Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Tieamey made his move to the front before the halfway point and succeeded in pulling a small lead on Mastalka in short order, but as the eight-lap moto began winding down, it appeared as though Tiearney was losing his rhythm. Mastalka began picking up the lost time and shortly found himself on the leading Suzuki's rear fender. The switch in momentum carried Mastalka into the lead and on to the victory. Tiearney held on to bring in the second spot. It is uncharacteristic to see Tiearney go backward in such a fashion, and the question in the pits was whether or not he could rebound to top Mastalka in moto two. The second mota went off with Mastalka again in the lead, with an obviously determined Tiearney right on his rear fender. Tiearney launched a full assault on Mastalka early, but it seemed he could not find the room he needed to make his move on the increasingly rough circuit. With a few laps complete, Tieamey decided on a third-gear, wide-open arc around the sandy outer rim of the first turn in an attempt to claim the lead from Mastalka, who was holding a tight line around the inside. However, it was not to be, as Tiearney came in too hot, stood the bike up and was shot over the berm. With that, Mastalka inherited a comfortable lead over the new second-placed rider, Jesse Duncan, and went on to complete the I-I sweep. Duncan's 3-2 score landed him in second. If the proceeding paints too blea k a picture of Tiearney's day, it shouldn't: Tiearney decisively claimed both 250cc Pro motos aboard a borrowed KX250, topping Mastalka in the first moto and Honda pilot Jeston Ponciano in the second. Strangely enough, the winners of both the Pro classes on the day were carried to the wins by bikes they hadn't Fernie)' International Raceway: Justin Mastalka took the 125cc Pro-class win on an unfamiliar YZ250F with a 1-1 posting at the sixth round of the MXWest Spring Series in Fernley, Nevada. up before their second motos even began. It became obvious early on that the course was going to become harsh as the day wore on, and it was also immediately clear that Suzuki pilot Nathan Tieamey, who came into the day fresh off some regional arenacross wins in Idaho, was going to be the Pro favorite. Mastalka looked impressive as well, but it was Tiearney's recent hot streak that gave him the nod as the top contender - along with the fact that the normally twostroke-mounted Mastalka had borrowed a pair of four-stroke Yamahas to compete aboard, which is not always an easy transition for racers bred on premix. The first 125cc Pro moto started predictably enough when Mastalka pulled to the front of the pack on the first lap, with Suzuki jockey Tiearney applying heavy pressure in second. Las Vegas Motor speedway Las Vegas Boulevard Las vegas, Nevada 89115 Phone: 702/563-2582 We.b site: www.1Q$WgasrnotoeToss.com Directions: Take I~ 15 Freeway north of the Strip, exit at Speedway Boulevard, turn right on Hollywood, then left on Las Vegas Boulevard. Enter ot Gate 2. ClubslAssociations: Club MX Motocross Rocing Track: 1 mile long, hard-packed reject sand. Facilities: Concessions, Port-O-Johns Disciplines: Supercross, Motocross Practice: Tuesday and Thursday nights Membership Fee: $35 per yeor, or $5 per race doy Racing: Twice monthly Practice Days Gate Fee: $15 per rider, $5 per spectator M'\ior Events: Casino Town MX Series, Beat The Heat Night MX Series, Fall Motocross Series, MRAN Grand Prix Race Days Gate Fee: $8 per adu.lt. $4 per child 88 MAY 1, 2002' lCl U C - • • n .. PHOTO By !'\ARTEE'S TRACKSIDE PHOTOS WV S ridden before! In other action, the 125cc Intermediate class was its usual mass of organized chaos. The first-moto win seemed to be in the bag for Yamaha pilot Jeff Klino, until a late-mota endo over the front step-up left him out of contention. Works Racing rider Nick Baugh picked up the lead and the first-moto victory, while Jimmy Hazel took his YZ250F from the back of the pack after a poor start to claim second. There would be no poor start for Hazel in the second moto, though, as a holes hot and runaway victory sealed his spot at the top of the overall standings. Baugh's fourth place in the second moto was good enough for the second spot on the day. The series is getting tighter in all classes with only two rounds to go, so next weekend's non-series race in Stead, Nevada, could prove relatively relaxing for everyone from the 80cc Beginners to the scoring staff. After that, though, it's on to Lovelock, Nevada, on the following weekend, and it'll be onward with the points chase once more. CN Fernley In1I!nWilllUll Racewey Fernley, Nevada Resuhs:ApriI7,2DOZIRound&J 50 (0-7) 0-1: 1. Lucos Jones (Pol): 2. lechery Speno (KTM): 3. K.C. Green (Pol). so (0-7) 0-2: J. Brion Sjogren (KTM); 2. Ty Siminoe (KTM): 3. John Preston Jr. (Pol). 