Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128167
Costa Mesa Speedway: "Flyin'" Mike Faria won the 34th annual Fair Derby at the opening of the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California. The Jones boys, Dan and Chris, entertained the crowd as they introduced them to Sidecars, Costa Mesa-style. They diced back and forth with the Hoilywood team of Scott Cole and Chris Sears, but it was the Joneses who got the drive out of four for the win and did their celebratory doughnuts for the crowd. Larsen closing end Manchester searching for any kind of opening - but Faria would be taking the Fair Derby trophy back to Reno, where he lives. Larsen would have to wait until next year to get it back. Manchester was third, with Castro and Schwartz rounding out the field. The Handicap main had Kit Nay and DiFrancesco on the 30. On the 40 were Andy "The Enforcer" Northrop and Castro. It was crowded on the 50, with Manchester, Faria, Larsen and Oxley. DiFrancesco, who has been Michael Gilmour and Robert Vienneau were third. In a shortened Support main, the win went to Jeff Blaydes, who topped David Lynch and Rudy Laurer. so close all year long, saw it all come together Costa Mesa S~ay Coata Mesa. Califomia for him, as he took a good lead and held off a very strong challenge from Castro, who dogged him for eight laps, but DiFrancesco got down on the pole and no one was going to move him off his chosen line. Castro was out in the dirt and running wide open, but it wasn't enough and the win would go to "The Rocket." Larsen came home third, with Northrup, Oxiey, Manchester and Faria foilowing. Raaults. July 12. 2002 SCR MAIN: I. Mike Faria (Jaw); 2. Josh Larsen (Jaw); 3. Chris Manchester (OM); 4. Ed Castro (GM): 5. Bobby Schwartz (Jaw). HDO: 1. Randy D1Fran~ (Jaw); 2. Ed Castro (Jaw): 3. Josh Larsen (Jaw): 4. Andy Northrop (Jaw); 5. Brad Oxley (Wes). SDCR: 1. Dan Jones/ChrIs Jones (Yam): 2. Scott Cole/Chris Sears (Yam); 3. Michal!!l Gllmore/Ro~ VIenna (Yarn). SUP: I. Jl!!fJ Blaydes (Jaw); 2. David Lynch (Jaw); 3. Rudy Laurer (Jaw); 4. Rod Lenz (Jew); 5. Scott alii TIdwl!!U (Jaw). Ohio Pro-Am Dirt Track Series Huron County Fairgrounds Dash For Don Martin Memorial Cash weekend purse combinE:d to make this potentially the richest racing weekend of their year. The top six Pro-Sports lined up for their chance at the Dash cash. However, the Pro Sport Dash quickly turned into a virtual replay of their 505cc feature race when 16-year-old Charlie Italia from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, pulled the holeshot, buried his rear tire in the cushion and disappeared. Veteran Pro-Sport rider Nick Evans settled into second behind the "Cuyahoga Kid." Evans held that spot unchallenged. Senior Over 40 winner John Hamilton ran an equally uneventful third. In other racing action, Bill Wheeler and his potent 100cc vintage Kawasaki produced a double win. Wheeler, a former champion of the 100ee Vintage series, finished second in 2001 and is on a mission to return the number-one plate to the front of his little green machine. If he keeps riding like he did this weekend, it could be in the bag. Saturday's 250cc winner. Over 40 rider Patrick Towler, took Sunday off and let the kids decide it among themselves. Pre-race favorite and early leader Ricky Marshall (and most observers) got a big surprise in turn three when Brad Vanderkooi held it on longer and went under and past "Rapid Ricky." Vanderkooi held the lead, with Marshall as his constant shadow, until the last tum of the last iap, when Marshall railed around the outside. The two teenllgers tucked in and raced side by side to the line. The near-dead heat went to Marshall. MarshaJJ didn't have nearly that much trouble in the Open Am finai on Sunday, winning comfortably. An "out of retirement" Aaron Scheid, who raced with a Don Martin number By CRAIG GRISMORE NORWALK, OH, JULY 13- 14 The Ohio Pro-Am Dirt Track Series tour stopped in Norwalk