Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

GFI Racing Winter Series North Round 2: Oatfield Raceway By JIM AND JUSTIN ENOS PHOTOS BY JIM ENOS TURLOCK, CA, FEB. 1-2 /1ff) ound two of the 2003 GFI North . ~ Winter Series, presented by Swift Dodge Sacramento, made a stop at arguably the best track in the Nor Cal area: the Oatfield Raceway. And, having sat dormant for more than two months, the loamy soil collected plenty of deep moisture, which resulted in conditions that only the fittest could withstand, as monster ruts as well as braking and acceleration bumps greeted the Pros and Intermediates on Saturday. In the end, among the more than 500 riders in attendance, two shining stars - Michael Brandes and Nick Jarret - came away with well-earned victories. In Saturday's 125cc and 250cc Pro classes, Brandes was absolutely dominant, taking four moto wins on the day. All went according to plan for the Sean Hummel Racing/Skin Industries/BR 1 Suspension rider in both 125cc motos, as he took seemingly easy wire-to-wire victories. However, in his first 250cc moto, Brandes had to dig a little deeper early on, as he got stuck in the gate and came into the first turn dead last. Up front was KTM pilot Paul Temmerman, followed by Eric Nye and Nathan Tiearney, and with Brandes out of sight, the moto win appeared to be up for grabs. But Brandes put his many years of National outdoor experience to work, and to the dismay of everyone on the track, he sliced through the 1g-rider field and had the lead by the end of lap two. "It's a matter of who wants it the most," said Brandes. "No matter how I get off the gate, I'm racing every lap until that very last turn. This new format of just the Pros and Intermediates on Saturdays is tough, because you don't have much time between motos, and the ones that train hard during the week get to shine on the weekends. This is good for me, because I plan to contest the outdoor Nationals this year, and tracks like this today is what you see every weekend [in the Nationals]." Tiearney, aboard an IRS/FMF/ Scott/Axo Suzuki, made an excellent showing in the 125cc Pro class, capturing a solid pair of seconds on the day. Having just come off a serious injury that had him sidelined for several months, he negotiated the rough terrain well. "I dislocated my hip a while ago and didn't ride for at least nine weeks," Tiearney said. "This is my second race back, and I've been practicing a lot, and [I was] just trying to be smooth out there today." He duplicated his feat in the first 250cc moto, edging out the alwaysfast Spud Walters for second. But a fifth-place start in moto two saw him on the move quickly, only to go down hard halfway through the first lap, dashing his hopes for a second-place sweep of both classes. Nick Jarret, who made the trek from Sparks, Nevada, captured the 250cc Intermediate win with a pair of solid rides. The Big Valley Honda/ Oakley/Renthal rider placed third in moto one, behind Cory McDaniel and (Above) Michael Brandes topped both the 125cc and 250cc Pro classes at the second round of the GFI Racing Winter Series North. (Left! Nick Jarret was the 125cc Intennediate winner at Oatfield Raceway. M.ain Track 50 (4-6): I. Brandon Olivares (Pol): 2. Rhett Gonzales (KTM): 3. Tallon Newman (HM): 4. Travis Nealon (KTM); 5. Hunter Wilbers (KTM). 50 (7-8): I. Cory Colombini (KTM); 2. Mich.el Maze (Cob); 3. Wesley Caspillo (KTM): 4. Austin Thompson (KTM); 5. Gunner Sigler (KTM). 