Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

CMC Golden State Nationals Round 4: Starwest Cycle Park h,@uld:.¢· g Hig Wtl~ t@ e1rt@th,:.¢·r F@ur STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOHN BETHEA MORENO VAlLEY, CA, FEB. 23 he exposure to potential accidents due to racing multiple classes finally caught up to Mike Alessi and Jake Canada at the final round of qualifiers for the CMC Southern California riders at Starwest. The two riders who scorched this supercross-style facility last weekend when they captured a record seven first-place finishes between them, had their sights set on repeating the feat at this outing. Alessi succeeded, taking four more, but Canada headed home nursing an aching body, and with nothing to show for it. Alessi encountered two bad situations en route to another sweep, and both came in the second Supermini moto. First he had a highside accident on his HRCA/Varner/Alloy/FMF Honda when a 125cc Beginner froze at the throttle right in front of Alessi, who was about to lap him. Then, late in the race, Alessi tangled with R&D American Suzuki jockey Cole Seeley while battling for first place just before the finish line, but Alessi managed to stay upright this time, while Seeley went down, ending his chance at an upset victory. Crossing the line, Alessi had his arm tucked under his chin as he slowly cruised back to his pits. "Oh, he's okay," said Mike's brother Jeff, who is still sporting a cast on his arm, protecting a fracture he earned at the beginning of the year. However, Mike wasn't okay; he had popped his shoulder out of its socket and quickly back in during the spill, and even though he was able to race the remainder of the day - once again winning all eight motos - his parents said their immediate concern was taking Mike to the doctor. Canada's day started out brightly, finishing third behind Alessi and Seeley in the first Supermini contest and then taking his customary first in the initial 60cc (9-11) moto. Later, while leading the first 80cc (7 - 11) race on his Thor/Spy/Team Green Kawasaki, he took a terrible spill on the fourth lap, ending his efforts for the day. In Canada's absence, Jeremy McCool prevailed twice, riding his Race Tech PVK Kawasaki to a sweep of the 60cc Open class and a 2-2 performance in the 60cc (9-11) class for the overall. In the 80cc (7-11) class, Blackfoot Motorsports Hondamounted Dean Wilson took both rounds. T Andy Bakken won both the 250cc Intermediate and 500cc Amateur classes and placed runner-up in the 125cc Intermediate class. (Left) Mike Alessi again tied his win record of four class victories at round four of the CMC Golden State Nationals - but this time he did it with a wounded shoulder. (Below) Leighton Lillie was the 250cc Pro winner at Starwest Cycle Part< in Moreno Valley, Califomia. "If you throw enough pitches, you're bound Nolan Ryan to hit the bat once in a while. II The Pro classes had limited entries. Edgardo Rojas topped the 125s on a Pro Circuit Yamaha, and Leighton Lillie swept the 250s on his Akros/Scott-backed Honda. The Intermediates, which ran simultaneously with the Pros, were dominated by Andy Bakken, who was contesting three classes; he won both the 250cc Intermediate class and the 500cc Amateur class before being reduced to runner-up status in each of the 125cc motos, behind Jarred Browne's factory-assisted Suzuki. Bakken's 250cc win came at the expense of Paul Pearcy, who was leading the first moto until he spilled his MSR/RG3/Northland Kawasaki late in the event, leaving him out of contention for the remainder of the day. Jeff Loop scooped up a couple of seconds for the runner-up spot. - Facing off with Alessi, Browne came up short in the Schoolboy event. He started second in the first moto but spilled back to fourth early on. He then battled with Loop on his No Fear Suzuki for several laps before finally passing him on the final tour, and he nearly caught Ricky James' Montclair Yamaha at the finish. He came back and took a solid runner-up in the second stanza. James did collect another firstplace 125cc Junior trophy, as A.J. Sjostrom