Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Loretta Lynn's, once again proved fast and steady for second overall with a 1-2 score, just ahead of New York hotshoe Bob Kiniry, who went 3-4. In Schoolboy (12-15) competition, it was another Kawasaki rider taking the victory, this time New York's Mitchell Dougherty. Dougherty, in his first major race on a big bike, forced his way to the front early in both motos. Had it not been for a slight miscue in moto one, the 15-year-old would have had a perfect score. It was Florida's Matt Boni who capitalized on Dougherty's mistake to put his KX125 into the lead in the initial race. Boni faltered early in moto two, however, ending up fifth for fourth overall, while Ohioan Kyle Preston found his way into Dougherty's slipstream for second in the moto and second overall. Yamaha-mounted Nick Adams was nearly perfect in the Amateur events, setting himself up for Sunday's Iron man Classic. Adams won three of four 125 and 250cc Amateur motos, setting a pace that many of the Pros were shaking their heads at. Team Green's Matt Barnes was the only rider to pluck a feather from Adams' cap, stealing a win in the first 250cc Amateur moto with an impressive display of speed. SUNDAY Once the fans got over the initial shock of Stewart not racing, they were primed for some great action. There was a plethora of top Pro and Pro/Am riders on hand to keep everyone entertained, and three exhibition races that proved every bit as exciting. The thunder of Damien Plotts' Honda CRF450R running away with the holeshot announced the start of the first 250cc Pro/Expert moto. He was chased closely by Team Green's Gavin Gracyk, LL champ Ryan Sipes, Amsoil Honda's Ryan Mills and, moving quickly through the pack, Lusk. Lusk eventually made his way through the pack, up to Plotts, and around for the win. He was followed to the line by Plotts, Sipes, Gracyk and Wallace. Evennou and Lawrence were without a doubt the headliners in the Mini Shootout event, but the rivalry only lasted until about halfway through the first turn, where Evennou met the lush, sandy soil of Raceway Park. Tyler Bowers and Lawrence sneaked around the inside, while Suzuki riders Ryan Marshall and Will Duffey went around the outside. Lawrence made short work of his rivals - although Bowers and Justin Sipes kept him honest - on his way to the win. Evennou made an incredible charge from dead last all the way up to fourth by the end. YZ250F-mounted Wallace took the holeshot at the start of the first 125cc Pro/Expert moto, followed closely by Ryan Sipes, Charlie Ellis, John Penrod and Woods. A few of the expected front-runners went down on lap one, colliding on the downside of the Pension Road Plunge. New York's Kiniry was in the bunch, where he suffered unspecified injuries, although they were not Iife- or career-threatening. Out front, though, Wallace was continuing on his torrid pace, with Sipes and Woods closely in tow. By lap four, Woods made his way into the lead with Wallace, Sipes, Chris Hunter and local favorite Barry Carsten all falling off the pace. Particularly impressive was Florida's Donnie McGourty, who worked his way up to ninth after a first-turn crash. The screaming 65cc machines of the Kessler Cup Challenge were next up. Justin Barcia beat out Ohio's Shawn Rife and local Frank Lettieri all on KTMs and in the same order they finished in the 65cc (7-9) race on Saturday - for the prized Kessler Cup award. The second 250cc Pro/Expert moto was essentially a replay of moto one, with a Plotts holeshot leading to a quick gap on the field, followed by Gracyk, Sipes, Owens and Lusk. Plotts' lead lasted barely halfway into the 12-lap race before he started experiencing some sort of exhaust trouble. Lusk pounced and quickly dropped Plotts back. Plotts managed to hold off the charge of fellow Honda rider Ryan Mills, Team Green's Richie Owens, and Sipes, while Gracyk crashed hard and put himself out of contention. Always one of the most anticipated races of the weekend is the lronman Classic. Well, this edition should have been called "The Nick Adams Show," as the YZF-mounted, No The aocc riders provided a lot of action on both days. Here, notice the downed Suzuki pilot just behind early leader Tyler Bowers (911) in the 80cc (10-11) main. Fear-clad speedster made quick work of his competition with a holeshot and runaway win. Left to fight over his table scraps were Floridian Dan Truman and Dougherty, with Dougherty not quite squeaking by at the end. Team Green's Matt Barnes, who ran as high as third, ended up fourth. Adams' reward for 15 minutes of work was a brand-new 2003 Kawasaki KX250, presented by Montgomeryville Cycle Center. The final moto of the weekend was the 125cc Pro/Expert finale. Rounding the first tum up front was Barry Carsten, with Sipes, Wallace and Mills not far behind. One rider that was far behind, however, was ECC's Woods, who took a first-turn tumble and turned it into an epic ride. Woods stormed through the pack and, with two laps to go, made the pass on race leader Carsten, who had until then held a bit of a gap on the field. Woods' win will go down as one of the best comeback rides ever at the KROC. eN 12S NOV: I. J. Comp (Kow); 2. A. Fontono (Yom); 3. J. Boehler (Suz); 4. S. Edelstein (Yom); 5. J. Festenstine (Hon). 