50 (0-8) OPEN: 1. Aaron WiJlilims (Pol); 2. Mark Braden (Pol); 3. Elric Flory (Lem): 4. Justin Muscutt (Hon); 5. Austin H.ggerty (KTM). 60 BEG: 1. Cody Hendricks (KTM): 2. Briar McCorkle (Kaw); 3. Mark Braden (KTM); 4. Elric Flory (Kaw); 5. Edc Zepp (KTM). 60 NOV: 1. Robert Wilson (KTM): 2. Ty Irwin {KTM}; 3. Christian Standers (KTM): 4. James Culbertson (Suz); 5. Christopher Spiers (KTM). 60 INT: 1. Joshua Greco (KTM); 2. Ty Keenom (KTM); 3. Zach Andrade (KTM). 60 OPEN: 1. Ty Keenom (KTM); 2. Robert Wilson (KTM); 3. Ty Irwin (KTM); 4. James Culbertson (Suz); 5. Aaron Williams (KTM). 80 BEG 0-1: I. Dylan Lane (Yam): 2. Trevor Allred (Suz); 3. John Fitzgerald (Han); 4. Michael Parks (Suz); 5. Wil McDonough (Yam). 80 BEG 0-2; I. Kyle Tucker (Yam); 2. Kyle Colombini (Han); 3. Brad Lopez (Yam); 4. Dann Nissen (Kaw): 5. Shane Acosta (Yam). 80 NOV: 1. Travis Bell (Han); 2. Joshua Duppong (Yam); 3. Michllel Flores (Hon); 4. Frankie White (Yam): 5. Daniel Reen (Yam). 80 (NT: 1. Kyle Kent (Kaw); 2. Justin Enos (Suz); 3. Joey Harris (Kaw): 4. Brad Kelly (Hon); 5. Dylan Tolmasoff (Kaw). 80 EX: I. Jordan Mockridge (Yam); 2. Justin Soule (Kaw). 80 S/MINI: I. Jordan Mockridge (Yam); 2. Brad Kelly (Han): 3. Justin Enos (Suz); 4. Justin Soule (Kaw): 5. Kyle Kent (Hon). 80 OPEN: 1. Kyle Kent (Hon); 2. Brad Kelly (Han): 3. Dylan Tolmasoff (Kaw); 4. Jordan Mockridge (Yam); 5. Chappy Fiene (Suz). B/W: I. Corey Padilla (Hon); 2. Mlkey Bowden (Hon). 100: I. Justin Jennings (Yam): 2. Brandon Andrade (Yam). SCHBY: 1. Greg Karmllnn (Yam); 2. Coty Loudenburg (Han): 3. Curtis Roe (Yam): 4. Cary Tiede (Yam); 5. Greg Fouts (Yam). 125 BEG 0-1: I. Johnny Kerslllke (Yam): 2. Steven Prenkert {Hon}: 3. Richard Mullock (Han); 4. J.J. Karmann (Yam): 5. Josh Siehenharr (Han). 125 BEG 0-2: I. Danny Key (Yam): 2. James Wilke (Yam); 3. Stephen Faris (Yam): 4. Brandon Borth (Suz): 5. Mike Craig (Suz). 125 NOV D-l: 1. Cary Tiede (Yam); 2. Wesley Norris (Yam); 3. Jacob Sanchez (Suz): 4. Ryan LaFranco (Yam): 5. Kevin Hurt (Yam). 125 NOV 0-2: I. Jared Morrison (Yam); 2. Tyler Hock (Yam): 3. Josh Rogers (Yam); 4. Brandon Bell (Hon); 5. Greg Karmann (Yam). 250 BEG: I. Mike Hunter (Suz): 2. Greg Barbin (Hon): 3. Nathan Burman (Yam): 4. Mike Wilson (Yam): 5. Chris Gallichio (Yam). 250 NOV: 1. K.C. Rigmaiden (Yam): 2. Dale Black (Yam); 3. Aaron Makinea (Yam); 4. Roscoe Gray (Hon); 5. Dustin Hampton (Han). WM.N: 1. Rory Backwood (Hon): 2. Julie Keates (Han); 3. Marika Flory (Yam): 4. Brandi Greene (Hon); 5. Stacey Estes (Yam). 25+ BEG: I. Mike Hunter (Suz); 2. Dan Earls (Yam). 25+ NOV: I. Dan Rapp (Yam): 2. Greg Hock (Hon); 3. Todd Birchellaw (Yam); 4. Ed Whitecotton (Suz). 30+ BEG: I. Dan Earls (Yam): 2. Nathan Burman (Yam); 3. Mike Alexander (Han): 4. Pete Schaber (Yam): 5. Tim Patterson (Yam). 30T NOV: 1. Greg Hock (Han): 2. Rodney Ware (Yam): 3. Patrick Ehert (Hon): 4. Mark Baumgarder (Hon): 5. Leroy Perry (Hon). 35+ NOV: I. Greg Hock (Hon); 2. Steven Soares (Hon); 3. Rodney Ware (Yam): 4. Willie Williams (Yam). 