Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Indoor protessionallce Race Series Final Round: Kalamazoo Wings Stadium Pickett Fences with Wyskiel for the Championship By BART NEWMAN 4 Aces Me Hare & Hound: Keith Jones won the Magnum Over 50 class at round three of the AMA District 37 Desert Championship Series in Red Mountain, California. Blais won the Four-Stroke Expert class, but he may have felt a little sibling rivalry out on the course. After starting dead last on the bomb run, Blais was working his way through the pack when his brother Nick showed him a wheel. "When Nick started to come up beside me, I said to myself. 'I don't think so: and really got on the gas," recalled Chris Blais, who was running sixth overall on his Blaisracing.com/ Precision Concepts/Mid-Cities Honda. Chris passed Sean Bradley after the pits to finish fourth overall. Top overall Amateur honors went to Honda pilot Jeffrey Vogt from Fresno, California. Vogt was the first Amateur into the pits, and he held on to the lead for the entire second loop. "This course was awesome," said Vogt. "There was a great mix of terrain and a lot of new stuff we don't usually see at Red Mountain. Course markings were excellent; I never got lost - [fori the first time in a long timel" Ryan Abbatoye jockeyed his Team Green/BRP/FMF-backed Kawasaki to second overall on the Amateur line and first in the 250cc Amateur division. Fifteen-year-old Amy Hasten was the top Woman racer in the Amateur division, despite a "really bad" start. "I was almost the last person off the line, because everyone was going for the holeshot money, and I got squeezed in," stated Hasten. "Amie Mann and I diced on the first loop. My YZ250 decided to put me in check, and Mann got by me when I went down." Hasten was able to regain control over her Zip- Ty/Race Tech-sponsored Yamaha and took the checkers ahead of Mann. Another 15-year-old. Eric Smith. piloted his Smith Brothers Racing/GS3 Yamaha to top honors in the Four·Stroke Novice class. 3) O/A: I. St~ Hengeveld (Hon); 2. Paul Krause (KTM): 3. Mike Childress (Kaw); 4. Christopher Blais (Han): 5. $ean Bradley Yam): 6. Nicholas Blais (Han): 1. lack Dodson (Kaw): 8. Paul Shafer (Kaw): 9. Ryan Kristch (Hon); 10. Joe Pettigrew (Kalil). OPEN EX: I. Steve H~veld (Hon): 2. Mike ChJId~ (Kaw); 3. Zack Dodson (Kaw); 4. Joe Pettigrelll (Kalil): 5. Beau Hatden (Hon). 250 EX; 1. Nicholes Blais (Hon); 2. Ryan Kritsch (Hon): 3. Matt Eddy (Yem); 4. Ryan Mong«!On (Hon): 5. Eric Caudillo (Kaw). 4-STRK EX: 1. Christopher Blais (Hon); 2. Kevin McEvoy (Yam): 3. Tony Underwood (Hus): 4. Mike Campeon (Han); 5. Brent Farrell (Hus). 0-200 EX: I. Kevin Knight (KTM); 2, Kendall Norman (Hon); 3. Jacob Cornett (Kalil); 4. Jared Henderson (KTM); 5. Corey Wolff (Kalil). MINI EX: J. Nick Hamill (Yam). WMN EX: l. Anna Jo Segale (Yam); 2. Vanessa Crawford (KTM); 3. Kassle Gray (Kaw). VET OPEN EX: 1. Paul Krause (KTM); 2. Paul Shafer (Kalil); 3. Brett Hoffman (HOI'l); 4. Jtlson Dllnlels (Yam): 5. Russ Wolff (Ka""')' VET 250 EX: J. Sean Bradley (Yam); 2. Dal Trubey (Kaw); 3. Morgan Pierce (Kalil); 4. Dean Alexander (Yam); 5. Doug Imhof (Hon). SR OPEN EX: I. Michael Kort:nwinder (KTM): 2. Phil Cloward (Kaw); 3. Mark Broneau (Yam); 4. Steve Fry (Hon); 5. Don Chiapuzlo (KTM). 