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CMC Copperstate Classic Motocross Series Round 3: Arizona State Fairgrounds STORY AND PHOTOS BY ROBERT VAN DAMME PHOENIX, AZ, MAR. 29 hat does a Pro do when the supercross series takes a week off? They use round three of the CMC Copperstate Classic - presented by Mel Clayton Ford, Gordy's, FMF, Franklin & Associates, Bent and AEO - to work on their skills. Riders such as Michael Blose (who qualified for the 125cc main in New Orleans) and Brandon Schlensig (who made the 250cc night program at Houston) came home to try to show what they have learned. But it was last round's winner, Pat McMullen, who would show that he had the speed, winning the 250cc Pro class under the lights, while in the Pee Wee (7-8) class, it was Cody Thomas taking the overall with a 1-1 score. Thomas doubled up, taking the overall in the Pee Wee Open class. Mike Roth pulled the holeshot for the first 250cc Pro moto, followed by McMullen, Schlensig and Bryan Clevenger. McMullen made quick work of Roth for the lead before they completed the first lap. McMullen and Roth pulled away from the battle for third between Schlensig and Clevenger. Each lap, Clevenger tried to get the inside position on Schlensig, only to come up short. Kyle Killebrew started fifth, ahead of Brett Galey. On lap two, Galey passed Killebrew in the back section. Killebrew went to the inside of turn one to retake fifth from Galey. McMullen stayed ahead of Roth until the check- ers came out. The battle for third continued until the final lap. Clevenger came underneath Schlensig in the infield right-hander. Then Schlensig cut back to the left of Clevenger as they entered the whoops. The two tangled and it looked like Schlensig gave in and settled for fourth, but something else happened. "I tried to go back under Clevenger, but we touched and Bryan's end of the swingarm jammed in my rear wheel - which in turn cut up my spokes,« said Schlensig. "I slowed because the wheel would barely turn, and then it completely collapsed after the finish line." Killebrew was fifth, followed by Galey, Tyler Green and Ed Foedish. Clevenger took the point at the start of moto two, with McMullen second and Roth third. Schlensig came alongside Roth as they entered the whoops. Then, in the final corner, McMullen passed Clevenger for the lead. Schlensig, on a borrowed rear wheel, cut back underneath Roth and tried to complete the pass at the finish-line tabletop. Roth and Schlensig raced side by side going into turn one, onto the back section and into the infield. Roth went ahead of Schlensig and almost had a double pass as he took the inside while Clevenger was squaring off from the the only other Pro to post double class wins. Thomas pulled the holeshot for the first Pee Wee (7 -8) moto, followed by Justin Quinn and Jacob Becchina. Coming into the infield, Becchina passed Quinn for second, followed by Drake Hallock, Josh Hints and Austin Wells. Becchina closed right behind Thomas on lap two and appeared to have the drive in the back section, but Becchina slid out in the corner, giving Thomas some breathing room. Becchina still held second when he resumed racing. Then Hallock bobbled coming out of turn one, letting Wells and Hints go by. Thomas' lead shrunk again on the final lap. Becchina caught up when Thomas was navigating his way around lappers. Then, coming out of the whoops, Thomas tried to go on the inside of a lapper, but there was no room, so Thomas went to the outside on the final corner. Becchina tried to go in between Thomas and the lapper but ran out of real