Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

However, Chris Wyckoff, on his ATK (sporting wider rims in order to take advantage of Wyckoff's new tire sponsorship), had different plans. Using his loose riding style to great effect, Wyckoff eventually made up for his back-of-the-pack starting position and began pressuring Sonnenberg. He found an opening and made his move, putting 10 seconds on motoUSA racer, showed some superb riding skill, rounding out the top three. At the first tum of the Novice contest, Mike Moore launched his Cannandale into orbit with a wicked highside going into tum one. After the dust cleared, the riders regridded for the restart. and the Cannondale rider lined up in the back. Yameha 250-mounted Anthony Ciampi led the charge, followed by the other riders. Ciampi looked set to take his first the field en route to the win. Danny Uttle, on his CRF450R, took the flOal podium position. In the Middleweight event, Motorcycle Madness rider Sonnenberg lined up on the pole. Taking the holeshot, Sonnenberg set off, with Yamaha-mounted Nat Wilder right behind him. Extending his lead Sonnenberg appeared set to take his first SMUSA win. Wilder, however, had other plans; using a very efficient riding style, he siowly began to chip into Sonnenberg's lead. Looking like he had the win sewn up, Sonnenberg was smooth on the last lap, but Wilder made a move at tum one after the jump for the win. Ciampi showed that size really doesn't matter and finished third on his YZ250F. Supermoto win ever, leading handily while holding off Flat Track Honda rider Frank Rounds. Unbeknownst to either of them, Mike Moore had other plans. Charging from last place, he overtook Ciampi before the dirt section on the last lap and held on for the win. Yamaha 450-mounted Paul Havir used his grid advantage to set a blazing pace and work his way to the front of the Sport Moto event. However, after getting a rolled black-flag warning for making a questionable move on Honda rider Dennis Espinoza. Havir mistakenly slowed down and pulled off the track. Endre Csizmazia then pushed to front to take his first win, with Zsolt Balogh rounding out third. Cannon dale rider Gartner threw down the gauntlet, lining up on the pole and leading the Prestige event from flag to flag. Eric Ascenzi. on a borrowed VSM Racing Vertemati 570R, threatened for a few laps, and Tom Hartigan was showing his dirt skills on his Vertemati 570R. Meanwhile, Gartner settled into a smooth rhythm and proceeded to extend his lead, taking the win without much pressure from Ascenzi. Hartigan rounded out the podium. Benefiting from a blazing run in his heat race, Tom Sonnenberg lined up his CRF450R in the pole position, ready to cut it up in the Veteran event. The effects of racing four classes obviously hadn't taken effect - yet. He got the holeshot and looked ready to run away. Oakland Valley Race Part< Cuddebackville, New York Results: May 3, 2003 MINI: 1. Joseph Ciampi (Suz); 2. Jason Slutsky (Yam); 3. Scott Alkinburgk (Han): 4. Eric Sandwall (M2): 5. Mooly Warslng (Yam). l/W: 1. Joseph CIampi (Yam); 2. Dennis Espinosa (Han); 3. Scott Rounds (Yam). M/W: I. Nat Wlldef (Yam); 2. Tom Sonnenberg (Hon); 3. Joseph Cillmpl (Yam); 4. Mike Beland (Hon); 5. Glen Schem (Han). SPT/MOTO: I. Endre CSWnazia (KTfo\l; 2. Denni. Espinoza (Han); 3. ZIoIt BoIogh (Han): 4. Ken Anderson (Yam) 5. Paul Havir (Yam). NOV: I. Mike Moore (Can): 2. Anthony Clamp! (Yam): 3. Fllmk Rounds (Hon): 4. ultain PoIyah (MI); 5. Zso/t Balogh (Yam). VET: I. Chris Wyckoff (ATK): 2. Tom Sonnenberg (Hon); 3. DaMy LIttle (Hon): 4. Glen Scherer (Han); 5. Endre Caizmazia (Yam). OPEN EX: I. BiD Galtnef (Can): 2. 1..Jlnce Johnson (Hon); 3. Nat WIIdef (Yam): 4. Chris Wyckoff (ATK): 5. Eric Ascenzi (Ver). PRESTlGE: I. Bill Gartnef (Can): 2. Eric Aacenzi (Ver); 3. Tom Hartigan (Ver); 4. Mike Gallagher (Vert 5. Mike Beland (Hen). engine displacement of no larger than 5Occ. Pee Wee racer Payne Jones took off like a lightning bolt at the starting line, followed by fellow KTM rider Hunter Rowland, who was determined to catch up to the leader. Eightyear-old Honda rider Rachael Romero was ready to go racing with the boysl With nine Pee Wee racers on the trail and two laps of dusty pine-tree dodging ahead, there was bound to be some action! Defending his 2002 Pee Wee overall win, Rowland pushed young Jones to the limit! After riding Jones' rear tire, Rowland finally passed the leader on the final