56 MARCH 5, 2003' cue (KTMI· SR 250 AM: I. Doug Phelan (Yam): 2. Ken Hansing (Hon); 3. Craig Cannon (Hon): 4. Robert Hundtoft (Han); 5. Guy Kibbe (Kaw). MAG OPEN AM: 1. David Springer (Hon); 2. Gary Shafer (Kaw): 3. Tim Stoner (KTM): 4. Don Bauman (Kaw). MAG 250 AM: 1. Brad Bird (Hon); 2. Roger Van Mrltre (Kaw); 3. Tom Purdy (Yam). OPEN NOV: I. Christopher Sa (Hon): 2. Chris Hernandez (KTM); 3. TIm Brewster (Han); 4. Eric Paschal (Hon); 5. Roland Olsen (Kalil). 250 NOV: I. Brandon Burkhart (Hon): 2. Jeremy Hollis (Yam); 3. Jason Shatwell (Yam); 4. David Zylstra (KTM); 5, David Miller (Han). 4-STRK NOV: 1. Eric Smith (Yam); 2. Kelly Christensen (Hon); 3. Brian Merritt (Yam): 4. Eric Faught (Yam); 5. Brian Norman (Hon). 0·200 NOV: I. Freddie Harris (KTM): 2. Brett Minyard (Hon): 3. Matt $ears (Kaw); 4. Brian Gill (Kaw); 5. Garrett Ball (Yam). M.lNI NOV: 1. Jacob Argubright (Kaw); 2. Jeremy Nuss (Yam); 3. Robby Kraft. (Yam); 4. Chad Chiapuzio (Yam). WMN NOV: I. DaM Burlthert (KTM); 2. Sarah Kritsch (Yam); 3. Angelll House (Yam); 4. Janette Player (Kaw); 5. Jennifer Walker (Kaw). VET OPEN NOV: 1. Brian Mitchdl (Hon); 2. Mike Cole (Yllm); 3. Roger Rud (KTM); 4. Brian Jones (Hon); 5. Ted SemonIOUS (KTM) VET 250 NOV: I. Frank Wachter (Yam); 2. John Hutchison (Kaw); 3. Jamie Grav~ (Yam); 4. Kevin Sharp (Suz); 5. Byron Brick· Kalamazoo Wings Stadium Kalamazoo, Michigan Results: February 8, 2003 (Final Round) 50 JR: I. Brett Boulis: ~: 2. Dillion Phelps; 3. Rels Villella: 4. Ashley 5. Jacob Ba~r. 50 SR; 1. Kameran Miller; 2. Dylan Hopper: 3. Brody Depa; 4. Michael Murphy; 5. KlItie McCormick. 65: I. Robb Lapeen; 2. Michael Johnson; 3. Michael Ross; 4. Robert Sumbrea; 5. Daniel Ayotte. 85: I. Lucas Lollle; 2. Kurtis lee: 3. TIffany Sloan; 4. Chan~ McCormick; 5. Chuck Gray. 250 PRO: I. Cnllg Pickett: 2. Pat Buchanan; 3. Marlt Wysklel: 4. Chuck Springsteen: 5. Andy Springsteen; 6. Corey McDermitt: 7. Bryan Villella; 8. Mark Cheza; g. Nick Cummings. .,,(KTM). SR OPEN NOV: I. D.J. fto\cGhee (KTM): 2. RobMyerty (Hon); 3. Cieorge Catucl (Hon); 4. Jerry Ford (Yam): 5. Dane Burlthart (KTM). SR 250 NOV: I. Rob Kraft. (Yam); 2. Michael Cole (Yam); 3. Rick Riebsomer (Yam); 4. Dave Beaumont (Yam); 5, Rex DeWeese 4 Aces Me Hare & Hound Red Mountain. California Results: February 9, 2003 (Round SR 250 EX: I. Kavin Hasten (Yam); 2. Mike Price (Yam); 3. David Graham (Yam); 4. Jeffrey Prin« (Kaw); 5. Steve Webb (Yam). MACi OPEN EX: I. Richard Jackson (Kaw); 2_ T.V. Holmes (KTM); 3. Frank Brewer (Hon): 4. Jim McCartney (KTM); 5. John Roberts (Yam). MACi 250 EX: 1. Keith Jones (CiG): 2. Larry Kleinschmidt (Yam); 3. Ken BLrning (Kaw): 4. Gary Rickaby (taM). S/SR: I. AI Guzman (Kaw): 2. Jan Lehotan (Yam); 3. Hoyt Statham (taM); 4. Robert Torgerson (taM); 5. John Ci~ (Hon). OPEN AM; I. Jared W~er (Yam); 2. Darrell Anding (Kaw). 250 AM: 1. Ryan Abbtltoye (Kaw); 2. Chris Ray (Hon); 3. Matthew lang (Yam): 4. Chad ~ (taM). 4-STRK AM: I. Je~y Vogt (Hon); 2. Robert Cockrell (Suz); 3. Nick Tracy (Hon); 4. Nk:hoIas Balderas (Yam): 5. Jeff Baldey (KTM). 