for another doubleheader half mile race. Norwalk is "Roeder Country: with the shop and family farm just a few miles west of the fairgrounds. The family was wellrepresented at their home track, gathering to race, visit and help honor the memory of their beloved cousin Don Martin. Martin was a promising young Expert dirt tracker who lost his life in an accident back in 1989. The Triangle Motorcycle Club has held a Don Martin Memorial race every year since the tragedy, and the 2002 version may have been their finest. It was certainly the richest. A total of $1675 was raised for two Don Martin Memorial Dashes, one for Experts and one for Pro Sports. The Expert Dash featured Jess Roeder and his powerful XR750. The hometown boy (and a cousin of Martin) rolled his big bike to the line, and at the flash of the green he roared off into the sunset, setting an unbeatable pace. Scot Stodart, who keeps the rail birds on their toes with his high-line antics, was looking to be the second place man, but a never·say-die effort by fellow rookie Expert K.C. Knodel changed all that in the last tum of the last lap. Knodel was aboard the 505cc Suzuki that is normally piloted by Rusty Rogers, and he did himself and the machine proud, producing impressive rides all day. For many, particuiarly in the Pro Sport division, this dash money plus the regular 52 AUGUST 14, 2002' III U III I e ne'tIVs Huron County Fairgrounds: K.C. Knodel overcame a blown engine and a crash to gamer two seconds and a third In Pro-class competition at the Don Martin Memorial Half Mile In Norwalk, Ohio. plate proudly mounted on his Rotax, finished second, in front of Yamaha-mounted Ben Evans. Joey Brock was the out-of·retirement winner of the 500cc Amateur class on Saturday. The former national number holder gave his CCM the day off on Sunday. That left Evans as the major force in the 500cc Amateur class on Sunday. He easiiy outdistanced the competition with his heavy-on-the-throttle cushion style. Todd Martin triggered a multi-bike pileup on the first lap. Martin laid his bike down upon entry into turn three, causing a chain reaction "scatter crash" that gathered up several other riders. Ail got up and most made the restart. One rider of note was John Main, who got up, straightened things out, made the restart, and charged the high line to earn a strong second place, behind the speedy Evans. After pulling the holeshot and leading the most laps in the Over 30 class, Todd Perkins fell victim to the ever-persistent Brian Hewson. Perkins did manage to hang on for second, in front of Brian Mayo. In the 505cc Pro-Sport final, Perkins fell victim to a second-turn Rotax sandwich. Squished in the middle, Perkins could not hold on and the resulting body-slamming crash led to an ambulance ride from the facility. Preliminary reports indicated possible shoulder and/or collarbone injuries. Yamaha rider Rick Hoffman was also transported to the hospital after a crash in the 100cc Vintage feature on Sunday. Friends, fans and fellow competitors wish both riders a speedy and complete recovery. All in all, it was a fun and exciting weekend of Ohio cushion-track half-mile racing. Don Martin would have ioved it. Huron County Fairgrounds Norwalk, Ohio Results. July 13·14, 2002 Saturday 50: I. Justin PItman (KTM); 2. Donovan Cox (Hon): 3. Jordan Molli (Yam): 4. Austin Mllrtln (Yam); 5. Trey Crump (Yam). 80: I. Ricky Boley (Hon): 2. Casee McCammon (Han): 3. Tyler Pitman (Suz): 4. Curtis Venderkool (Hon): 5. Jay VanderkOOI (Hon). 100 VlI'fT: I. Bill Wh~er (Kaw): 2. Rich Long (Vam): 3. Rick Hoffman (Yam); 4. Thomas Englehart (Hon); 5. David WI!!US (Kaw). 250: 1. Patrick Towler (Hon): 2. Wllllam Forman (C-Al; 3. Thomas Englehart (Yam): 4. Troy Mayo (Han): 5. John Stahl (AlK). 50S AM; I. JOI!!Y Brock (CeM): 2. Cody Shamblin (Rot): 3. John Meln (Hon): 4. Thomas Englehart (Yam): 5. Chad Perk1ns (Rot). 505 EX: 1. Brian J. Vincent (Rot): 2. Kevin Hilbert (ATK); 3. Brandon Laursen (Rot): 4. Dave Woods Jr. (Rot). 