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/128173
AMA Western Four-Stroke National Motocross Series Round 10: Cycle Ranch MX Park C••",:~r,. Irl.&' rftl I~'JJW STORY AND PHOTOS BY GARY T. Paul Carpenter and other top series contenders Nathan Woods, Dustin Nelson and Matt Karlsen. American Honda/Axo/White Brothers/Quicksilver/HJC-backed Paul "The Pit Bull" Carpenter from Ithaca, New York, came to Floresville with a seven-point lead over Walters and the desire to take Spud's number-one plate away. After two decent starts, Carpenter worked his way to the front of the pack in both motos, giving him a perfect 1- 1 score and also the 2003 AMA Western Four-Stroke National Championship number-one plate. Walters did his best to keep the Pit Bull at bay but fell off Carpenter's pace. Walters finished out the race with a close 2-2 tally, giving him the number-two plate for the 2003 season. Last year's winner and the 2002 Arenacross Champion, Shogun Motorsports/Motion Cycle/Yamahabacked Josh Demuth, had the kind of day you would like to forget , as he blew up his YZ250F in the first moto. Demuth came out for the second moto on a YZ426F, thanks to Don Schneider and Yamaha of San Antonio sales manager Andy Gilke, who had to make a last-minute dealer trade with a company from Dallas. But Demuth's luck was fixing to get even worse. After running in fifth for several laps, his new bike also blew up, giving him a 26-30 tally on the day. This race marked the debut of four new Texas Pros: Ian Matthews, J.J. Pecsok, Brandon Beabout and Vernon McKiddie. Honda of Houston/NGK/ HRC-backed Pecsok was the top rookie; he impressed a whole lot of people with his incredible third over- OBER FLORESVILLE, TX, AUG. 25 f/ or the second year running, Cycle If Ranch MX Park played host to the final round of the AMA Western FourStroke Nationals. Series organizer Don Schneider and his crew - Jennifer Madsen, Mitch Kirkpatrick and Roger Sherrell - once again showed southern Texas a first-class event that drew in several thousand spectators and 35 Pro racers from around the nation. Although the weather was extremely hot (around 102 degrees), it had no effect on the crowd that completely filled up the new bleachers at the top of the catch-fence section. The track was in excellent condition throughout the event, thanks to Steve Burns and Mike Pitts and their dedicated crew. Track announcer Lynn Nickerson was on hand, doing an awesome job on the microphone, along with guest announcers Kevin Kelly of Dead Motocrossers Society and Jason Weigandt from Racer X magazine. The duo also ran a live Internet-feed radio show for www.motocrossradio.com and www.imxr.com out of the scoring tower during the race. This year's title sponsors were Yamaha Motor Corporation and Maxxis Tires. The double-points round featured a $6000 purse and contingencies from Yamaha, American Honda, Husqvarna, Spy, Maxima, VP Racing Fuels, FMF, Race Tech, Barnett Clutches, Thor Race Gear, Motoworldracing.com, Big Gun Exhaust, and White Brothers. Additional sponsors included Super Fast Fuels, Hooters, American Honda, Thunder-l Racing, Metaltek Bike Stands, Decal Works, Series Tracker Software, and Jak-Bakz "number plates for your body. " AMA Westem Four-Stroke National Champion Brian "Spud" Walters came back to Texas to defend his number-one plate from his teammate 52 SEPTEMBER 25, 2002' 0: U 0: (Below) Defending Champion Spud Walters placed a close second at Cycle Ranch MX Park but lost the crown to Carpenter. (Below right) Paul Carpenter accepts his rewards. He will hold the numberone plate next year. I • n • _ s all on a 5-4 moto score. KTM/Motion Sport/Maxxis-backed Jimmy LaMastus finished fourth overall with a 7-6 score, while Colorado PowerSports/ BBC Racing/Thor-sponsored Matt Karlsen finished fifth with a 12-3 tally. Ryan Dudek made the trip from Long Beach, California, finishing in sixth place with a 10-5 score, while fellow California rider Frankie Mecono of Team Moto XXX took a well-deserved seventh on the day. The youngest rider of the series was 16-year-old Jack Meadows of Brinnon, Washington. The Devol/ White Brothers/Jak-Bakz rider has been loyal to the series but has not yet made the podium. Meadows finished 27th in the first moto and did not finish the second moto. Yamaha-mounted Woods had a great first moto, taking fourth, but a 29th in moto two left him bitterly disappointed with 18th overall. Florida's Kyle Farnell also had a good first moto, finishing third, but his 24th in moto two gave him 12th overall on the day. Local favorite Todd "D-Day" Downs went 8-26 for the afternoon, giving him 20th overall. Downs suffered from dehydration during the Chaun McAlister takes the Inside line while Paul Carpenter goes wide, allowing him to jump this downhill double en route to taking the overall win at the final round of the AMA Western Four-5troke National Motocross Series In Floresville, T e""s. second moto, as did Woods, Beabout and several other riders. In fact, many of the Pros were dropping like flies from the ruthless Texas heat. Idaho's Chaun McAlister and new series champion Carpenter tied for the overall Holeshot award, earning them an extra $500 each. eN Cycle Ranch MJ( Park FIDrlIsville, Texas Results: August 25, 2002 (RDund 10 of 10J O/A: 1. Paul Carpenter (Hen); 2. Spud Walters (Hen); 3. J.J. Pecsok (Hen); 4. Jimmy LI~Mestus (KTM); 5. Matt Karlsen (Yam); 6. Ryan Dudek (Yom); 7. Frtmkie Mecono (Yam): 8. Brandon Thomlls (Hon); 9. Dov;d Tarnow (Hon); 10. Robb F10th (Hon); 11. Chaun McAlister (KTM); 12. Kyle Famell (Hon); 13. Ty Conner (Han); 14. Joe Beiley 111 (Yem): 15. Dwain Certer (Yam): 16. Shawn McDoneld (Hon); 17. Beau Boynton (Yam); 18. Nathen Woods (Yam): 19. Rory Sullivan (KTM); 20. Todd Downs (Hon). AMA WESTERN FOOR-STROKE NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES FINAL POINTS STANDINGS (After 10 or 10 rounds): I. Paul Cllrpenter (474/4 wins); 2. Spud Wlllters (447/4 wins); 3. Nathan Woods (274); 4. Matt Karlsen (246); 5. Chaun McAlister (228); 6. Dustin Nelson (205); 7. Brandon Thom.s (185): 8. Frankie Mecono (162); 9. Ryan Dudek (150); 10. Robb F10th (145); 11. J;mmy LaMaSl\JS (118); 12. Erik Anderson (106); 13. Rory Sullivan (102); 14. Lance Sm.1I (87); 15. Brad Hagseth (78); 16. Tim Weigand (74); 17. Michael Stanton (72); 18. J.J. Pecsok (68); 19. Derek Mahoney (66); 20. Ty Carson (61).