WORCS/MRAN Combined Amateur Gran Prix
Mesquite Moto-X Park
Tapf?ing into the
Mother Lode
By DICK GOODWIN
MESQUITE, NV, JAN. 17·18
The Worl d O ff Road C hampionship Series
I (WORCS ) Gran Prix Series is known as the
richest off-road motorcycle ser ies on the planet - with more than $1 million in cash, contin-
gencies and prizes up for gra bs. l ess is known
about how valuable the WORCS Amateu r program that accompan ies this series has become.
T he overall Amateur- class ser ie s cham pions
w in big: With 10 new m oto r cycles and one
new ATV for ove rall yea rly A-class winners, the
WORe S Am ate ur prog ra m is ce rt ainl y well
wort h part icipating in.
On e racer w ho most certainly fe lt t hat way
was Lake wo od , Was hington . hot shoe Tevin
Tapia. w ho we nt wire to wire for 40 mi nut es in
the 85e c A class to start his ques t (o r a new
bike in th e be st pos sible way. Tapia got the
hol eshot ahead of Ron nie Good w in and Jamie
La nza , and th ose le ad e r s he ade d o ut cr oss
cou ntry. W he n they re t urn ed minut e s later,
Tapia and Joshua Morros were going at it bar
to bar, with Lanza in third. Tapia and Morros
stayed cl o se for most of t he ra ce , while
Goodwi n worked his way back into th ird. Tapia
put on a late- race surge to win go ing away,
lett ing his competition try to catch up w ith him
for the rest of t he series. Morros, Go odwin
a nd Sean Geiser follo wed him through
the tape .
Since this was a dual-sanct ioned even t, with
points also going to the Motorcycle Racers of
Ne vada (MRAN) members. W ORCS/MRAN
ran Pro races on Saturday. Heavy hitters in
town for the Sunday's WORCS series -o pe ning
Pro race dom inated the contests. with Dest ry
Abbott topping the 250cc Pros , Kurt Cas elli
acing the 125cc Pro contest , "W hispe ring"
Smith w inning t he 2S0cc F Pro con test, Ty
O t h e r notable perfo rma nces in t he
afternoon race included that of Chris Clark in
the Fou r-Stro ke A class; he finished a min ute
and 16 seco nds in fro nt o f Corey G arr e t .
Ro bb ie O verst r e et finish e d his ra ce t w o
minutes and 45 secon ds ahead of second-place
finisher jaso n Flynn in the 2S0cc B class. In the
250cc A class. Eric Elam put the hammer down
and finished almost t hre e minut es ah ea d of
cur r e nt cl a ss le ad e r Ta ylo r Reyn ol d s of
Alabama . In the 200c( B class , up-an d-comer
Andrew Matuzek was the o nly ride r in his class
to finish fo ur laps. Vet B rider Mark Uoyd and
Senior B ride r Greg Armour also finishe d all
four laps in their classes while their ru nners-up
only finished three laps.
T he m o rn ing ra ce was just a s exci ting.
Gregory Ro be rt s and Nathaniel Martin had a
three-lap battle in the 200cc C class that came
down to a five-second difference for the ove rall
victory. In the O pen C class, Lee Hickok tried
hard to gain lost time but fell just two secon ds
short and p lac e d second , be hind Lewis
Mitchum . In the Wo men's class. Lauren Huey
easily finished first, mo re than 14 minutes ahead
Davis dialing up the Over 30 Vet Pro crown.
an d Steve H atc h conq uering th e O pen
Pro class.
Some of the Amateur winners in those allim po rtant A classes were Bran don
Brown (6Scc A), Adam Lane (2S0cc
A), George Follis (2SOcc F A), Young
j ac obse n (O pe n A), To m Sh ivers
(Masters O ve r 40 A). je ff Sowards
(Vet Over 30 A) and Ricky Diet rich.
w ho took two titles - in the 12Scc A
and Semi-Pro divisions - on his way to
a garage full of new bikes!
WORC S and MRAN wo rked
together to set attendance records at
t he grea t Mesquite Moto-X Park for
th is. the first race in the 2004 WO RCS
off-road ser ies.
(Above) Clay Cutle r (1208),
Curt Lammert (1110) and Coope r
Hall (8J) went one-two-three
in the 85cc B cla ss.
eN
MESQUITE MOTO-X PARK
MESQUITE , N EVADA
RESUL
TS: JANUARY 17·18,
2004
50 (4 -6) : I. C hase Vernon (KTM); 2. j.C .
Wo lfe (KT M); 1. Eric Po lizzi; .. . Jace Mo rg an
(KTM); S. Th o mas Jones (KTM). 50 (7- 8 ): IJ.D. Elliott (KTM); 2. Kody Hutchings (Pol); 3.
Chaisson Couens (Pd); " . Clay Gishey (KTM); S.
Joshua Morros (2) placed secand, behind
Bailey D'Aiessio (KTM). 65 k I. Brandon Brown
(KTH ); 2. Killian Wader (Kaw ); 1. Ryan Goodwin
Tevin Ta pia, in the 85cc A cla ss.
