Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

GFI Racing Winter Series South Round 1: Glen Helen Raceway Park Don returned on his FAX/Pro's ChoicefThor-backed Cobra to snag an overall win of his own by acing both 50cc Open motos. Hubbs (3-2) claimed second, over Paul Nelson (4-3) and Jake Gagne (5-6). eN &Ien Helen Raceway Parle SIIn BernardinD, California Resuns:D~b.r23,2DDl SAN BERNARDINO, CA, DEC. 23 1!::\i1oting a pair of Four-Stroke ¥Yamahas, Craig Decker gave himself an early Christmas present by topping both the 125cc and 250cc Pro classes at the opening round of the GFI Racing/Goat Eyewear/Shoei/ Fox/Pro Circuit-sponsored Winter Series, as more than 500 riders attacked the National track at Glen Helen Raceway Park and finished the final motos just before headlights became a necessity. Decker timed the drop of the gate perfectly to snare the holeshot in the single 20-minute 125cc Pro moto, ahead of Bryan McGavran, Evan Laughridge, Jesse Casillas and the rest of the field. McGavran latched on to Decker's back fender and applied some pressure for the first few laps before Decker upped the pace and started to pull away. Casillas, who was making his GFI Racing Pro debut, got around Laughridge for third, only to crash out of contention. By halfway, Decker had seven seconds on McGavran, who was an equal distance ahead of Laughridge, who was being dogged by Chris Tocco, Sean O'Connor and Matt McCrummen. Decker continued to stretch out his lead, greeting the checkers with 20 seconds to spare over McGavran. "That was a good race," said a jolly Decker. "I felt good on the 250F, which is what I'm going to be racing in the West Coast 125cc Supercross and 125cc outdoor Nationals next year, so I'm looking forward to a good season on it. The track was good today. I think they got some rain, so it soaked down pretty good. It got pretty choppy and has a lot of lines in the corners.« Laughridge claimed third after pulling away from Tocco during the final laps. Kenny Heess came from out of the pack to earn fifth, ahead of McCrummen and Tim Langdon. Eighth went to O'Connor. Mike Sleeter and Mike Corder rounded out the top 10. 36 JANUARY 23, 2002' cue • (Upper left) This was the competition's view of Craig Decker In both the 125cc and 250cc Pro classes at the opening round of the GFI Racing Winter Series South. (Above) At Glen Helen Raceway Park, 250cc Intennediate winner Steven Haugelstine (715) leads Richie Owens (18) and Daton Beavers (25) in first-moto action. (RIght) Starts like this helped Brett Downey (38) go 1-1 in the 60Cc Intennediate class in San Bernardino, California. O'Connor got the holeshot in the one-shot 250cc Pro moto but was overtaken by Casillas within half a lap. Spud Walters moved his CRF450 around O'Connor for second after a lap, with Decker, Tocco and Kevin Townsend not far behind. Walters outbraked Casillas on a downhill to take the lead, with Decker now a solid third, over O'Connor and Tocco. Just before midway, Decker powered his YZ426F past YZ250 rider Casillas and set out after Walters, who held a five-second advantage. Within three circuits, Decker was around Walters and pulling away for his second win of the day. '" didn't get a very