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/128233
25th Annual Suzuki East Coast Amateur Nationals Broom e-Tioga Sports Center < J oe Merrill Jr. (1111 le ads the start of the first 250cc Op en Amateur m oto, w ith eventual ov e ra ll winner B rian Murphy (4 91. Broc Donnison (5 0 11 and the rest of the pack In t ow at the 2003 Suzuki Amateur Na tionals in Binghamton. New Vort<. Ray got his Honda thum pe r t o the front of the pack qu ick ly and led th e sta rt of th e first Over 25 Expert m oto , w ith Pamart , Pat Ba r t on , G ar y M i ch a e l a nd Ch r i stoph er McMilli n trailing. Sean Skutnik, son of th e fo r m e r o w ne r of th e B r o o m e - T i o g a Sport s Center, Jack Sk utnik , p assed Chris McMillin on th e front supercross section to cla im fi fth. T he top three w er e un changed at the st ar t of l ap two , t hough McM ill en m o v ed u p to ta ke fo urth. Skutnik was holdi ng fi fth . After 2 1/ 2 laps, McM illen cl osed the g ap o n Bart on and m ade th e pas s fo r th ird in the o ld tr ee turns (no w call ed t h e " st u m p t urns : b ec a u se that' s wh a t 's l eft o f th e t r e e s a f te r t h e Nati o na l t r ack r a c e c o ur se w a s changed ) with a textbook block -p ass. Ray was on c ru ise co ntro l o ut fr on t and finish ed the m oto with a five-sec ond lead . Rounding o ut th e to p fi ve wer e Pam art , M cMi ll en . B art on a nd Rock we ll. Sc ott Phelp s le d the start of th e final m o t o , wi t h Jeremy T i ff a n y , M ichael , Ro c k w ell and McMillen in tow . Afte r hal f a lap , t he top two remained unchanged, while Rockwell passed Michael for third. Phelps had a five-second advantage by the start of lap two. McMillen and Skutn ik moved up to fourth and fifth. respectiv ely, on lap two . Phelps increased h is lead to six seconds b y lap three. McMillen closed t he ga p o n Ro c k w e l l and m ade the pa ss for th ird j us t as t he white fl ag cam e o u t. Ph e lps we n t d o w n w ith a bout h a l f a l a p t o g o , ha nd i n g th e m o t o wi n t o T iffany . McMi llen inh erited second , with Rock well third , Sk utnik fourth and Bart o n fifth. Y a m aha YZ p i l ot Br i an Murph y to pp ed th e superc o mpetitive 2 50 c c O pen A ma teu r class. M urph y had a perf ect day , goi ng 1- 1. J ason A nt alek ea rned ru nn er -up w ith a 2 -6 score , S T O RY A N D P H O T O BY J IM P. S A N D E RSO N BINGHAMTON, NY, AUG. 22-23 he Broom e-Tioga Sports Center, commonly referred to as th e " Greatest Sp ectator Cou rse in A meri ca , ' al ong with Hurd Motorsports , hosted round 10 of the AMA Chevy Truck s U.S. Motocross Cha mpionship Series on August 24 . As is traditional with most track s on the AMA Pro circuit, two days of Amateur races were held prior to th e National. A new A mateur record was set in 2003, as 98 3 ri de rs signed up to con test th e two-day ra ce prog ram. Sev e ra l cla ss es w er e spl it int o t w o groups, A and B . so th at a ll rac er s would g et t o r id e two f ul l m o t o s rath er tha n run qu alifi ers t o red uc e eac h class t o 4 0 g ate s. Pr om oters Tom and Peggy Hurd beli eve in giv ing all rider s thei r m on ey 's wo rth . A ne w rec ord was also set on Sunda y , as sp ec ta t or atten da nce topped th e 20 ,000 m ark fo r th e fir st time in th e 25-yea r histo ry of th e venue. Th e Am a t eur raci n g was topn o t ch , as is us u a l f or th i s an n ual event. Vete ran E x p ert rider Kurt McMillen of Wapp F a ll s, New York. top ped the Over 25 Ex pert podium with a 3 -2 tally . Binghamton Ho