Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

~ Modesto, while Fittro snagged the KTM 50 Adventure, courtesy of DH Cycles of Modesto. Throughout the series, all 50cc and 60cc facers became eligible to win the KTM after receiving a raffle ticket for each class entered, with the same going for all 80cc-and-above racers, who were eligible to win the Yamaha. However. with a "must be present to win" rule in effect, the KTM drawing featured a little suspense. as a hush fell over the crowd as the first name was about to be drawn. After verifying the winner was not present, Fittro's name was drawn next, and the 10-year-old from EI Mira, California, pushed his way through the crowd, displaying his winning ticket and wearing a huge grin from ear to ear. As for the Yamaha drawing, Weigand's name was the first one drawn, and it was special moment as he and his dad, both in shock, came forward to claim the prize. What made winning the bike so sweet was the fact that Weigand had a pair of brand-new Suzuki RM80s stolen not too long ago at a race in Marysville, California. While the bikes were never recovered, a fellow racer loaned him a Yamaha YZ80 and, after taking a liking to the blue machine, Weigand eventually purchased his own bikes; he can now add a 125 to his stable. "rve ridden a 125 for about 15 minutes UJ =; '>" '" ~ 0. Oatfield Raceway: Bike winners Joel Fittro (KTM) and Beau Weigand (Yamaha) celebrate with Valerie Enos and Jack "Corky" Azevedo of AMP Racing after the sixth and final round of the AMP/GFI Spring Series, in Turlock, California. once," said the 14-year-old Weigand, "but now I can practice on one that's actually mine. It's so cool! I couldn't believe it when I heard my name." As if winning the bikes weren't enough, both racers were also winners on the track: Weigand won the BOcc Intermediate-class series championship, and Fittro won the 60cc Novice·c1ass series championship. Huge 5-foot series-end trophies were awarded to the class champions, and the sixrace series, which was well·attended (drawing an average of more than 400 riders per race), was yet another success, as AMP Racing con· tinued its commitment to promoting top-quality events, bringing in serious racers not only from California but from Washington, Oregon and Nevada as well. "I think the racers that are serious about succeeding come to our events because we prep the tracks to offer similar challenges that you would face at the Nationals - big ruts and nasty braking and acceleration bumps," said Corky Azevedo. ·Plus we have an excellent crew to take care of the racers from the minute they arrive until their last mota." While everyone in attendance enjoyed exciting racing on the track, the pits were buzzing, as it was the second annual Rider Appreciation Weekend. Live bands, a barbecue, and lots of raffle prizes were the order of the weekend, along with a huge display of motorcycles and watercraft. presented by Merced Powersports and Yamaha of Modesto. U.S. Eastern Motocross Spring Series presented by Serious Raceware U.S. Motocross Mega Series Rounds 1017: Birch Creek Motorsports Lough, Walker Battle at Birch Creek By GREG SUMNER DANVILLE, VA, MAY 26 As two major series converged on Birch Creek, 487 riders came to do battle. Temperatures in the mid-80s made for a hot, dusty event. In the first 250cc A mota, Yamaha Motor Corp./Mark V/Liquid Performance/Sinisalo/ Scott-backed Kevin Walker pulled the early lead and checked out. Champion Cycle/Thor/ Race Tech/EVS-backed KTM rider Hans Neel led the chase. Neel fought off a late-mota charge from Chad Lough. William Bryant and Jim Neese finished out the top five after the seven.lap battle. In mota two, Walker was again out front, with Neese in tow. Lough, Mike Martin and Neel followed. On lap one, Neel pulled off with bike problems and