estate. Thomas was first, followed by Becchina, Quinn, Wells, Hints and Hallock. Wells took the lead in moto two, with Becchina, Thomas, Hallock and Quinn in tow. Thomas went by Becchina just before the infield section. On lap two, Hints moved up to sixth. Becchina started to make mistakes, which let Quinn pass for third. On lap three, Thomas passed Wells in the whoops. Thomas held on for the moto win, followed by Wells, Quinn, Becchina and Hallock. ION outside of the corner. The two just missed each other, with Clevenger getting the better drive through the whoops. Then Schlensig came under pressure from Killebrew. Roth was pushing on Clevenger, trying to close the gap on McMullen. Schlensig put in a few good laps and pulled away from Killebrew. The Ames/Bell/Axo-sponsored McMullen came home with the win, pursued by Clevenger, Roth, Schlensig and Killebrew. Clevenger took the overall in the 125cc Pro class by posting a 2-1 score. Blose, who won the first moto, appear to have the second moto sewn up. "Blose just slid out in a corner and I took over,« said Clevenger. Besides Roth, the AEO/Town & Country-sponsored Clevenger was II: U II: I • ArizGna StIli! Fairgrounds Phoenix, Arizona Results: march 29, 2002 (Round 31 P/W (4-6): 1. Jacob Fox (Cob); 2. Baily Brunner (Cob); 3. Tristan Hunter (Cob). P/W (7-8): 1. Cody Thomas (Cob); 2. Austin Wells (Pol); 3. Justin Quinn (Cob). P/W OPEN: I. Cody Thomas (Cob); 2. Austin Welis (Pol); 3. Baily Brunner (Cob). 65 BEG: 1. Ethan Morin (Kew); 2. Austin Win" (KTM): 3. Seth Anderson (Kaw). 65 (0081: 1. Jackson Paquette \KTM); 2. Justin Quinn (KTM ; 3. Cody Thomes (Kaw . 65 (9-11): I. Trey Adamson (KTM); 2. J.C. Redondo (Kew); 3. Dillon HudcUeston (Kaw). 65 OPEN: 1. Paul DeSoto (KTM); 2. Trey Adamson (KTM); 3. Dillon Huddleston \KeW). 80 BEG D-I: 1. Sean Geiser (Yam; 2. Cyle Teal (Vern); 3. Shewn Riordlln (Kew). 80 BEG 0-2: 1. Bill MacNaster (Han); 2. Zan Bergerson (SUl): 3. John Matthews (Yam). 60 (7-11): 1. Mike Loder (Yam); 2. Chase Sims (Kaw); 3. Curtis Smith (Yam). 60 (12·13): I. Buddi Bruner (Kaw); 2. Andy Straight (Yem); 3. Austin White (Yam). 60 (14-16): I. Clay Higgins (Kaw): 2. Ryan Nesser (Yam); 3. Alex Haag (KtlIw). SfM.lNI: 1. C1"y Higgins (Kew); 2. Buddi Bruner (Kaw); 3. Scott Doener (Kaw). SCHBY: 1. Chris Blose (SUl); 2. Bryan Ehrman (Kaw); 3. Kyle Rivera (Yam). OPEN: 1. David Vusovlch (Hon): 2. Nate Ramsden (Hon); 3. Kevin Thomas (KTM). 125 BEG: I. Andy Gartman (Yam); 2. Derek Geiser (Y8m); 3. Adam Tuley (Hon). 125 JR: 1. D.C. Jones (Yam); 2. A.J. Petrucci (Yam); 3. Ronnie all.mble (Yam). 125 INT: 1. Sryen Ehrman (Ke ... ); 2. Matt Petrucci (YllIm); 3. Derek Vusovlch (Hon). 125 PRO: I. Bryan Clevenger (SUl); 2. Michael Blose (Suz); 3. Kevin Hl:Irshmlm (KTM). 250 BEG: 1. Casey Dietz (Hon); 2. Josh Tyro (Yem); 3. Johnny Uttle (Han). 250 JR: 1. Ronnie Gllmble (Yam); 2. Adem Richardson (Yam); 3. Tim Johnson (Han). 250 INT: 1. Bryan Ehrman (KllW); 2. Nllte Rllmsden (Hon); 3. Tim Wusson (Yam). 250 PRO: 1. Pet McMullen (Suz); 2. Bryan Clevenger (Suz); 3. Mike Roth (Hon); 4. Brllndon Schlensig (Hon); 5. Kyle Killebrew (Hon). 25+ AM: I. Sheun Robert (Hon); 2. Don Beale (Hon); 3. Joe Coleman (Yam). 30. BEG: I. Rob Wood (KTM); 2. Jason Hawkins (Hen); 3. Brett Carlson (Hen). 30+ JR: t. Den Beale (Hon); 2. Shaun Robert (Han); 3. Chris Fosso (Hon). 30. HiT: 1. Brian Honsmith (Yam); 2. Tim Wusson (Yam); 3. Tim Johnson (Hon). 30. PRO: 1. Mike Roth (Han); 2. Ed Foedish (Yem); 3. Bryan Brunner (SUl). 40. AM: I. Kevin Gorski (Hon); 2. Steve McFarland (KTM); 3. Jim Conner (Yam). n • _ s • APRIL 24. 2002 47