Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

AMA Gold Star Series Round 1: Washougal Motocross Park Supercross star Ryan Huffman showed Didier his rear wheel from start to finish. Huffman, the lone Aclass rider, finished slightly ahead of Didier, who carded the B-c1ass overall win with 1-1 finishes, but that's where consistency ended. Robert Thomas (4-5) took second, while Mike Hurlburt (3- 7), Scott Sherrell (8-3) and Adrian Carmichael (2-10) rounded out the top five. However, Carmichael's day wasn't a total wash, as the Yamaha rider from Spanaway, Washington, exchanged moto wins with Nevada's Tim Walker in the Over 25 A class. Walker, riding a 125cc Honda, charged through the sloppy conditions to win moto one. but in the drier conditions of moto two, Car,nichael bolted to the head of the field and was never challenged. KTM rider Jody Warne (2-2) placed second. followed by Walker (1-3). eN STORV AND PHOTOS BV CLAV liGHT WASHOUGAL, WA, APR. 7 amaha-mounted riders Jake Anstett and Davis Didier overcame adverse weather conditions to post impressive overall victories at the opening round of the AMA Gold Star Series, which also doubled as the AMA District 27 Washougal Motocross Park season opener. The 18-year-old Didier from Portland, Oregon, demolished the competition in the 250cc B class in a double-moto rout. Didier was a three-moto winner on the day; the YZ pilot was also well on his way to a win in the first 125cc B moto aboard his YZ250F, but he encountered a mechanical problem, which was later diagnosed as a faulty compression release. Although he handily topped moto two, his 9-1 tally garnered fifth overall. Equally impressive was the diminutive Yamaha speedster Anstett, who made the lengthy trek from Port Angeles, Washington, to snare overall wins in the 80cc (7-11) and Supermini (9-11) classes. Only a poor start in a second moto prevented what could have been a perfect four-for-four sweep of the two classes for Anstett. Y Despite the Incredibly muddy c:ondltlons in Washougal, Washington, Davis Didier dominated the 25Oc:c B class. He also topped the second 125cc B mota and finished fifth overall at the first round of the AMA Gold Star Series. Local Kawasaki rider Chris Johnson darted out in front of the combined 85cc age-group classes, but his lead would only last for one lap. Cody Cosens held the lead as the pack funneled through the wheel-deep whoop section, but Cosens' lead lasted until the end of lap two. Kawasaki rider Randall Walt took the lead on lap three, but just like all the leaders before him, the mud got the best of him. Anstett, who started off in the second wave of 85cc (7-11) riders, took command on the final circuit and remained there. Johnson followed Anstett's surge forward through the pack and trailed the YZ pilot at the finish, while Oregon's Jesse Wuori finished a close third after running consistently in the top five throughout the moto. Moto two was all Johnson's; he got off the line fastest on what was becoming a superb, tacky track, while Gunnar Strum, Wuori, Ajay Olinger and Max Luotke filled the top five. Johnson stayed out front for the entire moto, with Strum being his closest competitor. Washougal's Cody Short was also impressive; after starting off in the second wave, Short settled in behind the lead duo - who were both in the elder 85cc (12-15) class - posting a moto win in the 85cc (7 -11) division. Johnson (1-1), Strum (4-2) and Wuori (2-4) filled the top three in the 85cc (12-15) division, while Anstett (1-2), Short (3-1) and Vincent Campochiaro (2-3) were the rostrum finishers in the 85cc (7 -11) class. Perhaps the riders with the greatest challenges were the 50cc contestants. The wheel-plugging mud forced a shortened course, as the uphill section and "Leach's Lump" were both Jake Anstett was a two-c:lass winner at the AMA District 27 Washougal Motocross kickoff, posting 85ec (7-11) and Supermini (9·11) victories aboard his Yamaha. eliminated. Cobra riders dominated the two combined classes, as Conner Elliot and Matthew Shirley showed exceptional mud-riding prowess in