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AMA Yamaha/Maxxis Western Four-Stroke Nationals Round 5: Hungry Valley SVRA By DON SCHNEIDER PHOTOS BY www.4STROKENATIONALS.COM GORMAN, CA, JUNE 9 pud Walters captured another overall win, via a 2-1 tally, and with it another $1500, aboard his American Honda/White Brothers;VP Racing Fuels CRF450R, tuned by Ted Monaghan. Though the amount of Premier Pro-Am entries has grClwn at each round, averaging 68 per round, Walters has podiumed at all five rounds. With his third overall victory, Walters heads to Honey Lake MX Park in Milford, California, on July 4 with a 39-point advantage on his closest competitor, teammate Paul Carpenter, 228-189. Finishing second was Tim Weigand (1-6), whose moto-one win took the Racer's Edge rider completely by surprise. "Eric Crippa [of R&D and American Honda] set me up and let me borrow the CRF, as Jason Aeck, team owner of TRE, was stoked to come back and race the Western Four-Stroke Nationals," Weigand said. The third podium spot was held by National number-two rider Nathan Woods (4-3). "This is my first podium this season," he enthusiastically stated, "and it's the start of many. It's been a S while coming, but I have to say, my Maxxis Tires gave me a jump off the concrete pad, my VP Racing Fuels and Maxima Oils gave me the power I needed, and Yamaha Powerhouse's Tim Pilg and Yamaha USA's Mike Guerra gave me the bike and parts to keep me in the front today." In the first qualifier, Weigand and Rich Taylor battled for the win, while Ryan Dudek finished third. TRE/Maxima-sponsored Billy Mercier was part of a five-way battle for position, as Carmichael Honda/System P-4Rsponsored Vincent Blair, Moto Triple X's Frankie Mecono, Beau Baron, and Superfast Fuels-backed Joe Bailey III followed close behind. In the second qualifier, Daniel Blair was the young gun aboard his 72 JULY 10. 2002' cue I • Big Gun Exhaust-backed YZ426F. Pro- Valve/Yoshimura Honda rider Gordon Ward started in sixth and finished second. Big Valley Honda's Kenny Lash took third, trailed by Factory R&D's Chris Barrett, Justin Acker, Spy-sponsored Beau Boynton, and Barnett Clutches-sponsored Craig Davis. In the last-chance qualifier, Kenny Heess took the win over Texan Derek Kemp, Maxxis Tires-sponsored Mark Tilley, Mat Bateman and BVH Cannondale's Sven Stillmock. As the 30-second board went sideways for moto one, the tremendous thunder arose. National number-one rider Walters rounded the first turn ahead of Beaudry Motorsports/KTM USA/Motion Sports-backed Chaun Shawn MacDonald, Walters, Woods, Karlsen, Erik Anderson, Ty Carson, Kemp, Stillmock, Mecono, Weigand, Carpenter, Thomas and Trafton Chandler. The pack sped up toward the huge "Himalayan l30-Foot Step-Up." "I was fighting my way through to the front," Carpenter stated, "but just as I was about to jump the Himalayan, someone crossed into my line and I backed off. I then came up short and hit so hard that that the force ripped the front-brake caliper completely off." Luckily, Carpenter was not injured, but the incident obviously ended his race day. Weigand's momentum brought him past McAlister early, as he had been swallowed up by the battle royal McAlister, Woods, Carpenter and Taylor. Weigand ran sixth, followed by Mercier, MotoworidRacing.combacked 1999 champion Dustin Nelson, Daniel Blair, Dudek, Matt Karlsen and Brandon Thomas. "Weigand rode with verve," as one spectator noted. Within three laps, he had already caught the runner-up in the series, Carpenter. He passed him on lap four and then ate away at Waiters' lead. With four laps remaining, Weigand took the point, which he never relinquished. Carpenter stood his ground, and Woods crossed the line in fourth, with Taylor fifth. In moto two, Euro Cycles' KTMmounted Dudek nailed his first holeshot, just ahead of Vice's Collision/Carmichael Honda-backed