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Moose Northern California Championship Enduro Series Motul/Moose District 36 B/C Championship Enduro Series Rounds 4/4: Little Polecat Enduro 08ca STORY AND PHOTOS BY JILL ASHWORTH PATTERSON SPRING GAP, CA, MAY 18 TM's Brian Sperle scored the fastest set of test times to capture the Little Polecat Enduro's 25thanniversary overall title. The event, which was held near Spring Gap, California, was round four of both the Moose Northern California Championship Enduro Series and the Motul/ Moose District 36 B/C Championship Enduro Series. The D36 "Brand Q Enduro" which is similar to a qualifier, without known tests or an impound - was used by the hosting Merced Dirt Riders for their first time at this event. A well-mixed group of enduro regulars and other, less-timekeepingskilled racers showed up to ride the two-loop, 88-mile course that was laid out by MDR's Mike Damaso in the Stanislaus National Forest. Tremendous course conditions of damp trails, ideal traction and minimal dust awaited the 247 entrants as they left the start. A fast, 30-mph section warmed up racers before they checked in for the first special test, which was almost eight miles long. Single-track wooded trails, fire roads and many rocky sections later, Fox/Faultline Suspension/IMX-sponsored Sperle aced the test with a score of 1178. Jeff Clements was second best with 1206, and Jordan Brandt was on his heels with 1210. Greg Ruffoni's 1222 and Brian Butler's 1249 placed them up front with the leaders. Eric Mashbir's 1254 and Jeff Bauer's 1264 also put them in the hunt. About 19 miles later, test two took racers over seven miles of the rockiest terrain on which they race all season. Once again, Sperle rocketed through the test and carded the best time of 1 148. "Everyone was bouncing all over the place in the rocks," Sperle said. "Joe [Mullen) set my suspension so well, I was able to just turn the throttle and go as fast as I wanted." Brandt negotiated the variety of loose, roily rocks to the solid lava fields second fastest, with 1197, just ahead of Mashbir's 1198. Butler rode clean and followed with 1212. James Ptarcinski moved up to within striking position with 1236, and Jeff Bauer turned in a 1240. "Test two was a real eye-opener: said Cycle West/Suzuki/Moose-supported Bauer. "It was as rocky as everyone who had been there before said it was'" K 68 JUNE 25, 2003 cue I e "I loved those rocks!" exclaimed Salinas Ramblers-backed Brandt. "They were the best part of the race." A few miles later, at the gas stop, scores revealed that Sperle, with a score of 2326, was making good on his intent to claim the victory and extend his series lead. Brandt was second with 2407, and Mashbir was next with 2452. Ruffoni and Butler followed with 2479 and 2480, respectively. Bauer had the lowest score in the 2500s, with a 2504. Loop two began with a short fire-road section that was followed by a tight, single-track trail that wound its way over a rockslide area and through narrow trees before opening up to another rocky hillside. The longest special test was next, and the combination of fire roads and trails that the 15-mile-long test covered was railed by Mach 1 Motosports/Smith-sponsored Dave Wood, who only dropped 1481 to secondfastest Mashbir's 1519. Jeff Irwin tumed in the third-best The top AA rider, Dave Wood, placed third overall. time of 1615, and Sperle, Brandt and Butler carded 1637, 1656 and 1668, respectively. "I found myself going so fast that I actually had to slow down a few times," Wood said. "It was scary-fast - knowing there could be a possible head-on [collision) around the next corner with a car or truck on any of those roads." By the time racers followed the course back to camp, many were disappointed to see the finish line. n e wv s (Right) Brian Sperle jammed to the overall victory at the Little Polecat Enduro, a.La. round four of the Moose