Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128229
All classes raced in a three-moto format, each spread out over five days of nonstop racing. The multiday format leads to a variety of race conditions. Heavy rain early in the week meant the first sets of motos would take place in mud. The track began to dry later in the week, though, which meant the overall champions would have to master both weather patterns. Alessi, raised in Southern California, was expected to struggle in the mud, but he put any of those thoughts to rest when he topped his main rival, Washington's Ryan Villopoto, in all of his motos. One of the most exciting races of the week took place under heavy rain in the second 85cc Modified (14- 15) moto, when Alessi took the early lead but fell, allowing Villopoto to catch him. The rivals flew through the rugged finish-line jump section side by side until Villopoto began to draw ahead. His lead was short-lived though, as his Kawasaki swapped sideways, and Villopoto crashed into a telephone pole located several feet off the side of the track. "I guess that just wasn't my race," said a visibly upset Villopoto when it was over. Villopoto would have several more opportunities to top Alessi throughout the week, but he would fall short each time, thus sealing Alessi's legend as one of the fastest minicycle racers ever. Millsaps struggled to sixth in the muddy first moto of the 125 A class, while Honda prospect Thomas Hahn ran away with the race. But Loretta Lynn's infamous bad-luck spell was cast on Hahn, who blew his engine with a half lap to go. Yamaha's Jacob Saylor won the moto, but a total of 10 crashes throughout his next five motos would keep the fast Kentucky rider title-less. Millsaps won moto two convincingly, opening the door to a championship. But when he crashed by himself off the start of moto three, all hope appeared lost. S'ipes ran away with the moto win, but Millsaps put on one of the all-time great comebacks, passing 40 other riders in the 20-minute moto to earn second enough to give him the national championship. "That was definitely the fastest I've ever ridden in my life," Millsaps said. Millsaps needed all the speed he could find in the 125 (12-15) Modified class. He won the first moto convincingly, but he fell leading moto two. When he secured the lead again from his Suzuki teammate Josh Lichtie, he appeared headed for another win. But Lichtle stepped up his pace big time and managed to pass Millsaps back and win a dramatic moto. "I didn't think I could do it, but I went past the mechanics area and saw the look on my dad's face," Lichtie said. "I knew if I could win it, he would love me forever. I had to do it." The two riders were tied heading ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS? Pro Circuit support riders, swept through Hurricane Mills, Tennessee like powerful thunderstonns, wrecking havoc, consuming 10 AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships and knocking out the competition at this years 2lXJ3 22nd Annual Loretta Lynn's. Throughout the week drenching rains and high temperatures devastated riders while causing severe track conditions, butPro Circuitstill continued to dominate. CONGRATULATION TO THESE PRO CIRCUIT RIDERS Vet 30 Plus 51cc 7-8 AMA Class 2 2nd John E. Grew 5th Jim Chester 2nd Tyler Mcswain 250/0pen BStock 3rd Tim Miller 4th Chet Malito Senior 40 Plus 1st Kevin Foley 125cc Modified 12-15 1st David Millsaps 125A 1st David Millsaps 3rd Matt Boni 5th Michael Lapaglia 2nd Shawn Clark 4th Jacob Saylor 5th Teddy Maier 125cc Stock 12-15 1st Matt Boni 2nd Shaun Skinner 4th Brandon Fulton 4th Mitchell Dougherty 125 BStock 125 AlPro Sport 1st Bryan Johnson 85cc Modified 12-13 1st Joshua RHill 2nd Cody J. Dickey 5th Matt George 4th Teddy Maier 105cc Superman 12-15 3rd Richie Owens 250/0pen C Women BO-105cc 12-15 2nd Ryan Villopoto 3rd Kyle Caldernin 1st Marisa Hampshire 3rd Christopher Pourcel 3rd Casaundra Regal Women 105cc, 125cc &up 85cc Modified 7-11 250/0penA 3rd Bryan Johnson 5th Shawn Clark 250/0pen AI Pro Sport 5th Sean Hackley 250/0pen BModified 1st Shaun Skinner 2nd Kyle Chisholm 5th Tyler Duncan 125 BModified 1st Kyle Chisholm 2nd Matt Goerke Senior 45 Plus 65cc Stock 10-11 1st Blake Wharton Vet 35 Plus 2nd John E. Grewe 3rd Robert Motsinger 4th Gallon E. Dickson Jr. 2nd Jessica Patterson 3rd Tarah Gieger 4th Marisa Hampshire 3rd Blake Wharton 125 CModified 85cc Modified 14-15 4th Josh Mayberry 5th Aaron Harvey 2nd Ryan Villopoto 85cc Stock 12-13 5th Sean Hackley Congratulauons to Kevin Foley and OaviMillsaps for Mng Ricky Cannichael with 9Titles in All·nme Champions RecordBooks. 2771 Wardlow Road' Corona, CA 92882' Phone 909-738-8050 Fax 909-738-8065 www.procircuit.com ICIcle UP some OIRT Exhibitor Info: 1.800.854.3112 Attendee Info: 1.800.556.3369 Register at www.dirtexpo.com The Off-Road Aftermarket Expo is an exciting new three-day trade event dedicated to Off-Road manufacturers, dealers and professionals. Held concurrently with the Maxxis U.S. Open of Supercross, this show is geared to bring the growing off-road and ATV markets together for a weekend of racing, business and fun. Meet with a qualified group of professionals who have their knees, elbows and - well, you know - as deep into the day-to-day mud and glory as you do. Experience it this October. Your business will never be the same!