Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Moose Western Regional Cross Country Series Round 8: Wilseyville Hare Scrambles merman reported. "We battled back and forth two or three times." Garrahan eventually retook the lead for good and made his way to the finish. After the sixth and final lap, Garrahan took the checkered flag just under a minute ahead of Zimmerman. The battle for third went all the way down to the last lap, with Stowe leading Sperle all the way up to a steep and rocky uphill. Stowe had trouble with a lapper at the bottom of the hill, and Sperle was able to take advantage. "I just got a better line than he did going up the hiil and got around him," recounted Sperle, who went on to take third, followed by Stowe in fourth. Coming in fifth was Wesner, who was able to hold off Galford, in sixth. With his finish, Wesner locked up the number-two position in the series championship. "You couldn't ask for much more," said Wesner. "This is one of the days you wait for to go riding. The ground is wet, the sun is out, we're up in the (Left) Brian Garrahan rode his KTM to the overall victory at the final round of the Moose Western Regional Cross Country Series. (Right) Rob Zimmennan took second place In Wilseyville, California, but clinched the series championship. trees. " By The battle for third between Brian Sperie (right) and Tim Stowe (left) went down to the last lap of the Wilseyville Hare Scrambles, with Sperie getting the nod and Stowe placing fourth. CHRIS GHIONE AND MICHELLE LEE GHIONE PHOTOS BY MICHELLE LEE GHIONE WILSEYVILLE, CA, NOV. 18 TM-backed Brian Garrahan rode away from the rest of the field en route to the overall victory at the final round of the Moose Western Regional Cross Country Series. Sanctioned by the AMA and District 36, the race was held at the Schaad Ranch in Wilseyville, California. Garrahan was not the only one who walked away a winner, as Race Tech/EuroCycle/ MSR-sponsored Rob Zimmerman took second place in the race but clinched the series championship. The event was held as a memorial to John Schaad, the former owner of the property, who recently passed away. Rain earlier in the week left the ground moist, and the bright sun on race day gave racers the best racing conditions of the entire season. As nearly 150 riders lined up for the start of the final race of the year, Zimmerman knew that the championship was his to win or lose. The only other rider close enough in the points to have a chance of overtaking him was Team Green/IMS/One industries-sponsored Craig Wesner. As the gunshot sounded, Zimmerman got a good jump off the line in the top five, but Wesner was not as fortunate; his bike stalled at the start and he rounded the first corner close to last. Maxxis/Smith-sponsored Garrahan jumped out into third place right away. Coming in seventh was Ducray, followed by Kohler. In the ninth position was Yamaha-mounted Russell Pereira. Rounding out the top 10 was Suzuki jockey Rod Kreiss, who suffered from brake problems during much of the race. With the finish, the Hayward Suzuki/Posey Racing/Moose Off Road-backed Kreiss still locked up third overall in the series points. eN K "I got like a third-place start and passed them pretty quick, got out front and rode a pretty conservative race," said Garrahan later. By the end of the first lap, Zimmerman had worked his way up into second, behind Garrahan, where he would stay for the first three laps. Further back, Suzuki rider Tim Stowe and KTM-mounted Brian Sperle were moving quickly through the pack, and by the third lap they sat in third and fourth. Positions changed at the start of the fourth lap, as Garrahan and Zimmerman pitted and Scott Goggles/Bennet Distributing/Woodland Cycles-sponsored