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Moose Western Regional Cross Country Series Round 6: Prime Time Hare Scrambles p.eftl Brian Sperte Jams to the Prime Time Hare Scrambles overall victory - his first of the Moose Western Regional Cross Country Series. (RIght! Bryce Olsen claimed second overall at the series' sixth round, held at Santa Clara County Motorcycle Park. By CHRIS GHIONE PHOTOS BY MICHELLE LEE SAl'! JOSE, CA, ocr. 6 fter a long summer break, the Moose Western Regional Cross Country Series resumed, and KTMmounted Brian Sperle came back with something to prove. On an extremely hot October day, the Faultline/Spectro/Bridgestone/Scott Goggles-backed Sperle took his first overall victory in the series at the annual running of the Prime Time Hare Scrambles. The race marked round six of the District 36 and AMAsanctioned series and took place at the Santa Clara County Motorcycle Park, located in the foothills just outside San Jose, California. The long, dry summer left the park in an extremely dusty condition, so the Timekeepers Motorcycle Club attempted to put together a course that would be safe and yet challenging at the same time. In an attempt to cut down on some of the dust, event staff actually had much of the course watered prior to the race. In midaftemoon on Sunday, nearly 150 A and B riders lined up, ready to challenge the course. For the top riders who would be battling for the lead, the dusty conditions meant that a good start would be crucial for having any chance at taking the win. "I'm not sure who got the holeshot," Kawasaki rider Craig Wesner explained after the race, "but they had to be stoked like a blind squirrel that just found a nut!" Jumping out front very early on was MPC/Eurocycles/Eric Ducray/ Bennett rider Bryce Olsen, aboard a KTM, who took the early lead and led everyone around the first lap. Sperle also grabbed a good start and after the first lap was just a few seconds ill 38 NOVEMBER 6, 2002' cue catching up to him. Then, every time it would open up a little bit, I'd get dusted out." Sperle never got pushed too far back of Olsen, and by the third lap the leaders were already beginning to hit lapped traffic. This would tum out to work in Sperle's favor. "I actually caught up to him in lapped traffic and he made a mistake, and I was able to get by him, " said Sperle of his pass for the lead. After taking the lead, it was Sperle's race. He pulled out a small lead on Olsen and never looked back en route to taking the overall win. Olsen was not discouraged after being passed and never dropped his pace, continuing on to an impressive second-place finish. Zimmerman would eventually repass Wesner for the third position, where he would stay for much of the race. However, two laps from the end of the race, Zimmerman suffered some mechanical problems, including the loss of his front brake and a ----------------completely bald rear tire, and that let Wesner move by him unchallenged on the last lap. Wesner went on to finish third. Zimmerman nursed his bike into the fourth position, just barely ahead of Suzuki jockey Jeff Bauer. The Cycle West/Moose/ Pirelli-sponsored Bauer had gotten off to a good start and kept a very strong pace to outlast many of the other racers and finish in the fifth position. Finishing in sixth and having one of the best rides on the day was Moose/Faultline/Honda Peninsula-backed Greg Ghione. back