(Kaw) ; .. . C .J. Hyams (KTM); S. Troy Anacker
(Yam). 6S B, I. Duny Hu~ (Suz): 2. Angelo T......r
150 A: I. Adam Lane (Suz); 2. Brend an Ritzman (Yam); 1.
(Kaw); 1. Je ffre y W illson (So2); .. . Cole Nanney (Pol) ; S.
Wes Mac Millan (H en): ... Bryan Bru ning (Kaw); S. Ricky
Brandon Leith (Pol). 65 C: I. Je ssee Bro wn (Suz); 2. Eric
Dietrich (Kaw). 150 B: I. Chris Pinger (Hon); 2. Jason Tro xle
Thyr (Kaw); 1. Austin Garcia (Kaw); 4. Kyle Walters (Kaw);
(KTM); 1. KyJe Gibson (KTM); ... levi Allen (Yam); S. Kris
S. Christopher Martin (Kaw). 85 A: I. Tevin Tapia (Kaw); 2.
NeI"", (Kaw). 2S0 C, I. Chm F..,. (Hen) : 2. ja>on Onmann
Jos hua Morros (Kaw); 1. Ronnie Goodwin (Kaw); 4 . Sean
(Hen) : 3. Nion
KendaJI Noonan (Hen) . 2S0 F A: I. Geo<-ge Fom. (Sua): 2.
Holt (Yam): 2. Brian Nekon (Suz): 3. ",",tin Hannon (Kaw) :
Man Owen (Yam); 1. Travis Krueger (Kaw); ... Lance Schurtt
... Levi VICkers (Kaw); S. Ryan UhIey. S/M IN I A: I. Jamie
(Yam); S. Ned Lowerre (Suz ). 150 F B: I. Justin Hunt (Yam);
u.nu (Kaw ); 2. Tev;n Topia (Kaw); 3. £Mtin Sun""" (Suz):
2. Chad Dwyer (y",,): 3. Tony M""'ghan (KTM): 4. Jonat"'"
4. Sean Ge ise r (Kaw ). 115 A: I. Ricky Dietrich (Kaw); 2.
Wetsman (Yam ); S. Kevin Peloso (Hon ). ]50 F C: I. Brian
Nick Thompson (KTM); 1. Erek Arnold (Yam); ... Dominic
Brou gh ton (Yam); 2. Robert He n ry (Yam); 3. Gen e Bryan
Cimino (Yam ); S. Teddy Hann (Kaw). 115 B: I. David
(Kaw); -4 Riley Burd ICk (Yam); S. Don Beck (Ho n). 150 F
.
Robertson (Yam) ; 2. Tracon Kirk (KTM); 3. Jason Tro xle
PRO : I. "'Whispering " Smith (Kaw); 2. Ryan Mcintyre (Yarn);
(KTM); .. . [a nton Reber (KTM); S. Levi Jones. 115 C: I1. Jeff Haza rd ; .of . Jeremy Thomson (KTM); S. Roger Ne tb.
Cody Wallis (KTM); 2. Darin Anderson (Yam); 1. Jonathan
O P EN A: I. You ng Jacobsen (Hon); 2. Man Gosnell (KTM);
Davis (Yam); 4. Tony Ge lsone (KTM); 5. Cory Ayen (SYz ).
1. Jer em y Fer ro (Kaw) ; .. . Zac Hum ph rie s (Suz) ; S. Bra d
115 PRO: I. Kurt Caselli (KTM); 2. Ryan Mcintyre (Yam).
of runner-up Gina Beckman. Tim Peterson won
the Master C class by a slim margin over Robert
Walker. who was only 14 seco nds behind .
W ith on ly a few mo re rac es left in t he
SETRA Series befo re t hree co -sa nct io ne d
eve nts with th e GNC C Series. many classes are
st ill und e c id ed. Fo r upd at e s , c heck o ut
www.se tra .org.
Matthew Unde rwood (Yam); 2. Tim Crisp (KTM); 1. Mark
Snavely (Yam). VET C: I. Bill Ede nfield (Yam); 2. Ch ris
Thr eadgill (GG ): 1. Bret Za ro (KTM). OPEN C: I. Le wis
Mitch um (KTM); 2. Le e Hicko k (KTM); 1. Pet e Whi taker
(KIM ). GLDN MSTR: I. Kenneth Do bson (Y ; 2. Fred
am)
Ham mond (KTM); 1. Fred Veator (Y . S/S R / SR A: I.
am)
Arty Spencer (KTM); 2. Ph il Ellis (GG); 1. David Altman .
MS T R A : I. JIm Ford (GG ); 2. Rex Jones; 1. Michael
Th ompson (KT M). MSTR B: I. Bill Watkins; 2. Doran
Carrell (KTM); 1. Reggie Wrinkle (KTM). S/S R I S R B: I.