0-200 AM: I. Craig Simpson (Yam); 2. Brad Price (Yam). MINI AM: 1. Kevin Beakes (Kaw); 2. Ryan Purdy (Yam): 3. Cameron Kearney (Yam). WMN A/l\: I. Amy Hasten (Yam): 2. Arnie Mann (Kaw); 3. Susanna ..Ion6 (KTM); 4. Stacy Doerkson (Sw.): 5. Kim Quinn (Kaw). VET OPEN AM: 1. Tom Jackson (Han): 2. Eric DeCook (Hon); 3. John Magas (Han): 4. Damn Peterson (Hon); 5. Nick Dally (Yam). VET 250 AM: 1. John Sutherland (Kaw); 2. Dan 01900 (Yam); 3. Charles Bentley (Yam): 4. Chris Esparza (Kaw): 5. Kevin Bentley (Hon). SR OPEN AM: I. Robert Hayzeldon (KTM); 2. Matt Shook (Hon); 3. Steve Elmgren (Kaw); 4. Clark Wilmoth (KTM); 5. Manuel Aceves KALAMAZOO, MI, FEB. B The final round of the Indoor Professional Ice Race Series was a showdown between two of the most successful racers in the business: Mark Wyskiel and Craig Pickett, who were locked in a tie for the championship. Pickett proved to be the man of the hour, topping Wyskiel in heat race five, and again when the two contenders went head to head once more in the main event, when all the marbles were on the table. Pickett earned an Indoor Professional Ice Race Championship go along with his Amateur National MX Championship and his 13 Amateur National Outdoor Ice Racing Championships. For Pat Buchanan's championship bid, a clean sweep of his heat races was a must for a shot at the title. Buchanan answered the call, taking the checkered flag first in all five races, putting the number-one Honda on the pole for the final. Pickett took four out of five heat-race wins, losing heat 27 to Buchanan after a great race that saw the two fastest guys go head to head, trading positions throughout the race. Buchanan went into tum three hot on the last lap, pushing Pickett wide, which was Pickett's only miscue of the night. Chuck Springsteen and Wyskiel each scored 12 points in the heats, putting them both on the front row with Buchanan and Pickett_ Springsteen took three wins to claim the third slot on the front row; he looked good all night and was hoping to be the spoiler in the points chase in this season-closing round. Wyskiel was fast but appeared to be riding tight all evening. The ice was hard and slick, and Wyskiel just never looked comfortable in spite of winning two heat races and finishing up runner· up in three others. Corey McDermitt scored two wins, a pair of runner-up spots, and a third place in the heats, giving him the row-two pole. Nick Cummings was next, with a heat-race win, a runner-up finish, and three thirds to his credit. Andy Springsteen is getting faster with each passing night; he won a heat race, had a couple of runner-up finishes and a third, and he missed scoring points in only one event all night. Mark Cheza put his YZ250F in the final with all the dirt-track-framed machines by riding aggressively and smartly, but it was an uphill battle, as a double-red-f1agged heat race had Cheza watching from the stands in heat race 24 - though he still scored enough points to make it to the main. The last rider in the show was Bryan Villella, who advanced through the B main and put himself on row three for the final. When the starter's light went green in the final, Buchanan