lap, locking up the win and still lapping several Pee Wees before crossing the finish line. Jones Cllme in 14 seconds behind for second place, and Robert Lamb took third. When asked what had been his favorite part of the race, young Rowland answered, "When I won!" Next up was the Kids Intermediate class. This class is comprised of 7- to 10-year-olds, riding bikes with an engine displacement of no larger than axc. These kids were in for a twolap race down a sandy, 5-mile trail full of dust, roots and trees. Although he wrapped up first place with no crashes, Suzuki jockey Tyler Carter definitely had his work cut out for him. Third off the starting line and cutting nobody any slack was Jordyn DuBose, who passed fellow Suzuki rider Chandler Rowland on the first lap, putting himself in position for a second-place finish, but then he crashed, allowing Rowland to repass him. However, Rowland then fell prey to some bad luck, as his clutch went out close to the end of the final lap, leav- ing third to Suzuki rider Jacob Boyd. Kawasaki jockey John Higuera, who races both the SERA and SETRA Kids events, scored an impressive fourth-place finish in the class. Finally, the Vet Kids class (for kids ranging from 10 to 12 years old) took off on their wild two laps around the same 5-mile loop, with observation checks placed deep within the course. The rider to watch was 2002 Vet Kidsclass winner Spencer Cook. This Kawasaki jockey was cookin' it up, showing his fellow competitors no mercy and finishing his laps in 31 minutes and 26 seconds, locking in the win. Eric Bowen took second, putting a lead of more than four minutes on third-placed Brady Baker. Young Cook rested that night and got up with the "big boys" on Sunday morning to ride the adult Enduro event - 55 miles of trail with three test sectionsl Watch out, Junior riders! All the SERA kids did an awesome job and showed good sportsmanship while riding one heck of an enduro. The Gulf Coast Sandblasters and all their club members put on a great event! Desoto National Forest Saucier. Missi••ippi Results: May 3, 2003 (Round 41 P/W BEG: I. Brennen Reed (Yam): 2. Courtland Parr (Yam); 3. Sam Swartzfager (Hon); 4. Trent Whisenant (Yam); .5. Cody Franklin (Kaw). P/W: I. Hunter Rowland (KTM); 2. Payne Jones (KTM): 3. Robert lAmb (Hon); 4. Steve Nicholas (Hon); 5. Brennen Reed (Yam). KIDS I/'IT: 1. Tyler C"ner (Suz); 2. Jordyn DuBole (Suz); 3. Jacob Boyd (Suz); 4. John Higl.ler1l (Kew): 5. &y"n Bowt:n (ttaw). VET KIDS: 1. Spencer Cook (Kaw); 2. Eric Bowen (Kaw); 3. Brady Baker (KTM); 4. Deason Benson (Yam);.5. Alex Uttie (Yam). AMA District 37 Big & &P Series Round 4: Los Angeles County Raceway Bonds, Sheak Share Shamrock Green Little Sandblasters! Southern Enduro Riders Association Kids Series Round 4: Gulf Coast Sandblasters Kids Enduro By KANDY THORNTON By CAROLYN REED bikes such as the PW50 and JR50. Racing three laps on a 1-mile loop, 6-year-old Hattiesburg Cycles-backed Yamaha rider Brennen Reed put it on 'em, completing the race in 14 minutes and 14 seconds, putting a 16-second lead on second-placed Courtland Parr. Another youngster, sitting pretty on her PWSO, was 6-year-old Katelyn Bradshaw, who raced her very first enduro right along with these speeddemon boys. This was Reed's third win out of four rounds this year. "The trail was fun," Reed remarked. "and I didn't crash at all." Reed quickly jumped off his PW50 and lined up his KTM 50 to race with the Pee Wee riders for practice. The Pee Wee class is made up of 4- to 6-year-olds, riding bikes with an AND CHARAY DuBOSE SAUCIER, MS, MAY 3 Watching the AA and Pro riders fly among pine trees at an average speed of 24 mph is always eXCiting, but seeing a group of 40 kids take on the same type of trail is definitely impressivel The Gulf Coast Sandblasters hosted round four of the SERA Kids Race Series on May 3 in the Desoto National Forest, where the SERA kids lined up with the locals to take on the sandy woods of Gulf Port, Mississippi. First to hit the trail was the Beginner Pee Wee class. This class is made up of kids from 4 to 6 years of age, riding 50cc bikes with single-speed transmissions and automatic clutches. These kids are amazing to watch, as they roost up the trails on small beginner Gulf Coast Sandblasters Kids Enduro: Six-year-old Brennen Reed races to a first-place finish in the Beginner Pee Wee class on his Hattiesburg Cycles PW50 at round four of the Southern Enduro Riders Association Kids Series