from Olsen. Coming around just slightly behind Olsen and Sperle was defending series champion Rob Zimmerman, who was followed by Team Green/Dunlop/Pro Circuit-sponsored Wesner. Both Wesner and Zimmerman started a little further back in the pack but had managed to get around everyone before the end of the first lap. Cycle Gear/FMF/Racetech-backed Zimmerman moved his Yamaha forward to make the first challenge for the lead. "I had an okay start and worked my way up to second place, behind Bryce Olsen, but then I made a mistake, " remarked Zimmerman. That mistake would allow both Sperle and Wesner to get back by and move Zimmerman back to the fourth position. Then Sperle, who had never fallen off the lead pace, got on the gas and challenged for the lead. "I was faster then him [Olsen] in the tight stuff," Sperle said. "I kept After a three-kick start, Ghione was last to leave the line, but he quickly began a charge forward and worked hard through the entire race and eventually finished sixth. Finishing in seventh and eighth were Honda jockey James Ptarcinski and KTM rider Chris Zito. Rounding out the top 10 were Yamaha pilots David Fish and John Sicley. KTM-mounted Nolan Irwin finished as the top B rider in the event, and Yamaha rider Michael Sage took the top spot in Saturday's C race. eN SlInta Clara County Motorcycle Paril SlIn Jose, Callfomla Results: October I, 2002 (Round II O/A: 1. Brion Sperle (KTM); 2. Bryce Olson (KTM); 3. Craig Wesner (Kaw); 4. Rob Zimmerman (Yom): 5. Jeff Bouer (Suz): 6. Greg Ghlone (Han); 7. James Ptarclnskl (Hon); 8. Chris Zito (KTM); 9. David Fish (Yam); 10. John Slcley (Yam). A 200: 1. Ryon Gouldthreod (KTM): 2. Brion Butler (Kow). A 250: 1. Brion Sperle (KTM); 2. Bryce Olson (KTM): 3. Crolg Wesner (Kow). A OPEN: 1. Josh Poggi (KTM): 2. Eric Tyler (Hus); 3. Gory Qu;gley (KTM). A 4-STRK: 1. Greg Ghlone (Han): 2. Jomes Plareinski (Hon): 3. Glenn Mortinson (KTM). A VET: 1. John Sicley (Yom): 2. J.R. Moson (Suz): 3. Roymond Geimer (Han). A SR: 1. Deon Joyner (Suz); 2. Roymond Spore (Yom); 3. Jeff Irwin (Yom). A S/SR: I. Peter Prichord (KTM): 2. Jerry Johnson (Han); 3. Eugene Price (KTM). B 200: I. Nolon Irwin (KTM); 2. Dovid Fredrickson (KTM); 3. Michoel Bruns (Yom). B 250: 1. Jorod Reed (Yom); 2. Nick Rizzi (Han); 3. Gront Glenn (Han). B OPEN: 1. Lone Mount (Han): 2. Kyle Smith (Han): 3. Roymond Leonordl (KTM). B 4-STRK: 1. Nick Soio (Yom): 2. Troy Kenzy (Yom): 3. Eric Rollin (Han). B VET: 1. Stephen Bell (Han): 2. Shonnon Poore (Yom): 3. Doug Petroskey (Yom). B SR: 1. Jeri Saia (Hon); 2. Mike Austin (Hon); 3. Scott Dela Montanye. (Ye.m). B S/SR: 1. Richord Kroske (KTM): 2. Som White (Yom); 3. Jim Peocock (KTM). B WMN: 1. Clndi Roberson (KTM). C 200: 1. Jored Onrock (KTM); 2. Brion Ruckert (KTM); 3. Joson Smith (KTM). C 250: 1. Jeff Sterner (Kow): 2. Robert Chodrlck (Hon); 3. Cre.ig GUidinger (Hon). COPEN: 1. Mike O'Connor (KTM): 2. Nothon Burmon (TM); 3. Rlzzlero Guerro (KTM). C 4-STRK: 1. Mlchoel Brejwo (Suz); 2. Dossen Murchie (Han); 3. Aurelio Goreio Jr. (KTM). C VET: I. Mlchoel Soge (Yom); 2. Ron Miner (KTM); 3. Robert Puna (Han). SR: 1. Steven BIDke (YDm); 2. Jim Kennedy (Han): 3. Eric Lindouer (Han). S/SR: 1. Michoel Schultz (Suz): 2. Terry Fish (KTM); 3. Dove KJonhomoer (Kow). C WMr"I: 1. Lynette Woslck (YDm); 2. Danielle Goreio (Yom): 3. Rochel Douglos (KTM). e e Craig Wesner placed thIrd overall In San ",ose, CalifornIa.