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California Gold Cup Motocross Series Round 4: Victorville Motocross Complex Tommy Aquino (24), multiple-class winner Nick Paluzzi (17) and Mason Sweeden (621) leave the line at the start of the second &Scc Open moto at Victorville Motocross Complex, site of round four of the California Gold Cup Motocross Series. STORY AND PHOTOS BY GREG ROBERTSON VICTORVILLE, CA, FEB. 23 en-year-old Nick Paluzzi had a perfect day in the 65cc (9-11), 65cc Open and 85cc (through J 1) classes at the Victorville Motocross Complex during round four of the fifth annual Maxxis/Barnett/FMF / Maxima-sponsored California Gold Cup Motocross Series. The Kawasakimounted Paluzzi aced all six motos he entered to capture three overall 85cc (14-16) battles, and Curtis McLelland did the same in the Superminis. Nick Sanchez and Weigand each picked up a second-place finish in the Open class, with Sanchez getting the nod for the overall with his higher placing in the second moto. eN wins. Paluzzi's dominance of the 65cc (9-11) class was evident right from the drop of the gate in both motos, as he made his way to the front of the pack within the first few corners and then proceeded to easily distance himself from everyone for the win. The best battle on the track in both motos was for second place, between Armando Aguilar and Tommy Aquino; Aguilar proved to be just a shade faster on this day. Hayden Commans wasn't far off the pace for a pair of fourths, over the 5-6 tally of Cody Eastman. Aguilar absconded with the 65cc Open first-moto holeshot aboard his KTM, but Paluzzi was out front and pulling away after a single circuit of the jump-filled track. Paluzzi took the win with 15 seconds to spare over Aguilar, who again kept Aquino at bay. Jacob Partridge managed to get around both Michael Richards and Eastman on the last lap for fourth. The second moto was another romp for Paluzzi, while Aguilar and Aquino fought over the second-place trophy, with Aguilar prevailing. Richards got a better start this time to go 5-4 for fourth, topping the 4-6 scores of Partridge. Things were a bit tougher for Paluzzi in the opening 85cc (Through 11) moto. Jeagher La Fountaine jumped out to the early lead and wasn't about to give up the position easily. Karel Benoit joined the fray, making for a great three-rider battle over the top spot that continued for most of the race, with Paluzzi finally 62 MARCH 26, 2003' eye I Victorville Motocross Complex Victorville, California Results: February 23, 2003 (Round 4] earning the win. A bobble dropped La Fountaine back to a fourth-place finish, behind Aguilar and Tyler Sjoberg. Paluzzi returned to go wire to wire for the second-moto win aboard his Maxxis/John Burr/Troy Lee Designs/ M2R/Race Tech-sponsored KX85. Benoit kept Paluzzi in sight en route to his runner-up finish, which was good for fourth in the final standings. Sjoberg came from out of the top 10 on the opening lap to sew up second overall on 3-3 rides, followed by Aguilar (2-4). The drive down Interstate 15 from Las Vegas paid off for rookie Pro Derek Costella, as he swept both the 125cc and 250cc Pro classes aboard a pair of Desert Motorsports/RG3/ FMF-backed Suzukis. CRF450R-mounted Danny Carlson led most of the first 250cc Pro moto until Costella went underneath him in a long left-handed sweeper with time running out to get the win. Kevin Townsend finished third, ahead of Scott Roegner and Patrick Wade. EO n eVIl'S Costella got the holeshot in moto two and kept just out of Carlson's reach to take first. Townsend worked his way around Roegner for another third-place finish. Utah's Justin Jenson went 6-5 to round out the top five finishers. Costella went wire to wire for the 125cc Pro first-moto win, with Justin Mace just a couple of seconds behind at the checkers. Moto two was a duplicate of the first, with Costella doubling his lead over Mace this time out. Yoichi Takasu had his hands full with fellow Suzuki rider Brian Hulsey in both motos en route to 3-3 finishes. Mitch Dervin flew his KTM to a pair of fifth-place rides. Blake Runestad left little doubt as to who was the fastest Novice on the day. The YZ250F-mounted Runestad turned consistently good starts into 1- 1 showings in both the 125cc and 250cc Novice classes. Runestad easily motored away in both 125cc races, letting the other 34 riders battle it out over second place. That