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2002 GNC International Final Mosier Valley STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRIAN COMEAU EULESS, TX, MAR. 15-17 ick Adams had a busy weekend at Mosier Valley. Over the course of the three-day event, Adams raced nine classes and took six titles. With wins in the 125cc Schoolboy (12-15), 250cc Stock and Modified Intermediate, 250/0pen, Four-Stroke, and 125cc Stock Intermediate classes, the Michigan native had a lot to smile about. "I would say my hardest class this weekend was the 125cc B Stock, or the Schoolboy class," Adams said. "With all of the factory Suzuki guys in the there like Bob Kiniry, Josh Lichtle and Broc Hepler, I had a lot of competition. There are a lot of fast kids in those classes." When asked about what he had done to get ready for this race, he replied, "I have been training really hard all winter. I usually just take the winter off since I live in Michigan, but this year I stayed in Georgia for the winter. I was at the gym every night and rode all day so it seemed to have worked out for me." The 26th Annual FMF GNC International Final, presented by Cobra, drew 1600 entries from more than 30 states and two countries. California left the event with 14 titles, more than any other state. More than half of those titles belonged to the Alessi brothers, who together won eight titles. Jeff won four with wins in the 125cc Stock and Modified Novice classes, as well as the 250cc Stock and Modified Novice classes. Mike's wins came in the 100cc (7-16), Minibike Senior Modified (12-13), Minibike Stock (12-13) and the FourStroke Mini class. Florida was second in the title count with nine. Winners from Florida included Jessica Patterson in the Women's Pro class, as well as Marisa Hampshire in the Women's Amateur class. Georgia was third with eight titles. The 125cc Stock Intermediate division races were split between Pennsylvania's Broc Hepler and Iowa's Teddy Maier. Adams and Robert Kiniry had each taken second in their respective divisions. When the gate fell in the final moto, it was Hepler, aboard his Cern ic' sIS h i ft/Scott/Dun lop / Re n th a I Suzuki RM 125 who took the holeshot ahead of Adams and Kiniry. When the field came out of the valley, Adams had taken over the lead ahead of Kiniry and Hepler. Kiniry 56 APRIL 3, 2002' cue I _ and Adams began to pull away early, setting a pace that distanced them from the rest of the field. This left Hepler in third ahead of Maier. When the checkered flag came out, it was Adams with a comfortable lead over Kiniry. Hepler held on to third ahead of Maier and KTM-mounted Texan Cody Dickey. "Broc Hepler made a slight mistake in the whoop section and I tripled past him," Adams said. "It was a good line, but Broc was riding really well and it was hard to pass him, but I came out with the win and I am pretty happy right now. I want to thank all my sponsors like Yamaha, FMF, Enzo Racing, Alpinestars, CTi, Dunlop, Zing, Shoei, Twin Air and Renthal." Any time Mike Alessi and Davi Millsaps are on the track together, one can expect the duo to be racing side by side. It was no exception in the Minibike Senior Modified (12-13) class. Coming into the final, Alessi had won his division and Millsaps followed suit in his. Headed out of the first turn, Washington's Ryan Villopoto jumped out to the lead aboard his n __ s Spy/No Fear/Fly/DeMarini/Wiseco/ DHMA/Himsen's/Gaerne Yamaha ahead of Mike Alessi and Justin Keeney. Alessi made his move for the lead early and began to set a fast pace, while Millsaps struggled in eighth. Millsaps charged hard, moving into fourth by the end of the first lap behind the Kawasaki of Keeney. Millsaps was headed to the front fast until he made a mistake that sent him back behind the Thor/Pro Circuit/ M2Rbacked American Suzuki of Lapaglia and Team Green/FMF/ AXO's Bradley Graham. Millsaps was able to recover, passing Graham with the white flag out. Lapaglia was the next rider in Millsaps' sights. He tracked down the Suzuki rider and made his move before the whoop section. Alessi took the checkers and the title ahead of Villopoto and Millsaps. Millsaps' third in the final moto still gave him second overall ahead of Villopoto. "I just wanted to get a good start and that is what I did," Alessi said. "From there I just rode smooth, smart and safe and I won the race. I want to thank Plano Honda for bringing the big rig here, Steve Wagner and Kenny Watson from Plano and Terry Varner Motorsports. He built me an awesome bike. Also Smith goggles, Fox, CTi, HRCA, all the Honda guys, Hansen's Energy Drink and Axcel Fast Graphics." Millsaps picked up his only title in the Minibike Open (7-16) class. After a close battle between Millsaps and Alessi in their division race, the field charged the first turn with Villopoto, Millsaps and Alessi in a race for the lead. Millsaps took the lead early on the first lap and never looked back. Alessi did not fair as well, finding himself in third behind American Suz u ki /F ox/Oa kley /CTi /C a pito I Cycle-sponsored Matt Goerke. Goerke won his division early in the weekend and was able to hold off the Honda rider throughout the moto. When the checkered flag came out, Millsaps had a comfortable lead over Goerke and Alessi. Villopoto finished fourth. "On the start, I swung out a little too wide, so I dove to the inside and came out in about third," Millsaps said. "I moved into second around the two tabletops and passed Villopoto before the rhythm section. I have been using a new training program Nick Adams took the GNC International Final at Mosier by stonn. The Yamaha pilot rode oft with sii class championships.