Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

GFI Racing Fall Series North/South Showdown Glen Helen Raceway Park STORY AND PHOTOS BY GREG ROBERTSON SAN BERNARDINO, CA, OCT. 20 t was the North vs. the South at Glen Helen Raceway Park during the annual running of the GFI Racing/Goat Eyewear/PJ 1/Pro Circuit/ FMF/Shoei-sponsored Fall Series' North/South Showdown. The South's home-field advantage this year may have come into play, as Southernregion riders captured the showdown titles at a ratio of about three to one over their Northern counterparts. The Pro ranks were evenly split, though, as Southern rider Bobby Bonds topped the 250cc Pros, while Northern competitor Evan Laughridge made the trek down from Northern California payoff with the 125cc Pro-class win. Sporting his national number 73 for the upcoming 2003 season, Laughridge grabbed the holeshot in the single 20-minute 250cc Pro moto ahead of Jonathan Shimp, Richi~ Owens, Terry Fowler and Bonds. Bonds exercised the power of his CRF450R on the high-speed National track and by the end of lap two was knocking on Laughridge's back door. Bonds hounded Laughridge for a couple of laps before getting a better drive coming out of a turn to take the lead for good. Bonds slowly pulled away from Laughridge for the win. Some 20 seconds back was a good battle over third that went down to the wire, with Fowler holding off both Owens and Shimp. Michael Sandoval slowly worked his way up into a sixth-place finish, ahead of Chris Barrett and Billy Jurevich. YZ125-mounted Shimp edged out rookie Pros Daton Beavers and I 64 NOVEMBER 13, 2002' C Owens for the single 20minute 125cc Pro holeshot. Laughridge was running about seventh off the sta rt, but by lap two he was challenging Owens for the top spot. For the next four laps, Owens and Laughridge went at it until Laughridge outbraked Owens and then squared off underneath him to steal the lead. Once out front, the American Suzuki/RG3/Bill's Pipes/Axobacked Laughridge inched away for the first-place payback. Owens finished a lonely second, and Beavers held off Shimp at the line for a hard-fought third. Kyle Mace rounded out the top five, ahead of Matt McCrummen and Jurevich. Justin Keeney was the top Mini rider on the day. The Vallejo Power Sports/Maxima/Thor/Bell/ EVS-backed Kawasaki rider went six for six to earn overall wins in the 80cc Open, 80cc Expert and Supermini classes. Keeney's wins didn't come without a fight, though, as a determined Robert Memoli was all over Keeney in all three classes. Northern rider Jordan Mockridge went 5-5 for third overall in the Superminis, 4-3 for third in the Expert class, and 6-3 for fourth in the Open division, behind Donnie Kearney (4-4). Speaking of determination, Micky Griffin came from out of the pack to shoot down some stiff competition for the 250cc Intermediate-class firstmoto win. CRF450R-mounted Justin Eide kept the YZ250-mounted Griffin within striking distance en route to a well-l1eserved second-place finish, ahead of Chris Panek, Robby Baptista and Cale Wallace. Griffin made things easier on himself by absconding with the secondmoto holeshot and leading every lap for the win. Northern rider Cory McDaniel crashed while running second in moto one to finish seventh, but he returned to dog Griffin for a close second in moto two. Eide's 2-5 rides edged out the 5-3 tally of Wallace for third overall. Joshua Grant went wire to wire for the 125cc Intermediate first-moto win and then used a last-lap pass on Carlos Gonzalez in moto two to sew up the overall. McDaniel ran toward the front in both races to go 3-4 for second, topping the 4-5 score of fellow Northern competitor Eric McCrummen and the 9-2 tally of Gonzalez. There were only two KTMs in a big D.c • • n • _ S Riehle Owens (18) and Evan laughridge were