nda's ow n veteran r i d e r Sc o tt Rock well. who has been a regu lar at Broome Tiog a for years, took runner- up hon o rs w ith a 5 -3 tally, and Greg Pam art of N ewm a n s t o wn , Pen n s y l v an i a , ro unded ou t t he po d ium wi th a 2 -6 sc ore. Ho n o ra b l e m ent i on g o es t o Du nlo p Ti res' Edd ie Ray , wh o is th e 20 0 3 AM A A ir Nautiq ue s Amateur Na t i o na l F o ur -S trok e M ot o c r o s s Ch am p i on. Ray got th e ho l es hot at th e sta rt of th e first O ver 25 Exp ert m oto a board th e boom ing bi g -bo re Honda th umper and went wir e to wire fo r t he w in . Unf o rt u n at el y , Ray ha d som e b ad lu c k in the sec o n d m ot o and c ar ded a DNF. 54 S EPTEM B ER 24. 2003 eye I e n e vv s an d N i c k K ru g er r oun d ed o u t t h e podium with his 6-3 tall y . J oe Merrill Jr. led th e st art of the first m oto but was quic k ly rel eg ate d to th ird by Murp hy and Bro c Donn ison by the sec ond turn . Antal ek and Matt Ranum rounded out th e to p fiv e. When the lead rid er s emerg ed from the front supe rcro ss section, Murphy a n d D o n nison w e r e one and tw o . Ranum was now th ird. A nta lek held fourth . and Merr ill w as relegated t o fifth . Ju st afte r th e sta rt of lap two , Ranum we nt down o n the do wnh ill tr ip le, g iv ing Antalek seco nd. Donn iso n dro pped to th ird. Merrill m o ved up to c laim fo urth , and K rug er was n ow h oldi ng f ift h . Mu r ph y h ad a n eig ht -seco nd advant ag e by the sta rt o f la p th ree an d in c reased it t o 15 seco nds by the st art of lap fo ur. Mu rph y got the wi n, with A nta lek , Merr ill , Donnison and J acob Co pe traili ng. M ur ph y le d t he sta r t o f th e fi n a l moto, with Rob Novak . Kruge r, Cody Dun ning an d Antalek in to w. Murphy se t another b listeri ng pac e and had an e ight-second lead by lap two. Kruger passed Novak to take second . Ranum moved int o fourth p la ce o n lap two and then to third on lap three. Murphy got another easy win , with Ranum , Kruger, John Giantonio and Dunn ing in tow. eN BroomeTioga Sports Center Binghamton, New York Results: August 22-23, 2003 P/ W: I. Dev in Gilbert (Co b) ; 2 . Brian Sta uch J r. ( KTM): 3 . Trevo r Shaffe r ( KTM) ; 4 . Anthony Zube r ( KTM) ; 5 . Sean Smi th (Yam) . 50 (4 -6): 1. Devin Gilbert (Co b): 2. Brian Stauch Jr. (KTM) ; 3. Ryan Marr;ott (Yam); 4. Kory Fogarty (KTM) ; 5. Kayla Boorom (KTM). 50 (7 -8) : 1. Scott Ca rpenter ( KTM ); 2 . Ky le J ac k son ( Co b ); 3. Connor Kell y ( KTM) : 4 . T ay lor Perry (KTM ); 5. Bobb y Kin sley (KTM ). 6 5 ( 7- 9) : 1. Ni ck Desid er io (Suz); 2. Kev in Carpe nter (K TM); 3. And rew Bristo l (Han); 4. Bre tt Forman (KTM) ; 5. Ky le Bitterma n (Kaw). 6 5 ( 10- 11) : I. J ustin Barci a ( KTM); 2. Dylan Bra yk ovi ch (KTM) ; 3 . F rank Le tt ier i (S u z) ; 4 . Jo na than McDe rm ott (Kaw) ; 5 . James Doo li ttle (S Ul ). 8 5 (7- 1 1) : 1. J ust in Ba rcia (KTM ) ; 2 . Rya n Blizza rd (Ho n ); 3 . Sunny Drake (Kaw ) ; 4 . Hen ry Roja s (Suz); 5. Karel Benoit (Kaw). 85 ( 9 · 13) : I . Ryan Blizzard (Han) ; 2. Sunny Drake (Kaw ) ; 3 . A da m Ble ssin g (Suz); 4 . Henry Rojas (Suz); 5 . El liot J ac kson (Kaw). 85 ( 12 - 13 ); I. Sean Hack ley (Kaw) ; 2. Adam Blessing (Suz) ; 3. Cory Dejong (Han ); 4. Kyle Will is (Kaw ); 5. Dak ota Kessler (Ka w). 65 ( 14- 15 ) : I. Kav en Benoi t ( Ka w) ; 2. Mar k Lin d sa y ( K a w) ; 3 . Peter De v li n (Su z); 4 . Co d y Dunning (Kaw) ; 5. J acob Wolfe (Yam) . S/MINI : 1. Sean Hac k ley (Kaw): 2. Mark Un dsay (Kaw); 3 . Co ry Dej ong (Han); 4 . Mich ael St ryker (Suz) ; 5. Peter Devlin (Suz) . 