scored a DNF. At the start of lap three, Walker crashed hard on the first downhill. Upstate Cycle/Serious Raceware/Hammerhead/Tag/Total Control Suspension's Neese took over the lead, with Fast By Francis/Answer/Pro Taper/Big Gunbacked Lough in second. Walker resumed a lap down, behind Neese. At the finish. the order was Neese. Lough, Martin, Bryant and Doug Earles. After winning mota one, Walker finished 11 tho Lough's 3-2 tally gave him the overall, beating Neese's 5-1 finishes. From the start. the first 125cc A mota looked like a repeat of the first 250cc mota. Walker was in the point, with Neel in hot pursuit. Just after the snake pit on lap one, Neel got caught in a rut and went down. Chad Newton took over second, with Lough and Neese giving chase. Neel recovered and rejoined the pack in about 10th, with six laps to go. On the second lap, Lough put the pass on Newton. Neese also bagged Newton. Going through the snake pit the second time, Neese put Lough back to third. On the third lap, Martin was all over Newton. Martin took over fourth on the uphill. On lap four, Neel passed Newton and went after Martin. That first-lap crash must have made Neel mad, because the man was on a mission! In the snake pit on lap five. Neel moved past Martin into fourth. Neel quickly advanced, with Lough in his sights. On the back-side double, Neel regained third. On the last lap, Neese was on a roll and all over Walker - but Walker held the lead at the line. Walker led mota two, with Neel and Neese on his heels. Triangle Cycles' Newton (the owner of Total Control Suspension) heid down Oatfield Raceway Turlock, California Results: May 26, 2002 (Round 6 of 6) Pee Wee Track 50 (4-6) P/W JR: Travis Neilton (Yam). 50 (4-6) STK: Brandon Olivares (Pol). 50 (4-6) MOD: James Sacher (KTM). 50 (7-8) STK, ""'" 6<0"'" (KTM). 50 (7-8) MOD: Emllee Pope: (KTM). 50 (0-8) OPEN: Jeremiah Elven (KTM). Main Track 50 (4-6) STK: Brandon Olivares (Pol). SO (7-8) STK: Christopher Buhlig (Pol). 60 BEG: Trevor Allred (KTM). 60 NOV: Joel Fittro (Kaw). 60 I!"IT: Zak Fredrickson (KTM). 60 OPEN: Zak Fredrickson (KTM). 80 BEG: Austin McCrory (Yam). 80 NOV: Kyle Smith (Yam). 80 INT: Beau Weigand (Yam). 80 EX: Adorn Kowalczyk (Suz). 80 s/MlNI: Brad Kelly (Hon). 100: Samantha Armstrong (Hon). B/W: Curtis Roe (Hon). sCHBY: Eric McCrummen ($uz), 125 BEG: Josh Mattson (Yam). 125 NOV: Trevor Doniak (Yam). 125 INT: Eric McCru~n (SUl). 125 PRO: Billy Jurevidl (Yam). 250 BEG: Corey Todd (Yam). 250 NOV: Jack Elliot (Ylm). 250 INT: Christopher Stew~rt (Yam). 250 PRO: D~nny P~ladjno (Yam). 500 NOV: Nick McKinnon (Yam). 500 PRO: Cliff Cook (Hon). 4·STRK: J~son Cllmeron (Yam). 25+ BEG: Ch~d Blllke (Yam). 2S+ NOV: Steve Snyder (Hen). 25+ tNT: Jeff Marsh (Hon). 25. EX: Monty Ware (Ytlm). 30+ BEG: Du~ne Bonini (Yam). 30+ NOV: David Chick (Hon). 30. INT; Gary Curtis (Hon). 30. EX: Monty Ware (Yam). 30+ PRO: Eric Ducray (Yam). 35+ NOV: David Chick (Hen). 35+ INT: Gary Curtis (Hon). 3S. EX: Ken McKenzie (Yam). 40. NOV: Brad Huffer (Hon). 40. INT: MIke Scott (Yam). 40+ EX: Ken McKenzie (Yam). SO. AM: Craig Watts (Yam). 56 JULY 3, 2002' ." U ." I ... n ... _ IS fourth. Neese took over second on lap four. After starting about 11 th, Lough was on the move; he took over fourth from Newton over the triple to start lap six. Just after the snake pit on the final lap, Walker waved at Neese, who was second and a hundred yards back. Walker went wire to wire for a perfect 1·1 tally and the overall. With a field of 21 riders, Brae Tickle walked away with the Supermini 80-105cc (12-15) class. Tickle won both motos wire to wire and uncontested. The battle was for second. Wes Gauldin took second overall with a 2-3 tally. Chris Osborne finished a strong third in the first mota, only to DNF mota two. Wiley Toth Jr. placed fourth in moto one, and