things were just not going their way. They
rode together during the last two laps. FMF
Suzuki/Lowe Racing-backed Bersano sneaked
into fourth place a few miles from the finish.
and Allen finished got fifth.
Meanwhile, P'Pool took a chance on a big
downhill. and the big hill won. He smacked a
tree and could hear the birds chirping around
his head for quite a while. After Westerfield
stopped in to check on him, he felt better and
got back on his bike, but by then he had
dropped back to second place in his class.
After that. he never got back the same
momentum as on his first lap. He finished in
eighth place overall.
Westerfield won the 250cc/Open A class
and was seventh overall.
"I'd really like to thank God for keeping us
all safe," Westerfield said. "And I'd like to
thank Suzuki for giving me an incentive to
ride. They pay $400 a win for Mid·South
races, and that's nice."
Box Hollow
New Johnsonville, Tennessee
Results: March 3, 2003 (Round 9)
O/A: I. Dustin Gibson (KTM); 2. Jeff Cregg (Kaw); 3. John
Maschino (TM); 4. Blair Bersano (Suz): 5. P.A. Allen (Kaw); 6. John
Robbins (KTM): 7. Alan Westerfield (Suz); 8. Tlmmy P'Pool (Suz).
AA: I. Dustin Gibson (KTM): 2. Jeff Cregg (Kaw): 3. John
Ma5<:hino (TM); 4. Billir Bersllno (Suz); 5. P.A. Allen (KllW).
(Yam).
4·STRK A:. I. Jason Wofford (KTM); 2. Jack Bailey (KTM); 3.
Robert Uch (Yllm); 4. Rog« Uttle (Hon); 5. Jason Elrod (KTM).
200 A: I. Chris Bach (KTM); 2. Clay Hedgepath (KTM): 3. Marti
Akers (KTM).
SR It.:. 1. Scott Martin (Sw.): 2. Steve: Thomas (KTM): 3. DaHas
Mayer (Yam): 4. Robert Kirchner (Suz); 5. David Zanet (Kaw).
VET A: I. Harvey Whitllker (Kaw); 2. Greg Elrod (Suz); 3.
Thomas Bametl (Hon): 4. Jim Batl!S (KTM): 5. Billy Proffitt (Hon).
ZSO 8: I. Eric Meeks (KllW); 2. StNtart Uch (Kaw); J. Michaef
Barnick (!trom.
OPEN OP: I. John Strangfdd: 2. Jason Heindl: 3. Pili Belin.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Parker
Pulls the Lever
BY DICK GOODWIN
LAS VEGAS, NV, FEB. 22
If you live in Las Vegas, the best way to win is
to pull those handles and hope for the best.
Or... maybe notl Consider the case of Las
Vegas resident Michael Parker, who, though
miles removed from those casinos. nevertheless broke the bank in three classes - lhe
125cc Schooiboy, 125cc Intermediate, and
Open Big-Bike classes at the opening round of
the Casino Towns MX Series. That's everything he entered - the "big trifecta," in Vegas
parlance.
The toughest race for the Lever-sponsored
rocket was probably the 125cc Intermediate
challenge, featuring Wyoming stud Levi
Jensen and Yamaha hotshoe Garrett Morgan,
n
e
_
s
(S~).
Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Tanner
Blood was a double-class winner at the
opening round of the Casino Towns MX
Series, topping the 50cc (7-8) and
SOcc Open classes in Las Vegas.
with top Novices such as Patrick Provencher
and Jeff Morris thrown in to keep everyone
honest.
At the start, Layton Cycle-sponsored
Jensen went off the best. leading Honda rider
Morris and Parker into battle. Parker, focused
and ferocious early on, blasted past everyone
before the canyon drop-off to grab the lead.
Jensen hung tough, as Morgan moved to
third. Parker moved out to the next ZIP code,
leaving Jensen and Morgan to do the "roughand~tumble" for second. Nevada Suzuki's
Provencher - the lead dog in the Novice class
- was lurking dangerously close in fourth.
Parker put race one in the books. and Jensen
emerged to nail down second.
Jensen shot out ahead of Thor/One Industries heavy hitter Nathan Ambrose to open the
second half. Jensen, with the "overall" in
sight. set a blistering pace. However, Parker
relentlessly chased him down, finally zapping
Jensen in the big drop-off on iap two. That
made it a done deal, as Parker leveraged his
double wins into the 125cc intermediate
crown. Jensen salvaged a very respectable
second, and Provencher topped the Novice
boys.
Moving from strength to strategy, from
dominance to perseverance, from brawn to
"finish-the-play," the 65cc Beginner class provided a lesson. These are the guys just learning to ride a real motorcycle. Otto "I'm Ready
To Join The Big Boys" Craig biasted out in
front of Michael Gangi and Francesco Hackett
as Junior Cycle action blasted off, Craig was
looking good - no, he was looking great - as
he wasted the field. The logjam in second was
a different-colored horse, however. as Hackett. Gangi and Jason Mcilroy were all trying to
squeeze through the turnstile at the same
time. Crajg trampled on race one, despite a
late charge by Hackett. and now it was time
for the deciding round.
Mcilroy dropped the gauntlet, taking the
holeshot, whHe Hackett and Craig were weaving in his dust. Hackett pressured the leader,
and then Craig took over, but no one was
cracking Mcllroy's concentration. as he wanted this one. Craig leaned ... and leaned... and
then finally dumped it. Hackett. meanwhile,
rolled on, settling for a fast second but capturing the "main coconut" ~ the 65cc Beginner
overall. Mcilroy's hard ride eamed him second
overall, ahead of Craig. Gangi and Kyie
O'Brien,
Results
50 BEG: 1. Christopher De Filico (KTM); 2. Kyle Kirby (KTM): J.
Dylan McKown (KTM): 4. Rlchllrd Floyd (Lem); 5. Jonathan Moore
(Yam).
