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/128169
Championship Series at Albany Motorsports Park, as the southem Oregon speedster pulled off a three-class decimation. Graves, who just one week earlier mjssed qualifying for the Washougal 250cc National class by one position, showed that at thirtysomething he still has the speed that it takes to be one of the Northwest's top riders. Graves, riding a Honda CRF450R, snared overall wins in the 250cc, Over 25 and Over 30 Pro classes, winning four of his six motes on the day. Graves' only losses came in the Sunday, September 1 1 PM first 250cc Pro moto, where he trailed Suzuki's Tiger lzIcey, and in the second Over 25 moto, to Yamaha-mounted Ryan Huffman. Huffman was also spectacular, although the rider from Roseburg, Oregon, would only net a single overall win on the day - the 125cc Pro class, in whkh he swept both motos. Graves jumped out in front of the field at the unleashing of the first 250cc Pro moto. while Lacey, Tyler Fick and Joey Mancuso kept close tabs on the veteran rider. Graves' lead, though, would only last for less than one lap, as Lacey outjumped the Honda rider to take command. Lacey, who one week earlier placed 19th in the second 125cc National moto at Washougal, held a comfortable lead to the finish. Graves had a lock on the secondplace spot after distancing himself from former minkycle speedster Pick, a first-year Pro, and another veteran rider, Don Bisceglia, one rider who did qualify for the Washougal National. Mancuso, Jason Matthews and Jesse Bath filled out the top seven. In moto two, Graves took command from the start; without the teenage Lacey on hand (Lacey suffered a broken leg at the start of the first 125cc Pro moto), it was clear sailing for Graves, who swooped to the mota victory and, coupled with his first-moto second-place finish, garnered the overall win and the large payoff. Fick trailed Graves from the get-go, and his 3-2 performances netted second, followed by Bisceglia (4-3), Mancuso (5-4) and Matthews (6-6). In the adjoined 250cc B class, Oregon's Ryan Huege, riding a brand-~ew 2003 Honda CR250, walloped the competition in both motos, posting lap times similar to those of the Professional riders. Washington's Philip Ehnat stayed closest to Huege in the first moto to finish second, but a fifth-place finish in moto two left the door open for Califomian Josh Bagge to snare the runner-up laurels via 5-2 finishes. A Huffman-Lacey shootout was highly anticipated in the first 125cc Pro moto. Lacey trailed Huffman at the start, but just as quickly Uicey was slammed to the ground after clipping a hay bale and was done for the day. Huffman, though, put huge ground on the field of riders; the Yamaha YZ250F-mounted rider had only Honda jockey Mike Storm to deal with. Storm, however, couldn't stick with Huffman for much more than a couple of laps and finished an impressive second. Bath posted his best performance since his return from a severe injury and finished third, ahead of Fick and Richard Page. The second outing was much the same, as Huffman darted to the head of the field and remained there to post his lone overall win of the day. Storm, who hadn't ridden competitively since last winter, trailed Huffman to the end and garnered second overall on a 2·2 score, followed by Bath (3-3), Fick (4-4) and Page (5-5). Ryan Thompson failed to win either 125cc B-c1ass moto, but he did merit the overall win with his consistency. Thompson used 3-2 placings to beat Bagge (6-1) and Davis Didier (4-5) in the highly competitive class. Yamaha rider Shawn Haberlock has had to eat roost from two of the top nationally ranked 85cc riders all summer - Josh Hill and Ryan Villopoto - but with the duo competing at Loretta Lynn's, this day was all Haberlock's. Haberlock is quickly establishing himself as a rider to be reckoned with, as was evidenced by his dominating performances in the 85cc (12-15) and Supermini (12-15) classes. Jesse Wuori finished second to Haberlock in the 85cc (12-15) class, while Washington's Chris Johnson trailed Haberlock in the Supermini division. Heidi Koerschgen hammered the competition in the Women's class, topping both motos to lead Jayme Woodman (3-2), Christina Claassen (2-3), Jessica McVittie (4-4) and Vanessa Viter (5-5) into the top five overall. ~iiU.NLO;: 7 RA DIAl ROVER !!!!! .. IG.H' ....ii 1..IIi . .. " 'R FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 Amateur Sign-up: 8am Race Format One long moto Rider Fee: $25 ALL CLASSES Adm. $50 (FriISal/Sun. Ticket; No Refund) Camping: $30 per vehicle SATURDAY, AUGUST 31 Amateur Sign-up: 7am Race Format: One long moto Rider Fee: $25 ALL CLASSES Pro Practice: 3:30pm Adm. $40 (Sal/Sun. Ticket; No Refund) Camping: $30 per vehicle SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Adm. $25 125/250cc Pro National MX Championships Qualifiers: 10:30am Main Event: 1pm - Rain or Shine Non-Alcoholic Spectating Available sbs p:;t§€M R••trictlons: No pets No open alcohol containers No kegs or glass bottles No campfires or firewood No flreworks or firearms No scaffolding ~ Directions 12 miles East of PA Turnpike off Rt 22 near Delmont Rt 66 North 3 miles, Right on Slickville Rd. Information: (304) 284-0084 www.steek:ltyJnx.com Starting Thursday at 6pm weekend camping available for AMA members and families Tune in for LIVE INTERNET COVERAGE via Cycle News Online's "VIRTUAL GRANDSTAND" from the !iTEEL CllY NATIONAL MOTOCROSS RI\IAL!i sponsored exclusively by Albany Motorsports Park Albany, Oregon Results. August 4, 2002 (Round 31 51 (4-8) OIL·INJ: I. Jordlln ThJ~eau (Yam). 51 (4-6) STK: I. Matthew Bisceglia (Cob); 2. Garrett Christofferson (Pol): 3. WyeU AgUirre (KTM); 4. Jeremy Wilton (KTM); 5. Jonathan Andrew (Cob). 51 (7-8): J. Bred Frace (Cob); 2. Tanner Berry (KTM); 3. Brody Thorn (Cob); 4. Kasey Wallace (Kaw): 5. Kyle Huffman (KTM). 65 (7·8): I. Brad Frace (KTM); 2. ColtDn Baker (KTM): 3. Rook Jewell (Kaw): 4. Ben Baldasano (Kaw): 5. Clvis Corsi (Kaw). 65 (9·11): I. Ciared Steinke (Kew); 2. Ryan Roberts (KTM); 3. Brandon Charron (Kaw): 4. Daniel Nelson (Kaw); 5. Matthew Owens (Kaw). cue I _ n _ _ S • AUGUST 28, 2002 67