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Thor/Parts Unlimited Northeast Classic Motocross Series Round 4: Broome-Tioga Sports Center / " I' Hepfer, Clark Top Northeast STORY AND PHOTOS BY JIM P. SANDERSON BINGHAMTON, NY, JULY 6 ne of Factory Suzuki's hot new prospects for the 2004 Supercross and outdoor Nationals, Broc Hepler of Kittanning, Pennsylvania, came up to Binghamton, New York, to get his feet wet and get familiar with the Broome-Tioga National racecourse, which he wiil most likely race in late August when round 11 of the AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championships comes to the beautiful Broome-Tioga Sports Center. Hepler topped the 250cc Open Pro/Expert podium with a perfect 1- 1 tally. Hepler had the lead after only half a lap in the first moto, and he quickly pulled away to an II-second advantage by the checkers. In the final moto, Hepler had the lead by the third lap but only finished with a four-second lead over Yamaha pilot Casey Clark, who topped the I25cc O Pro/Expert moto. In tow were Hepler, Mike Dougherty Jr., Sunny Nighman and Thomas Burton. Hepler appeared at the top of the Broome-Tioga National Hill with the point and a considerable lead after only half a lap, dropping Holland to second. Hepler increased his lead to seven seconds on lap three. The top five 'were still unchanged, and the only battle was for fifth place, between Burton and Wallace. On lap four, Wallace made it official, passing Burton to take fifth, and Hepler's advantage increased to eight. Holland and Dougherty were a solid third and fourth, and Nighman was starting to feel pressure from Wallace. Then Wallace passed Nighman on lap five for fourth. Hepler crossed the finish line with an II-second lead, trailed by Holland, Dougherty, Wallace and Burton. Clark got his YZF out front quickly in the final 250cc Open Pro/Expert moto, but Hepler was very close behind. In tow were Holland, Bruce Hepler led the start of the first I25cc Pro/Expert moto, with Stratton, Clark and Justin Murray trailing. By the time the leaders cleared the National Hill, the top four were unchanged, and Mitch moved up to fifth. On the next lap, Mitch passed Murray for fourth. On lap three, Clark picked up the pace and passed Stratton for second and then set his sights on Hepler. Clark stayed within striking distance for the rest of the moto and made the pass for the lead coming down the National Hill. Hepler was relegated to second. Clark and Hepler traded some paint in the following turns with less than a quarter-lap to go. Clark managed to hold Team Suzuki's Hepler (54) leads Bruce Stratton (86), Sam Holland (40X)', Team Green Kawasaki's Mitch Dougherty (53) and the rest of the pack out of the first tum in the first 125cc Pro/Expert mota at the Broome-Tioga Sports Center. Pro/Expert podium. Sam Holland's 2-5 rides gave him runner-up, and RRP's Ty Wallace rounded out the podium with a 4-4 tally. Wallace now leads both the I25cc and 250cc Pro/Expert classes in series points, 32 and 36, respectively, with one round remaining. In the tiddler class, Barry Carsten is second with 27 points, and Clark is third with 21. Damien Plotts currently holds second place in series points in the 250cc Pro/Expert class with 29, and Carsten is third with 23. Curwensviile, Pennsylvania's Hoiland got his Suzuki off the concrete start pad ahead of the pack and rounded the switchback first turn with the lead in the first 250cc Open 58 JULY 30, 2003' eye I e Stratton, Jack Carpenter and Wallace. After half a lap, Clark was still at the point, with Hepler only a couple of bikelengths back. Stratton moved to third, relegating Holland to fourth, and Wallace moved up to fifth. The top five spread out and remained unchanged until the last lap, when Wallace finally got around Holland to take fourth. The moto officially finished as Hepler, Clark, Stratton, Wallace and Holland. Casey Clark topped the superfast I25cc Pro/Expert podium with a perfect 1-1 score. Hepler went 2-2 for runner-up, and new Expert rider Mitchell Dougherty of Team Green rounded out the podium with his 4-3 tally. n e vv s off Hepler to