Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Central Ohio Competition Riders Scenic Highlands Motosports Park Motocross Gracyk Shines at the Highlands Walsh Wows 'em at COCR By ROB PETRAs Bv ROPERT X. PEUETT SUGAR GROVE, OH, MAR. 23 Darren Walsh, a youngster from Hamilton, Ohio, had quite a brilliant day at COCR's motocross course, as a horde of anxious Ohio motocrossers joined him to race in some (finally) decent weather. A long Ohio winter gave way to fairly mild early-spring tempera· tures as round three of the Ff,S Suzuki Spring Series kicked off in Sugar Grove, just south of Lancaster, Ohio. Walsh, on his KTM 50, took a liking to the moist and meaty track conditions provided by the COCR club members at this fast and jumpy circuit. He won two classes and some fast motos on his way to the trophy hall. Walsh had one bad moto, in the 50cc (4-8) class, and Thornville's Jake Skinner took advantage and won. Yet it was Walsh's day, as he joined but a few other fast competitors who conquered two classes. The Pro classes, while not heavily contested, were ferocious in both speed and aggres· siveness. Yamaha-mounted Nathan Skaggs whipped up a couple of class overalls after fighting off the likes of Pickerington's Ff,S Suzuki-sponsored David Whitcraft and Cincin· nati's Doug Gall. KTM Amateur support rider Michael Willard had some erratic finishes, including a couple of wins, and yet he was still able to take the 250cc B class, despite some strong riding by the usual fast guys, including loch Haning and Robert Sparks. Sparks topped the Over 25 B class with some inspired riding, and the sparks were flying throughout the talent-laden Vet classes, with Suzuki jockeys Chucky Reed and Mike Morgan battling fellow fast guy Mikey Blair for bragging rights all day. The Brightwell brothers were on their game again. Walker took the measure of ·Super" Shawn Rife to win the 65cc class, while Walker's younger brother Hunter might have won the 50cc (4·6) class, had it not been for the excellent showing of the aforementioned Walsh. Rife wouldn't settle for second in the 85cc (7-11) class; he tore off with two wins in superhuman fashion. The other 85cc classes were intense moto-combat sequences, provided by Team Green's Justin Weeks and Ff,S Suzuki stablemates lach Ames and Kyle Smith. Despite feeling ill all day, lach Haning rode to strong finishes in the B classes and walked all over the 16-24 group, while his cousin Tim Haning struck gold in the 125cc B contest, taking advantage of Willard's miscue in that class. Results 50 (4-6): I. Darren Walsh (KTM): 2. Hunter Brightwell (Cob): 3. NEWCOMERSTOWN, OH, MAR. 23 Gavin Gracyk is on a mission. The Blissfield, Ohio, rider is preparing to make the leap from Amateur to Pro - no small feat. His training and hard riding are paying off; he captivated the crowd with three class wins on this day at Scenic Highlands Motosports Park. Gracyk led every lap on his Team Green/Fox/Dunlop/FMF/Renthal Kawasakis in the 125cc A, 250cc A and Collegeboy (16-24) divisions. His excellent form and fluid movement reveal he's ready to take it to the next level. Carl Schlacht rode his McCune Cycle World/Spy/Gary Bailey MX Schools/PJl KTMs to second overall in both the A classes. The stylish Schlacht is improving at every race. When the 250cc B class ripped off the line, Honda-mounted Jason King absconded with the lead. Chasing him down were Kawasaki jockey Fletcher Shryock, Honda rider Matt Scott, and Steve Pfaff, also on a Kawasaki. lach Kaiser, who showed up on a Gas Gas sponsored by Race Ready Cycle, PCS, BWR, Thor and DeCal