Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

O'REilly Extreme Moto-X Nationals Round I: Barton Coliseum Conner and Company Conquer the Coliseum By CHUCK BAU unLE ROCK, AR, JAN. 14·15 A s the crowd flooded the stadium's bleach/""'\ers. the racers on the track did their best to provide a weekend of action this town would not soon forget. With two nights of racing scheduled, cold temperatures outside, and a large Pro purse up for grabs, it was easy to see why rider entries were high. With nearly 40 Pros signed up, the heat races were run. When the main events came around. the track did nothing but get faster. Lining the gate for the 12scc main were the winners of the three heat races: Ty Conner, Blake Keeton and Danny Kelsey. When the gate dropped, it was a Conner runaway, with Vamaha-mounted David Hill chasing him home in second and Munn KTM rider Scott Men taking third. As they lined up for the 2sOcc main, all eyes were on Conner again. With a short start and a lot of cash on the line, qUick reactions were key. Once again. Conner had the best reaction time, pushing his Yamaha to the limit. When the checkers flew, Conner took the win, followed by Reynard Modifications rider Chad Cook and Honda-mounted Kelsey. Saturday came, and with it came a larger crowd, a few more racers, and a still unforgiving track. With short laps, riders would need to be on their game. After the heat races were run earlier in the day, the Pros lined the gate early for the 12scc main and waited for the gate to drop. When it did, Vamaha riders Conner and Robbie Smith jumped out front early and attacked the track viciously. Conner continually put space on the pack until the have a great time here. I also want to thank my dad; he does a great job on my bike." Eakin was disappointed with second, but in (act he rode a great race. McDonald was third, holding 0(( constant charges from Eckert. who held fourth. Shew was the last rider in the top five. Ryan White has really turned up the heat in the 12scc A class, and once again he topped all comers. running off with both moto wins. jerry Lorenz nailed both holeshots, but White had the track dialed in and was soon up front with a clear track ahead of him. Grant Moreland finished second in both motos. and Lorenz placed third in both motos. in the 2s0cc A class, however. White played the bridesmaid role to winner Trevor Gundlach. RESULTS 50 SHAFT: I. Jacob Edison (Cob); 2. Scotty Morris (KTM); l. logan Stefanko (Yam). 50 JR: I. Jacob Edison (Cob): 2. Jared Fox (KTM): l. KaHeb Bowen (KTM). 50 SR: I. Craig Ohshoski (Kaw); 2. Scottie leighton (KTM); l. Darien Vaughn (KTM). 65 (7.9): I. Joey Hale (Suz); 2. Scottie Siauterbeck (KTM); l. Tyler Fernengel (Suz); 4. Scottie leighton (Suz); S. Nolan McPhillips (Suz). 65 (10·11): I. Garrett Gilbert (Suz): 2. Clay Elliott (KTM); 3. Jarred Cooper (Suz). 65 OPEN: I. Clay Elliott (KTM); 2. Scottie SlalJterbeck (KTM): l. Kristopher Sharp (Suz). 85 JR: I. Christopher Elko (Hon): 2. Aaron Eakin (Suz): l. Eric MacDonald (Yam): 4. Brian Eckert (Kaw): S. Brandon Shew (Yam). 85 SR: I. logan 48 checkers flew on lap IS. Smith finished second and Hill was third. When the 2sOcc Pro class got under way, LCQ winner Smith, coming from the far outSide, snared the all.important holeshot. Conner gated mid pack, but he immediately moved to the front, as he once again tried to go "fIVe in" through the whoops. As he entered the whoops, he came in too hot; when he landed on the fifth whoop, his body was pitched violently over the bars and straight into the dirt, rendering him lcopy. Unaware of what was happening behind him, Smith pushed hard and rode a consistent IS-lap main for the win. Kelsey and Cook rounded out the podium. Conner finished the race several laps down. "The weekend went pretty good, up until my last race," Conner admitted. "The track was really good - technicai, but safe, too. Last night, I was jumping four in and four out. Today, I figured out I could go fIVe in and jump all the way out and almost into the comer. It sure helped me make time on them." The O'Reilly Extreme Moto-X Nationals will visit Texas and Mississippi in upcoming weeks. Visit www.mapmotorsports.com for more information. CN BARTON COlISEUM Lmu ROCK, ARKANSAS RESUIJS: JANUARY 14-15, 2005 (ROUND 1) Friday so (4-6). I. Ryan H""" (KTM); 2. ~ Sm;th (Lem); l. Cody Calhoun (KTM); 4. Chandler Turnbull (Hon); S. Noah Wood (50,). SO (1.9). I. Buddy Nolan (KTM); 2. Hun,., McDade (KTM); 3. Chase Weatherly (KTM); •. Alec Sh~l;ng (KTM); S.Joseph (Han). MINI MINI OPEN 56-65. I. o..w Ann.uong (KTM); 2. ~ B...... (S

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