Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

(Left) Steve Hengeveld also soloed, which eamed him and injured partner Johnny Campbell third overall. (Right) The course was quite dusty, as Hengeveld demonstrates. The dust helped the leaders stay in the lead. (Leftl The team of Mike Childress and Beau Hayden finished seventh overall, first Four-Stroke Pro. ride, but had a hard time staying in the pack. The second Ironman Open Pro "team" was that of Cooper and Grider, the former of which was out with an elbow injury sustained during prerunnjng. Ridjng for Honda, Grider finished fifth in 5:08.21. "It's my first time riding solo," he said. "I've ridden the distance before, so I knew I could do that, but I've always ridden with a partner, and I was just a little nervous about it. It feels good to finish solo, now that I've crossed the finish line! I felt good until the last pit - pit six after the road crossing. It was pretty tight in there, and it wore me out. Now that I've finished, I feel great! I'm so happy to have finished and to have done so well!" The third Ironman Open Pro effort was that of Team Green's Ondas, who finished sixth overall in 5: 17.23. He was five to 10 minutes behind fifth place all day and said he had a great race ridjng in clean air. "I loved it - I had a good time!" he said. Finjshjng seventh overall and first in the Four-Stroke Pro class were Mike Childress and Beau Hayden, riding a Honda, in 5:22.58. Childress had been behind the Daryl Folks/Paul Krause team all day, and about 15 miles before the finish, that duo's KTM stirred up some cows. Childress swerved to avoid hitting one and hit a berm and endoed instead. Folks and Krause were eighth (second in the Four-Stroke division), though they actually beat the Childress/Hayden team to the line. "It wa; a great race," Folks said. "The KTM bike ran great, and I loved the cOllrse. I just couldn't get the young kids [Childress and Hayden] off my tail all day." "It's time for the old men to move over!" joked Childress. First 250cc Pro finisher was KTM's Bryan Folks/Wade Phillips effort, which took 10th overall. Phillips started the race and was dicing with Bert Bradford for most of the morning, but when Bradford started having problems with his clutch, Phillips was able to pull ahead. "It was an awesome course," Phillips said. "I liked the tree section, and the backwards Vegas to Reno course was my favorite part!" eN Tonopah 300 Tonopah, Nevada Resuls:AugustlD,2D02 O/A: 1. Destry Abbott/Shone Esposito (Kow); 2. Ty Davis/Russ Pearson (Y8m): 3. Upcoming Rounds: Round 7 - Mexico. September 20-22 Round g - Las Vegas, Nevada, November 16 (Rlghtl The Daryl Folks/Paul Krause team finished eighth overall, second Four·Stroke Pro. Steve Hengeveld/Johnny Campbell (Hon); 4. 8rhln Brown/David Pearson (KllW); 5. Danny Cooper/Andy Grider (Hon); 6. David Ondas/John Brollisch (Kaw); 7. Mike Childress/Beau Hayden (Hon); 8. DBr)'1 Folks/pauJ Krause (KTM); 9. Clint BraunIDavid Fry (KTM); 10. Bryon Folks/Wode PhilUps (KTM). OPEN PRO: 1. Destry Abbott/Shone Esposito (Kaw); 2. Ty Davis/Russ Pearson (Yam); 3. Steve Hengeveld/Johnny CZlmpbell (Hon); 4. Brien Brown/Devid Pearson (Kew); 5. Danny Cooper/Andy Grider (Hon). OPEN EX: 1. BilJy HZlgclln/DZlnny Linnell/Aron Huntington (Vern); 2. Donnie Cernpbell/Luke Dodson/Zack Dodson (KTM); 3. Sam Jones/Cerl Meessberg (Kaw); 4. AIZln Cameron/Titan McKlbben/Gobe Strouse (Yom); 5. Kurt Corlson/Jim Finerty/Craig Cerlson (Hon). 4-STRK PRO: 1. Mike Childress/Beau Heyden (Hon); 2. Ooryl Folks/Poul Krause (KTM): 3. Clint Breun/David Fry (KTM); 4. Bert BrZldford/Rob Phillips (KTM). 