Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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local National numbers showed up to enliven the proceedings. Claremore, Oklahoma's Mike Hinds, aboard his trusty A TK, claimed the victory with handlebar-dragging bravado over talented local youngster A.J. Eslick. The Rotax-riding A.J. held off veteran Victor McAnally for the runner-up spot, while Brandon Cartwright, winner of the previous event at Creek County, had problems right off the start and did not finish. Reggie Barkley led all laps of the Open Pro Vintage event (that "start" thing, you know) on his 750cc Yamaha to beat Triumph rider Jim Strome and the Yamahas of Manhattan, Kansas, riders Bill Snyder and Russell Briggs. While old gray fox Snyder had to settle for third in Open racing, he was the class of the field in the Master Pro Vintage go. After a brilliant dipsy-doodle move to win his heat race from third place on the last lap, Snyder's Honda, shod with 18-inch Dunlop K- 180s front and back, dominated the final over the Yamahas of event promoter Isaacs and John Jeffries, who tipped over for a DNF with the end in sight. In 600cc Pro Vintage action, Briggs took his briggsauto.com Yamaha to the win. Strome had his hands full fending off runs from "recently unretired" Tony Neill. Muskogeean Jeffries had an off night, finishing fourth. All were Yamaha-mounted. Claremore, Oklahoma's Russell Martin is making Creek County Fairgrounds his own little kingdom this winter, as he again took home the Open Amateur laurels. After earlier winning the class Trophy Dash, Martin's Yamaha was on rails to hold off challenges from Tulsa's Mike Newton and Kansan Clyde Toler. Kent Briggs and Clint Killingsworth rounded out the top five, as Brian Smith crashed and finished one lap down. Charlie Frazier again won the 600cc Amateur Vintage class; his victory wheelies are becoming legendary. Newton held second spot for a couple of laps, gave way to the Yamaha-mounted James Eslinger for a few more go-arounds, and then took back the runner-up position at the checkered flag. Allen Chambers finished fourth. Bill Watson bounced his rigid Kmodel Harley around the outside of Bob !ves' Yamaha to claim victory in the Amateur Masters Vintage final. A talent-laden field lined up for the Mad Dog Mini main. Mounds, Oklahoma's Randy King buzzed his "hundred" around for 10 laps to gather in the gold ahead of the similar mount of Danny Eslick. Kevin Ellingsworth finished third, over Bret Sowders and Missouri's Chad Beckley. Mike Hinds rounded out the field after an easy get-off. K. Arnett took the win over Craig Warton's Harley in the Open Twin main. Del City, Oklahoma's Eslinger took the lead on lap three to win the Seniors (Over 40) class final. Fort Smith, Arkansas, Ossa rider Mark Gatlin finished second, with Yamaha pilot Allen Chambers third in the tally. Riding his first "flat track" race, Crane, Missouri's Zach Neill scored a promising win in the 80cc class. Colt Chebultz rode to a second-place finish over Colorado's Cole Arndt. Justin Chuculate, Hunter King and Tyler McDonald filled in the top six. Like his dad in the 600cc Amateur Vintage class. Jesse Grazier took the measure of the Lightweight FourStroke Mini field, with a win over Fred Matlox and Terry Matlox. Sapulpa's own Payne ~ooper won the Pee Wee class over Tyler LeJune. eN neath Thompson for third. Peeples held a solid second the entire distance. Thompson went back around Lusk, and the pair diced back and forth until Lusk secured third with a late-race pass through the whoops. Thompson didn't answer the call for race two. With Gibson in full control, Peeples took a hard low-side fall behind Lusk and settled for third. The Sports Center's Cole Boutwell continued to rule the Mini ranks at County Line, topping the 80cc Band Supermini classes. He also put his Yamaha up against the 125s in the Youth division and won that as well. Boutwell got the holes hot in the first 14-rider Supermini heat and stayed out front to the finish. He was the only Mini rider to clear "Hoss," pulling off the feat on lap three. Luke Davie was second on his Suzuki. Patrick Buell came out on top of a four-way battle for third by passing YZ rider Derrick Miller on a sweeper. Consistent top-five rider Destyn Patera was fifth. Miller held off Boutwell briefly in race two. Davie was on the move, taking third