Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Giant RV MX Amateur Nationals Glen Helen Raceway Park --...aler, e551 STORY AND PHOTO BY JOHN BETHEA SAN BERNARDINO, CA, MAY 8-10 he Giant RV MX Amateur Nationals at Glen Helen Raceway was truly an international gathering. German fraulein Steffi Laier rode her KTM to back-to-back moto victories to garner the Women's Pro competition, the featured event prior to the opening rounds of the AMA 125cc and 250cc National Champ-ionships. Riders from eight countries joined American participants from 27 states for two full days of competition under wet skies on Thursday and partly cloudy conditions on Friday. Mudholes as deep as tires and deep ruts in every turn spelled doom for dozens of riders during the first day of competition, but conditions mostly dried out by the second day's second round, to the point that the track actually required watering. Making only her third trip to the States and the first since 2001, Laier moved immediately to the lead of Friday's first moto and pounded the field of 25 into submission, living up to her reputation as the fastest woman motocrosser in the world. (She's been the Women's Motocross League's International Champion the past two years.) Yamaha rider Sarah Whitmore of Cheboygan, Michigan, moved into second by lap two and stayed there for the remaining nine laps of the 20-minute-plus-two-lap moto. Third went to current WML Champion Stefy Bau, the Italian who now calls Florida home, but only after she took it away from Kawasaki jockey Alex Haupt of Germany and Yamaha pilot Tania Satchwell of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The second moto was scheduled for 24 hours later, as a preliminary event on Saturday's slate, just prior to the National practice and qualifiers. This gave the women a chance to race the National track, which delighted them. In fact, their most common description of the second T mota was "awesome." Laier, the 27 -year-old from Heidelberg, continued to keep her win streak in WML racing alive (she has never lost a moto), leading every lap; even though she got off to thirdplace start, she was leading by the end of the first lap. Whitmore got into trouble early, overshooting the hairpin berm next to a 54 MAY 28, 2003' eye I .. the starting grid as they entered lap two, dropping her nearly to the back of the field. A race-long climb back toward the leaders left her a disappointed sixth in the moto and fifth overall after she had entered with such high expectations. This gave Jessica Patterson, on the Team Green Kawasaki, the chance to improve upon her sixth-place finish on Friday, and she marched right up to the podium for third overall with her second-place finish in front of the big crowd. It was an impressive showing, considering she returned to racing (after an injury) only three weeks ago. New Zealander Satchwell got the runner-up laurels with a 4-3 performance. The former WML Champion confessed she "got pumped out about halfway through the moto." Winner Laier explained in her broken English that Glen Helen's track is "much bigger" than those in Germany, where she races against the men - to which she accredits her speed. "The men are so much more fast." She'll race Hangtown and then head home to Europe. When asked if, after her win, she was going to Disneyland, she replied simply, "No time." In Expert competition, the 125s raced on Thursday, and Brock Sellards made the most of racing only one moto, winning the first round, with Josh Hansen second and Ivan Tedesco third. The three Yamaha racers then opted out of the second round, and Yamaha rider Zeb Ziganti moved up to take the overall with a 4-3 showing. In the 250cc Experts, Suzuki's Cole