good start," explained the Mach 1 Motorsports/ Dubach Racing Development/Enzo/ Hinson/Arai-backed Decker. "I wheelied off the line, then backed it off, then wheelied again out in the dirt, so I was bad off. Everyone got their shoulders in front of me and I came out somewhere around fifth or sixth or something. Once I got up into third, Spud and Casillas were gone. I put my head down and worked at it and ended up catching Casillas. Spud saw me corning and I think he got a little tight and I caught up to him pretty quick. He made a bad mistake in the back section. I don't know if he hit something or what, but he swapped and kind of went off the side of the track, and I took advantage of that.« n e _ s e Walters held on to finish second, a few seconds ahead of Casillas. "I got a real good start behind Casillas," said the American Honda/ White Brothers/Axo/HJC/ Smithsponsored Walters afterward. "Casillas was riding real fast and I managed to pass him a couple of laps into the race. I was riding good and hitting all my lines. Then, about halfway through, my arms were rocks and that's when I started making mistakes and Decker passed me. This was just kind of a warm-up for the FourStroke National season for next year, and it just shows me I need to ride more and do some more racing." Fourth went to O'Connor, ahead of Sleeter and Tocco, with Laughridge, Heess, McCrummen and Townsend filling in the top 10 positions. Steve Haughelstine took the first 250cc Intermediate moto win after holding off Richie Owens, Daton Beavers and Derek Costella on the last lap. Haughelstine returned to go wire to wire for the second-moto win, this time after being hounded by Sean Collier right up until the finish. Collier, who was a victim of a poor start in moto one, ended up going 6-2 to edge out the 4-4 score of Costella for second overall. Polini-mounted Daniel Overton was untouchable in the 50cc Stock (7 -8) class. Carlos Don traded runner-up finishes with Colt Hubbs for second. IRDundlJ 50 FIT: I. Clayton Cooke (KTM); 2. Landen Taflinger (KTM). 50 STK (4-6): 1. Andrew Silverstein (Cob); 2. Mason Doggett (KTM); 3. Brian Taylor (HM); 4. Dean Spangler (KTM); 5. Brandon Amer (Cob). 50 STK (7·8): I. Daniel Overton (Pol); 2. Carlos Don (Cob); 3. Paul Nelson (Cob); 4. Bloke Compos (Cob); 5. Brandon Scharer (Cob). 50 OPEN: I. Carlos Don (Cob); 2. Colt Hubbs (Cob); 3. Paul Nelson (Cob); 4. Jake Gagne (KTM); 5. Ryan Galvez (Pol). 60 FIT: I. Joke Gagne (KTM); 2. Brandon Scharer (K21w); 3. Donny Fish (Kaw); 4. Sandy Vance (Kaw); 5. Brandon Green (Kaw). 60 BEG: 1. Max Anstie (KTM); 2. Steven Tokarski (Kew); 3. Andy Mulgrew (Kaw); 4. Austin Politelli (Kaw); 5. C&r1os Don (Kaw). 60 NOV: 1. Taylor Kellstrom (KTM); 2. Mitchell Akorn (Kaw); 3. Mason Sweeden (KTM); 4. Krux Griffith (KTM); 5. Connor Penhall (Kaw). 60 INT: ,. Brett Downey (Kaw); 2. Blake Baggett (Kaw); 3. Jeagher LaFont&ine (KTM); 4. Ronnie Goodwin (Kaw); 5. Tylor York (KTM). 60 EX: 1. Michael Leib (KTM). 60 OPEN: 1. Trent Pugmire (Kaw); 2. Brett Downey (Kaw); 3. Michael Lelb (KTM): 4. Ronnie Goodwin (Kaw); 5. Blake Baggett (Kaw). 80 BEG: 1. Ronald Norlund (Yom): 2. Zac Clark (Suz); 3. Alex Matteson (SU2); 4. Kruz Griffith (Hon); 5. Taylor Kellstrom (Yam). 