Northem Califomia Championship Enduro Series. (Below) Second overall and first A Senior rider in Spring Gap, Califomia, was Eric Mashbir. A 200: I. Craig Hoffman (KlIw); 2. Ryan Gouldthread (KTM); 3. Robert Wynn (KTM); 4. Marc DeMarco (KTM). A 250: 1. Brian Sperle (KTM): 2. Jeff Bauer (Suz): 3. Jeff Clements (Yam); 4. Jeriah Gurley (KTM): 5. Ryan Powell (Yam). A 4-STRK: J. Jordan Brllndt (Yllm); 2. David Fish (KTM); 3. Nathan Tucker (KTM); 4. Ron Wigington; 5. Scott Puckett (Yam). A OPEN: J. Greg Ruffoni (Hon); 2.Chris Hansen "I was really hoping for a fourth test in the tight trees," Sperle said. "That would have been awesome." "I thought the course was epic!" Hayward Kawasaki/ Shift-supported Butler said. "I didn't want to stop riding!" After scores were tallied, Sperle triumphed with a total of 3963. Mashbir's consistent speediness gave him second place with 3971 . "I had such a good time: Smith/Clarke/J&N Innovations-backed Mashbir said. "It was an ideal day for riding, and the course was great. " Wood's impressive test score moved him to third, with a total of 4006. Brandt and Ruffoni rounded out the top five with 4063 and 4152. "The course conditions were excellent; it was so killer in the trees!" said Aftershocks/Devol Engineering/Rock Oil-sponsored Ruffoni. "The club did an outstanding job'" eN Uttle Polecat Enduro Spring Gap, Califomia Unofficial Results: May 18, Z003 IRounds 4/41 O/A: 1. Brian Sperle (KTM): 2. Eric Mllshbir (Han); 3. Dave Wood (KTM); 4. Jord"n Brzlndt (Yam); 5. Greg Ruffoni (Han). AA: I. Dave Wood (KTM): 2. Brian Butler (Kaw). (KTM); 3. M;ke Baxter (GG); 4. Richard Jung (Han); 5. Andres Ruggiero (Yam). A VET; 1. James Ptarcinski (KTM); 2. Kevin Wiley (Yam); 3. Kevin Greene (KTM); 4. Kevin Ruffoni (Kaw); 5. Paul Fleming (Yam). A SR: I. Eric Mllshbir (Hon); 2. Jeff Irwin (Hon); 3. John Wells (KTM): 4. Duke Lambert (Yam); 5. Chris Calkins (KTM). A S/SR: J. Rick Adan (KTM); 2. Pete Prichard (KTM); 3. Melvin Brlldley (KTM); 4. Mark Hickmott (KTM). A GENT: 1. Fred Cllmeron (TM); 2. David King (KTM); 3. Bill Craig (KTM). A WMN: 1. Heather Wilson (Kaw). B O/A: 1. S. Englebrick (Hon); 2. Karl Goetz (Yam); 3. Jim Weitz (Yam); 4. Ben Scott (KTM); 5. Mike Carson (KTM). B 200: 1. David Frederickson (KTM): 2. Cindi Roberson (KTM). B 250: 1. Brad Johnson (Suz); 2. Walter Lunn (Yam): 3. John Pontes (Yam). B 4-STRK: J. Mike Carson (KTM); 2. Graham Hinsdale (KTM): 3. Rizziero Guern~ (KTM): 4. Russell Fowler (Yam); 5. Trevor Rock (Yllm). B OPEN: I. Aaron Phillips (Hon): 2. Brian Wright (Hon); 3. Josh Golden (GG). a VET: 1. Jeff Howard (KTM): 2. Ron Plowman (KTM); 3. Jason Clement (KTM): 4. Shennon Poor (KTM); 5. Paul Franck (KTM). B SR: t. S. Englebrick (Hon); 2. Karl Goetz (Yam): 3. Jim Weitz (Yam): 4. Mark Maier (KTM): 5. Jerry Martin (KTM). B S/SR: I. Ben Scott (KTM): 2. James Brindos (Kaw): 3. Hugo ZwetsJoot (KTM); 4. Daniel Cioci (Kaw); 5. Don Chase (Han). eO/A: 1. Shannon Creson (Hon); 2. David Chase (Yam): 3. Ron Miner (KTM): 4. Ron Bianchini (KTM): 5. M. Bailey (Yam). C 200: J. Randy Powell (Yam); 2. Joey Pascarella (Yam): 3. Cody Tripp (Kaw); 4. Ryan Shearer (KTM); 5. Aaron Colon (Yam). e 250: 1. Shannon Creson (Hon): 2. Chris Darman (Kew); 3. Steve Cowell (KTM); 4. Andrew Freestone (Yam); 5. Jason Shinnick (Yam). e 4·STRK: I. David Chase (Yam); 2. Jeff Gymer (KTM); 3. Tony Hill (KTM); 4. Mick Grundy (KTM); 5. Chris Gadwa (Hon). e OPEN: I. Daniel Blum (TM); 2. Shylo Steinthar (KTM); 3. Gary Winnie (KTM); 4. Gary Schroeder (KTM); 5. Mike Middleton (Yam). C VET: 1. Ron Miner (KTM): 2. Patrick Heltfrick (Yam); 3. Ktlrl Weis (Hon); 4. Dtlve Wtlgner (KTM); 5. Alex Lehr. C SR: J. Ron Bianchini (KTM): 2. M. Bailey (Yam); 3. Brent Bradley (KTM): 4. Craig Dugan: 5. John Fitzpatrick (Yam). e 5/SR: I. Brilln Willett (KTM): 2. Scott Riechers (KTM); 3. Bruce Stlxton (KTM); 4. Gene Greenlief (Suz); 5. Dave Rocha (GG). C WMN: I. Heather Wagner-Jouregg (KTM).