125 AM: 1. N. Adorns (Yom); 2. O. Trumon (Kow); 3. M. Dougherty (Kow); 4. M. Bomel (Kow); 5. B. Murphy (Yom). 250 NOV: I. J. Comp (Kow); 2. S. Edel.teln (Yom); 3. D. Woll (Hon); 4. K. Wotts (Yom). 5. J. Cerece (Hon). 250 AM; 1. N. Adorns (Yom); 2. C. ChorboMeou (l;Ion); 3. 1'1. Bomes (Kow); 4. D. Truman (Kaw); 5. K. Preston (Suz). SOIBY; I. If\. Dougherty (Kow); 2. K. Preoton (Suz); 3. J. Morrison (Kow); 4. 1'1. Bonl (Kow); 5. J. WelleT (Suz). CLGBY: I. J. Wood. (Suz); 2. R. Sipes (Kow); 3. B. Kiniry (Suz): 4. C. Hunter (Yom); 5. R. Owens (Kow). 25+ AM: 1. N. Innis (Hon); 2. K. DergunoY (Kow); 3. J. Sovltsky (Hon); 4. R. Schellenberger (Yom); 5. B. Lopusnok (Yom). 25. EX; I. B. Corroll (Yom); 2. B. Corsten (Suz); 3. T. Tower, 4. G. Pomort (Yom); 5. J. Kopltan (Hon). 30+ NOV: 1. A. Migliaccio (Hon); 2. B. Ford (Yom); 3. B. Mote. (KTM); 4. E. Fedorczyk (Hon); 5. 1'1. Sienkwi<:z (Hon). 30. AM: I. J. Borron (Yom); 2. N. Inni. (Hon); 3. K. Dergunov (Kow); 4. R. Schellenberger (Yom); 5. K. Mesioh (Yam). 30. EX: I. J. Kopitan (Hon); 2. G. Dkta (Kow); 3. B. Carsten (Suz); 4. J. Mcilvaine (Suz): 5. B. Carroll (Yam). 40+ EX: I. J. Seip Jr. (Han); 2. M. Kessler (Hon); 3. T. Schmellyn (Kow); 4. R. Rosseter (Yom); 5. G. Turner (KTM). S/SR: I. G. Lykens (Hon); 2. S. Nldoy (Kow); 3. Raceway Parlt Englishtawn, New Jersey Results: Octab., 5-6, 2002 D. Kitchell; 4. T. Schneider (Yam); 5. B. Culbertson Saturday 65 (7·9): 1. J. Borcio (KTM); 2. S. Rife (KTM); 3. F. Lettieri (KTM); 4. D. Torrance (Kaw); 5. S. (SUl); 3. Z. Bums (Kow). (Hon). WMN: 1. M. Hampshire (Kaw); 2. A. Stefanou Sunday 125 PRO/EX: 1. Josh Woods (Suz); 2. Barry Carsten (Suz); 3. Rylln Sipes (Kaw); 4. Ty Wallace Colamita (KTM). 65 (10·11): 1. B. Kiester (Kow); 2. B. Schmelynn (Kow); 3. B. Weimer (KTM); 4. T. Chausky (KTM); 5. M. Hodge (KTM). 80 (10·11): 1. N. Izzi (Suz); 2. T. Bowers (Kow); (Yom); 5. Ryon Mills (Hon). 250 PRO/EX: 1. Ezra Lusk (Kaw); 2. Damien Plotts (Hon); 3. Ryan Sipes (Kaw); 4. Ryan Mills (Han); 5. M. Wundrllck (Yam). MJNI SHOOTOOT: 1. Jason l....lIwrence (Kaw); 2. Tyler Bowers (KlIw); 3. Justin Sipes (Kaw): 4. Nick Evennou (Yam); 5. Trey Canard (Kaw). IRNMN ClSC: I. Nick Adllms (Yam); 2. Dan Truman (Kew); 3. Mitch Dougherty (Kaw); 4. Mlitt Barnes (Kaw); 5. Jacob Morrison (Kaw). KESSLER cap: I. Justin Borcia (KTM); 2. 3. T. Canard (Kaw): 4. B. Kiester (Kaw): 5. R. Blizzard (Hon). 80 (12·13); 1. J. Sipes (Kow); 2. R. Morsholl (Suz); 3. J. Rondo (Yom); 4. M. Picone (Suz); 5. T. Murphy (Suz). 80 (14-15): 1. J. Lowrence (Kow); 2. N. Evennou (Yam); 3. M. Gesso (Suz); 4. B. Muicahy (Yom); 5. T. Beckett Jr. (Kow). S/MINI: 1. J. Lawrence (Kaw); 2. N. Evennou (Yom); 3. M. Gesso (Suz); 4. B. Ritter (Kow); 5. M. Shown Rife (KTM); 3. Fronk Lettieri (KTM); 4. Drew Torrance (Kaw): 5. Jimmy Kinsley (Kaw). Picone (Suz). BRIEFLY: Reeled in by two full days of racing. regular Amateur classes on Saturday, Pro/Experts and special Exhibition races on Sunday· over 600 riders signed up to tackle this years KROC. Sunday's EIhibition races give the promoters a chance to fill in the gaps between Pro/Expert motos. They also give some of the headlining Amateurs an opportunity to get some added track time in front of the big crowd - and maybe win some great prizes. The top riders in both 125 and 250cc Amateur (or Bl classes are invited to race on Sunday in the Montgomeryville Cycle Center Ironman Classic' on either a 125cc or 250cc-c1ass bike. The winners prize? A 2003 Kawasaki KX250. The top BCcc riders in each age division qualified for the Top Gun Minicycle Shootout. and afterward a ticket for each rider is put into a fishbowl and drawn out at random (this year by James Stewart Jr.l. The winner received a 2003 Kawasaki KXB5. The top 65cc riders enter the Kessler Pro Suspensions Cup race. where the winner receives a large silver trophy: the coveted Kessler Cup. Raceway Park promoter Ken Landerman's quarter-century of unwavering leadership was honored wilh the presentation of a carved wooden motorcycle and commemorative plaque by his track employees. Track designer Richie Zupko added some additional spice to the track design by adding long. whooped·out, sandy straightaways and complex rhythm sections to challenge the riders. By not grooming the track after Saturday's racing. Zupko was seen as a sadist by some, and a savior by others. cue I • n e _ os • OCTOBER 23. 2002 31

• Cover