505 PRO; 1. Charlie ltalle (Rot): 2. Nichola, Evant (Rot): 3. John Hamilton (Rot): 4. Tom Woods (Rot): 5. Scott Lowery (Rot). BRAKEl£SS: t. Sleven Hartley (But); 2. Roy Hostetter (Tn). I../W VII'fT: 1. Wlillam Forman (C·A): 2. UlT)' WoocIward (Yam): 3. Kenneth AmoId (BuI); 4. RIck Holfman (Yam): 5. Bubba Long {CoAl. H/W VlNT: 1. Wltliam Weese (TrI); 2. Ivan Carl (Yam); 3. Rich Long (Yam): 4. Chns Thomas (Yom); 5. Todd Perkins (Yam), OPEN AM; J. Ricky Marshall (Rot): 2. Aaron Scheid (Rot): 3, Ben Evans (Yam): 4. Chris Thomas (Yam). OPEN PRO; 1. Charlie ltalla (Rot): 2. Nicholas Evens (Rot); 3. Todd Pmlns (H-D): 4. Brian J. Vincent (Rol); 5. Kevin Hll~ (Rot). SR 30+: L Todd Perkins (Rot): 2. Chod Pentlns (Rot); ,. And~ Engstrom (Rot); 4. John Thompson (ATK); 5. John Stahl (ATK). SR 40+: I. John Hamilton (Rot): 2. Gary D. Plen::1!! (Rot); 3. Chris Thomas (Yam): 4. Jeck Turner (Yem): 5. Andrew Engstrom (Rotl. SR 50+: 1. Larry Hodges (Yom): 2. James Beck (Rot). SR 60+: I. Roy Hostetter (TrI): 2. Terence Higgins (Yam). Sundey SO: 1. Justin Pitman (KTM): 2. Tyler Butts (Pol): 3, Austin MartIn (Yam): 4. Trey Crump (Yom). 80: I. Ricky Boley (Hon); 2. Tyler Pitman (Suz): 3. Casel!! McCammon (Hon); 4. Curtis Vanderkooi (Hon); 5. Jay Vanderkooi (Hon). 100 VlrIT: 1. Bill Wheeler (Kaw); 2. Ivan Carl (Vern): 3. Jeff Webb (Kaw); 4. Thomas Englehart (Han): 5. David Wells (Kaw). 250 AM: 1. Ricky Marshall (Han): 2. Bradley Vanderkooi (Han); 3. William Forman (C·A); 4. Thomas Englehart (Yam): 5. Troy Mayo (Hon). 50S AM: 1. Ben Evans (Yam): 2. John Main (Han); 3. Wllllam Forman (C·A); 4. Bradley Vanderkooi (Han): 5. Larry Hodges (Yam). 505 EX:·1. Scot Stodart (Rot): 2. K.C. Knodel (Suz): 3. Kevin Hilbe:rt (ATK): 4. Dave Woods Jr. (Rot). 505 PRO-SPT: I. Charlie !lalla (Rot): 2. Nicholas Evans (Rot); 3. John Hamilton (Rot): 4. Tom Woods (Rot); 5. Casey Hamilton (Rot). LJW VINT: l. Williem Forman {CoAl: 2. Bubba Long (C-A); 3. JImmy Ziegler (YlIm); 4. Steven Hartll!!)1 (BuI): 5. Paul Bailey (Hon). HIW VINT: I. William Weul!! (TrI); 2. Rich Long (Yam); 3. Thomas Boyce (Yam): 4. Joseph Baker (Yam): 5. Oon Blyar Jr. (Yam). OPEN AM: l. Ricky Marshall (Rot); 2. Aaron Scheid (Rot); 3. Ben Evons (Yam): 4. Brandon SnIder (Rot). OPEN PRO: I. Jess Roeder (H·O); 2. Scot Stodart (Rot): 3. K.C. Knodel (Sw.); 4. Charlie ltalla (Rot): 5. Nicholas Evans (Rot). PRO·SPT OFC: 1. Charlie ltalla (Rot): 2. Nlcholos Evans (Rot): 3. John Hamilton (Rot): 4. Tom Woods (Rot): 5. Casey Hamilton (Rotl. EX DFC: I. JI!!SS Roeder (H-O): 2. K.C. Knodel (Suz): 3. Scot Stodart (Rot); 4. Kl!!vin Hilbert (ATK), SR 30.: l. Brian Hewson (Rot); 2. Todd Perkins (Rot): 3. Brian Mayo (Han): 4. John Main (Hon): 5. Chad Perkins (Rot). SR 40.; I. John Hamilton (Rot); 2. Brian Hewson (Rot): 3. Jack Tumer (Yam): 4. Gary Grinle (ATK); 5. David WeIcht (Rot). SR 50+: I. Larry Hodges (Yam); 2. E1is GianninI (Rot): 3. Don Blyar Jr. (Yom): 4 Bill Dunlap (Yam): 5. Gary Grin!1!! (ATK), AMP Top Gun Summer·XSeries Round 4: Los Banos Fairgrounds Jurevich Leaves 'em Shell-Shocked By JIM AND JUSTIN ENOS LOS BANOS, CA, JULY 13 As the 12-rider field of Top Gun Shootout participants lined up for the evening's premier event, Biliy Jurevich was sandwiched smackdab in the middle of the single-row lineup. Although it was a favorable position, he had a slew of fast riders in front of him, as well as behind him. But the All-American Suzuki/Fox/BR1/Scott-backed rider put in one of his best rides of late and pulled off a stunning win at round four of the AMP Top Gun Summer-X Series, presented by Alpinestars, Merced Powersports and Swift Auto World. In fact, it was easily one of the best races thus far in the series, as Jurevich and Jeff Pestana, aboard a Clawson Motorsports/Shift/ IRS/Spy-backed Honda, crossed the checkered flag a mere bikelength apart. Pestana, winner of the prior two events, put on a lastlap charge that had the crowd on its feet, yet