Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

CMC Golden State Nationals South Round 1: Perris Raceway Turner (Hon); 5. Jared Partridge (Suz). 80 (14·16): I. Mike Alessi (Hon); 2. Justin Keeney (Kaw); 3. Ryzln Villopoto (Kaw); 4. Robert Memoli (Hon): 5. Dennis Jonon (Kaw). 80 OPEN A: 1. Mike Alessi (Hon); 2. Justin Keeney (Kaw); 3. Ryan Villopoto (Kaw): 4. Trey Canard; 5. Robert Memoli (Hon). 80 OPEN B: 1. George Jeffers (Suz); 2. Tanner Lzmgham (Kaw): 3. Dean Wilson (Hon); 4. Jake Oswald (Yam); 5. Drew Weaver (Kaw). 80 S/MINI: 1. Mike Alessi (Hon); 2. Ryan Villopoto (Kaw); 3. Robert Memoli (Hon); 4. Dennis Jonon (Kaw): 5. Phillip Thorstensen (Yam). 125 SCHBY A: 1. Joshua Grant (Hon); 2. Daniel Sani (Hon); 3. Charlie Morrison (Yam); 4. Jarred Browne (Suz); 5. Casey Hinson (Suz). 125 SCHBV B: I. Tyler O'Neil (Hon): 2. Jeff Loop (Suz); 3. Kevin Hurt (Yam): 4. Buddy Greene (Yam); 5. Scott Miranda (Hon). 125 JR A: I. Ricky James (Yam); 2. Brock Harden (KTM); 3. Tommy Ramirez (Yam); 4. Weston Arthurs (Hon); 5. Austin Ingalls IYam). 125 JR B: I. John Pacheco (Hon); 2. Brett Klein (Hon); 3. Kevin Hurt (Yam); 4. Randy Guzman (Yam); 5. Curtis Malins (Yam). 125 BEG: 1. Evan Menen (Kaw): 2. Cody Tithof (Suz); 3 Wes Harkins (Hon); 4. Shane Koje (Suz); 5. A.J. Wilson (Yam). 125 INT A: 1. Kyle Partridge (Suz); 2. Cale Wallace (KTM); 3. Jarred Browne (Suz); 4. Charlie Morrison (Yam); 5. Tyler Duncan (KTM). 125 INT B: I. Cody Gilmore (Kaw); 2. Ryan Campbell (Yam); 3. Matt Craft (Suz): 4. John Leddy (Suz); 5. Daniel Nelson (Yam). 125 PRO: I. Craig Decker (Kaw); 2. Sean Collier (Hon); 3. Steve Mertens (Yam): 4. Kelly Smith (Yam): 5. Corey Macomber (Suz). 250 BEG: 1. Josh Pruitt (Yam); 2. Joey West (Hon): 3. Mark Andersen (Hon); 4. Mike Wilson II (Yam); 5. Casey Campbell (Hon). 250 JR: 1. Josh Camden (Yam); 2. Tommy Ramirez (Yam); 3. Weston Arthurs (Hon); 4. Bryan Barton (Kaw); 5. Neal DeGarmo (Yam). 2501NT: 1. Micky Griffin (Yam); 2. Tyler Duncan But the cream rose to the top qUickly. By lap four, Collier had taken over third, behind Macomber, while Mertens and Decker had closed Craig Decker was the big winner at the CMC Golden State Nationals South opener, topping both the 125cc and 250cc Pro classes. to fourth and fifth, reducing the list of contenders to these four. Macomber soon faded, and, with a lap to go, Collier held second, with Decker third and Mertens fourth. That's when Decker kicked out the jams and passed Collier to snatch the overall victory in the waning seconds. Alessi showed that he is definitely the youngster to beat in 2003, by topping outstanding lineups in the 80cc (14-16), 80cc Open and 80cc Supermini events. The Varner Racing/American Honda rider won every race he entered, while Justin Keeney STORV AND PHOTOS BY JOHN BETHEA PERRIS, CA, JAN. 12 l1ifleam Kawasaki's Craig Decker ')Jl kicked off the 2003 campaign in successful fashion at Perris Raceway, site of the CMC's 27th annual Golden State Nationals lead-off event for the southern racers. Decker took home the biggest paychecks in both 125cc and 250cc Pro racing, while Honda's premier 80cc racer, Mike Alessi, again annihilated all his foes in another triple-victory performance. More than 500 racers (including a few from foreign lands) packed the pit area of the oldest motocross racing facility in California, overflowing into the open fields outside the front gates, producing a mega-show that spilled over into the evening. It was the first time since the series began in 1976 that events were held under the lights. Decker destroyed the 250cc Pro class, winning both rounds. In the first moto, he tussled with White Brothers Honda's Spud Walters down to the finish, and in the second moto he took over the lead from Team Green's Richie Owens on the third lap to register an easy overall victory. Owens, after fighting his way up from a bad start in the first round to take fourth, held on to second place for the remainder of the second round to rake in the runner-up bucks. In the 125cc Pro class, however, Decker had to come through the back door to gain the overall, even though he didn't win either moto and needed a last-lap pass in the final moto to gain