Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

GFI Winter Series North/South Showdown: Oatfield Raceway By JIM AND JUSTIN ENOS PHOTOS BY JIM ENOS TURLOCK, CA, MAR. 29-30 Q MP Racing's private facility, the ~ Oatfield Raceway, played host to the GFI Winter Series Showdown, and while many of the usual northern suspects were present, several southern riders also made their presence known. Michael Brandes finished off the series with yet another dominant win in the 125cc Pro class, capping off an incredible run that left him undefeated in every single moto of the series. Piloting a Sean Hummel Racing/Skin Industries/BRI/Big Gun Yamaha, Brandes took on the regulars, as well as a few new faces, yet came away with unchallenged wins in both motos. With the second spot up for grabs, Craig Truglio, Evan Laughridge and SoCal's Daton Beavers and Tim Weigand went at it, and a consistent moto score was not needed. Beavers crashed, and Laughridge suffered a mechanical second-moto DNF, while Weigand quietly pulled off a 6-3 score for the second spot on the day. Truglio (5-4), Beavers (4-5) and Laughridge (2- 7) rounded out the top five. "I set a good pace out there, and it's always nice to win with a cushion," said Brandes. "My 250F is solid, and I just want to really thank all the people who backed me in this series, especially Sean Hummel and the guys at BRI Suspension, along with everyone else." When the gate dropped for the first 250cc Pro moto, Laughridge shot out into the lead. However, Brandes was haVing none of that, and by the second turn he had the lead. However, what ensued was what many had been waiting for all series long: a challenge for Brandes. Laughridge stepped it up on his American Suzuki/Axo/Bill's Pipes/RG3 machine and latched on to Brandes for the entire moto. In fact, Laughridge nearly took over the lead on several occasions, with his best effort coming through a relatively easy whoop section, which saw him side by side with Brandes, only to get squeezed off at the end. While Brandes hung on for the win, Laughridge finished a mere bikelength behind. "These whoops are nothing compared to the arenacross ones I've seen all year, and I just jumped in as far as I could," said Laughridge. "That 56 APRIL 23, 2003' cue • e (Right) Yamaha-mounted Michael Brandes went undefeated in every single moto of the 125cc Pro class throughout the entire GFI Winter Series. (Below) Evan Laughridge placed fifth in the 125cc Pro class but topped the 250cc Pros at Oatfield Raceway, site of the series' North/South Shootout. was about the only place on the track I could find to make a pass, and I hope we have another good race in the second moto." The second moto actually did turn out to be a good race for Laughridge. He grabbed the holeshot and did what no other rider had done all series long - won a moto against Brandes. Laughridge steadily increased his lead on the field and was never challenged all the way to the checkers. Brandes, who maintained second the whole moto, nearly got passed near the end when Eric Nye came up to challenge him. While Nye had to settle for third, he still ended up rounding out the top three on the day