Siebler, who now hails from Emmett, Idaho, collected two moto victories for an easy overall. With his older brother Mike recuperating from an injury, Honda's Jeff Alessi took three more first-place trophies home to Apple Valley, sweeping the Supermini class on Thursday and the 85cc (12-13) and 125cc Schoolboy classes on Friday. The Supermini contest was enormously affected by the adverse conditions. A huge mudhole just before the finish line was like quicksand, swallowing most of the racers; only three of the field of 11 finished the first moto. In fact, DNFs and DNSs dominated the results in Thursday's races. Hown e vw s ever, those who did ride mostly wore muddy grins after the races. Micky Griffin experienced firstmoto ills on day one in the 125cc Intermediate Division Two contest, placing sixth, but then he came back to take runner-up, behind winner Carlos Gonzalez. On sunny Friday, Griffin swept the 250cc Intermediate Division Two class on his Yamaha. Andro Korlael of Chile claimed the 250cc Novice Division Two contest, and, in the same event, Dimitris Keramidas of Athens, Greece, placed fifth on a Honda. However, the Greek also placed third in the Four-Stroke Novice class on Thursday and garnered an overall triumph in the Vet Intermediate contest on Friday. eN &len Helen llKeway PlIrtc Sol......nlloo, Califomia Results: May 8-1 D, 2l1l13 50 STK: 1. Erik Yorbe (Lem): 2. Ashton McMillan (Cob); 3. Bryce Cords (Lem): 4. Ryan Matter (KTM); 5. Andy Gonzales (Cob). 50 STK (4·6); I. Mike Viclorian (Cob); 2. Samuel Dabney (Suz); 3. Brandon Kaupp (Pol); 4. Cody Gore (Cob). 50 MOD: 1. Eric Yorba (Lem); 2. Bryce Cords (Lem); 3. Ryan Matter (KTM); 4. Ashton McMillan (Cob); 5. Ian Marshall (KTM). 50 MOD (4-6): 1. Mike Victorian (Cob); 2. Maxwell Tedder (KTM); 3. Brandon Kaupp (Pol); 4. Jose Ceja (Pol). 50 4-5TRK: 1. Shane Hazard (Han). 65 BEG: 1. J.e. Bell (Suz); 2. Jordan Thibonil (Kaw); 3. Sara Price (Kaw): 4. Joe Wood (Kaw); 5. Shaine Staab (KTM). 65 (4-8): I. Kaden Hartwell (Kaw): 2. Brody Kiesel (Pol); 3. Chris Cuero (KTM). 65 (9-11): I. Blake Baggett (Kaw): 2. Michael Leib (Kaw); 3. Dakota Tedder (Yam); 4. Steven Tokarski (Kaw); 5. Nitro Johnson (KTM). 85 BEG: 1. David Wolfinbarger (Hon); 2. Scott Agostini (Kaw); 3. Louis Parker (Suz); 4. Matt Greene (Hon); 5. Jacob Karr (Hon). 85 (4-11): I. Ben laMay (Su,); 2. Blake Baggett (Kaw); 3. Dakota Garner (Kaw); 4. Michael Leib (Kaw); 5. Ryan Moserop (Kaw). 85 (12-13): I. Jeff Alessi (Hon); 2. B.J. Bohrer (Yam); 3. Dana Dreier (Yam); 4. Eliot Jackson (Kaw); 5. Jake Hulett (Hon). 85 (14-16): J. Branden Barnes (Suz); 2. Dane Jackson (Hon); 3. Kyle Behling (Yam); 4. Kirk Agostini (Yam): 5. Sherri Cruse. 85 S/MINI: 1. Jeff Alessi (Hon); 2. Branden Barnes (Suz); 3. Dillon Jones (Kaw); 4. Chad Gore (Suz); 5. Austin Eitel (Hon). 125 SCHBY 0-1: I. Michael La Paglia (Suz); 2. Devin Sullivan (KTM); 3. Zach Russell (Yam); 4. Derreck Murphy (KTM); 5. Larry Reese Jr. (Suz). 125 SCHBY 0-2: I. Jeff Alessi (Hon); 2. Chris Blose (KTM); 3. Carlos Gonzales (Suz); 4. Alex Buuard (Kaw); 5. Kyle Griffith (Hon). 125 BEG D-l: 1. Dean Price (Kaw); 2. Scott Martin (Suz); 3. Joseph Johnson (Yam); 4. Andrew Gehring (Yam); 5. Jason Parsons (Kaw). 125 BEG 0-2: 1. Gavin Rodgers (Hon); 2. Karson Kavanagh (KTM); 3. Shaun Tomosada (Hon); 4. Demond Todd (KTM); 5. Thomas Ribble (Yam). 125 NOV D-l: 1. Randy Hill (Suz); 2. Patrick Bleckert (Yam); 3. Brandon Reina (Yam); 4. Tony Menighan (KTM); 5. Joey Bitto (YlIm). 125 NOV D·2: 1. Brock Whitehead (Suz); 2. Chlld Beile (Suz); 3. Corey Bumhllm (YlIm); 4. Matt Tedder Jr. (Hon); 5. Michael Mtmin (Yam). 125 NOV 0-3: 1. Rick James (Yam); 2. Mike Lopez (Hon); 3. Adam McCaghren (Suz); 4. Colton Udall (Yam); 5. Adam Booth (Yam). 