125 NO V A : 1. Ryan Ny e (Yam) ; 2. J osh Morse (Yam): 3 . Chris Fr ederic ks (Yam) ; 4 . Jared Wang (KTM); 5 . Justi n Loo pe (5 0'). 125 NOV B; 1. M;ke Tippin (Suz ); 2. Matt Rice (Ka w) ; 3. Ry an Zimmerm an ( Yam); 4 . Rich ard Lay (Yam); 5. Robert Pursell (Yam). 125 NOV C: I. Nick Lac e rerua (Suz); 2. Stev ie Cook ( Kaw) ; 3 . R.J . Reynolds (Han) ; 4 . Corey Shipos (5 0') ; 5. J ohn Ayers (KTM) . 125 AM A : I. Nick Kruger ( Yam ); 2. Frank Bums (Ka w) : 3. A ndrew J ack son ( Yam) ; 4 . Stev e Leary (Han); 5. Corey McDarby (Yam ). 125 A M B : I . Brian M urphy (Y am) ; 2. Kyl e Hut son {Sua} : 3 . T .J. Au ten Jr. ( Yam) ; 4 . Donny Buchter (Kaw); 5. Jus tin Hick s (vern) . 125 PRO/ EX : I. Casey Clark (Yam ); 2. Jos hua Lichtle (Yam); 3. Mitc hell Doughe rty (Kaw) ; 4. Gavin Gracyk (Kaw); 5. Caleb Mill er (Yam ). 2 5 0 NOV A ; I. R.J. Reynold s (Hon ); 2. Chadd Groo m e ( Ka w) ; 3 . J am ie Saxe (Ya m); 4 . Ric k Tatravit (Yam); 5. Brian Rossley (Hon). 2 50 NO V B : 1. Brian Davis (Yam): 2. Robert Kennedy (Han ); 3. Craig Kollm er (Han); 4. Warren Joh nson (Han) ; 5. Chris Young (Yam ). 2 5 0 A M : 1. Brian M urp hy ( Yam ) ; 2. Jason A n talek ( Ha n) ; 3 . Nick K ru ge r ( Yam ) ; 4 . John Giantonio (Kaw); 5. Broc Denn ison (Yam) . 2 5 0 PRO /EX : I. Caleb Mmer (Yam ); 2. Eddie Ra y ( Han) ; 3 . Gavi n Gr acyk ( K a w ) ; 4 . Jamie Robinson (Yam); 5. Scott Rockwell (Han ). WMN AM : 1. Chery l McCullough (Kaw); 2. Apri l Hodge s ( Ka w); 3 . Sh andr a Rubc hi n uk ( Yam) ; 4 . Danni Russell (Yam ); 5. Joanna Fake (Han). WM N PR O : 1. Steffi Lai er ( KTM); 2 . Sarah Whitmore (Ya m) ; 3 . Tarah Gieger (Han) ; 4. Tenia Setch well (Yam ); 5. A lex Haup t (K aw). SC H BY A : 1. UchtJe J o sh ua (Yam) : 2 . Chris Laugh nane (KT M) ; 3. Frank Burn s (Ka w): 4. Mark Lindsey (Kaw) ; 5. Cory Dejong (Han) . SCHBY B: 1. Mitche ll Dougherty (Kaw): 2. T.J . A uten Jr. ( Yam ); 3. Kyle Hut son (Suz); 4 . Nath an Ains worth (Yam) ; 5. Sean Hack ley (Ka ..... ). CLGBY A : I . Paul Lamb (Yam); 2. John O ber (Han); 3 . Mike Ay en (KTM); 4. Sage Foster (Yern): 5. Nick Kruger (Yam). CLG BY B : I . Chad Charbonne au (H on ); 2 . Matthe w Ranum (Han); 3. Jay Weller (Suz); 4 . Jack Carpenter (Han) ; 5. Ju stin Jorgensen (Y4m). 25 + A M A: I. Joh n Sp ott s ( Yam ); 2 . Don O 'Herien (Ya m) ; 3 . Ron Sanger (Han ) ; 4 . Da nie l Joyce (KTM); 5. Mike Kennerson (Han). 25 + AM. B : I. Ti m Olson ( Ha n): 2 . Sc ott Sepk ovic (Suz) ; 3. Glenn Babineau ( Hon); 4 . Mark Biesecke r (Han); 5. Mi lton Aco sta (Hon). 25 + EX : 1. Kurt M cMill en ( Ho n) ; 2 . Sc ott Roc kwell (Han ); 3. Greg Pemert (Han) ; 4 . Pat Barton (Yam ); 5. J erem y Tiffany (Yam) . 30 + NO V A : I. J ohn Schafft (Kaw); 2. Dave Terwill iger Sr. ( Yam); 3. Lee Fa k e ( Han) : 4 . Rick Tatravlt (Yam) ; 5. Scott Rhinehart (Kaw). 30 + NO V B: I. Leona rd Simmiski s ( Han ) ; 2. Warren Johnson (Han ); 3. J erome Bureau (Yam) ; 4. Rory O 'Neill (Han); 5. Robert Stober (Yam) . 3 0 + AM A : I. Ja so n L ew i s (Ka w) ; 2 . Ma t t Fleischer (Han) ; 3 . Don O' Herlen (Yam) ; 4. Daniel J oyce (KTM) ; 5. David McNeal (Han) . 30 + AM B : I. Scott Sepkovlc (S uz ) ; 2. Rich Westfa ll ( Yam ); 3. A ·Jay Harr y (Yam) : 4 . Je ff Ort (Han) ; 5. Mar k Palmi sano (Yam ). 30 + EX: 1. Kurt McMi llen (Han) ; 2. Greg Pemart (Han) ; 3. Pat Barton ( Yam) ; 4 . Scott Phelps (Ke w): 5. Pablo Tori bio (Han ). 4 0 +: I. Gene Nighman (Kaw) ; 2. Mickey Kessler (Han) ; 3 . Scott Sepkov ic (Suz) ; 4 . Don Gr ippen (Hon) ; 5. A· Jay Harry (Yam ).