80 NOV: 1. Joshua Huerta (Kaw); 2. MlIrk Samuels (SU2); 3. Tylor York (Kaw); 4. Andrew Johnson (Suz); 5. Jeagher laFountaine (Kaw). 80 INT: 1. Jeff Alessi (Han); 2. Trent Pugmire (Kaw); 3. Dane Jackson (Yam); 4. Derreck Murphy (Yam); 5. Donnie Kearney (SUl). 80 OPEN/EX: 1. Mike Alessi (Hon); 2. Joshua Grant (Han); 3. Michael LoPoglia (Su,); 4. Chris Nihon (Suz): 5. Justin Keeney (Kaw). S/MINI: 1. Mike Alessi (Hon); 2. Joshue Grant (Han); 3. Michael LaPagli& (SU2); 4. Justin Keeney (Kaw); 5. Robert Memoli (Yam). SCHBY: ,. Kyle Partridge (Suz); 2. Daniel Semi (Han); 3. Mike Alessi (Han); 4. Carl,os Gonzalez (Su,); 5. Paul Pearcy (Kaw). 125 BEG: 1. David Stepp (Hon); 2. Joey Bray (KTM): 3. Brock Whitehead (Suz); 4. Mike Kessell (Yam); 5. Michllel Raines (Yam). 125 INT 0-1: I. Sean Collier (Hon); 2. Tyler Duncan (KTM); 3. Daton Beavers (Suz); 4. Daniel Sani (Hon); 5. Dylan Lord (SUl). ] 25 INT 0·2: 1. Carlos Gonzalez (Suz); 2. Utrry Reese (Kaw); 3. Court Tiede (Han); 4. Jared Minor (Yam); 5. Justin Noble (Suz). 125 PRO: 1. Craig Decker (Yam); 2. Bryan McGavran (Yam); 3. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 4. Christopher Tocco (Yam); 5. Kenny Heess (Yam). 250 BEG: 1. Craig Gisler (Kaw); 2. Travis Peterson (Yam); 3. Ervin Tyler (Suz); 4. Bill Lapham (Hon); 5. Jack Blain (Yam). 250 NOV: ,. Bobby Romero (Yam); 2. David Bagwell (502): 3. Mike Hart (Hon); 4. Brian Burns Jr. (Yam); 5. Donny Gilmore (Yam). 250 INT: I. Steven Haughelstine (Yam); 2. Sean Collier (Hon): 3. Derek Costella (Suz); 4. D&ton Beavers (Suz): 5. Cody Randall (Yam). 250 PRO: 1. Craig Decker (Yam); 2. Spud Walters (Hon); 3. Jesse Casillas (Yam); 4. Sean O'Connor (Yam); 5. Mike Sleeter (Yam). 4·STRK OPEN: I. Bret Milan (Yom); 2. Jeremy Ferro (Han): 3. Dan Evans (Yam). 4·STRK PRO: 1. Derek Mahoney (Yom); 2. Adam Fichelmem (Yam); 3. Craig Smith (Hon). 25. BEG: 1. Darin Ellis (Suz): 2. Ted Galpin (Hon). 25. NOV: 1. Eddy Jay (Hon); 2. Matt Cleveland (Kaw); 3. David Boyd (Hon); 4. Chris Meyer (Yam); 5. Randy Stockman (Hon). 25. INT: 1. Branden Milstead (Suz); 2. Joey Rodriguez (Suz); 3. David Bagwell (Suz); 4. Bret Milan (Yam); 5. Adam Hensley (Yam). 25. EX: 1. Frankie Mecono (Yam); 2. Selin Thornton (Yam); 3. Nick Mairose (Suz). 30. BEG: 1. Bonnie Warch (Hon): 2. Ben West (Yam); 3. Mike Chastain (Han); 4. Lance Paul (Yam); 5. Ted Galpin (Hon). 30. NOV: 1. Eddy Jay (Hon); 2. Donny Fish (Yam); 3. R.K. Field (Su,); 4. Dan Evans (Yam); 5. Dawson Leachman (Suz). 30. INT: 1. Todd Gould (SUl); 2. Robbie James (Yom): 3. David Bagwell (SUl); 4. Rick Sottile (Yom); 5. Craig McColl (Kaw). 30. EX: t. Darin Green (Suz). 30+ PRO: I. Brent Battim (Hon). 35. NOV: 1. Greg Traver (Han); 2. Mike Ferro (Hon); 3. Allen Grant (Yam); 4. Chris Hicks (Kow). 35. INT: I. Randy Rush (Hon); 2. Scott Parks (Yam). 40. NOV: ,. Randy Griffith (Yam); 2. Daniel Smith (Han); 3. Jim Mllsters (Yam); 4. Jim Bagge (Hon); 5. Mike Ferro (Hon). 40. INT: 1. Tony Schuler (Yam); 2. Terry Vamer (Hon); 3. Bill Melanson (Kaw); 4. Bob Shimp (Yam); 5. Mike Dash (SUl). 40. EX: 1. Mark Moscrop (Han); 2. Jeff Clark (Han); 3. Milton Mize (Han); 4. Dan Austin (Yam).

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