Goolsby (Y . O P EN B: I. Brandon Rush (Hon ); 2. Troy
am)
Spe ncer (Yam); 1. Mike Peterson (Kaw) ; .. . Todd Je nkins
(Yam); S. Patrick Healy (Yam). OPE N C: I. Carmine Barbud
(Hon ); 2. Mike Lup nacca (Hon ); 1. Sta n Jon e s (KTM); 4.
Michael Healy (Y
am); S. Gary C heney (KTM). OPEN PRO:
I. Steve Hat ch (Kaw ); 2. Nathan Woods (Yam); 3. Mark
T illey (Hon) ; .. . Bob Roberts (Y
am); S. David Rees (KTM).
GRl.S ( 11-15) : I. Nicolette Richards (Kaw); 2. Miche lle
Roth (Kaw) . W MN A: I. Ke lly Yancy (KT M); 2. Mar ia
Fors berg (KTM); 1. Susan He llman (Yam). WHN B: I. Nikki
Mar shall (KT M); 2. Michele Alberts (Yam) ; 3. C ar o line
Santoro (Hon ); 4 . Jaele igh Mecham (KTM); S. Krista O'Hara,
S PT Al B ( 15-1 9): I . To ny Me nigh an ( KT M); 2. Ja ke
Simmo ns (Yam); 1. Patrick He aly (Yam); .. . Kyle Gibso n
(KTM s. Jesse Canepa. SPT C ( 15-29), I. st>ane Vemlund
):
(Yam); 2. Alex Smith (KTM): 1. Jake Wallis (Yam); .of . Davi
Krause; S. Jason O r t man n (Ho n) . V ET 30 + A: I. Jeff
Sowards (Yam); 2. lOdd Abrotowski (Yam); 1. Ken Kozlik; 4 .
Jayson Densley (y",,): 5. RyanJenIOns (y",,). VET 30 + B,
I . James Steimer; 2. Kyle Krause (Kaw); 1. Kelly Gel haus
(Hon ); -4 Des i WoUe (Kaw); S. C hris McCam man (Ho n).
.
VET 30+ C: I. Shane Howell (Hon) ; 2. Cannme Barbuti
(Hon ); 1. Stan Jones (KIM); ... Matt Taylor (Y ); S. Ron
am
Goodwin (Kaw ). VET ] 0+ P RO : I. Ty Davis (Yam); 2.
[)av;d UapNd (GG): 2. Chm Oy> (KTM): 3. Brian
Woznak (Kaw) . 4- ST RK A, I. Chm C1arl< (KTM): 2. Corey
Garrett (KTM); 3. Brad Armour (KTM). VET A: I. MichaeJ
G riz zle (KTM); 2. Allen Gr avin (KTM); 3. Jeffrey Johnson
(KTN) . S R A : I. Terry Hughe s (KTM); 2. Mitch McRee
(KTM); 1. Jimmy Pratt (Yam). 150 8 : I. Robert Overstreet
(Hen): 2. Ja>on Flynn; 3. Doug Mon )one< (Hen) : 3. John Hoy..- (Hen ).
VET B, I. MMl< Lloyd (Kaw): 2. 8ruce Gam (KTM): 3. EIW>a
Po well (KTM). 4-ST RK B: I. Ed wa rd Mee k; 2. Joseph
Wood (Hen): 3. Jeff Trull (Suz) . 200 B, I. And"", Matuzek
(Su z); 2. Micha e l Fraser ( KTM); 1 . C hr istopher Dag nen
(Ka.w) . S R B: I. Greg Armour; 2. Tom Farmer (Yam); 1. Jeff
Gorny (Hen) . MSTlI C, I. T~ Petenon (KTM); 2. Robe-.
Walker (Suz ); 1. Dan Bowman (KTM). 100 C: I. Gregory
Robe rts (Suz); 2. N at hani~ Mart in (Suz) ; 1. Ryan Overton
(KT M). 1 50 C : I . Matthew Sch ne ider (Ho n); 2. And y
McCree (KTM); 1. Taylor Jo hnson (Kaw). 4 -ST RK C: I.
Preston, Earls Top
Smoky Mountain
By MATT WOZNEY
MORRISTOWN, TN, JAN. 2
T
he Victory Spo rts Winter Indoor Motocross
Series arrived at the Smoky Mountain Expo
Are na for the seventh of its 12 ro unds. Th e
small, technical tra ck was in mint condition, and
it would definitely be a challenge for all the riders , from the Beginners to the Pros. Ride rs on
mounts ranging from t he SOce bikes t o th e
www.cyclenews.com
450cc bikes were racing on this night, in front
of a great crowd in the rodeo arena. The two
fastest riders of the night - Suzu ki pilot Kyle
Preston and Kawasaki rider Doug Earls • made
it look easy.
In the I25cc Pro main even t, Earls was able
to get out in front early and went unchallenged
from there on out. He too k a dominant victory
over Pre sto n, who took second , and Honda
amaha
ride r Tony Graham. who finished third . Y
CYCLE NEWS • FEBRUARY 11,2004
57
