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/128355
MOTOCROSS - 1 -. , I T he Amateur Open ' of Motocross ·Over: '1000 riders'turned out for the inaugural Amateur O pen of Motocross . I !'W" - - - - The turnout for this first-time event was more than anyone expected. ': B Y CIN DY GI BSON PHOTOS BY EP KODAK S PORTS • " PH OTOG RAPHY " B' ~nd "u ild it they will come . ~They ,s,ai it couldn't be done, d ,: but it was, and not only was it : done , it was done big . Erv . , Braun with Braun Entertainrrient, along with sons Zegin, Zya and the entire Braun fa m ily, welcomed motocross enthusiasts from across the .United States for the inaugural Amateur Op e n of Motocross, presented by Wheel Pros , KMC W heel s and Weekend War rior Trailers. The five-day program was held at 'Arizona Cycle Park just outside of Ph o e nix ,',Ar izo na, and may well have broken all records for a first-t ime , . "national calibe r" MX event. with more than 120.0 .e nt r le s registered on the · books ,before the beginn ing of Wednesday 's practice . While the newly built track and facilities sit less than 20 miles ' ~est of Phoenix , the solitude ofthe ' 160', acre desert crater made aperfect loca, tion for the event. : "Several different existing tracks were considered for our inaugural event," Braun said. "But we wa nted to start fresh , make our' own mistake's and reap our · own rewards; It's kind,of like building a ;, house yourself and starting from the foundation up. Bobby White found this loeatlon , and we thought it was perfect for what we had in mind . Bobby went right to work using his skills to build this outstanding track with safety and fun as top priority. Bobby and Beverly. along with myself, Zegin [Braun], Zya [Braun], Win and our excellent staff and employees put our heads together, got to work... and here we are ." Platinum One presented a one-of-akind, custom-painted M2R He lmet to Braun to commemorate his first Amateur Open, and after his acce ptance, the riders' meeting got under way. In addition to the ''AM-O'' Pit Bike race, the Pro Invitational, the KjSC Invitational and the KX 65 Invitational. there were 49 other classes offered . As for the rules in the 49 different classes at the newly formed race , they weren't much different than any other major amateur mo tocross race in the United States . "O ur rules are very general," Braun said. "Reme mbe r: Stock means stock , but Modified classes are wide open. I firmly believe that the outcome of a race is determined by 20 percent of the bike's performance - and 80 percent of the . rider's skill, and I do not want to take the 'Mom and Dad ' e lement out of racing. ond , but Blose blasted ahead as the wh ite ., When a dad pats his kid on the back at the flag flew. Sani made it back to the pits gate, I feel it is important for that dad to first. Blose took the checkers in second , know he has done his very best to get top leaving third place to Gassin. ligon and , performance out of the bike, and his rider KTM's Michael Willard , respectively, knows that it is his part to perform his rounded out the top five. very best on the track. If the two share Blose ended up taking the overall cham-: ' any sort of mechanical 'secrets' about pionship, however. with his 2-1 finishes their bike, a mental edge is created for after capturing first place the fotlowmg day. the rider 's performance and a special Sani settled for second overall with a score bond is formed with his mechanic," of 1-2, and Gassin took his consistent 3-3 Much like the other amateur races wins to the podium for third . around. the re were a few verbal protests Yamaha jockey jake Canada's th irdconcerning bikes. However, no written place finish in moto one of the 85cc formal protests were submitted through Mod ified (12-1 3) class proved to be out the event. enough to add to his second mote's first- {With temperatures a bit cooler than place win for the overall championship usual, the Arizona sun was abundant with a 3- 1 score. Suzuki's Taylor johnson throughout most of the week, although from Hamilton, Georgia . made a grand rain did move in for the last day 's events. season comeback, following an injury earWith the track prepped to perfection and lier in the season, to take second place in ready to go. opening rounds began on moto one but did not start moto two due time early Thursday morning . to a slight mishap in a different class. In Suzuki's Daniel Sani took a quick lead the overall, second went to Suzuki-mountand turned it into the win in the first rnoto ed BlakeWharton with his 1-3 score, while of the Mid-Size Modified Expert A class, Landon Cur rier,brought his Yamaha across '. following David Gassin's holeshot aboard the line to take an overall Podium position in third with 5 :2 in the mot'os, ' ' his Yamaha. While a heated battle brewed between Gassin and Team Green's Bryan Champion Cycles' Zach Osborne aced ligon, Chris Blose blew in from behind to • -t he first moto of the 85cc O pen (10-16) add some extra excitement to the battl~. :' class aboard his' KTM, followed by Suzuki , Gassin continued to battle lingon'in sec- . pilot Wharton in, second and Canada in ' 'I ~ 98 JANUARY 5 ,2005 • ' CY C LE' N EWS ' ;, ." " , .':"-