with a solid 3-3 score. NorCal hotshoe Eric McCrummen showed off his new colors (as in a couple of brand-new Kawasakis) and promptly went out and aced both 250cc Intermediate motos. McCrummen made the switch from the KTM look easy and made his first race on a 250 look even easier. "This thing rips, and the way it handles makes it easy to go fast," the Team Green/IRS/Shift/TCR-backed rider said. "I didn't get the greatest starts today, and since-it was my first time on a 250, I was kind of worried about looping it out, but once I got going, I just got into the flow and got up front." McCrummen's longtime rival Charlie Morrison and SoCal's Micky Griffin traded finishes behind McCrummen. Morrison ended up second on the day with a 3-2 effort, while Griffin rounded out the top three with a 2-3 tally. Most importantly, though, the effort sealed up the championship for the Lake Elsinore resident. "McCrummen's riding really good," said Griffin, "and me and Charlie ended up having a couple of good motos. This track is pretty good, with the deep ruts and stuff, but down south, you don't see tracks set n e _ os up like this, and it was a challenge. But I'm pleased with my effort on the day, and my Yamaha/Sketchers/ Temecula Motorsports/Pro Action Yamaha worked great today." Morrison found redemption in the 125cc Intermediate class, posting a pair of wins aboard his Factory Yamaha/Thousand Oaks/FMF/TLD thumper. A recent switch from twostrokes appears to have been a good move for Morrison, as he bested McCrummen (3-2) and Spy-backed Casey Hinson (2-4) on the day. In the 80cc ranks, SoCal's Mike Alessi took control of the Supermini and Open classes, scoring huge wins in both motos of each. The American Honda/Alloy-backed rider put on a clinic for the those in attendance and in the process earned a pair of championship titles for his efforts. eN Oatfield Raceway Turlock, California Results: March 29-30, 2003 Saturday 125 INT: 1. Charlie Morrison (Yam); 2. Eric McCrummen (Kaw); 3. Casey Hinson (Suz); 4. Leo Tidwell (Yam); 5. Nick Jarret (Hon). 125 PRO: I. Michael Brandes (Yam); 2. Tim Weigand (Han); 3. Craig Truglio (Yam); 4. Datan Beavers (Suz); 5. Evan Laughridge (Suz). 250 INT: 1. Eric McCrummen (Kaw); 2. Charlie Morrison (Yam); 3. Micky Griffin (Yam); 4. Leo Tidwell (Hon); 5, Joey Rodriguez (Han). 250 PRO: 1. Evan Laughridge (Suz); 2. Michael Brandes (Yam); 3. Eric Nye (Yam); 4. Daton Beavers (502); 5. Matt McCrummen (Suz). 500 PRO: l. Travis Marks (Hon). 25+ INT: 1. Gary Forrest (Yam). 30+ (NT: I. Gary Forrest (Yam); 2. Marc Wemyss (Han); 3. Dan DeNuzzo (Hon). 35+ INT: 1. Craig Rannells (Han); 2. Dan DeNuzzo (Han). 35+ EX: 1. Mike Newman (Suz). 40+ INT: 1. Craig Hamilton (Suz); 2. Craig Rannells (Hon); 3. Milton Mize (Hon); 4. Craig Freeman (Hon); 5. Peter Cramwell (Han). 40+ EX: 1. Mike Newman (Suz). Sunday Pee Wee Track 50 (4-6) P/W JR: 1. Niko Ambriz (Yam); 2. Nolan Mcintosh (Yam); 3. James Carothers (Yam). 50 (4-6) STK: I. Rhett Gonzalez (KTM); 2. Derick Silva (Pol); 3. Casey Mashore (KTM); 4. Kyle Greener (KTM); 5. Tallon Newman (Lem). 50 (4-6) MOD: 1. Conner Pearson (KTM); 2. Bryan Craft (Hen). 