Stowe was able move ahead of both of them. "[On] lap three, I pitted and Stowe got around me," noted Zimmerman. "I jumped back out there, rode a little ways [and] then Sperle got around me." Zimmerman quickly battled back around the Motion Pro/Motoworkssponsored Sperle. Up front, Garrahan moved his bike to Stowe's rear wheel and began applying the pressure. Schlad Ranch Wilseyville, Cllifomil Results: November 18, 2001 [Round 8 of 81 O/A: I. Brian Garrahan (KTM): 2. Rob Zimmerman (Yam); 3. Brian Sperle (KTM); 4. Tim Stowe (Suz); 5. Craig Wesner (Kaw); 6. Damien Galford (Kaw); 7, Eric Ducray (Yam); 8. Erik Kohler (Yam); 9. Russell Pereira (Yam): to. Roderick Kreiss (Suz). A 200: 1. Brian Sperle (KTM); 2. Bryce Olson (KTM); 3. Ryan Gouldthread (Hon). A 250: 1. Brilln Garrahan (KTM); 2. Rob Zimmerman (Yam): 3. Tim Stowe (5uz). A OPEN; 1. David North (KTM); 2. Todd Davis (Yam): 3. Kenny Miller (Han). A 4-STRK: I. Russell Pereira (Yam); 2. Brian Toline (Hon): 3. James Matheson (Hon). A VET: 1. J.R. Mason (Hon); 2. Dean Joyner (Suz); 3. Eric Mashbir (Suz). A SR: 1. David Wood (Hon): 2. John Wells (Hon); 3. Michael Harper (Ka.,). A S/SR; 1. Edde Egyed Sr. (Hon); 2. Peler Prichard (KTM); 3. Joel Boucher (Ka.,). 8 200: I. David Boaz (KTM): 2. Zack Buob; 3. Eric Miller (Suz). 8 250: 1. David Fish (Yam): 2. Joel Burkett (KTM); 3. Julian Hayward (Yam). 8 OPEN: 1. Gabriel Eggen (KTM): 2. Spencer Piercy (KTM); 3. Brody Borgogno (KTM). 8 4-STRK: I. Gary Quigley (KTM): 2. Mark Lema (Han); 3. Christopher Ortis (Yam). 8 VET: I. Mike Dixon Jr. (Yam); 2. Ted Cabral (Han): 3. Jim Perreira (KTM). 8 SR: 1. Mark Hilton (KTM): 2. Jack Lanto (Han): 3. David Schlosser (KTM). 8 S/SR: I. Hugo Zwetsloot (Hon): 2. Donald Chase (Hon): 3. David Rosenquist (Kaw). C 200: I. Jonathan Estes (KTM): 2. Charles Rand (Kaw): 3. Anthony Simontacchi (Suz). C 250: 1. Luke Noble (Hon): 2. Ryan Williams (Ka.,); 3. Matthe., Schott (Ka.,). OPEN: 1. Ji!lmes Craig (KTM); 2. Scott Hamilton (Kaw): 3. Erik Jorrick (Kaw). C 4-STRK; 1. Mike O'Conner (KTM); 2. Adam Nichols (Yam); 3. Dan Augino (Yam). VET: I. Ryan Ockey (Yam): 2. Byron Rifenberg (KTM); 3. Steve Liggett (Yam). C SR; 1. Rick Jost (Ka.,); 2. Cory Narog (Hon); 3. David Wilson (KTM). C S/SR: 1. AI Quale (Hon); 2. Terry Fish (KTM); 3. Gary Roberson (Hon). e WMN: I. Naomi Willis (Han); 2. Rachel Douglas (Yam): 3. Cera Horn (Han). Final Series Points Standings (After 8 of 8 rounds) O/A: I. Rob Zimmerman (2160/4 wins); 2. Craig Wesner (1884/2); 3. Rod Kreiss (1630): 4. Brian Garrahan (158911): 5. Tim Stowe (1409); 6. Brian Sperle (1338); 7. Damii!lln Galford (1338): 8. Patrick Garrahan (1220/1): 9. Russell Pereira (1167); 10. John Mason (1147). "'I got the lead for, like, two to five miles in front of Garrahan," said Stowe. "He took after me and I was feeling the wrath of the Garrahan ... and then I just got tired of watching the master watch me, so I pulled over and he just left." Further back in the pack, Wesner had moved up to fifth and was closely followed by his fellow Team Green rider, Motul/Faultline Suspensionsponsored Damian Galford. Behind Galford and Wesner, Yamaha riders Eric Ducray and Eric Kohler were having their own battle. "Me and Eric Kohler, on the third lap, we hooked up," said Ducray, "and we passed each other probably about six times in the last three laps, back and forth." The start of the fifth lap marked another change in the lead when Garrahan again came in to pit, this time letting Zimmerman get around him. "I came around and Brian [Garrahan] was sitting in the pits, looking at me, so I jumped in front of him and we played around for a while," Zimeye I .. e e n .. _ S • JANUARY 23, 2002 37

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