125 INT 0-1: I. Joshua Grant (Hon); 2. Derreck Murphy (KTM); 3. Bryan Ehrman (Kaw); 4. Chris Nihan (SUI); 5. Ryan Reina (Yam). 125 INT 0-2: 1. Carlos Gonzalez (Suz); 2. Kevin Frisbie (YlIm); 3. Micky Griffin (Yam); 4. Adam Gregg (Hon); 5. Dennis Ewing (Suz). (Above) Gennany's Stetfi Laier rode her KTM to the Women's Pro overall victory at Glen Helen Raceway Part<. 125 EX: 1. Zeb Ziganti (Yam); 2. Kevin Roberts (Yam); 3. Kelly Tedder (KTM); 4. Brock Sellards (Yam): 5. Josh Ham.~n (Yam). 250 BEG: I. Eric Warrington (Hon); 2. Vincent Lewis (Hon); 3. Mark Bellman (Yam); 4. Matt Hubbard (Yam); 5. Larry Hernandez (Yam). 250 NOV 0·1: 1. Sean Bailey (Hon); 2. Kameron Silva (Yam); 3. Mike Lopez (Hon); 4. Brandon Strausbaugh (Yam); 5. Mitch Bartlell (Yam). 250 NOV 0-2: I. Andre KorJael; 2. Randel Cox Jr. (Yam); 3. Justin Falk (Yam); 4. Bryan Frost (Hon); 5. Dimitris Keramidas (Hon). 250 INT 0-1: 1. Michael La P&gJia (Suz); 2. Larry Reese Jr. (Suz); 3. Stan Finney (Hon); 4. Charlie Hartzell (Hon): 5. Cody Hertel (Hon). 250 INT 0·2: 1. Micky Griffin (Yam); 2. Josh Stice (Hon); 3. Alex Buzzard (Kaw); 4. Broc Daugherty (Yam); 5. A.J. Steinbach (Hon). 250 EX: I. Cole Siebler (Suz): 2. Josh Cavanaugh (Yam); 3. Sean O'Connor (Hon); 4. Jeremias Fernandes; 5. Cody Randall (Hon). 4·STRK BEG: J. Eric Warrington (Hon); 2. Robert Schelich (Yam); 3. Mike Ferro (Hon); 4. Tim Wilson (Yam); 5. Todd Mazon (Yam). 4-STRK NOV: 1. Kyle Griffith (Hon); 2. Mitch Bartlett (Yam); 3. Dimitris Keramidas (Hon); 4. Patrick Bleckert (Yam); 5. Chris Ayers (Yam). 4-STRK INT: I. A.J. Steinbach (Hon); 2. Cody Hertel (Hon); 3. Charlie Hartzell (Hon); 4. Mall Craft (Hon); 5. Jeremy Ferro (Hon). 4-STRK EX: 1. Kevin Roberts (Yam); 2. Cody Randall (Han); 3. Justin Myers (Hon). JR VET NOV: I. Jeff Merrill (Hon); 2. Adam Booth (Yam); 3. C.T. Falk (Yam); 4. Brian Allen (Yam); 5. Michael Marrin (Yam). JR VET INT: 1. Jim Curzon (Hon); 2. Juan Contreras (Yam); 3. Cole Gress (Suz); 4. Phil Segundo (Hon): 5. Michael Segundo (Yam). JR VET EX: 1. Justin Burlingame (Hon); 2. Chuck Jones (Hon); 3. Mall Tedder (Hon). VET NOV 0·1: I. JlIson Ingersoll (Hon); 2. Doyle McNatt (Hon); 3. Wes Lee (Suz); 4. Dino C81009no (Hon); 5. Steve Broussard (Hon). VET NOV 0·2: I. Paul Berton (Hon); 2. Tim Dekid (Hon); 3. Harvey Hall (Suz); 4. Wayne Devan (Kaw); 5. Ken Barnes (Hon). VET IN:T: I. Dimitris Keramidas (Hon); 2. Ryan Doty (Yam); 3. Jim Curzon (Hon); 4. Mike Giem (Han); 5. Craig King (Yam). VET EX: I. Keven Geyer (Yam); 2. Thomas Carson (Kaw); 3. Revelle Harrison (KTM); 4. Matt Tedder (Hon); 5. Jim Henn (Hon). SR NOV 0-1: 1. Palrick Ellert (Hon); 2. Mark Harrington (Yam); 3. Karl Holmberg (KTM); 4. Dan Earls (Yam); 5. Rick DeFalco (Yam). SR NOV 0-2: I. Larry Watkins (Yam); 2. Marty Desbrow (Yam); 3. Jason Tougawn (Yam); 4. Raymond Andes: 5. Michael Marrin (Yam). SR INT: I. Troy Lee (Hon); 2. Mark Franklin (Hon); 3. A. Jay Harry (Yam): 4. Robbie James (Suz); 5. Bruce Thinger (Hon). SR EX: 1. Thomas ClIrson (Kaw); 2. Matt Tedder (Hon); 3. Jon Ortner (YlIm); 4. Ron Turner (Yam); 5. Jack Lawrence (Hon). WMN MINI: J. Alis8 Nix (Yam); 2. Jena Ellis (Suz); 3. Chelsea Candido (Hon); 4. Jacqueline Strong (Suz): 5. Natalie Eichner (Yam). WMN AM: 1. Elizabeth Bash (Kaw); 2. Sherri Crouse; 3. Sharlin Humphreys (Suz); 4. April Hodges (Kaw); 5. Tanya Elbers (SUI). WMN VET: 1. Stacie Lawhorn (Suz); 2. Val Roberts (Yam); 3. Erika Schlitz (Yam). WMN PRO: 1. Steffi Laier (KTM): 2. Tania Satchwell (Yam); 3. Jessica Patterson (SUI); 4. Stefy Sau (Hon); 5. Sarah Whitmore (Yam); 6. Alex Haupt (Kaw); 7. Shelly Harens (Yam); 8. Kristen Raemisch (Suz); 9. Jacki Hudson (Hon): 10. Marisa Hampshire (Kaw).

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