Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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NIck Cummings • Flint, Michigan MONDAY, 125CC AND UNDER HALF.MILE For motorcyclists, the limestone halfmile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds is forbidden fruit. For 363 days a year it's hay-burner heaven, full of trotters pulling their sulkies, but during the first two days of the Grands, the expansive track is all two-wheeled thunder. It's just outside turn three of The Mile, nestled between the horse barns. The Louisville-ish track was groomed to limestone cushion perfection, and the best young riders in the country put on quite a show under sunny skies. Young Ethan Gillim, a relative of Tommy, Nicky and Roger Lee Hayden, who, like the famous brothers, hales from Owensboro, Kentucky, won two championships. Gillim made it look easy as he bested fellow OWB rider Nick McFadden and Dan Bromley from Warrington, Pennsylvania, in the 50cc Peewee 4-to-8-year-old class. In the 50cc Junior 4-6 class, Gillim became a double winner as he withstood the charges of crosstown Burlington, Iowa, rivals S,pringer M. Derosear and Kole King. In the 65cc DTX 7-11 final, Lodi Cycle Bowl product Michael Martin worked his way through the pack to lead by the midway point. The battle for second raged behind as Kevin Walter of Amery, Wisconsin, held off Tyler Whitecotten from Indianapolis. In the 65cc Modified 7-11 Premier, Lockeford, California's Michael Martin picked up his second win via the holeshot and rode away from Tony Davila of Pleasanton, California, and Tyler Whitecotten. The 85cc Mod 7 - 1 1 Premier class was an outstanding race. Patrick Jacobsen of Montgomery, New York, grabbed the early lead. By crossed flags, Kyle Andselmi worked his way to the front. Meanwhile James Rispoli of Londonderry. New Hampshire, was charging from his fifth-place start. On the last lap it was Jacobsen and Rispoli elbow to elbow for the win with Rispoli pulling off the victory by a narrow margin. Brad Baker of Chehalis, Washington, came home third. Factory Harley-Davidson rider Rich King's son Aaron showed his emerging race craft in the 125cc Mod Premier class. Travis Myers of Breckenridge, Michigan, grabbed the early lead, with King from Dysart, Iowa, in hot pursuit. King made a late-race outside pass for the win, with Myers second and Chris Laubersheimer of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, third. Last year's Horizon co-award winner, Logan Myers, had an impressive return to the Progressive Insurance AMA Grands in the Pro Sport class. Myers worked by polesitter Justin Filice, son of former dirt track star Jimmy Filice, and was dialed into the limestone surface as he motored away to take an easy win. Filice of Item..,...... ....... Lewlsy. 1IraI'--"', Modesto, California, rode a strong race to finish second, with Jason Isennock of Timonium, Maryland, rounding out the podium. TUESDAY, 250CC AND UP HALF·MILE The battle for the prestigious AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award began as the big boys and girls rolled out their big toys for action on the wide, grooved, limestone half-mile. The Horizon Award is presented to a rider most likely to have a Pro career on the horizon. Ricky Marshall took a major step toward the Horizon award as he posted victories in the competitive 505cc Mod and 600cc Mod classes. The 15year-old Marshall of Solon, Ohio, got the holeshot in both classes and scooted to relatively easy wins. The 250cc Mod class provided the best racing of the day. Once again it was Marshall with the lead early, but Travis Myers with a dramatic move jumped from third to lead on lap three. At the crossed flags a tight four-rider shootout developed for the lead. Blake Young of Waunakee, Wisconsin, and John Lewis V joined leader Myers and second-placed Marshall. On the next lap Marshall slipped off the grove and back to seventh. With two laps to go, Lewis made a slick inside pass to take over the lead, with Young following him to second. Lewis of Brandamore, Pennsylvania, held on for the win, with Young and Myers earning podium finishes. The Super Senior 50-plus Open class provided the most exciting finish of the day with Dan Crawford, of Marlette, Michigan, and John Debats of Kawkawlin, Michigan, swapping positions during the race. Entering turn four on the last lap, they came upon two backmarkers in a race of their own. Debats sliced and diced through the traffic to make a lastditch pass and win by a bikelength. Crawford wound up second, with Lloyd Widener of Charleston, South Carolina, in third. The Pro Sport race was slowed by red flags on several occasions, but last year's co-Horizon Award winner Nick Cummings of Mount Morris, Michigan, came from a fourth-place start and worked to the front just past half-way. In the process he passed his award co-recipient, Logan Myers, who would finish second. Matt Burton of Ottumwa, Iowa, earned the thirdplace paycheck. WEDNESDAY, 125CC AND UNDER SHORT TRACK Wednesday was another Chamber of Commerce Day in Springfield as sunshine and warm temperatures greeted the 125cc and under riders for their second day of competitions at the Grands. The AMA moved across the Illinois State Fairgrounds and set up shop at The Arena, an outdoor purn e _ S • JULY 30.2003 19