the overall via the tie breaker after three riders were knotted with five moto points apiece. Kelly Smith (who placed third overall in the 250s) led the final 125cc Pro moto from start to finish on his SoCal/Yosh/factory-backed Yamaha, but it was too late for his shot at the overall, as several errors in the initial contest left him treading water back in eighth in the field of 20 racers. With Smith out of the overall picture, the first moto's top five were all making charges from behind. Corey Macomber, who rode his ECC/ Arnette/Applied Suzuki to first earlier, was in second place, giving him an early nod for the overall, with Yamaha of Troy's Steven Haughelstine behind him. Richie Owens, who placed fourth in round one, was back in sixth, with moto-one winner Steve Mertens running seventh on a Speedy /Powerhouse Yamaha, and Honda of Houston/FMF/Twistedbacked Sean Collier right behind him. Decker was back in 11 tho All were in contention for the overall. Mike Alessi won all three classes he entered at Perris Raceway. Kyle Partridge scored the overall 125cc Intennediate A victory in Perris, California. twice placed second, in the 80cc Open A and 80cc (14-16) classes. Former Washington racer Ryan Villopoto guided his Spy/Thor/Maxima Kawasaki to second place in the Supermini event and to third place in the 80cc Open A and 80cc (14- 16) events. The top-performing Intermediate was American Suzuki's Kyle Partridge, who won the 125cc A (Contingency) event and took third in the 250cc Intermediates. eN (KTM); 3. Kyle Paltridge (5uz); 4. Cody Heltel (Hon); 5. Andy Bakken (Yam). 250 PRO: 1. Craig Decker (Kaw); 2. Richie Owens (Kaw); 3. Kelly Smith (Kaw); 4. Spud Walters (Hon); 5. Daton Beavers (Suz). 500 AM: 1. Andy Bakken (Yam); 2. Jon Hall (Hon). 500 PRO: I. Spud Walters (Hon): 2. Eddie Ray (Hon): 3. Travis Marks (Hon); 4. Derrick Kain (Hon). WMN: 1. ElizZlbeth Bash (Kaw): 2. Katrina Wilson (Hon); 3. Tanyll Elbers (Suz); 4. Klitie Wlitts (Hon); 5. Julie Keates (Hon). 8TH: 1. Cale Wallace (KTM); 2. Brent Line (Kaw); 3. Lester Varnum (Yam): 4. Jeremy Ferro (Hon). 25+ AM.: 1. Matt Cleveland (Hon); 2. Jason Howard (Kaw); 3. David Zahrt (Suz); 4. Arek Mover (Yam); 5. Eric Sherman (Yam). 25+ MSTR: 1. Spud Walters; 2. Eddie Ray (Hon): 3. Travis Marks (Hon); 4. Jason Larson (Hon); 5. Craig McCall (Hon). VET BEG: 1. Ron Siegel (Yam): 2. David Bliss (Suz): 3. Jerry Debaca (Kaw); 4. Mike Wilson (Yam); 5. Michael Dunnagan (Yam). VET JR: 1. Milton Mize (Hon); 2. Eric Brust (Yam); 3. Tim Pila (Yam); 4. Eric Sherman (Hon); 5. Kris Martin (Yam). VET INT: I. Greg Pierce (Yam); 2. Bernard Unhassobiscay (Yam): 3. Scott McCollough (Hon); 4. Chris Turner (Hon); 5. Chris Champlin (Hon). VET MSTR: 1. Matt Tedder (Hon); 2. Craig McCall (Hon). VET PRO: I. Craig Davis (Yam); 2. John Blair (Hon); 3. Phil Dowell (Yam): 4. Chicken Brewer (Hon). OIT AM: I. Doug Frankos (Hon); 2. Bernard Unhassobiscay (Yam); 3. Milton Mize (Hon): 4. Bob Shimp (Yam): 5. Ron Siegel (Yam). OIT MSTR: 1. Matt Tedder (Hon); 2. Tony Schuler (Yam); 3. Joel Harriott (Yam). SR: 1. Carl Gazofy (Hon): 2. Gary Doggett (Hon). Perris Raceway Perris, California Results: January 12, 2003 (RDund 11 50 BEG: 1. Maxwell Tedder (KTM): 2. Cameron Bash (KTM); 3. Adam Hulsey (Yam): 4. Michael Botan (Hon); 5. Mason Doggett (KTM). 50 (4·6): 1. Ryan Surratt (KTM); 2. Bradley Faft (Cob). 50 (7·S): I. Cade Hadley (KTM): 2. Au.tin Aguilar (KTM): 3. Brandon Sharer (Cob): 4. Michael Garland (KTM); 5. Michael Mace (Cob). 60 BEG: 1. Tyler Cabral (KTM): 2. Tyler McGregor (Kaw); 3. Jesse Arthurs (Kaw): 4. Shai· Anthony Ginden (Kaw): 5. A.J. Laurel (Suz). 80 BEG A: I. Tanner Sisson (Kaw); 2. Nick Tokorski (Yam); 3. Jake Bowersox (Suz); 4. Trevor Allred (Suz); 5. Cyle Teal (Vam). 80 BEG B: I. Timmy Koppi (Yam); 2. Anthony West (Kaw); 3. Austin Nay (Yam); 4. Shane Hopper (Yam); 5. Vincent Garza (Hon). 80 (7-11): 1. Blake Wharton (Kaw); 2. Mkhael Hall (Kaw); 3. Donnie Kearney (Suz); 4. Jake Canada (Kaw); 5. Dakota Garner (Kaw). SO (12·13): I. Jeff Alessi (Hon); 2. Trent Pugmire (KlIw); 3. Trey Canard (Kaw); 4. Brad Ie Y Ie I e n e VV s FEBRUARY 19. 2003 43

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