Works, got a terrible start, finishing lap one in 10th. King held the lead for two laps before Scott took over. Shryock made a mistake and dropped back to seventh. Carving his way through the pack W8S Kaiser. who took over the lead at the halfway point. Shryock was back on the move. Kaiser caught a stone that damaged his hydraulic clutch reservoir. Scott pounced, while the clutchless Kaiser did his best to hold off the pack. Scott got to the checkered flag first, followed by Kaiser, Shryock and Honda rider Josh Kompa, who came up from an eighthplace start. In moto two, Shryock nailed the start with an early lead. Behind him were Scott. Kompa and Pfaff. Kaiser got caught in the gate, and he roosted through the first tum a full 10 seconds behind the pack! Shryock was gone. Scott and Kompa battled over second. Kaiser again attacked the track, pushing the screaming Gas Gas for all it was worth. Shryock took the win, doggedly pursued by Kaiser with a stunning effort. Then came Kompa, Scott and Pfaff. A.J. Hattery earned the 125cc Schoolboy (12-15) and 125cc B overall victories. Results 50 (4·6) BEG: I. William Fountain (IITM): 2. Bryce MUier (KTM): 3. Kyle Furbny (KTM); 4. Paul Westfall (KTM); 5. Jonathan Kissell (Yam). PfW JR (4-6): 1. Joshua Boyd (KTM): 2. Zachary Cra5e (Hus); 3. Larry Offenberger (Can); 4. Tanner Nemdl (KTM): 5. Alex Christie (Hus). PfW SR (7-8): I. Zachary Knotts (Pol); 2. Dominic Mark (IITM): 3. Danny laHood (KTM): 4. Quinn Wentzel (Cob): 5. Auslln PateOl (Cobl. 65 BEG:: 1 Justin Soc:k (Cob); 2. Jon McKnlgtll IKew); 3. .Joe F....... (!\awl: 4. Chmty KJng (""w): 5. Toby McCuJl.,. (Vom). 6S (7-9); 1. Seth WetS (Yam); 2. Todd Krieg (KTM): 3. Oay EDioCl (!\aw): 4. Zan< awn. (&.1: 5. <:>mn W '" o ... o ~~~"""""'-":""1;;: CSuz). 85 (7-11): 1. Shawn Rife (KT"'); 2. Kyle Burlile (Suz): 3. Walker Brightwell (Kaw). 85 (12-15): 1. lach Ames (Sw:): 2. JuslIn Weeks (Kaw): 3. Kyle Smilh (&.). S/MINI: 1. Justin Weeks (Kaw); 2. uch Ames (Sw:); 3. Kyle Sml1h (&.). 125 PRO: 1. Nathan Skaggs (Vam); 2. Dave Whitcraft (Suz): 3. Doug Ga. (KTM). 125 B: I. Tin Haning (Hon): 2. Pm)' Hoover (Suz); 3. Demon Shaffer (yam). 125 C: 1. Travis Tatman (Yam); 2. Tyler Pemberton (Yam): 3. Kyle Curren (Kew). 250 PRO: 1. Nathen Skaggs (Yam): 2. Doug Gall (KTM): 3. Dave _1&.)· 2SO B: 1. MIchael Willord (KTM.); 2. Damon Shaffer (Yam): 3. Rutledge. VET A: VET B: VET C: 40. A: 40+ 8: Crump. 40. C: Robert Sparks (Yam). 250 C: 1. Tyler Pemberton (Yam): 2. Chris Stone (Hon); 3. Kevin Featheringham (Hon). SCHBV: 1. Kyle Smith (Sw:): 2. Jesse Gustafson (Kaw): 3. lach """" IS",). 16-24: 1. Zach Honing (Yam): 2. Ross Adams (Ytlm): 3. Chris· tian MoIst (Suz). 25. A: I. MIke BlaIr (Sur): 2. Chuck Reed (Suz); 3. Bub ThomM (Yam). 25+ B: J. Robert Sparks (Vam): 2. Adam Neu (Suz): 3. Mark Kiser (Suz). 30+ A: I. Chuck Reed (SUl): 2. Mike Morgan (Sw.): 3. MIke Blair (Suz). 30. B: I. Doug flinner (KTM): 2. Robert SPlirkS (Yam); 3. Mark Kiser (Suz). 40.: 1. Richard Robinson (Hon): 2. Kyle Curen (Kaw); 3. Edmund ft4.oote (Hon). OPEN; 1. Ross Adams (Vam): 2. Troy Stenlqo (Hon): 3. Jim Hill IHan). ao APRIL 1 6, 2003' cue I e 100 SPTSMt'f STK c: I. Robert Cuff)': 2. Edward Cob\; 3. Tyter Pullen. 100 YTH MOO A: I. OJ. Sharkey. I00 YTH .MOO B; 1. Garrett Willis. 100 YTH MOO C: 1. Kaytyn Crump. XRIOO SP'TSMN MOD B: I. (.0. Howell: 2. Brad Madden: 3. Scott Yarbrough. XRICO SPTSMN MOD C: I. 1"Udlael SendIe:z; 2. Kmy ~ 3. 5l.eve Paganucd. XR100 RtCHMOND RAMBLERS: I. Mkhael Behrens; 2. Jeff Page: 3. Steven e.s. 125 B: I. Joseph Hernandez: 2. Bobby fong: 3. C.D. Howtil. 250 B: I. Chrio Bo

• Cover