honor went to Bryan Mullin (5-2). Shaun Mohr was runner-up in moto one and then backed it up with a sixth in moto two to claim third, over Brandyn Travis (9-3). Runestad topped both 250cc Novice contests with a couple of seconds to spare over Andrew Terry. Adam Lane was in the thick of it with a pair of close thirds, followed by Brett Moscrop (5-4) and Ryan Peterson (4-7). Quebec, Canada's Kaven Benoit had a successful visit to VMC, sweeping three classes. Benoit went six for six to capture the overall in the 85cc (14-16), 85cc Open and Supermini ranks. Beau Weigand was runner-up in both the 85cc (14-16) and Supermini wars. Cory Costa went 3-3 in the P/W (4ยท6): I. Zac Commans (KTM): 2. Blake Green (KTM); 3. Mike Victorian (KTM); 4. Tyler Tungate (Pol); 5. David Fullmer (KTM). P/W (7-8): 1. Colby Raha (KTM); 2. Gunner Biggerstaff (Pol); 3. Bryce Cords (Lem); 4. Collin Farrar (KTM); 5. Starr Savage (Pol). S/P/W: 1. Garrett Jackson (Pol); 2. Colby Raha (KTM); 3. Blake Compos (Lem); 4. Bryce Cords (Lem); 5. Michael G~rland (KTM). 65 BEG: I. Michael Richards (KTM): 2. Quinton Bowen (KTM); 3. Michael Lowenthal (Kaw); 4. Dyilin Brehm (Suz); 5. Bobby Abrllms.(Kllw). 65 (6-8): I. Gllrrelt Jackson (Kaw); 2. Kevin Weisbruch (Kaw); 3. Colby Rahll (KTM); 4. Gunner Biggerstllff (Kaw): 5. Schuyler Schoonmaker (KllW). 65 (9-11): 1. Nick Paluzzi (Kaw); 2. Armando Aguilar (KTM); 3. Tommy Aquino (KTM); 4. Hayden Commans (KTM): 5. Cody Eastman (Kaw). 65 OPEN: 1. Nick Paluzzi (Kaw); 2. Armllndo Aguilar (KTM); 3. Tommy Aquino (KTM); 4. Michael Richards (KTM); 5. Jacob Partridge (KTM). 85 BEG: 1. Casey Meron (Kaw); 2. Thomas Smith (Hon); 3. Brian Cavanllugh (Suz): 4. Joshua Lawrence (Yam); 5_ Grady Dagnan (Yam). 85 (0-11): 1. Nick Paluzzi (Kaw); 2. Tyler Sjoberg (Kaw); 3. Armando Aguilar (Yllm); 4. Kllrel Benoit (Kaw); 5. Hayden Commans (Yam). 85 (12-]3): 1. Nick Sanchez (Suz); 2. Danny Gonzalez (Suz); 3. Travis Baker (Yam); 4. Parker Eckman (Hon); 5. Jonathan Horbeck (Yam). 85 (14-16): 1. Kaven Benoit (Kaw); 2. Beau Weigand (Yam); 3. Cory Costa (Yam); 4. Eric Francis (Suz); 5. Rene Lopez (Kaw). 85 OPEN: 1. Kaven Benoit (KllW); 2. Nick Sanchez (Suz); 3. Beau Weigand (Yam); 4. Travis Baker (Yam); 5. Nick Paluzzi (Kaw). SjMINI: I. Kaven Benoit (Kaw); 2. Beau Weigand (Yam); 3. Curtis McLellan (Yam); 4. Willie Woo (Kaw); 5. Daniel Van Der liel (Kaw). 125 BEG: 1. Brandon Garay (KTM); 2. Michael Bartovsky (Yam); 3. Shaun Tomosada (Han); 4. Anthony Gould (Yam); 5. Justin Sjoberg (Kaw). 125 NOV: 1. Blake Runestad (Yam); 2. Bryan Mullin (Kaw); 3. Shaun Mohr (Yam); 4. Brandyn Travis (Yam); 5. Matt Letendresse (Yam). 125 INT: 1. Michael LaPeglia (Suz); 2. Micky Griffin (Yam); 3. Karl Grove (Yam); 4. Joshua La Fountaine (KTM); 5. Daniel Hendrix (Yam). 125 PRO: I. Derek Costella (Suz); 2. Justin Mace (Kaw); 3. Yoichi Takasu (Suz);-4. Brian Hulsey (Suz); 5. M;tch Dervin (KTM). 250 BEG: I. David McAninch (Han): 2. Tommy John (Yam); 3. Rory Hofstatter (Suz); 4. Mark Young (Yam); 5. Tim Schultz (Kaw). 250 NOV: I. Blake Runestad (Yam); 2. Andrew Terry (Hon); 3. Adam Lane (Suz); 4. Brett Moscrop (Kaw); 5. Ryan Peterson (Suz). 250 INT: 1. Micky Griffin (Yam); 2. Michael LaPaglia (Suz); 3. Eric Goyette (Yam); 4. Jason Jeffrey (Kaw); 5. Vincent Rhollds (Yam). 250 PRO: 1. Derek Costella (5uz); 2. Danny Carlson (Hon); 3. Kevin Townsend (Hon): 4. Scott Roegner (Han); 5. Justin Jenson (Yam). Wft\N: I. Jenica Jenson (Yam): 2. AlysS8 Herrera (Suz); 3. Nicole Weisbruch (Kaw). SCHBY: 1. Michael laPlIglia (Suz); 2. DlIniel Hendrix (Yam); 3. Joshull La Fountlline (KTM); 4. Brandyn Trllvis (YlIm); 5. Spenser Wernli (Yem). 25. BEG: I. Eric Warrington (Hon); 2. JlIrrod Dodson (Kaw); 3. Jeremy Hazen (KTM); 4. Deve Miller (Hon); 5. Jeff Lester (KTM). 25. NOV: 1. Justy Mendibles (Suz): 2. Mike Freude (Hon). 25. (NT: 1. Eddie Jay (Hon): 2. Pasha Afshar (Yam). 25. EX: 1. Rich Truchinski (Hon). 30. BEG: I. George Fuentes (Kaw): 2. Darren Cortines (Yam); 3. Dian Barboza (Yam); 4. Gary Croskery (Yam); 5. Dell Posey (Yam). 30. NOV: I. Kenard Lipscomb (Suz); 2. Jim Boren (Yam); 3. Lance Schoonmaker (Yam); 4. Dean Herrera (Han): 5. Mike Sander (Yam). 30. INT: I. Eddie Jay (Hon); 2. Pasha Afshar (Yam). 30. PRO: I. Rich Truchinski (Han). 40. NOV: I. Robbie Sjoberg (Han); 2. Dave Dubin (Suz); 3. Richard Marshall (Hon); 4. Dan Martinez (Yam); 5. Mike Bossard (Hon). 40. EX: 1. Jim Latendresse (Han).