class-winning performances of the 50cc (7-8) and (4-6) classes, respectively. Didier, son of former 1970s Pro Dave Didier, trailed one of Washington's top B riders, Jason Thomas, at the unleashing of the first 125cc B moto, but Thomas' fine ride came to an end after he slid out in turn one. Didier to grabbed the lead, although it would be brief. After putting huge ground on the rest of the field in only two laps, disaster struck for the YZF pilot. "My compression-release lever got stuck in," a tired and muddy Didier said. "At first, I though I had lost all compression, but I realized that the lever was stuck on the 'in' position. Then I finally got it fired up to finish ninth." Moto two was much better for Didier, who grabbed the lead at the unleashing and then stayed upright on the slippery track to post a moto victory, ahead of Oregon's Cody Buyas and Thomas, who posted an inspiring come-from-behind ride to win moto one. Thomas snared an overall win, followed by Buyas (3-2) and Victor Smith (2-5). Things went better for Didier in the 250cc B class, as he dominated moto one. Didier had a greater challenge in moto two, though, as National and cue I • Wasbaugal M _ Palil Wasbougal, Washington Results: April 1, ZDDZlRou d 11 50 (4-6): I. Matthew Shirley (Cob): 2. Conner Meek (KTM); 3. Ryan M;randa (Pol). 50 (7·8): 1. Conner Elliot (Cob); 2. M8rcus Anslen..n (KTM); 3. Devon Moore (KTM); 4. Bradley Games (Cob); 5. Kyle Huffmlln (KTM). 60 (7-8): I. Ben Bolda..no (Kaw); 2. Kyle Smith (Kew); 3. Chase Underhill (Kaw); 4. Taylor Feller (Kaw); 5. Ryan Denny (Kaw). 60 (9-11): I. Cory Green (Kaw); 2. Cody DesouzlI; 3. Jordan Ferrier (Kaw): 4. Meliss8 Coblentz (Kaw); 5. Derek Swantek (Kaw). 80 BEG: 1. Corey Veto (Yem); 2. Nick Mirenda (Kaw); 3. Jake Sells (SUl): 4. Josh Perkins (SUl); 5. Kyler Leingang (Hon). 80 (7-11): 1. Jake Anstett (Vam); 2. Cody Short (Yam); 3. Vincent C"mpochiaro (Kaw); 4. Joey Ruminer (Yam); 5. Tyler Holweger (K8W). 80 (12-15): I. Chris Johnson (Kaw); 2. Gunnar Strum (Yam); 3. Jesse Wuori (Suz); 4. Ajay Olinger (Kaw); 5. Max Luotke (Vom). S/MINI (9-11): 1. Jake Anstett (Vam); 2. Vincent Campochiaro (Kaw): 3 Cherlie Cortez (Kaw). S/MINI (12-15): 1. Jesse Wuori (SU1); 2. Gunnar Strum (Y8m); 3. Rendall Welt (Kew). 125 B: 1. J8son Thomes (Han); 2. Cody Buyas (Han); 3. Victor Smith (Han)' 4 Jeffrey Ruminer (Yam); 5. Davis Diwer (Yam) 125 C: 1. Guy E. Tow (Kaw); 2. J"red McAllister; 3. Robert Wullbrtllndt: (Suz): 4. Eric Greene (Hon): 5. Erik Rhine (Han). 125 0: J. Jeff Houser: 2. Jacob Klingberg (Yam); 3. Jered Bowman (Yam): 4 Sherman Miller (Vam); 5. Justin Van Slyke (SUl). 250 A: I. Ryon Huffman (Vam) 250 B: I. Davis Didier (Y8m): 2. Robert Thomas (Hon): 3. Mike Hurlburt (Suz1: 4 Scott Sherrell (Hon): 5. Adrian Carmichael (Y"m). 250 C: I. Dan Green (Hon); 2. Larry Brunette (Hon); 3. Nic Wolfer (SUl); 4. Jerry Ebert (Vom); 5. Andy Gustafson (SUl). 250 0: J. L8wrence Weuzinger (Hon); 2. Don Walker (Yam); 3. Jayson Tracy (Yam); 4. Gary Gilbert (Han); 5. Brian Nomura (Hon). BTH B: 1. Robert Thomas (Hon); 2. Keith Ford (Kaw). 8TH C: 1. Eric Greene (Han); 2, Jered Bowman (Yam); 3. Joe McNeil (Han); 4. Anthony Veto (Hon); 5. Ricky Wuori (Suz). WMN: I. Jennifer Jordan (Hon); 2. Brittney Tellone (Yam); 3. Pamela Gillette (KZlW): 4. Cristina Brunette (Han); 5. Amy Ught (Kew). 25+ AlB: 1. Adrian C"rmicheel (Yam); 2. Jody Warne (KTM); 3. Tim Welker (Han). 25. C: I. Don Green (Hon); 2. Lee Walch (Hon); 3. Ben Vanthier (Yam); 4. Don Walker (Yam); 5. Jeremy Peake (Can). 30. C: I. Ken Daron (KlIw); 2. Steve Perry (Han); 3. Daryl Gainey (Han); 4. Randy Gilbert (Vam); 5. Edword Clark (Hon). 40+ A: 1. John Svenson (Han); 2. Mike Hurlburt (Suz); 3. Bill Kent (Han); 4. Tom Rowland (KZlW); 5. Daniel Brocker (Hon). 40. B: 1. Jeff Bryant (Hon); 2. Scott Bergren (Suz); 3. Larry McC"rty (Hon); 4 Andy Jensen (Hon); 5. Dennis O'Neil (KTM). 40. C: 1. L8wrence Weuzinger (Hon); 2. Curtis Paulson (Kaw); 3. David Overllcker (Yam); 4. Gery Hehr (KTM); 5. M;ke Sutherland (Hon). n e _ 50 • MAY 1, 2002 71

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