MIDSIZE 4·STRK: I. Selin O'Brien (Hon).
50 (4-6): I. Brandon Leith (Pol): 2. Tyler Schiel (KTM).
50 (7·8): I. Tanner Blood (KTM): 2. Jeffrey Willson (Suz): 3.
Ryan Coburn (KTM); 4. Austin Holbert (Pol): 5. Brendan Beigel (Pol).
50 OPEN: I. Tllnner Blood (KTM): 2. Ryan Coburn (KTM): J.
Jeffrey Willson (KTM); 4. Brllnden Russ (KTM); 5. Kyle Kirby (KTM).
MIDSIZE OPEN (70190/110): 1. Sean O'Brlen.
65 BEG: I. Franc~ Hllckett (KTM); 2. Jason Mcilroy (Kaw):
3. Otto Craig (Suz); 4. Michael Gangl (Kaw); 5. Kyle O'Brien (KTM).
125 BEG: 1. Brandon Navlllntte (Yam): 2. Scott Slocum (Hen):
3. Brennan Stewart (KTM): 4. Russell Willters (KTM): 5. Trevor Rankin
(Yam).
125 NOV: l. Patrick Provencher (Sul); 2. Jeff Morris (Hon): 3.
Nathan Ambrose (Suz): 4. Jllke Poole (Yam): 5. Ryan Bishop (Suz).
125 INT: 1. Michael Parker (Yam): 2. levi Jensen (Yam): 3. Gar·
rett Morgan (Yam).
125 SCHBY (13·16): I. Michael Parker (Yam): 2. Patrick
Provencher (Suz): 3. Ryan Bishop (Suz): 4. Brandon Navarrette
(Yam); 5. Eric Thomas (Hon).
250 NOV: I. Kenny MlIrtln (Hon): 2. Vincent lampa (Suz): 3.
Craig Sawyer (Hon): 4. Dennis Morgan (Hon); 5. Dan Belchar (Hon).
250 tNT: I. Levi Jensen (Yam); 2. Dllmon Wllsden (Hon).
OPEN B/BK: I. Michael Parker (Yam); 2. levi Jensen (Yam): 3.
Casey Godman (Kllw): 4. Vincent lampll (Suz); 5. Brian Pillsbury
(Yam).
30... BEG: I. Joe Lu«ro (Kaw); 2. Paul Ferraro (Yam).
30+ NOV: I. Kevin Nanney (Hon); 2. Steve Budds (Yam); 3. Jim
Price (Yllm): 4. Michael Ditto (Yam): 5. Craig Sawyer (Hon).
30+ INT: I. Randle Reese (KllW); 2. Damon Wllsderi (Hon): J.
John Labrechc (Hon).
40... NOV: 1. Wayne Johnson (Yam); 2. Steven RIsco (Yam); 3.
Ken Martin (Hon); 4. Jaml!S Brown (Yllm); 5. Oiln Belchar (Hon).
Glen Helen Raceway Park
Donovan, Hinz
Catch Up at REM MX
By ROCKY HASH
SAN BERNARDINO, CA, FEB. 22
On a weekly basis, one of the most competi~
tive classes at Racing Enterprises Motorsports'
Saturday motocross is the Over 40 Junior
division, and thjs week was no exception, as
24 racers showed up to vie for the top honors
in the class.
In the first moto, Brian Pappalardo led the
pack through the first tum, just in front of the
KTM SX 520 of Greg Whitfield. Steve Donovan tucked his YZ250 up into third piace,
while Russell Brown ran fourth, and Mike
Borowski held down fifth. Donovan quickiy
dispiaced Whitfield before the first lap was
over and set off for the leader, Kawasaki jockey Pappalardo. Donovan and Pappalardo rode
in tight formation for a couple of laps before
Donavan finally was able to find a way
around, forging into the lead. Meanwhile, back
in the pack, Ai Jones was charging forward
arter a poor start, and at the halfway point he
was able to move into fifth.
Once out front, Donovan enjoyed the open
track in front of him as he scratched out a
small iead. Pappalardo still held down second,
while Borowski and Jones dueled over third
place_ Late in the race, Jones took control of
that position, and the racing bartender, Jeff
Arzouman, pushed his YZ450F into fifth. At
the checkered flag, Donovan took the win,
and Pappalardo followed him in for second,
ahead of Jones in third. Borowski was fourth
and Arzouman fifth.
Moto two was a heated battle. Jones took
the holeshot, with Donovan right behind. The
two riders began to separate themselves from
the pack in their battle for the lead. Throughout the first half of the race, each racer held
the lead, only to have the other rider make a
pass and take it back. Late in the race, Jones
got a bit of a gap when Donovan bobbled, and
he went on to win. Donovan settled for second
place, while Pappalardo rode in third. Borowski took fourth, and Whitfield was fifth.
On the day, the overall class win went
to Donovan by virtue of his 1-2 rides. Jones
(3-1) was runner-up, and Pappalardo (2-3)
claimed third. Fours were wild for Borowski,
as his 4-4 finishes were good for fourth over~
all. Brown (7-6) filled out the top five.
In 250cc Beginner action, Yamaha rider
Tom Hinz took home the first~place brass after
posting a solid 2·1 performance on the scoreboard. First-moto winner Joey Jakubiak followed it up with a third the second time
around for second place on the day, while Joe
Gurrola (2·3) finished up in third. Rocky Colluci put his RM250 into fourth place overall
with a 5-4 showing, and Cody Brownfield
came in fifth after putting in 7-5 rides.