the checkers. Clark got the win, with Hepler, Stratton, Mitch and Wallace trailing. Clark got a great start in the final I25cc Pro/Expert moto and took the early lead, ahead of Hepler, Mitch, Wallace and Stratton. The top five spread out extremely quickly. Clark and Hepler's pace was a notch above that of the rest of the pack, and the two quickly pulled away. There was a huge gap back to third place. Clark couldn't afford to make even one mistake, as Hepler was right there to capitalize. However, Clark rode flawlessly. On the next-to-Iast lap, though, it was Hepler who made the mistake: Hepler spun out in the final turn before the finish line and went Casey Clark (141) battles for the lead with Suzuki's Brae Hepler (54) at the base of the Broome-Tioga National Hill in the first 125cc Pro/Expert mota at round four of the NE Classic MX series. down, ensuring Clark the victory. Hepler remounted quickly and remained runner-up. Rounding out the top five were Mitch, Wallace and Stratton. eN Broome-Tioga Sports Center Binghamton, New York Results: July 6, Z003 [Round 41 50 P/W: 1. Devin Gilbert (Cob); 2. Jared Oulton (Yam): 3. Carlton Stark III (Kaw); 4. Scott Stratton Jr. (Yam). 50 (4-6): 1. Devin Gilbert (Cob): 2. Justin Mattice (KTM); 3. Bethany Ruhf (Hon); 4. Kayla Boorom (KTM); 5. Reece Eddy (KTM). 50 (7-S): 1. Alex Maldet (Pol); 2. Brett McMichael (KTM); 3. Sean Ballard (KTM): 4. Levi Decker (KTM); 5. Jacob Goult (KTM). 65 (7-9): 1. Nick Desiderio (Suz); 2. Brandon Mays (KTM); 3. Tyler Wozney (Yam); 4. Brett Forman (KTM); 5. Ryan Francis (KTM). 65 (10-11): 1. Justin Barcia (KTM); 2. Sunny Drake (Kaw); 3. Frank Lettieri (Suz); 4. John Borek (KTM); 5. Jesse Ku,byt (KTM). 85 (7-11): I. Ryan Blizzard (Hon): 2. Justin Barcia (KTM); 3. Nick McPhee (Suz); 4. Frank Lettieri (Suz); 5. John Borek (Suz). 85 (12-13): I. Phillip Nicoletti (Hon); 2. Michael Stryker (Suz); 3. Colton Harrison (Kaw); 4. Adam Blessing (Suz); 5. Marshall Hurd (Suz). 85 (14-15): 1. Mark Lindsay (Kaw); 2. Jacob Wolfe (Yam); 3. Mike Tippin (SUl); 4. Mike Potts (Yam): 5. Jacob Dindl (Kaw). OPEN MINI (10-15): 1. Ryan Bli"ard (Hon); 2. Mark Lindsay (Kaw); 3. Mike Case (Kaw); 4. Phillip Nicoletti (Han); 5. Colton Harrison (Kaw). COUPE DE L' AVENIR: I. Mark Undsay (Kaw); 2. Phillip Nicoletti (Han); 3. Michael Stryker (Suz); 4. Mike Case (Kaw); 5. Adam Blessing (SUl). 125 NOV: 1. David Szymansky (Yam); 2. John Higbee (Han); 3. Gregory Wehler (Han): 4. Sean Wallace (Suz); 5. Robert Stanton (Kaw). 125 AM: 1. Richard White (Kaw)';"2ยท. 'peHer Katsoules (Yam); 3. Benjamin Ritter (Kaw); 4. John Giantonio (Kaw); 5. Matt Eastman (Yam). 125 PRO/EX: 1. Casey Clark (Yam); 2. Broc Hepler (Suz); 3. Mitchell Dougherty (Kaw); 4. Bruce Stratton (Yam); 5. Ty Wallace (Han). 250 NOV: 1. Gregory Wehler (Han); 2. Jonathan Skirment (Kaw); 3. Matt Merrick (Kaw); 4. Mike Fetherston (Yam); 5. Tom Forrest (Yam). 250 AM; 1. Peter Katsoules (Yam); 2. Matt Eastman (Yam); 3. Richard White (Kaw); 4. Matt Ritchey (Suz); 5. Alex Sigismond (Kaw). 250 PRO/EX: 1. Broc Hepler (SUl); 2. Sammy Holland (SUl); 3. Ty Wallace (Hon); 4. Casey Clark (Yam): 5. Mike Dougherty (Yam). SCHBY: 1. Mitchell Dougherty (Kaw); 2. Phillip Nicoletti (Hon): 3. Alex Sigismond (Kaw); 4. Robert Marshall (Suz): 5. Dan Zabrowski (Yam). CLGBY: I. Jack Carpenter (Hon); 2. Shawn Nutt (Han); 3. Nick Kruger (Yam); 4. Justin Murray (Yam); 5. Beau Nickels (Yam). 25+ AM: I. Phil Buck (Suz); 2. Aaron Bushingham (Han); 3. Alex Kosatschrow (Kaw); 4. Chris Curtis (Han); 5. Tom Griffin (Hon). 25+ EX; 1. Ty Wallace (Han); 2. Jim Mcilvaine (Suz): 3. Scott Rockwell (Han): 4. Greg Pamart (Hon); 5. Rich Dool (Hon). 30+ NOV: 1. John Getz (Kaw); 2. Gregory Henry (Yam): 3. Ronald Ricci (Han); 4. Mike Lawrence (Su,); 5. Bob Champlan (KTM). 30+ AM: 1. Phil Buck (Suz): 2. Aaron Bushingham (Han); 3. Tom Griffin (Han); 4. Gary Bower (Han); 5. John Young (Yam). 30+ EX; I. Bruce Stratton (Han); 2. Jeff Yentzer (Hon); 3. Greg Pamart (Han): 4. Gaylon Dickson (Kaw); 5. Dave Wolfskill (Yam). 40+: 1. Dave Wolfskill (Yam); 2. Jerry Seip (Hon); 3. Gene Nighman (Kaw); 4. Joe Dibell'a (Han); 5. Jim Sanderson (Suz).