Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

the course kept Forrester's speed average at just over 19 mph, When the AA riders blasted off, Forrester got the holeshot aboard a new KX250, Chris Thiele, who made the switch to a Yamaha four-stroke after many years on Kawasakis, was second, and 2002 ISDE medallist Lars Valin was third on his Honda, It didn't take Forrester long to open up a lead on the field, and by the end of lap one that lead measured 24 seconds, Thiele brought his WR450 in next, and Chris Nesbitt, on his Moose/Dunlop/Pro Circuit/Scott/Factory Effex-backed Kawasaki, was another 30 seconds back in third, While Forrester built up his lead out front, Thiele started to have trouble, First he lost ail signs of a front brake, and then he started to have problems with his clutch. Things weren't much better for Nesbitt, who was fighting, in his words, "the worst case of arm pump I've ever had," While Nesbitt's problems got better after a couple of laps, Thiele's didn't, and he made a few stops throughout the event to deal with his clutch dilemma, During the second lap, Aaron Shaw blistered the course with his fastest lap of the day to move into fourth on his borrowed Yamaha WR250, He continued his surge during lap three, when he and Nesbitt both moved around Thiele, While ail this was going on, Forrester was extending his lead to more than a minute and a half after three of the five laps, Just behind the leading quartet, Red Bull/Axo/Flatland Racing-backed YZ250F rider Caleb Wohletz had broken loose from an early battle with Valin and Tracy Bauman to take fifth with two laps to go, Valin was a minute back in sixth, while Bauman, in his AA-c1ass debut, was holding seventh on his Jones Powersports/Devol/Monster Energy KTM450 EXC The top four riders ail stopped for fuel after three or four iaps, but the only position change was when Thiele overtook Shaw for third, Nesbitt had managed to cut 10 seconds off Forrester's lead during lap four, but that still left Forrester with a minute-and-25-second cushion heading into the final lap, With no pressure from behind and the overall win within his grasp, Forrester put in another solid lap and headed for the checkered flag, His winning margin over fellow Team Green rider Nesbitt measured a minute and] 6 seconds. Second at the season opener is Nesbitt's best start ever, and Thiele held tough through his troubies to round out the box, Shaw brought his borrowed ride home fourth, while AA rookie Wohletz rounded out the top five, Sixth overall was Valin, while Anthony Meyer took the A-class victory on his Yamaha 250F, edging out Bauman by 14 seconds for seventh overail, John Struckhoff and David Taylor fought ail the way to the checkers for second in the A class, with Struckhoff getting the nod and ninth overall, while Taylor rounded out the top lOon his KTM thumper. The only other riders to complete five laps were A-class volunteer Mike Rozier, FourStroke winner Ralph Gerding (on a WR250F), and Karl Harris, who took the Open B-c1ass win. Elk Creek Lebanon, Missouri Results: March 2·3. 2003 (Round 1) O/A; I. Brllndon Forrester (Kllw): 2. Chris Nesbitt (Kaw); 3. Chris Thiele (YIItn): 4. Aaron Shllw (Yam): 5. Cllieb Wohletz (Yllm): 6. lArs Valin (Hon): 7. Anthony Meyer (Yam): 8. Trllcy Bllumlln (KTM): 9. John Struckhoff (Kllw): 10. David Taylor (KTM). All.: I. Chris Nesbitt (Kaw): 2. Chris thiele (Yllm): 3. Allron Shllw (Yllm): 4. Caleb Wohletz (Yam); 5. Lars Valin (Hon). A: I. Anthony Meyer (Yam): 2. John SIruc:khoff (Kaw); 3. David Tllylor (KTM): 4. Mike Rozier (Yllm); 5. Slade Mor1l1ng (Hus). 200 B; I. Michllel Hamilton (Kllw): 2. lllck Bryant (SU1): 3. Brandon Vaughn (KTM): 4. lllck Toumeur (KTM); 5. Steve Wohleu (KTM), 250 B: I. Dllnny Crawford (Hon): 2. Todd Corwin (KTM): 3. Adam Ashcroft. (KTM): 4. David Wilfong (Kaw): 5. Justin Smith (Hus). OPEN B: J. Karl Harris (IITM): 2. Charles thiele (Yam); 3. RIlYmond Osha (KTM): 4. Matt Sellers (KTM); 5. Ron Queen (KTM). 4·STRK 8: I. Ralph Gerding (Yllm); 2. Chili Roberts (Yam): 3. Nick Crawford (Yam): 4. Michael Brady (Yllm): 5. Brlld Ghlln (Yllm). VET: 1. Robbie Reed (KTM): 2. John Sticllooth (KTM): 3. Elston Moore (Yllm): 4. Neal Soenksen (KTM): 5. Tom Huber (Yam). SR: I. Kreg Simons (Yllm); 2. Dave Berry (KTM): 3. John Newberry (KTM): 4. Tom Eidllm (Yllm): 5. Carl Dobson (KTM). S/SR: I. John Gott (Yllm): 2. Billy Johnson (Yllm): 3. Gerald Frericks (KTM); 4. David Rozier (Hod). JR: 1. Matt Barger (Yam): 2. Nichoills Wlllillms (Kllw): 3. Cameron Mlttelberg (Yam): 4. Derek Dixon (Kaw): 5. Tyler Ruckdeschell (Kaw). WMrt: I. Michele Eidam (KTM). 