in the stadium section and passing Miller after the whoops. Boutwell began pulling on lap two. Behind Davie, Miller came under intense pressure from KX riders Will Little and Buell. Both got past, as did Patera by the finish. Rodney Allen, moving up to a YZ250 from his 125, got the holeshot in the first 16-29/Youth moto, ahead of Jessica Patterson and Jamison Mann. Cycle Nation's Sean Collins briefly took the lead coming up the elevator jump, but he slipped back while Boutwell moved into the top five. Patterson pushed Allen hard up front, passing for the lead over a tabletop. Allen regained first upon landing and took the win. Boutwell kept the heat on Collins and picked up fourth, behind Mann. Creek County Fairgrounds Sapulpa, Oklahoma Results: February 2, 2002 IRound 3 of 31 P/W: 1. Payne Cooper (Pol); 2. Tyler LeJune (Hon). l/W 4·STRK: 1. Jesse Frazier (Yam); 2. Fred MZltlOX (Hon); 3. Terry Matlox (Yam). 80: 1. Zoch Neill (Yom); 2. Colt Chebutz (Hon); 3. Cole Arndt (Hon); 4. Justln Chuculate (Hon); 5. Hunter King (Yam). MAD DOG MINI: 1. Randy King (Hon); 2. Danny Eslick (Hon); 3. Kevin Ellingsworth (Hon); 4. Bret Sowders (Hon); 5. Chad Beckley (Hon). SR: 1. Mark Glitlin (Oss); 2. James Eslinger (Yam); 3. Allen Chambers (Yam). MSTR AM: 1. Bill Watson (H-D); 2. Bob Ives (Yam). MSTR PRO: I. Bill Snyder (Hon); 2. Johnny ISSZlCS (Yam); 3. John Jeffries (Yam). OPEN TW: L K. Arnett (Yam); 2. Craig Watson (H-D). OPEN AM: 1. Russell Martin (Yam); 2. Mike Newton (Yam); 3. Cyle Toler (Yam): 4. Kent Briggs (Hon): 5. Clint Killingsworth (Yam). OPEN PRO TW: 1. Reggie Barkley (Yam); 2. Jim Strome (Tri); 3. Bill Snyder (Yam); 4. Russell Briggs (Yam). OPEN EX: 1. Mike Hinds (ATK); 2. A.J. Eslick (Rtx); 3. Victor McAnally (W·R); 4. BrZlndon Cartwright (Hon). 600 AM VINT: 1. ChZlrlie Frazier (Yam); 2. Mike Newton (Yam): 3. James Eslinger (Yam); 4. Allen Chllmbers (Yam). 600 PRO VINT: 1. Russell BriQgs (Yom); 2. Jim Strome (Yam): 3. Tony Neill (Yam): 4. John Jeffries (Yam). PRO·SPT: 1. Jerry Cartwright (Hon); 2. Donny Eslick (Rtx); 3. Darrol Peck (Kaw); 4. Shane Arndt (Rtx); 5. Bret Sowders (CCM). Southeastern MX Series Round 1: County Line MX Gibson Takes All the Money By HUGH GATLIN FOUNTAIN, FL, FEB. 3 esterville, Ohio's Jeff Gibson took a break from winter training in Georgia and competed at County Line MX - site of the opening round of the third annual Southeastern MX Series - before heading to Indianapolis for the following Saturday's Supercross. Backed by Max Pitts Yamaha, Race Tech and MSR, Gibson pulled off a four-moto sweep of the 125cc and 250cc Money classes. Gibson's YZ250F pulled double duty; he raced it in both classes. Canadian Justin Thompson snatched the holeshot in the first 250cc Money moto on his Hully Gully Honda, ahead of County Line regular Lee Spann and R&R Racing's John Melton. Gibson railed a turn for third, and then moved to second on lap one. Fox/Oakley /Shoei-supported Shane Lusk tripled his Team Green KX250 past two riders at once on his way to the front. Cycle Nation's Jordan Peeples moved into third on lap two. Gibson hammered the whoops and went under Thompson for the lead. By halfway, Gibson was pulling away and Lusk had closed on Peeples. Gibson won over Thompson, and Lusk passed Peeples after the whoops. Peeples ran into trouble and Melton took fourth, ahead of Spann. Thompson was again fastest off the line in moto two and led Gibson, Lusk and Peeples. Gibson passed for first in the stadium section near the end of lap one. The top four began to W outdistance the field. Lusk squared off a turn after the whoops and went under Thompson for second. On the next lap, Lusk had a tense moment over the 90-foot double named "Hoss." He landed safely but went down in an uphill left-hander. Thompson and Peeples moved back by. Gibson pulled a heel-clicker high over the finish-line jump to celebrate another win. Melton was fifth. Gibson got the holeshot in both 125cc Money Motos and was never challenged for the lead. After wheeling off the line in race one, Lusk came from behind and dived under- County LIne MX: For the third year in a row, Canadian Justin Thompson made an appearance at County Line MX in Fountain, Florida, site of the opening round of the third annual Southeastern MX Series. He placed second in the 250cc Money class and fourth in the 125cc Money class. c u e ' ... n ... "'" so • MARCH 13, 2002 73