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Santich Cycles Grand Prix of Motocross Hurricane Hills Sports Center (Left) Phil Nicoletti (71) leads Marshall Hurd (24) and the rest of the pack at the start of the first 85cc (12-13) mota at the 21 st annual Santich Cycle Grand Pri" of Motocross at Hurricane Hills Sports Center. (Below) Mark Stephens (4281 leads Mark Rutan (17). Matthew Hougentogler (54) and the rest of the pack at the start of the final 125cc Novice mota in Clifford, Pennsylvania. Hurricane Hills Sports Center Clifford, Pennsylvania Results: July 13, 2003 STORY AND PHOTOS BY JIM P. SANDERSON CUFFORD, PA, JULY 13 he Santich Cycles Grand Prix of Motocross, hosted by Hurd Motorsports, is held annually at the Hurricane Hills Sports Center and features an AMA District 6 points race with all the usual classes, but when the regular race program concludes, the Grand Prix classes are run. The Grand Prix is sponsored by Santich Cycles, which is located in nearby Pittston. Pennsylvania. Santich Cycles is a full-service KTM dealer. There was a combined class of A and B riders that raced the last 30minute-plus-two-Iap moto; before them, the C class ran their 3D-minute moto. The Mini riders were the first to take to the racecourse, for a 20minute-plus-two-Iap moto. Riders who elect to pay the extra ] 0 bucks to race the Grand Prix events definitely get their money's worth. Young Honda pilot Phil Nicoletti led the start of the first 85cc (] 2-] 3) moto, with Marshall Hurd, Chris Chesniak, Michael Romer and Jamie Kriger trailing. Nicoletti was clearly in a class by himself. Nicoletti had a whopping nine-second lead after only one lap. By lap three, his lead had increased to ]] seconds. Nicoletti and Hurd were setting a blistering pace, and they quickly left the rest of the field playing catch-up - which, of course, they couldn't, because the two front-runners were gone by lap three. Nicoletti actually pulled off the racecourse on lap four to consult with his mechanic for some unknown reason. However, Nicoletti may have just been toying with his competition, because as Hurd approached the place where Nicoletti had pulled off, Nicoletti got back on the racetrack and quickly pulled away to an eightsecond lead by the start of the next lap. The top two remained unchanged 50 AUGUST 13. 2003· cue Stephens led the start of the final 125cc Novice moto. In tow were Rutan, Jim Triano, Hougentogler and Steve. Rutan passed Stephens for the lead shortly after starting lap two. Then Hougentogler and Triano quickly relegated Stephens to fourth. Steve held fifth. The top five spread out, and nothing changed until late in the moto, when lapped traffic became a factor for Hougentogler, who was closing the gap on Rutan. Hougentogler cross-rutted in the sweeper by the start, ensuring Rutan the final moto win. Rounding out the top five were Stephens, Triano and Steve Izzo. eN I to the end of the moto, but behind them things were different. Kriger passed Chesniak to claim third. Then Romer passed Chesniak to take fourth. Nicoletti crossed the finish line with a ] O-second advantage. Rounding out the top five were Hurd, Kriger, Romer and Chesniak. Unsurprisingly, Nicoletti led the start of the final 85cc (]2- ]3) moto. In tow were Hurd, Chesniak, R.J. Hiller and Romer. After 2 1/2 laps, the top three remained unchanged, while Kriger and Romer had passed Hiller to take fourth and fifth. Nicoletti had a nine-second advantage by lap three. Hurd was a supersolid second, and Romer passed Chesniak to take third. Kriger held fifth. Nicoletti almost doubled his lead to 16 seconds in about three-quarters of a lap. Kriger passed Chesniak on lap four, taking fourth. Chesniak dropped to fifth. Nicoletti increased his lead to 22 seconds with a quarter of a lap to go, and by the time he took the checkered flag, he had a 3D-second advantage. Rounding out the top five were Hurd, Romer, Kriger and Chesniak. Nicoletti topped the 85cc (12-13) podium with his ] -1 rides. Hurd's consistent 2-2 tally netted him runner-up, and Romer rounded out the podium with a 4-3 tally. e n e vv s Kawasaki pilot Matthew Hougentogler topped the podium of the largest class of the day, the ] 25cc Novice class. Thirty riders came to the gate, and Hougentogler, from Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, won the first moto and finished