4-STRK EX: 1. Brian Pinerd/Bo Herris (Hon); 2. Jimmy McKZly/Robert Lightfeldt/Lendon Smith (KTM); 3. JZlson Keys/Ben Hutchinson/Adem Johnston (VZlm); 4. Damon Gill/Eric Shenberger (Vem); 5. CIZlY Flippin/Brendon Conrad/Thomas FrZlnczek (VZlm). 4-STRK AM: 1. Josh Kauffman/Luke GZlrcia VZlm); 2. Scott Cler~y/Bill Clarey/Ash Vaughen Hon); 3. [)eve Deloe/BrZld Merrida Jr./Jeson Sturtz VZlm). 250 PRO: I. Bryan Folks/Wade Phillips (KTM). 250 EX: I. Dol Trubey/Anno Cody; 2. Tony Aguilero/Mike Aguilero/Keliy Holl (KTM). 250 AM: 1. Jeson Ucitra/GerZlld Milam (GG). 125 EX: 1. Jonethen Martinez/Kyle Glbson,fTyler Flippin (KTM); 2. Ben Amboy/Patrick Welis/Jeremy Butler (KTM). 125 AM: 1. Mot! Soles/Eric Smith (Kow). 30+ PRO: 1. Tom Willis/Devid Werren (Hon). 30+ EX: 1. Brett Mershell/Tim Pindell/Rusty Denmon (Hbg). 30+ AM: Jemes Embro/Durme Schweb (Vam). 35+ EX: J. Rex Aeck/John Clayton/Phil Douglas (Kaw); 2. Ron Purvines/Steve Pankes/Doneld Tussing (KTM). l 35+ AM.: 1. Steven Grandinetti/Mike Mleres (Hon). 40+ EX: 1. Kenny Hayden/Joe Villegas/Doug Hell (Hon); 2. Randy Blevins/Kurt Sofka Jr. (Hon); 3. Dan NataJ{ferry West (Hon). 40. AM: 1. John Kerell/Jack Trotter (Hon). IRNMN EX: 1. Christopher Bleis (Hon); 2. Josh Wilson (Hon); 3. Donald Bird (Hon); 4. Dan Lorenze (Yom); 5. Jet Peery (Hon). IRNMN AM: 1. Adem Heaney (Hon); 2. Rich Jesse (Hon); 3. Creig Donkin (Kew). BEST IN THE DESERT SILVER STATE C'SHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After 7 of 9 rounds): 1. Destry Abbott (1306/4 wins); 2. Ty Oovis (1225/1 win); 3. Danny Cooper (1018); 4. Brian Brown (976); 5. Steve Hengeveld (967); 6. Kirk Stephensen (851); 7. Nick Pearson (379): B. Devid Ondos (310); 9. (TIE) Kurt Coselii/Ooyton Roper (160). BRIEFLY••• The Tonopah 300 is a favorite with all of the Best In The Desert racers. Best in the Desert director Casey Folks has over 1000 miles of course to work with in the area. and he loves the logistics of laying out a course. This year. the course went to the north and into the town of Gabbs, where there hasn't been a race since the 1985 HOM Nevada 500. Some mentioned that they're always surprised at how different the Tonopah 300 is every year. The race only created more excitement in the points chases. Some racers thought they had their titles tied up. only to finish poorly and find that they now have to race the Baja Me" 300 to hold on to those crowns. On the other hand. some finished better than expected and will now contest the Mexico race defensively. trying to finish ahead of their rivals and rob points (a racer's worse finish between the two contests will count as a "throwaway- round). Clint Braun and David Fry. riding a KTM. placed third in the Four-Stroke Pro class. despite having some problems with their race gas at the beginning of tl:-e race. They cleaned It out at pit one and then drag-raced all day to a strong finish. Tom WilUs and David Warren. riding a Honda, won the Over-30 Pro class. "This is one of the best races I've raced in over 10 years. '" Willis said. '"We just came out to ride, and we had a great timel There were some fast sections and technical sections. I knew one section looked familiar. but I didn't know for sure. It ended up being the Vegas to Reno section backwards. There were sections with the Pinon Pines and sections with cow pastures. It was beautlfull'" Though there were several unofflciallronmen thiS time, Christopher Blais was the ciass' top finisher. '" Even though I was behind the Quad Pros all day, I still had a good time." he said. "It was a great race, and my 650 Honda got me to the finish. I had a lot of support from my friends at Honda. and the Honda pit got me In and out. • cue •• n _ _ S • AUGUST 28. 2002 57

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