garnered second. Another Sjostrom - Matt - got the day's Sportsmanship award. While battling with Mike Miller for second place in the first 250cc Beginners moto, Miller dumped his Shock Therapy Yamaha. Sjostrom, who's sponsored by the track, stopped and ran over to see if Miller was okay; Miller was, but that moment cost Matt a chance at the overall. He took fourth and came back to win the second moto, earning second overall, behind Joey West, on a 909/Wiseco Honda. Jessy Nelson captured the Pee Wee (7-8) and 60cc (0-8) victories for the second week in a row. eN Starwest Cycle Park Moreno Valley, California Results: February 23, 2003 [Round 41 P/W BEG: 1. Cameron Bash (KTM). P/W (4·6): I. Ryan Surratt (KTM); 2. Maxwell Tedder (KTM). P/W (7·8): I. Jessy Nelson (KTM); 2. Er;c Yorba (Lem); 3. Caden Hadley (KTM); 4. Brandon Scharer (Cob); 5. Michael Maze (Cob). 60 BEG: 1. Tyler Cabral (KTM); 2. Jessy Arthurs (KllW); 3. Stephen Peretto (KllW); 4. Michllel Peretto (Kow); 5. Zach Womock (KTM). 60 \0.8): 1. Jessy Nelson (KTM); 2. Coden Hadley SUZ}; 3. Dillon Trotter (KTM); 4. Brendon Scherer Suz ; 5. Andrew Silverstein (Kew). 60 (9·1 ): 1. Jeremy McCool (Kaw); 2. Dakota Tedder (Kew); 3. Nitro Johnson (KTM); 4. Robby Boker (KTM); 5. Scott Agostin; (KTM). 60 OPEN: 1. Jeremy McCool (Kew); 2. Nitro Johnson (KTM); 3. Stephen Peretto (Kew); 4. Dillon Trotter (KTM); 5. Mario Femendez (Kaw). 0:: U 0:: • .. 60 BEG: I. Cyle Teel (Yem); 2. Anthony Cicalate (Yam); 3. Casey Montoyll (KllW); 4. Chllsen Kllvllnagh (Suz); 5. Justin Mcintosh (Kaw). 60 (7·11): 1. Dean Wilson (Hon); 2. Donnie Kellrney(Suz); 3. Dekota Tedder (Yllm); 4. Morgan Burger (Hon); 5. Jake Canada (Kaw). 80 (12-13); 1. Cole Seeley (Su,); 2. Tye Hames (Kaw); 3. Gunnar Strum (Yam); 4. Roberto Jiron (Su,); 5. Tony Blood (Su,). 60 (14-16): I. Mike Alessi (Hon): 2. Kirk Agostini (Yam); 3. Jllke Bowersox; 4. Tllnner Hllgen (Kow). 80 OPEN: 1. M;ke Alessi (Hon); 2. Cole Seeley (Suz); 3. Austin Ingalls (Yam); 4. Donnie Kearney (Suz); 5. Dean Wilson (Hon). 80S/MINI: 1. Mike Alessi (Hon): 2. Cole Seeley (Suz). 3. Gunnar Strum (Yern); 4. Jeke Cenede (Kaw); 5. Tanner Hagen (Kaw). 125 SCHBY; 1. M;ke Aless; (Hon); 2. Jarred Browne (Suz); 3. Lance Gaten (Hon); 4. Anthony Houser (Yom); 5. Jell Loop (Suz). 125 BEG: 1. Evan Menen (Kaw); 2. A.J. Wilson (Yom); 3. M;ke Wnson II (Yom); 4. Shone Kojo (Suz); 5. Chance Newton (Yern). 125 JR: 1. Ricky Jemes (Yam): 2. A.J. Sjostrom (KTM); 3. Bemardo Hidalgo (Hon); 4. Curtis Malins (Yllrn); 5. Jeremy Johnson (Suz). 125 INT: I. Jarred Brown (Su,); 2. Andy Bakken (Ya;m); 3. Kevin Hunter (Yern): 4. Deniel Nelson (Yam); 5. Ryan Reina (Yam). 125 PRO: 1. Edgardo Rojes (Yllm); 2. Brenden Milstead (Suz). 250 BEG: I. Joey West (Hon); 2. Matt Sjostrom (Yam); 3. Mike Wilson 11 (Yem); 4 Joe Ament.e (Hon); 5. Jarret Bruemmer (Hon). 250 JR: 1. Kameron Silve (Yam); 2. Bemllrdo Hidelgo (Hon); 3. Weston Arthurs (Hon); 4. Josh Cemden (Yam); 5. Branden Strausbaugh (Yem). 250 INT: I. Andy Bakken (Yom); 2. Jell Loop (Su,); 3. Ryan McPhnnps (Suz). 250 PRO; 1. Leighton Lillie (Hon); 2. Jllson Ciarletta (Yllm); 3. Branden Milstead (Suz). 500 AM: 1. Andy Bekken (Yam); 2. Brent Une (Hon); 3. Matt Mebane (Hon); 4. Jon Hall (Hon). WMN: 1. EJizabeth Bash (Kew); 2. Tanya EJbers (Suz); 3. Jamie Pamintuon (Suz); 4. Katrinll Wilson (Hon); 5. Ashley Bell (Su,). BTH: 1. Brent Line (Hon); 2. Kevin Hunter (Yam); 3. Matt Mebane (Hon); 4. A.J. Gallemore (KTM); 5. Korey Robinson (Kaw). 25+ AM: 1. Jason Howard (Kaw); 2. Matt Cleveland (Hon); 3. Mllrk Desch (Suz); 4. David Zahrt (Suz): 5. Jeff Nordstrom (Hon). VET BEG: 1. Michllel Dunnagan (Yem); 2. MIke Wilson (Yam); 3. Jon Halol (Hon); 4. Eric: Whiteford (Yam); 5. Mark Cah;1I (Yom). VET JR: 1. Mark Desch (Suz): 2. Jeff Nordstrom (Hon); 3. Tony SulB (Suz); 4. Milton Mlze (Hon); 5. Scott Clark (Hon). VET INT: 1. Greg Pierce (Yllrn). VET I'lSTR: 1. Matt Tedder (Hon). OIT AM: 1. Milton Mize (Han); 2. Mike Wilson (Yom); 3. Ronel Cox (Yom): 4. Bob Sh;mp (Yom). OIT I'lSTR; I. Matt Tedder (Hon). n D _ SO • APRIL 2, 2003 43

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