50 (7 -8) STK: I. Jeffrey Carothers (Pol); 2. Will Schroeder (Lem); 3. Gunnar Sigler (KTM); 4. Nathaniel Rodriguez (KTM): 5. Devan Carothers (KTM). 50 (0-8) OPEN: 1. R.J. Mendez (KTM); 2. Mark Braden (Pol); 3. Michael Maze (Cob); 4. Paul O'Eridita (pol); 5. Derek O'Brien (Hen). Main Track 50 (4·6): 1. Brandon Olivares (Pol); 2. Rhett Gonzales (KTM); 3. Tallon Newman (Lem); 4. Hunter Wilbers (KTM). 50 (7-8): 1. Michael Maze (Cob); 2. Cory Co]ombini (KTM); 3. R.J. Mendez (KTM); 4. Connor Pearson (KTM); 5. Paul D'Eredita (Pol). 50 (0-8) OPEN: I. Jessy Nelson (KTM); 2. Mark Braden (Pol); 3. Bryan Craft (Hen). 60 BEG: 1. Mark Braden (KTM); 2. Michael Maze (Suz); 3. Shane Mcintosh (KTM); 4. Cory Colombini (KTM); 5. Landon Cohen (KTM). 60 NOV: 1. Jessy Nelson (KTM); 2. Anthony Rodriguez (KTM); 3. Kyle Colombini (KTM); 4. Drew Thomas (KTM); 5. Chris Buhlig (KTM). 60 INT: 1. Ty Keenom (KTM). 60 OPEN: 1. Ty Keenom (KTM); 2. Mark Braden (KMT); 3. Landon Cohen (KTM); 4. Austin Hammes (Kaw); 5. Charlie Swift (Hon). 80 FIT: 1. Vincent Harrell (Suz); 2. Anthony Rodriguez (Kaw). 80 BEG: 1. Trevor Allred (Suz); 2. Blake Ballard (Yam); 3. Kyle Freitas (Yam); 4. Chris Aragon (Yam); 5. John De Silva (Kaw). 80 NOV: 1. Jarred Holt (Han); 2. Austin Eitel (Han); 3. Clint Loudenburg (Han); 4. Richard Sterling (Kaw); 5. Matthew Williams (Yam). 80 INT: 1. Justin Enos (Suz); 2. Austin InQal1s (Yam); 3. Kyle Smith (Yam); 4. Buck Ford (Kaw); 5. Brad Kelly (Hon). 80 EX: 1. Jordan Mockridge (Yam). 80 8/M-INI: 1. Mike Alessi (Hon); 2. Jordan Mockridge (Yam); 3. Buck Ford (Kaw): 4. Kyle Kent (Hon); 5. Kyle Smith (Yam). 80 OPEN: 1. Mike Alessi (Han); 2. Beau Weigand (Yam): 3. Brad Kelly (Han); 4. Jordan Mackridge (Yam); 5. Kyle Kent (Han). 8/W: 1. Corey Padilla (Han); 2. Cameron Ewing (Suz); 3. Lucas Armstrong (Han). 100: 1. Rary Packwood (Han); 2. Alexah Pearson (Hon). 125 BEG: 1. Johnny Kerslake (Yam); 2. Blake Rookstool (Yam); 3. John Ripley (KTM); 4. Chris Noble (KTM); 5. Austin Eitel (Suz). 125 NOV: 1. Greg Fouts (Yam); 2. Kurtis Batey (Yam); 3. Corey Pennington (Suz); 4. David Darsey (Yam); 5. D.J. Harms (Yam). 250 BEG: 1. Greg Barbin (Han); 2. Nathan Burman (Yam); 3. Tim Patterson (Yam): 4. Chad Blake (Yam); 5. Josh Deese (Yam). 250 NOV: 1. Jared Morrison (Yam); 2. D.J. Harms (Yam); 3. Aaron McKinnon (Yam): 4. Travis Wilbur (Han); 5. Dan Rapp (Yam). 500 BEG: 1. Victor Nelson (Yam). WMN: 1. Rory Packwood (Han); 2. Alexah Pearson (Suz); 3. Melissa Cllgle (Kaw); 4. Megan Kuenzinger (Han). SCHBY: I. Mike Alessi (Han); 2. Eric McCrummen (Kaw); 3. Jared Minor (Yam); 4. Corey Pennington (Suz); 5. Coty Loudenburg (Hon). 25+ BEG: 1. Chad Blake (Yam); 2. Dan Earls (Yam); 3. Tony Allen (Hon); 4. Nick McKinnon (Yam); 5. Grant Head (Yam). 25+ NOV: 1. Dan Rapp (Yam); 2. Greg Hock (Yam). 30+ BEG: 1. Nathan Burman (Yam); 2. Tony Allen (Han); 3. Dan Earls (Yam); 4. Stephen D'Eredita (Yam); 5. Tim Patterson (Yam). 30+ NOV; 1. Greg Hock (Yom); 2. Mork Baumgarden (Han); 3. Dave Harrell (KTM). 35+ NOV: 1. Greg Hock (Hon). 40+ NOV: I. Patrick Eilert (Hon); 2. Dave Harrell (KTM); 3. Leroy Perry (Han); 4. Jeff Stallings (Yam): 5. Nick McKinnon (Yam).

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