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/128361
River Front Grand Prix Joiner Jams at the RFGP 1001 Bv MIKE LORENZ FORT SMITH, AR, NOV. 27·28 ore than 250 riders braved harsh conditions to find out M who could survive the three hours of the 10th annual River Front Grand Prix, which has become a Thanksgiving tradition of sorts among off-road and motocross riders throughout the mid-South. There has been an off-road event in Fort Smith for 20 years. as the RFGP replaced a previous event that was last held in 1994. For the 10th-anniversary event, the race was lengthened from the traditional two hours to three hours or 100 miles. However, after some heavy rain and even a tornado warning on Friday. the mudholes slowed the pace so that even the fastest riders only squeezed in 70 miles. On a brisk winter Sunday morning, entrants discovered the unique course had everything from sandy, motocross-seyle sections tied together with huge, natural sand whoops to tight single-track woods sections, nasty mudholes, grasstracks, dirt roads, and even the occasional junk pile. At high noon, riders lined up at the new long, sandy straightaway a few feet from the Arkansas River. When the green nag came up, Oklahoma City's Tony joiner nailed the holeshot and the cash that went with it! The Yamaha rider had a commanding lead exiting the first turn and added to it each lap for all three hours, and when the checkered flag dropped, joiner had more than a 10-minute lead over Gainesville, Texas' eric Hess. just a minute behind Hess was Arkansas youngster Clint Carr, who had a 20-second lead on Josh Young of Round Rock, Texas, Many fell victim to the mudhole near mile nine; after the race, it still held three bikes, which took course workers more than an hour to retrieve. There were also several large water holes. Man Lane, who finished nimh in the Pro class, noted that he had crashed in one of those. "I smiled the whole race," Lane said of his dousing, "except when I was crying - you know what I mean. I wem from 21 st to ninth in only 3.25 hours and 70 miles. with no front fender great visibility! - and my gloves were soaked seven minutes into the race, causing my hands to go numb, resulting in pinning the throttle at very inopportune moments." This has never been an easy race; it always tests riders' and bikes' durability, and this year was no different, as numerous riders didn't finish. But everyone had a great time. The course is extremely technical and requires good line choices. Over 40 rider Gary Davis, who finished second in Saturday's Open Iron Man ATV race, wanted to prove to his friends that, at 46, he could not only race two three-hour events in the same weekend but finish them both. Things got tough for Davis on his second lap; after finding a nasty rut and getting slammed into some nearby trees, he continued with a broken collarbone for another two laps before seeking medical attention after crossing the finish line, eN RESULTS PRO: I. Tony Joiner; 2. Eric Hess; J. Clint Carr; 4. Josh Young: 5. Matt Crouch. IRON MAN A: I. Ouy Barbaree: 2. Adam Wyant; J. Bryan Vaughn: 4. Bobby Adams: S. Carroll Dickerson. IRONMAN B: I. Silane Martin: 2. Seon Osburn: J. Brad Errigo: 4. Keith McGee; S. Brian Cooper. IRONMAN C: I. Dale Ryan: 2. Bobby Crossner, J. Chris Blanco: 4. levi Williams. IRONMAN JO+: I. Billy Moseley: 2. Shawn Frazier, J. Scott Frazief". IRONMAN 40+: I. Elston Moore: 2. Bob Derrick; J. Kevin Henslee; 4. Steve Sprong: 5. Rick Grinols. ]-RIOER TEAM: I. Team Shocker: 2. Gas Gas of Northwest Arkansas: J. Powder Puffs. BEG TEAM: I. Two Bears: 2. R&D Team: J. Big KahUfW. NOV TEAM: I. Heartland Honda II; 2. PA to AR; J. A&J Team. MSTR TEAM: I. R&K T@am: 2. Old Crows. 30+ TEAM: I. Heatland Honda I: 2. Bill Eddy's Mot:osporu: J. Beavis & Butthud. 40+ TEAM: I. Team Texoma; 2. 5urdyh Tum; J. Xtreme Team PARENT/CHILO TEAM: I. Yother Ofrroad, 2. Team Gragg: J. Te;un Parker. JR TEAM: I. Slow Motion. JR LONG SOLO: I. KoIe Dewoody; 2. Race Davis: J. Payton Usrey. VINT SOLO: I. Bart Winters: 2. Man Winters. FUN Cl SOLO: I. Bobby Pnc@: 2. Tom Price; 3. Chuck Mackey: 4. Chris Brig3nc@. Short Course SHORT COURSE O/A: Conner Tierney. P/W (4·6): I. Ty Montgomery; 2. Nick Been. P/W (7-8): I. Christopher Hodge: 2. Brayd@n MilYO; J. Tristan Jones. 65 KIDS (6.8): I. T.e. McCarthy: 2. Dustin Bilrnes; J. Jak@ Ingram; 4. Ctvistopher Hodge; S. Rocky Martin. 65 KIDS (9-11): I. Kendall TIeffie)'. 85 JR «()"Il): I. Bily Eddy: 2. Zach Ingr.un; J. Garren Gragg; 4. Brook Frazier, S. Austin Cogburn. 85 SR (13-16): I. Walker Gragg; 2. Mitchell Ledbener; J. ZAchary Ballard; 4. Chris Mott: S. David Walker. WMN OPEN: I. Dani@11e Ballard: 2. Angela Winten: J. Seren Major; 4. Robin Ma;or-. Don't Get Roosted... SUBSCRIBEI 1111111111 CIIPIIIII. 111111r. To better set'1/8 our customers we lhought II was time to reunite our family of professionally qneered products, • ..... Pwhw CI C 7 '1:a ....lJata.1NInc . . 515.402.8005 ...................... - ~fU£.Ifa.J"" 0.. _ 515.402.8100 -.....-.515.402.1000 MIt 6UI': I8IPIlJE CYCLE NEWS • JANUARY 19,2005 47