n __ S Ryan Dudek (812) leads moto two, ahead of Shawn MacDonald (225), Walters (1). Woods (2) and Matt Karisen (10). between Woods and Karlsen. On the second lap, Weigand pulled out the stops and launched into the lead after the center tabletop jump, and the race was on! Nelson had one of the best rides of the season, working up to second spot by lap 11 of 15 - the same lap that Weigand took a soil sample in the whoops. Nelson kept a great pace and finished second in the moto, taking fourth on the day. "I sure didn't expect to do so well," Weigand admitted. "My goal was top five. The bike was awesome and we will be back." "I was pushing hard today," said Walters. "Tim made me work for it. My mechanic, Ted, kept writing on the pit board to 'Apply Pressure, Apply Pressure.' The way Tim was riding on the second lap, I knew he would do something he should not do. l'd rather be in second, watching the leader's lines, so that worked out well for me. Once he passed me, I found out he had several good lines. One place for sure was through the whoops, where he would quad into them and I would only triple. But that was also his fate, as that's where he crashed trying to pass me back. I'm stoked; the last few weekends have not been too good for me [Walters placed second at Washougal and third at Boise], so it's nice to win again. It was nice to get it back. I want to keep it going." For more information, check out www.4StrokeNationals.com. eN Hungry Valley SVRA Sonnan, Califamia Resul1s: June 9, 2002 [Raund 5J O/A: I. Spud WlJlters (Hon); 2.Tim Weigand (Hon); 3. Nlithan Woods (Yam); 4. Dustin Nelson (Yam); 5. Matt Kllrlsen (Vern); 6. Dliniel Blair (Yam); ..,. Billy Mercier (Honl: 8. Ryan Dudek (KTM); 9. Brandon Thomas (Hon ; 10. Gordon Ward (Hon); I I. Paul Carpenter (Hon); 12. Erik Anderson (Hon); 13. Kenny Heess (Hon); 14. Rich T8ylor (Hon): 15. Chcun McAlister (KTM): 16. Frllnkie Mecono (Yam); 17. Justin Acker (Hon); 18. Chris Berrett (Hon): 19. Vincent Bleir (Hon); 20. Mark Tilley (Yam); 21. Ty Carson (KTM); 22. Shawn MacDonald (Hon); 23. Beeu Boynton (Yem); 24. Bryen JaremiJIo (Hon); 25. Michael Stanton (Hon); 26. Shane Smith (Hon); 27. Derek Kemp (Yam); 28. Trafton Chandler (Yam); 29. Brennen Baptista (Yem); 30. Petrick Wede (Yam); 31. Brian Mor9an (Yam); 32. Sven Stillmock (Can); 33. Kenny Lash (Hon); 34. Matt Barber (Yam); 35. Met Batemen (Yam); 36. Mett Armstrong (Yam); 37. Craig Devis (Yern); 38. Jack Meadows (Yam); 39. Joe Bailey III (Yam); 40. Beau Baron (Hon). AMA WESTERN FOUR·STROKE NATIONAL MOTOCROSS SERIES (After 5 or 10 rounds): I. Spud Walters (228/3 wins); 2. Paul Carpenter (189/1 win); 3. Dustin Nelson (163); 4. Nathen Woods (153); 5. Matt Karlsen (148); 6. Chaun McAlister (97); 7. Brandon Thomas (90); 8. Lance Smail (87); 9. Ty Carson (61); 10. Carter Gumee (58); 11. Erik Anderson (57); 12. Frankie Me<:ono (56); 13. Beau Baron (44); 14. (TIE) Sean Hamblin (I win)/Ryan Dudek (43); 16. Craig Decker (42); 17. (TIE) Tim Weigend/Deniel Blair/Robert Neughton (40); 20. Craig Truglio (34); 21. (TIE) Ryan Abrigo/Mark TIlley (32); 23. (TIE) Billy Mercier/Kenny Heess (26); 25. Andy Boller (25); 26. Gordon Ward (21); 27. (TIE) Michael Stanton/Robb Floth (20); 29. (TIE) Todd Downs/Jimmy LeMestus/Josh Chisum (17); 32. (TIE) Rich Taylor/Josh Kellogg (16); 34. Beau Boynton (15); 35. (TIE) rerry HamnessfTiger Lacey (13); 37. (TIE) Rocy SullivanfTony Graves/Dustin Bloomfield (11); 40. (TIE) Shawn MacDonald/Derek Mahoney/Mike Roth/Dennis Stepieton (to); 44. Ryan Terlecki (9); 45. Justin Acker (7); 46. (TIE) Vincent Blair/Craig Devis/Brendon Lloyd/Chris Berrett (5); 50. (TIE) Joe Bl!Iiley III/Jason Matthews/Jeson D. Matthews/Scot Stelly (4); 54.Cliff Cook (3); 55. (TIE) Met Betemen/Ryen Huffmen/Bryan Jaramillo (2); 58. BF8SHef'lElF) (1) Upcoming Rounds Milford, California - July 7 Albany, Oregon - July 21