200 C: J, RYlln Portell (KTM): 2. Levi Gllrrlson (Hon); 3. Shane Roberts (Yllm): 4. John Rohleder (Yam): 5. JeffThofp (Kllw). OPEN C: I. Dustin Mathis (Hon): 2. Dllvid Brewster (Yam): 3. Kurt Schllben (Yllm); 4. Robby Wells (KTM): 5. i\ndy EVllns (KTM). BEG: I. Brandon 8o<:k (Yam): 2. Derek Kemp (Yllm): 3. Kenny Christopher (Hon): 4. Jason Johnson (Hon): 5. TIm Gust (Hon). Amateur Arenacross Series - West Region Round 2: Areo Arena High-Octane Action at Arco! By MARK FOSTER SACRAMENTO,CA,MAR,2 The Amateur Arenacross Series - West Region reached its halfway point with a stop in Sacramento. It was high-octane action from a.m. to p,m, at Arco Arena on Sunday for 16 Amateur classes. More than 200 entries were narrowed down to just 167 for the main events, Trophies were awarded to the top 10 finishers and contingency awards to the top five. The track layout on the home court of the Sacramento Kings used 1400 yards of dirt in the standard horseshoe·within·a-horseshoe configuration, The eight-gate start fed a smooth, fast straight that swept into the whoop section. The inside horseshoe challenged the Pros with a five-beat rhythm section, followed by a crowd-pleasing catapult jump, On Sunday. the rhythm section was converted into two sets of takeoff jumps, followed by a tabletop landing, The catapultjump landing was also moved closer to the takeoff, as it usually is for Amateurs, but it was a very small footprint to hit the down ramp, The rollout was shortened up considerably, as welL A couple of 65s were able to get over the catapult, but a number of riders went up and over the Tuf Blocks trying to decelerate after landing. The AMA-sanctioned race program, pro· moted by Clear Channel, ran smoothly and stayed close to the advertised schedule, The majn events began about 2 p.m., and they were done before sunset. One noticeable deviation from last year's staging was the change from tire-to·tire lines to shoulder-to-shoulder staging. As a result of this experiment by track officials. the gate-choice priority that riders had earned was squandered. More than once, 56 APRIL 2,2003' EO U EO I e the entire class was pushed back after making a simultaneous mad dash for the starting gates when one of the track officials reached up to scratch his ear. The staging official Intended to cali each bike to the gate, but, In reality, there was very little control over the frenzy of moving from staging to the gate. The 7- to lI-year-old 65cc riders fueled the action at Arco with the second-largest turnout, outnumbered only by the 125cc Novices. The 16 entrants were divided into three 65cc qualifying heats, from which only four would transfer to the main. The remaining four hopefuls would get one more chance in the last-chance qualifier, but only the top two finishers would get to the main. Jake Locks from Dixon, Californja, continues to show steady improvement and evidence that he works hard at practice between races, Locks took the holeshot in heat one and promptly doubled the rhythm section, followed by James Culbertson from Sanger, California. They were the only two riders in that heat willing to risk these obstacles. so they promptly pulled away from the rest of the pack and finished in close succession. David Fee from Fresno, Califomia, and Michael Foster from Cameron Park, California, finished three-four to grab the last two transfer spots. Heat two included KTM hotshot Gared Steinke, recently relocated from Salem, Oregon, to the Sacramento area. Connor McFarland, one of two McFarland brothers from Sonoma, California, followed Steinke around turn one, and the two California riders kept the order static throughout the four-lap heat. Blake Thompson from Windsor, California, and local rider Brandon Locke from Citrus Heights, California, also moved on to the main. n e _ os Arco Arena: The 65cc riders leave the gate for their first qualifier at the Sacramento, California, round of the Amateur Arenacross Series - West Region, The final third of the 65cc entries went into heat three, Only local rider Joshua Greco completed all four laps without faliing, Sacramento rider Scotty Craven was the only other rider to finish the same number of laps as the leader, even though Craven went down once In the rhythm section, McFarland's sibling Zach went down hard on the catapult jump, although he still made it to the main, Four classes had sufficient rider signups to include Semis, These LCQ heats made only a few transfer positions available in each class. The top two finishers in the five-lap 65cc LCQ would make the main but start in the back row, Kyle Freitas didn't travel all the way to Arco from Burson, California, to be denied a chance at the main event; he