40+ NOV: 1. Tommy Brackers (Kaw); 2. Leroy Perry (Hon); 3. Patrick Ehert (Hon): 4. Paul Hansen (Han); 5. Kenny Walker (Kaw). In 250cc Novice action, K.C. Rigmaiden survived a wild first moto that saw four different leaders in the fivelap race. Rigmaiden took over on lap four and held on for the win, over Chad Vejar. In moto two, Vejar went down, and Rigmaiden trailed motowinner Roscoe Gray across the finish line, and Rigmaiden's 1-2 efforts sealed the deal for the overall on the day. eN moto winner Bobby Garrison. However, in moto two, McDaniel got stuck in the gate, Garrison went down on lap one after taking the holeshot, and Jarret capitalized on the situation, eventually taking the moto win. "I almost hit him [Garrison] when he went down," said Jarret, "but after I got by him, I immediately just thought about riding smooth and staying in my rhythm. The track was tough, but I figure riding this kind of stuff will only make me a better Pro someday." Sunday's conditions were much tamer, as a reprepped track greeted the big-bike Beginners and Novices, as well as all the 50cc, 60cc, BOcc and Supermini riders. With a field of more than 30 riders, the 125cc Novice class called for two divisions, and the second-moto Division One showdown saw Yamaha thumper pilot Cary Tiede take the moto victory and the overall win with a solid 2-1 score. Tiede chased down early leader Curtis Roe and made the pass after Roe went high on a berm. Tiede then proceeded to put a healthy gap on the field, taking the win over runner-up Wesley Norris Jr. Oatfleld Raceway Turlock, Califomia Results: February 1-2, 2003 (Round 21 Saturday 125 INT: 1. Cory McDaniel (Suz); 2. Eric McCrummen (KTM); 3. Tony Sherman (Yam); 4. Trafton Chandler (Yam); 5. Bobby Garrison (Yam). 125 PRO: 1. Michael Brandes (YlIm); 2. Nathan Tiearney (Suz); 3. Craig TrugliO (Yam); 4. David Gassin (Yam); 5. Adam Miller (Yam). 250 INT: I. Nick Jarret (Han); 2. Leo Tidwell (Han); 3. Bobby Garrison (Yam); 4. Jimmy Stewart (Yam): 5. Cory McDaniel (Suz). 250 PRO: 1. Michael Brandes (Yam); 2. Spud Walters (Hon); 3. Dennis Stapleton (Hon); 4. Travis Marks (Hon): 5. Eric Nye (Yam). 25. INT: 1. Brent Nichols (Hon): 2. Phillip Segundo (Hon); 3. Rob Belskey (Han): 4. Gary Forrest (Yam); 5. Johnny SOUZlI (Hon). 30T INT: 1. Marc Wemyss (Hon); 2. Geoff Woods (Han): 3. Gary Curtis (Han): 4. Dan DeNuzzo (Hon); 5. Doug Russell (Hon). 30. EX: 1. Johnny Souza (Hon): 2. Stan Finney (Hon). 35. INT: 1. Gary Curtis (Han): 2. Geoff Woods (Hon); 3. Craig Ranells (Hon): 4. Dan DeNuzzo (Hon): 5. Joe Spiers (Yam). 35+ EX: 1. Mike Newman (Suz). 40+ INT: I. Craig Hamilton (Suz): 2. Craig Ranells (Hon); 3. Jeff Baxter (Han); 4. Kev;n McMahan (Hon); 5. Bret Eckert (Yam). 40. EX: 1. Mike Newman (Suz). 4-STRK OPEN: I. Bobby Garrison (Yam): 2. DeVin Watson (Yam). 500 PRO: I. Spud Walters (Hon); 2. DennIS Stapleton (Hon); 3. Travis Marks (Hon): 4. Michael Stanton (Hon); 5. Beau Judge (Hon). Sunday Pee Wee Track 50 (4-6) P/W JR: 1. Niko Ambrie (Yam): 2. Nolan Mclnlesh (Yam): 3. James Carothers (Yam): 4. Adam Gonzales (Yam); 5. Jeff Persons (Yam). 50 (4-6) STK: I. Rhett Gonzales (KTM); 2. Travis Nealon (KTM); 3. Frankie Threde (KTM); 4. Corey Everett (KTM); 5. Hunter Wilbers (KTM). 50 (4-6) MOD: I. Conner Pearson (KTM): 2. Will Schroeder (Lem). 50 (7-8) STK: 1. Brandon Olivares (Pol): 2. Jeffrey Carothers (Pol): 3. Jacob Becvar (KTM): 4. Gunner Sigler (KTM): 5. Jordan Collins (Pol). 50 (7-8) MOD: 1. Justin Muscutt (HM); 2. Clayton Hunsinger (Cob); 3. Luke Jump (Han). 50 (0-8) OPEN: 1. Aaron Williams (Pol); 2. Elric Flory (Lem): 3. Mark Braden (Pol); 4. Vincent liar (Pol). cue I e n e _ s FEBRUARY 26, 2003 59

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