after betting Gauldin in moto two, took home third for the day. Chad Muterspaugh finished fifth in mota one but had to settle for njnth in the second mota. Steven Houser took home fourth. and Glen Martin was fifth overall. Greg Junge had his way in the 125cc C contest, winning both motos of the 34-rider class. Christopher Nelson wrapped up second by placing second in the two motos. Lucas Bauer finished a strong third in the first mota. but problems in the second moto forced him to finish eighth. Third overall went to Brandon Smith with a consistent 4-3 ride. Justin Lewis held down fourth overall by finishing fifth in mota one and fourth in the second. In mota two, Geoffrey Nance finished a strong fifth, but Nance's seventh in moto one wasn't enough. Bauer's points gave him fifth overall. What a battle! In the Over 30 B class, High Point Honda/Pama Furniture/Amsoil's Anthony Pennisi had a perfect day, winning both motos after fighting off mota charges from Roger Baxter and Kris Frost. Baxter and Frost swapped second and third. Steven Ratliff had strong rides and took home fourth overall. Gary Hinkle ran fourth in mota two, but Larry Sparks scored enough points to take fifth overall. Richard Hester took home the honors in the Over 25 C/D contest. Hester beat Anthony Jones in two close motos. In the end, Hester prevailed with a 1-1 score. Jones closely followed. Billy Butler, Robert Clark and Wesley Yonce rounded out the top five. Birch Creek Motorsports Danville, Virginia Results, May 26, 2002 (Rounds 10/7) 50 SHAFT (BEQ): I. Riley Beck (Yam): 2. Cotin Beck (Yam); 3. Dakota Pflzenmayer (Yam): 4. Ross Miles (Yam). SO (4-8) SHAFT/OlL-II1J STK: I. Jeff Burgess Jr. (Yam): 2. Cooper Webb (Pol); 3. Chandler lindsey (Yam); 4. Matthew Burkeen (Yam): 5. Jonathan Newton (Yam). 50 (4-6) STK.: I. lack Murphy (Cob): 2. Cooper Webb (yam): 3. O\andler Undsey (KTM): 4. Jay Swafford (Cob): 5. Jeremy Wendelken (Pol). SO (7.8) STK: I. ~ Bean (KTM): 2. Jacob Hayes (Cob): 3. Rytln Caner (KTM); 4. Kyle Peters (KTM): 5. Brandon WoIle1lhaupt. (Pol). OIl MINI 60·85 (7.11): I. Donald ruley (Kew). 65 (7-9): I. Colton Tickle (KTM): 2. Ryan Zimmer (KTM); 3. Steven Good (KTM): 4. Joseph Bean (KTM): 5. Jacob Hayes (KTM). 65 (10-11): I. D.J. Ellis (KTM): 2. Austin Atzwater (KTMl: 3. Trevor Shields (trrM); 4. Thom8s Roberts (KTM); 5. Ryan Smith (KTM). 80 D (BEG): I. Jessie Ev~ns (KllW): 2. Jason Stolzenthlllen (Hon); 3. Austin Carr (Hon): 4. Ian Hamitton (Yam): 5. Jason Howard (Kaw). 85 (7-11): I. Benjamin Denton (Yam); 2. Zachry Alvear (Vam): 3. Garret Toth (Suz); 4. D.J. E1Us (Sw.): 5. Colton Tk:kle (Hon). 85 (9-13): I. Joey Leadbeater (Suz); 2. Tyler Newton (Suz); 3. Clay Willett (Hon); 4. KtIssie Wilks (Yam); 5. Kody Fos~ (Kaw). 85 (12-13): l. Broc Tickle (Han); 2. Willy Toth Jr. (Suz); 3. Steven Houser (Yam): 4. Chad Muterspaugh (Kaw); 5. Ryan Shooyo (Kaw). 85 (14.15): l. William Bryant (Yllm): 2. Glen Martin (Kaw); 3. Chris Osborne (Suz): 4. Wus Goins (Ylm): 5. Wes Gauldin (Klllll). S/MINI 80-105 (12.15): I. Broc TIckle (Hon); 2. Wes Gauldin (Kaw); 3. Willy Toth Jr. (Suz): 4. Steven Houser (Yam); 5. Glen Martin (Kaw). 125 SCHBY (12-15): J. Travis Flowers (Ylm): 2. Samuel K. Fitzwater (Hon); 3. Zackary Knight (Hon): 4. LUCllS Bauer (Yam): 5. Geoffrey Nance (Yam). 125 PRO: I. Kevin Wilker (Yam); 2. Jim L. Neese (Hus): 3. Hllns Neel (KTM): 4. Chad Lough (Hon): 5. Chad Newton (Ytlm). 125 B: J. Matt Miller (Suz); 2. Trlvis Rowers (Yam); 3. J~son Tucker (Suz): 4. Samuel K. f'rtzwtlter (Hon): 5. Jonathan Williams (Yam). Birch Creek Motorsports: Kevin Walker leads Hans Neel, Chad Newton, Chad Lough and Jim Neese down Mount Deacon at the start of the first 125cc A moto at round 10 of the U_S. Eastern Motocross Spring Series in Danville, Virginia_

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