second in the final moto. Mark Stephens from nearby Mayfield, Pennsylvania, earned second overall with a 4-3 score. The winner of the second moto, Mark Rutan, finished out the podium with a 7 -1 score. Hougentogler led the pack through the first turn in the first] 25cc Novice moto, with Rutan, R.J. Reynolds, Steve Izzo and Josh Stewart trailing. Rutan passed Hougentogler for the lead on lap two on the long infield straight, but Hougentogler passed him back within a quarter of a lap. Reynolds and Izzo held third and fourth. Jimmy Izzo moved into fifth. Rutan went down on the last lap, ensuring Hougentogler the win. Reynolds inherited second. Rutan remounted in third but then fell again in the big ruts of the sweeper by the start. Steve inherited third, Jimmy was fourth, aod Stephens was fifth. Hougentogler crossed the finish line with a ] O-second lead. Rounding out the top five were Reynolds, Steve Izzo, Stephens and Jimmy Izzo. P/W: J. Schae Thomas (Hus): 2. Maxwell Partridge (Yam); 3. Frank Delesky (Hon); 4. Carlton St.rk III (K.w): S. J.red Oulton (Y.m). 50 (4·6): I. Bethony Ruhf (Hon): 2. K.yl. Boorom (KTM); 3. Ethan Frank (KTM); 4. Shane Frank (Hus); 5. Cassidy Sebeck (Hon). 50 (7·8): I. Ricky Benesky (KTM): 2. Seon Ballard (KTM); 3. Kevin Hicks Jr. (Kaw): 4. Stephen Buss (KTM). 65 (7·9): I. Scott 50.1 (KTM): 2. Ron Neilson (KTM); 3. Ryan Francis (KTM): 4. Zach Pi~nchyn (Kaw); 5. Justin Yanvary (Kaw). 65 (10-11): 1. James Doolittle (Suz); 2. Jonathan McDermott (KTM); 3. Thomas Raminger (Kow). 85 (7-9): I. Scott 50.1 (Y.m): 2. Ron Neilson (KTM); 3. Zach Pisanchyn (Kaw). 85 (9- 13): 1. Marshall Hurd (Suz); 2. Marcus Hodge (Kaw); 3. Anthony Peregrin (Suz): 4. Thomas Dri~r (Kaw). 85 (10-11): 1. Anthony Peregrin (Suz): 2. Jonathan McDermott (Kaw): 3. James DoolitUe (Suz); 4. Justin Maylath (SUl); 5. Dana Krause (Y.m). 85 (12-13): I. Phillip Nicoletti (Hon): 2. Morsh.1I Hurd (Suz); 3. Michael Romer (Hon); 4. Jamie Kriger (Hon); 5. Chris Chesniak (Suz). 85 (14·15): 1. Tommy Lewis (Hon). S/MINI: 1. Phillip Nicoletti (Hon); 2. Tommy Lewis (Hon); 3. Sean Wallace (SUl). 125 NOV: 1. Matthew Hougentogler (Kaw); 2. Mark Stephens (Yam); 3. Mark Rutan (Yam); 4. Steve IZlo (Yam); 5. Josh Stewart (Kaw). 125 AM: I. Donny Buchter (Kaw); 2. Sean Wallace (Suz); 3. Dan Zabrowski (Yam); 4. Nick Johnson (Yam): 5. Steve Grossweiler (Suz). 125 PRO/EX: I. Jeremy Cook (Yom): 2. Chad Bellott (KTM): 3. Dave Nylio (Yam); 4. Nick Serbo (Y.m). 250 NOV: I. R.J. Reynolds (Hon); 2. Derek Zydalis (KTM); 3. Mark PeZirson (Yam): 4. Tracey McMicken (Yam): 5. Corey Nickeson (Suz). 250 AM: 1. Donny Buchter (Kaw); 2. Dan Zabrowski (Yam); 3. Nick Johnson (Yam); 4. James Teel (Suz): S. Ch.d Milano (Hon). 250 PRO/EX: I. Jeremy Cook (Y.m); 2. Scott Rockwell (Hon): 3. Dave Nyzio (Yam); 4. Jeffrey Dunlop (Hon); 5. Antonio Poccia (KTM). WMN: 1. Nancy Newby (Hon). SCHBY: 1. Phillip Nicoletti (Hon); 2. Sean Wallace (Suz); 3. Steve Grossweiler (Suz): 4. Jimmy Ino (Yam): S. Morshall Hurd (Suz). CLGBY: I. Richard White (Kaw); 2. Chad Bellott (KTM); 3. Eric Kemmerer (Hon): 4. James Teel (Suz): S. Br.d Ford (Hon). 25+ AM: I. William Frank (Yam): 2. Mark Rutan (Yam); 3. Dylan Laporte (Yam); 4. B.J. Wightman (Yam); 5. Rich Maclean (Yam). 25+ EX: I. Scott Rockwell (Hon); 2. Antonio Poccia (KTM): 3. Jeffrey Dunlop (Hon): 4. Darryl Smith (Kaw): 5. Nick Serbo (Yam). 30+ NOV: 1. Louie Giomboni (Yam); 2. Anthony Dimarzio (Yam): 3. Timothy Yad)osky (Suz): 4. Tim Ackley (Hon); 5. Jim HelriegeJ (Yern). 30+ AM: 1. Dylan Laporte (Yam): 2. Mark Nevi) (Hon); 3. William Frank (Yem); 4. Kevin Hicks Sr. (Yem); 5. Bill Ferri (KTM). 30+ EX: 1. Darryl Smith (Kaw): 2. Kevin Krueger (Hon); 3. Henry Lucio (Yam): 4. Ron Neilson (KTM); 5. Jarrett Newby (Hon). 40+: 1. Jarrett Newby (Han); 2. John Hiltan (Hon); 3. Jeff Cheney (Hon): 4. Douglas Wentzell (Hon); S. Bill Ferri (KTM). GP M.INI: I. Phillip Nicoletti (Hon); 2. Marshall Hurd (Suz); 3. Anthony Peregrin (Suz); 4. Jonathan McDermott (KTM); S. Ryan Fr.nels (KTM). GP NOV: I. Steve Ino (Yam); 2. Derek Schmidt (K.w): 3. Paul Meier (KTM); 4. R.J. Reynolds (Hon): 5. Jarrett Newby Jr. (Hon). GP AM.: I. Richard White (Kaw); 2. Sean Wallace (Suz); 3. Dan Zabrowski (Yern): 4. Nick Johnson (Yam); 5. Steve Grossweiler (Suz). GP EX: I. Jeremy Cook (Yam); 2. Chlld Bellott (KTM); 3. Darryl Smith (Kaw); 4. Jarrett Newby (Hon).