jumped into an early lead and slowly stretched it out to the checkers, Blake Thompson's brother Beau kept the faith and stayed within sight of Freitas to guarantee that there'd be another set of brothers in the main. The 6Scc main event was predictable. The final order resembled the results from the qualifying heats. The earlier heat winners Steinke, Greco and Locks - finished one-twothree in the main, followed by two of the heat runner-ups, Culbertson and Craven. Factory Team 2 Racing·sponsored Michael Foster out· performed his qualifier results with a sixthplace finish in the main, putting his KX65 into the top half of the field even after starting from the back row, Arco Arena Sacramento. California Results: March 2, 2003 (Round 2 of 5) 50 (4-6): 1. Kinser Endic:otl (Pol); 2. Cody Fendley (KTM): 3. Jonah I...o<:ks (Pol): 4. Austin Ching (KT"'): 5. Austin Cowdery (KTM). 50 (7-8): I. Troy Graffunder (KTM); 2. BeIlU Thompson (Kaw): 3. Nicholas Willey (Pol): 4. Derek Bee (Pol); 5. Kelsle Lywandowsky (Pol), 65 (7.11); I. Gared Steinke (KTM); 2. Joshua Greco (KTM): 3. Jake Locks (KTM): 4. Jllmes Culbertson (Suz): 5. Scotty Crllven (KTM), 85 (7-11): I. Gored Steinke (Kaw): 2. Jllke Locks (Yllm); 3. Chad Tumer (SU1): 4. Michllel Foster (Yllm); 5. Josh McPherson (Yllm). 85 (12.15): I. Beau Weigand (Yllm): 2. Joey Hllrrls (KlIw): 3. Chappy Plene (Suz): 4. Brilln Foster (Suz): 5. Frankie White (Yam). 85 S/MlNI: I. BeliU Weigand (Yllm): 2. Joey Hllrrls (Kawl: 3. Brian Foster (Suz): 4. Dian Klinger (Kaw); 5. Willillm Riel (Hon). 125 SCHBY; I. Wes Peebles (Kaw): 2. BeIlU Meier (Suz); 3. Anthony Fritsche (Yam); 4. Ryan Legg (Yllm): 5. Nick Bisel (Suz). 125 BEa: I. Josh Hibler (Yam): 2. Paul Rutkowski (Yam): 3. Russell Hollmann (Yam): 4. Bryan HIIII (Yam): 5. Miles Hansen (Hon). 125 f"tOV: I. Roode Jesus (Yllm); 2. Neil Simpson (Yam): 3. Frank Lane (Hon); 4. Jllmes Stewllrt (Yam): 5. Brian Dominguez (S,,), 125 INT: 1. A.J. Perel (Yllm): 2. Steven Hernllndez (Suz): 3. Doug Schmid (Hon): 4. Mike Newnham (Yam): 5. Mlltthew Lozada (Hon). 250 BEG: I. Brylln Hall (Yam): 2. Daniel O'Keefe: 3. Brandon Zerbach (Yam): 4. Donlel Monte5l!nli (Hon): 5. Mill'$ Hansen (Suz). 250 f"tOV: I. Kyle Feder (Yam): 2. Brison Pederson (Yam): 3. MIke Dickerson (Kawl: 4. Don Johnson (Hon): 5. Ed Whlt~otton (Sou), 250 lNT: 1. Justin Brooks (Hon); 2. Selin Relith (Hon): 3. Doug Sdlmid (Hon); 4. Pllul Frieze (Yom); 5. Mron Youse (Hon). CLaay (16.24): I. Bobby Garrison (Yam): 2. Danny Hllrrlll (Hon): 3. Justin Brooks (Hon): 4. Mike Newnham (Yllm): 5. Doug Schmid (Hon). 25.; 1. Bellu Judge (Hon): 2. Pllul Frieze (Yam): 3. Steve Thfnger (Hon): 4. Steve Slaney (Yam): 5. Olin Denuuo (Yam). 30.: I. Steve Thlnger (Hon): 2. D&n Denuuo (Yllm): 3. Jimmy Robertson (SU1): 4. Poris Archie (Hon); 5. David Splluldlng (Hon). Mutant Motorsports Winter Series Rounds 4-5: Carnegie SVRA Flory, Bee, Andrade Set the Pace By RANDY HElM TRACY, CA, FEB, 22 There was finally a break In the weather this weekend, and the racing was on. After round four at Dixon was rained out, the Carnegie round became a double-points event for those in the series. At the riders' meeting at round four, racers opted not to race in the mud, so this was their last chance to duke it out for series titles. For those not contesting the series, it was just a perfect day to race at Carnegie and check out the new obstacles that had been added to the track, This weekend was all about the little people - meaning Mini riders. (They do tend to be a little smaller than the rest of us,) The racing was close in the 50cc (7-8) class, Derek Bee took the top spot after the dust settled. In moto one, it was all Max Crane, who took the early lead on his Polini and didn't let up until the checkered flag. Cobra tamer Brian Martinez was runner· up, and third went to Bee, who was riding a Polini. When moto two got under way, Elk Grove's Bee was leading the pack, with Martinez second and Crane in third. The top two remained the same, while Crane and Cal Johnson battled for third, The Polini-mounted Johnson eventually got the upper hand at about the halfway mark and finished third. Crane stayed close and finished fourth at the checkers. In the end, Bee was the overall winner via his 3-1 finishes, edging out Martinez by virtue of the better second-mota finish. Second overall went to Martinez, who was consistent with 2-2 finishes, Third went to Crane (1-4), In other 50cc action, local rider Elric Flory did a great job of representing Tracy, California, scoring wins in two classes. Flory, riding new Lems, went undefeated on this day, win-

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