this close for most of the 125cc Pro race at Glen Helen Raceway Park. Laughridge got around Owens for the victory. Schoolboy field, but they could be found at the front of the pack, as Jared Minor split moto wins with McCrummen to earn the victory. Northern competitor Casey Hinson went 5-2 for third on his Suzuki followed by Gonzalez (3-5) and T; Morrow (6-4). The drive down from up north also paid off for Jessy Nelson, as he made his way to the front of the pack in both 50cc Stock (7-8) races on his KTM for a clean sweep of the class. Cobra-mounted hotshots Brandon Scharer and Darrell White each had a runner-up finish behind Nelson, with Scharer's coming in the tie-breaking second moto. eN Glen Helen Raceway Parte San Bernardino, California Resuhs:OctoberZO,ZOOZ 50 STK (4-6): 1. Kinsler Endicott (Pol)' 2 Gunner Sigler (KTM); 3. Wyatt Mersou (KTM): 4' Mexwell Tedder (KTM); 5. Brenden Murray (Cob). 50 STK (7-8): I. Jessy Nelson (KTM)' 2 Brandon Scharer (Cob): 3. Darrell White (Cob)" 4' Aeron Williems (Pol); 5. Shane Post (Pol). 50 OPEN: I. Darrell White (Cob): 2. Br.ndon Scherer (Cob); 3. Micheel Arena (Cob)' 4 A J Lourel (Cob): 5. Jessy Nelson (KTM). ," . 60 FIT: 1. Nicholes Newmen (Kaw). 60 BEG: 1. J.ke Gagne (KTM)' 2 A.ron WIIII.ms (KTM): 3. G.ge Brown (K • ...;): Chris Whyte (Kaw): 5. Cameron Kyler (K.w). 60 NOV: 1. DlI:kote Tedder (Kew); 2. Trevor Allred (KTM): 3. Jeremy McCool (K.w): 4. Sh.iAnthony Grmden (Kaw): 5. Bryen Briley (Kaw). 60 INT: 1. T.ylor Kellstrom (KTM)' 2 M.son Sweeden (KTM). ' . 60 EX: I. Michoel Leib (KTM): 2. BI.ke Boggett (K.w): 3. Bryce Stew.rt (K.w). . 60 OPEN: I. Johnny Jelderda (K.w): 2. Mich.el Lelb (KTM); 3. Bleke Beggett (Kow): 4. Bryce Stewart (KTM); 5. Mereus Cerrillo (Kew). 80 Frr: I. Chris G.zofy (Han): 2. Ch.se Henrich (Y.m): 3. TIm Leedom (K.w): 4. De.n Hyl.nd (Han): 5. Kenneth Ch.ndJer (Han). 80 BEG: 1. Christopher V.I.de, (Y.m): 2. Lyle Teel (Yern); 3. Dustin Peterson (Kew); 4. Devin Roth (Han): 5. Rene Lopez (K.w). 80 NOV: 1. Prince Kepe.hulehue (Suz); 2. Austin Brown (Yam); 3. Cesey Logen (Yern); 4. Clayton Peterson (Kaw); 5. Aaron Fox (Yern). 80 INT: 1. Trent Pugmire (Kew); 2. Tye Hemes (K.w): 3. M.tt Dowell (Han): 4. Topher Ing.lls (Y.m): 5. Kyle Kent (K.w). 80. EX; J. Justin Keeney (Kew); 2. Robert Memoli (Yam): 3. Jordan Mockridge (Yam): 4. Ricky J8mes (Yem). 80. OPEN: 1. Justin Keeney (Kew); 2. Robert Memo~l (Yllm); 3. Donnie Kearney (Suz); 4. Jordan Mockndge (Yem); 5. Dane Jackson (Vern). S/MINI: I. Justin Keeney (K.w): 2. Robert Memoli (Y.m): 3. Jord.n Mockridae (Y.m): 4. Kyle Kent (Kew); 5. Trent Pugmire (Kew). WMN BEG: 1. Katie Watts (Hon). WMN NOV: 1. Eliz.beth Bosh (Y.m): 2. Sh.rlln Humphreys (5uz): 3. Tenye Elbers (Suz)' 4 Sa~nneh Clark (Hon). . . SCHBY: 1. J.red Minor (KTM): 2. Eric I • l ' 4. McCrummen (KTM): 3. Casey Hinson (Su,): 4. C.rlos Gon,.lez (Su,): 5. Ty Morrow (Han). 125 BEG: I. Ad.m L.ne (Y.m): 2. Brandon Bell (Hon): 3. Ricky Briggs (~am); 4. Aaron Maxwell (Yam); 5. Joey B,lto (Y.m). 125 NOV 0-1: 1. Garrett Henderson (5uz): 2. Kevin Frisbie (Vern); 3. Curtis Mi!llins (Yam); 4. David Dersey (Yam)- 5. Andy O'Arrlgo (Yam). • 125 NOV D-2: I. Sh.un Hlgh.m (KTM); 2. Chris Podergois (5uz); 3. Travis ~c1ver (Hon); 4. Curtis Roe (Yam): 5. Jimmy Anderson (Yam). 125 INT: I. JOShU8 Grant (Hon); 2. Cory McDaniel (Suz); 3. Eric McCrummen (KTM): 4. C.r1os Gon,.le, (Suz): 5. C.le W.II.ce (Y.m). 125 PRO: 1. Ev.n Loughridge (Suz)' 2 Richie Owens (KlIw); 3. Datan Beevers (S~): 4. Jon.th.n Shimp (Y.m): 5. Kyle Moce (K.w). ' 250 BEG: 1. Andrew MeSh.ne (Hon)' 2 Dustin Norwood (Hon): 3. Ad.m Lone (Y.m): Tyler D.y (Yam): 5. Chris G.llichlo (Yam). .250 NOV: I. Kevin Frisbie (Yam); 2. Dennis Ewmg (Suz); 3. Andy D'Arrigo (Yam); 4. Josh C.mden (Y.m): 5. B

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