin Jr. (Kaw): 5. Joshua Eure (Kaw). MINI 4-STRK 0-50: 1. Kyle Smart (Hon): 2. Ricardo Rios (Han). MINI 4-STRK 0·100: 1. Julio Rios (KTM): 2. Tyler Strength (Hon): 3. Lorah Willioms (Hon). SCH8V (12-15) 80-125: 1. Bryon Johnson (Suz); 2. Matthew McGraw (Kaw); 3. Chase Guedry