Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Comer Motocross: Chad Ward continues to regain his form after being sidelined for several months to recuperate from a wrist injury. Ward topped both the 125cc A and 250Cc A classes at the penultimate round of the Alabama Fall Series In Comer, Alabama. AJabaJla Fall Series Round 15: Comer Motocross Ward Waylays the Flock By STEVE AND PEGGY CORLEE CORNER, AL, DEC. 1 TM-mounted Chad Ward, nearly healed after a severe wrist injury sustained earlier in the year, made his return to action with a vengeance this week, leading nearly every lap of both the 125cc and 250cc Pro competition at Corner Motocross. Despite brief challenges from his fellow A riders, Ward was untouchable, winning K each race by a large margin. Corner Motocross hosted the penultimate round of the Alabama Fall Series, and racing action was top-notch all day. Several of the class championships for the series are still up for grabs, with only one or two points separating the top contenders. Promoter Scott Aaron prepared the course to a T, helped tremendously by rains earlier in the week. Comer's sandy loam surface was perfect, and the challenging layout provided a perfect arena for the close battles seen in nearly every class. In the first 250cc A moto, Ward grabbed the holeshot and took off, leading Joey Hargrove, Tim Castrone and Josh Thompson. As Ward pulled away with Hargrove in tow, Castrone and Thompson engaged in a battle for third. Thompson kept trying Castrone in every comer and was finally able to slip by on lap three. Ward continued his charge out front and had a 15-second lead by the end of lap four. Castrone slipped off the pace slightly after losing third to Thompson, and this left Thompson free to concentrate on catching Hargrove. The YZ pilot did in fact move to the rear fender of Hargrove's CRF, but he was unable to make the pass and the moto ended with Hargrove holding on to second place, while Thompson settled for third, ahead of Castrone. Ward took the moto win by an incredible margin, leaving everyone else in the class wondering what they could do to stop him. When the gate fell for moto two, it was "deja vu all over again" as Ward checked out. Hargrove again held second while Thompson and Castrone fought over third. As Ward continued to stretch his lead, Thompson moved quickly to the rear of Hargrove's Honda and a battle for second ensued. Hargrove and Thompson went bar to bar for several laps and Thompson finally got by and into second. Castrone, meanwhile, was fading, and he was soon relegated to fifth by Honda-mounted Brian Robertson, who had been struggling throughout the day and was finally beginning to see better times ahead. Meanwhile, Ward had increased his lead to nearly 12 seconds ahead of the Thomspon-Hargrove battle. Hargrove did not intend to let Thompson go, and he hounded him to the checkers but was unable to pass. The moto ended with Ward taking the win, followed by Thompson and Hargrove. Thompson's second-moto finish gave him the runner-up spot on the podium, and Hargrove settled for third overall, followed by Castrone and Robertson. Ward came back and easily KTM riders made their presence felt in the 50cc division, as Bransen Boffa topped the 50cc (4-6) group. Polinis were the bikes to beat in the 50cc (7-8) group, with Chandler Hawkins and Dalton Horton going one-two aboard the blue machines. Top-five Loretta Lynn's finisher Drew Fields put his PW on top of the 50cc Shaft class. The Vet-class wars continued, with tight battles for series honors in several classes. The Over 40 class began the day with a seven-point spread between the top three riders. At day's end, nothing had been decided and the race will go down to the wire in the last round. Alabama Web master Randall Kipker came in needing a win to stay ahead of Gas Gas rider David Crain but left with a second, behind Crain, and a lot on his plate for the final round. The other contender for the class crown, Mississippi's Steve Speights, took several soil samples during the day and left behind the eightball, finishing third overall for the day. eN Comer MatDcnss Comer, Alabama Results: December I, 2081 (Iou d 15 at 1&1 50 SHAFT: I. Drew Fields (Yam); 2. Bnlnsen Boffe (YlIm); 3. Steven Allen (Yam); 4 Brl!!dy Johnson (Yam); 5. Tanner PlIyne (Yam). 50 (4-6): 1. Bran..,n Boffo (KTM); 2. Comeron Byrd (KTM). 50 (7-8): 1. Chandler Hawkins (Pol); 2. Dalton Horton (Pol); 3. Nick Bomett (Cob). 65 (7·9): 1. Keenan Sanders (K8W); 2. Chad Porter (Kaw); 3. Andrew Helcher (KlIw): 4. Andy Stone (Kaw); 5. Payten Lowery (Kaw). 65 (10-11); 1. Drew Estes (KTM); 2. Chose Lee (Kaw); 3. Taylor Cope (Kaw); 4. Zach Steele (Kaw). PRETEEN 60-80 (7-11): I. Nick Jones (Kaw); 2. Jesse Aaron (Yam); 3. Chase Lee (Kaw); 4. A1~ McWilliams (Kaw); 5. Drew Wadsworth (Yam). 85 (7-11): 1. Nick Jones (KlIw): 2. Drew Estes (Yam); 3. Jesse Aaron (Yam); 4. Kellan Cherry (Kaw); 5. Joey DiGiorgio (Kaw). 85 (12·13): 1. Jonothon Dove (Yam); 2. Kyle Roark (Kaw); 3. Chris Hollingsworth (Yam); 4. Reese Bums (Hon); 5. Cameron Otwell (Y8m). 85 (14-15): 1. Jocob Copps (Kow). S/MINI 80-105 (12-15); 1. Jonothon Dove (Yam) 2. Brett Johnson (Kaw): 3. Chris Hollingsworth (Yom): 4. Kyle Roork (Yom); 5. Jacob Copps (Kow). YTH 80-125 (12·15): 1. Shone Mills (Yom); 2. Garrett West (YlIIm); 3. Justin Teny (Y8m); 4. Chris Hollingsworth (Y8m); 5. Bryan Taylor (Y8m). OPEN. MlNl: 1. 18n Jones (Han); 2. Noah Downs (Hon); 3. Wesley Carter (Han); 4. Joey Skelton (Hon); 5. Devin Reno (Han). 0·125 4-STRK: 1. Moghon Willis (Yom). 16-24: 1. T.e. Lightsey (Yom); 2. Tim Holl (Yam); 3. Jason Miller (Yam); 4. Brian Owens (Yam). NOV: I. Cory Lowery (Suz); 2. David Hypes (Han); 3. Kevin Stout (Yom); 4. Randy Jones (Han); 5. Kevin Bu.-chel (KTM). 12S A: 1. Chod Word (KTM); 2. Josh Thompson (Yom). 125 C: 1. T.e. Ughtsey (Yom); 2. Shone Mills Holl (Yom); 4. Justin Grahom (Han); (Yom); 3. 5. Garrett west (Yom). 125 0: 1. Chris Teal (Han); 2. Matt Griggs (Hon); 3. Joson Potter (KTM); 4. Bloke Null (Yom); 5. Greg Bums (Yom). 250 A: 1. Chod Word (KTM); 2. Josh Thompson (Yam); 3. Joey Hargrove (Han); 4. Tim Castrone (Yom); 5. Brion Robertson (Han). 250 8: I. Kenny Stowe (Suz); 2. John Davidson (Yom). 250 C: J. Jeff Elliott (Kaw); 2. Justin Graham (Han); 3. Jeff Knight (Suz); 4. Brion Fowler (Yom); 5. Red Alexander (Han). 250 0: 1. Mike Carroll (Yam); 2. Jon8than ClIlloway (Yam); 3. Cory Lo.....ery (Suz): 4. Denver Posey (Hon): 5. Bloke Null (Yom). OPEN 2-5TRK: 1. Ston Digby (Yom); 2. Buck Jones (Hon); 3. Chass Bevill (Yam); 4. Brad Abb

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