50 (8+): J. Johnny Highfill (KTM). 60 (0-9): 1. Dakota May (Kaw); 2. ABron Siminoe (Kaw); 3. Keith AdlJms (Kaw). 60 (10+): I. Jorrod Spono (KTM); 2. Dokola Neuffer (KTM); 3. Chris Speker (Kow). 80 BEG 0-1: 1. Alison Pyne (Hon); 2. Larry Stollard Jr. (KTM): 3. Austin Lehrer (Yam). 80 BEG 0·2: 1. Tanner Davis (Hon); 2. Chris Lenard (Hon); 3. Michael Borcham (Yam). 80 JR 0-1: 1. Ryeln Ellger (Suz); 2. Nic Vandermade (Hon); 3. Nick Frenklin (Kew). 80 JR 0-2: I. Molt Memeo (Yom); 2. Scolt Ohm (Hon); 3. Joe Memeo (Yom). 80 INT: I. J.L Bit> (Yom); 2. Beou Meier (Suz): 3. Nothan Ashiey (Hon). 125 BEG 0-1: 1. Rusty Wise (Hon); 2. Matt Soumouel (Hon); 3. Philip Cook (Suz). 125 BEG 0-2; I. Chose Monshe (Yom); 2. Jake Neuffer (Yam): 3. Manuel Herrerll (Kaw). 125 JR D- t: I. Tony Fritsche (Yam): 2. Cooper Munson (Hon); 3. Anthony Remos (Hon). 125 JR 0-2: 1. Richard Carl (Yam): 2. J.L. Bitz (Hon): 3. Tyler Bryonl (Yom). 125 INT: 1. Jimmy Hazel (Yam); 2. Nick Baugh (Kaw); 3. Rich Duncan (Yam). 125 PRO: J. Justin Mast81k8 (Yam); 2. Jesse Dunclln (Yam); 3. Nathan Tieamey (Suz). 250 BEG: 1. Aaron Harvey (Yam); 2. Erik Moreno (Yam); 3. Nik Sarratea (Han). 250 JR: 1. Richard Carl (Yam); 2. Joshua Fullstone (Han); 3. James Cook (Han). 250 INT: 1. Matt Hall (Hon); 2. Rich Duncan (Suz); 3. Greg Chapel (Kow). 250 PRO: 1. N8th8n Tieamey (Kaw); 2. Jeston Ponciano (Hon); 3. Robert Beaupre (Kaw). 25. BEG: 1. Sean Miller (Hon); 2. Nik Sonata (Hon); 3. Rick Lehrer. 25. JR: 1. Brian Thiessen (Hon); 2. Carlos lsam (Han); 3. Ryan Naranjo. 25. INT: 1. Darron Sturgeon (Yam); 2. Chuck Evans (Han); 3. Corey Krohn (Yam). 30. BEG: 1. Erik Moreno (Yam); 2. John ColJachi (Suz); 3. Chris Gaarenstrook (Yam). 30. JR: I. Jim Koschella (Kaw); 2. Casey W81sh (Han); 3. Dennis Conway (KlIw). 30. INT: 1. Gary Morrill (Suz); 2. Tony Fagundes (Can); 3. Shane O'Neal (Hon). 30. EX: 1. Larry Brown (Han); 2. MlIrcus Gentry (Hon): 3. Eric Schacht (Hon). 30. PRO: I. Mike Baxter (Kaw); 2. Daryl H8ney (Suz); 3. Mike Riddle. 40. JR: 1. Tom Alex8nder (Yam); 2. Kris Svenson; 3. Kurt Neuffer (Yem). 40. tNT: 1. Peter Mayforth (Han); 2. Brian Eatherley (Yam); 3. Victor Demitrim. 40. EX: 1. Robbie Hadlock (Han); 3. Richard MlInnschreck; 3. Eric Schlicht (Han). AMA District &Points Race/Hurricane Hills Season Opener Hurricane Hills Sports Center Mertens Merciless By JIM P. SANDERSON CUFFORD,PA,APR.7 ore than 300 riders came out to Clifford, Pennsylvania, to the Hurricane Hills Sports Center for the season opener on a beautiful spring day that consisted of blue skies, bright sunshine and, eventually, temperatures in the low 50s. Overnight temperatures went down almost to the teens, which made practice sessions pretty slippery, as the ground had yet to thaw. By the time racing started, though, track conditions were excellent! Fast By Ferracci/Husqvarnabacked Pro/Expert racer Steve Mertens won both the 125cc A-class motos with ease, finishing both motos with huge leads. Rounding out the 125cc A-class podium were Chris Hunter, with his consistent 2-2 rides, and Elio Pereira, with his 4-3 score. Yamaha pilot Robert Quinn got things going in the first moto; he was at the head of the pack as it rounded the gO-degree, left-hand first turn. Quinn's lead didn't last long, as Mertens blew by and quickly began to pull away. Rounding out the top five were Daryl Erskine, Hunter and Eddie M Kunitz. Mertens had basically checked out by lap three of this seven-lap moto, his lead now a whopping nine seconds with four laps to go. By that time, Quinn was still hanging on to second, Kunitz had moved up to third, Pereira was now in fourth, and Hunter was fifth. Quite a bit changed by the end of the following lap: Mertens increased his lead to an astounding 12 seconds, while Hunter moved all the way to second, which relegated Quinn to third, Kunitz to fourth and Pereira to fifth. Mertens took the checkered flag with a staggering 16-second advantage, followed by Hunter, Kunitz, Pereira and Quinn. Mertens didn't waste any time in the second moto, as he led the pack out of the first turn and never looked back. In tow were Hunter, Pereira, Quinn and Kunitz. By lap three, Mertens' lead wasn't as huge as in the previous mota, but it was still a good six seconds. The top five were unchanged and had spread out a bit by now, with the only battle being the one for fourth and fifth place. Near the end of lap three, Kunitz made his move on Quinn for fourth in the big, sweeping turn by the start area; Quinn got slightly out of shape and

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