got the jump off the line and led the pack around, and with a clear track in front of him, he even opened up a slight lead as the race wore on. Chuck was second early on, but Pickett was all over his rear fender, while Wyskiel and McDermitt fought over fourth. On lap three, Pickett set up Chuck for a textbook pass that now had Pickett staring down at Buchanan's back wheel. Chuck pushed hard to get back by Pickett, only to lose a spot to Wyskiel, who was riding on a rail and looking to advance. Back in the pack, Andy was riding like a man possessed, and he was now in control of fifth place. Out front, Pickett was closing in on Buchanan. With the race almost half over, Pickett quickened the pace and was now rushing Buchanan in every comer. On lap seven, Pickett made the race-deciding move in tum one, diving inside with the gas on and turning his Honda on a dime to lead Buchanan out of the turn and for the remainder of the final. Buchanan kept pushing, but Picket took the checkered flag with a yell that would have made Scotty Parker proud. Buchanan was a close second. Wyskiel rode a mistake-free race but couldn't match Pickett's or Buchanan's speed. Chuck was fourth, and Andy claimed the last spot in the top five. Pickett's four heat-race wins and the top spot in the final were all he needed to take home the title. Pickett won round one in November but then let Wyskiel get ahead in the points race after having an off night in Flint last month, However, when the cards were all dealt, it was Pickett who was holding the aces - and the number-one plate. I e (Han). MACi OPEN NOV: I. Les Willis (Yam); 2. Terry Caldwell (KTM): 3. Nick Mlagenovich (Han); 4. Robert Olsen (KTM); 5. Bob Boyd (KTM). MACi 250 NOV: 1. Bob Aetcher (Hon); 2. Danny Low (tITM); 3. Tom Stephens (Han); 4. Mike Davis (KTM); 5. Michael Ward (Kllw). OPEN BECi: 1. Troy Ots (Yam): 2. Jacob Shepherd (Vor); 3. Larry Baumall (Suz): 4. Chris Taylor (Hon); 5. Kurtis Schlotterbeck (Han). 250 BECi: I. Brian Beaumont (Yam); 2. Dawn Benton (Hon); 3. Brian Mnoian; 4. Chuck Schmidt. (Suz); 5. Eric Alton (Hon). 4-STRK BEG: I. Mark Satterfield (KTM); 2. David Hatcher (Hon); 3. Robert NIchols (Hon); 4. Mike Acosta (Yam); 5. Bryn Minyard (Hoo). 0·200 BEG: I. Erik Thompson (Kaw); 2. Eilln Mlagenovlch (Yam); 3. Michael Markel (Suz): 4. Mark Rlebsomer (Yam); 5. Evan ~per(Ktlw). MINI BECi: 1. Brandon Cable (Hon); 2. Stephan Howard (Kaw). VET OPEN BEG: I. John Triolo (Yam): 2. Greg Anderson (Hon); 3. Rodney Walters (KTM); 4. Steve Blose (Yam); 5. Michael Murphy (KTM). VET 250 BEG: I. Art Talon (Yam); 2. Robert Furman (Yam); 3. Jeffrey ....nderson (ATK); 4. Kevin Alford (Hus); 5. Robert Cole (Yllm). SR OPEN BEG: I. Scott Goff (KTM): 2. Allin Helmsley (Yam); 3. David SIIuJ (Hon); 4. Jeff Blanton (Hon); 5. Rod Williams (KTM). SR 250 BEG: 1. Victor lyl~ (Yam): 2. TIm Richmond (Yam). n eVIl's Kalamazoo Wings Stadium: Craig Pickett was nearly unstoppable all night at the final round of the Indoor Professional Ice Race Series in Kalamazoo, Michigan, winning four of five heat races and the final event, as well as the series championship.

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