in Saucier, Mississippi, 70 JUNE 4, 2003' cue I • n • _ s PAu-IDALE, CA, MAY 3-4 Scott Sheak and Bobby Bonds found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow at the Sunland Shamrocks Grand Prix, held at Los Angeles County Raceway. The Team Green duo dominated the Team Race at round four of the AMA District 37 Big 6 Grand Prix Series, held under cloudy skies on a very muddy course, and they came away with the biggest share of the $3000 purse. Sheak and Bonds were running second on the second lap, behind the KTM·mounted team of Kurt Caselli and Joey Lanza, when Lanza went down and Sheak moved into second. "I grabbed too much front brake in the corner," Lanza explained. "I just fought it all day. I lost it all when I went down." Caselli and Lanza dropped to third on their FMF/GPR-sponsored KTM when Lanza tangled with Tony Amaradio on the 10th lap. '" was in a rut, and Amaradio was in the inside rut, and he just came out and clipped my front wheel and almost tipped me over but that's racing," Lanza stated. The Honda-mounted team of Mark Tiliey and Amaradio held on to finish second overall, behind the Team Green/Pro Circuit/Goatbacked KX250 of Sheak and Bonds. After their bike seized during the Team Race at round three, Sheak and Bonds felt vindicated with this win. "It feels really good to get the win today," stated Sheak. "This was our main focus after the DNF at 29 Palms. We wanted a little revenge - especially on the Honda boys." Sheak and Bonds were lucky they were able to race at all after Sheak seized the bike during the Unclassified race earlier that day. When asked what the problem was, Sheak sheepishly admitted that he was the problem. "You gotta understand, it's not the bike," he explained. "Being the master mechanic, I went through two brand-new motors in the last week because I didn't put mixed gas in. I think I rode four-strokes for too long; you just gas and gol" Team Green mechanic John Braasch had the bike completely rebuilt by Saturday afternoon's race, and the team gave Brllasch full credit for the win. Sheak experienced more trouble than a seized bike in the 250cc Expert class; a course worker mistakenly black-flagged him and forced him off the course on the fourth lap while he was leadjng. "They said I passed another rider in the scoring chute, but I thought the chute started where it narrowed down to one bike-width," explained Sheak. "I had no idea what was going on when I was yanked off the course." The Shamrocks apologized for the error and fixed the scoring chute, but it was too late for Sheak. This error moved Robert Naughton into the first-place slot, aboard his RM250. "I saw Sheak get the black flag, and they pulled him off of the course," stated Naughton. "I was thinking he should just keep going, because it might be a mistake, but they wouldn't let him. We had a good race going, and I would have preferred to get the win by racing to the end instead of this way." Sheak took top honors in the 1250c Expert class later that day. Lanza and Naughton finished second and third, respectively. Caselli was the crowd pleaser, riding away with wins in the Saturday Unclassified race, the Four-Stroke Expert division, and the Open Expert division. Caselli got the holeshot in all three races and was never threatened in his Triple Crown Victory. His KTM saw a lot of air time on this predomjnantJy motocross course. Saturday morning's Unclassified rlllce turned into a mudbog when heavy rain fell steadily during the entire race. Caselli and other top riders were asked to tllke a parade lap before the first race of the weekend to test the course in the heavy rain. After Johnny Campbell, Caselli and Steve Hengeveld all went down on the drag-strip section, the decision was made to cut this section out. "It was funny," Caselli recalled. "I saw Campbell bobble and go down, and I thought, 'What is he doing?' - and then f went down. As I was sliding on my rear down the asphalt, I looked back and saw Hengeveld doing the same thing. It had to be funny, watching us all sliding on our rears in the rain!" Lee Bacon had fun battling it out with Larry Roeseler in the Senior Open Expert race. "It was great," Bacon said. "Roeseler and I were dicing and making mistllkes out there, but we had a great time!" Roeseler was able to make the last pass on his KTM and take the checkers first, ahead of Bacon. Josh PosseII found himself in an unex-

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