Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

PHOTO BY GARY T. OBER Western Four-Stroke Nationals Round 3: Cycle Ranch MX Park Beavers Hightails It to Texas Win BY GARY T. OBER FLORESVIUE, TX. APR. 23·24 T he sound of thundering thumpers returned to the Lone Star State for round three of the Western Four-Stroke Nationals, sponsored by VP Racing Fuels. With the series at the halfway point, three riders are now tied for first place in the premier 4S0cc Pro class as they head for Boise, Idaho, for round four: jessie Casillas, Daryl Ecklund and Daton Beavers, with 91 points apiece. Defending champion Mike Corder from Rainier, Oregon, is currently sitting in fourth place with 77 points. But don't forget Leighton lillie (with 60 points), Ryan Hughes (with 50), Tony Sherman (47) or Shane Bess (4S), as all of them have a shot at the championship, making this a very exciting series to follow. In Texas, the first 450cc moto's holeshot went to Reynard ModsfTurfs Up-backed Robbie Smith of Guthrie, Oklahoma, followed by MotoXXXlShift/Honda of Houston-backed Eddie Ray, Monster Energy/Dunlop's Charles Castloo, Beavers, Brett Ohland, Beau Baron and Ecklund. Smith started to pull a comfortable lead, but arm pump began to set in. After six laps, Beavers was rapidly approaching, while Smith had to shake out both arms over the finish-line tabletop, struggling to hold on. Beavers got around Smith 100 yards later and checked out. Chaparral/Big Gun/Brotherhood Industries-sponsored Ecklund also passed Smith for second. Smith was third, followed by Corder, Colorado's Matt Karlsen, Ohland, Casdoo and Ray. After a bad start and a first-lap crash, Rat Racing/Scott/Motorex-backed Ty Conner worked his way back up to ninth. Plano Kawasaki jockey Austin Squires rounded out the top 10. In the second mota, Yamaha-mounted Conner snagged the holeshot, with Ray, Beavers, Justin Myers, Smith and Ecklund giving chase. Conner was on fire, as he demolished berm after berm - until Ecklund showed up and passed Conner for the front spot. But Ecklund's lead only lasted for a lap or two before he crashed out of cont~ntion, eventually finishing 22nd. Beavers also challenged Conner for the lead but had no luck and finished in second, behind Conner, but ahead of Karlsen, Castloo and Ray. KTM USNAxo/White Brothers-backed Corder was using every square inch of racetrack looking for faster lines after discovering his rear shock was leaking oil and falling apart; despite his handicap, Corder hammered on, trying to salvage as many points as possible, and he finished sixth. Ohland, Squires, Donnie Durrer and Aaron Hill rounded out the top I0 after a fantastic moto. Squires and J&M Racing-backed Todd Downs had a little get-together after Squires crossed over into Downs' line and almost took him out before the 75-foot double; Downs kept it on two wheels, rolled the double, and finished out the moto in I Itho In the 250F Pro class, Team Samsung Wireless Honda-backed Michael Blose went I-I for the overall in convincing style. Blose is also well-recognized in the AMA I25cc West Coast Supercross Series and the Outdoor Nationals. His brother Chris also had a great race, finishing in second place on a 2-3 score after mixing it up with third-placed Ecklund (4-2) and fourthplaced Conner (3-4). Beavers (S-S) tallied fifth. The 2004 Women's MX Association National Champion, Jessica Patterson, also contested the 250F Pro class aboard her Honda of Houston/MotoXXX/Fox/Utopia/ Dunlop-backed CRF250. The 21-year-old· finished 12th on a 13-12 score and was impressive, showing a consistent pace. CN MX PARK FLORESVlW, TEXAS RESULTS: APRIL 23·24, 2005 (ROUND 3) CYCLE RANCH 2S0F PRO O/A: I. Michael Blose (Han); 2. Chris Blose (Han); 3. Daryl Ecklund (Han); 4. Ty Conner (Yam); 5. Daton Beavers (Han); 6. Robbie Smith (Yam); 7. Austin Squires (Kaw); 8. Matt Karlsen (Han); 9. Aaron Hill (Yam); 10. David Tarnow (Hon); II. Brett Ohland (Yam); 12.jessica Patterson (Han); 11. Ryan Haring (Han); 14. Danny Kelsey (Han); 15. Michael Haby (Yam); 16. Winston Cook (Han); Daton Beaven hightails it ta the overall win in the 450cc Pro class at the Floresville, Texas, round of the Western Four-Stroke Nationals. 17. Shane Smith (Han); 18. Mike Corder (KTM); 19. Charles Casdoo. 450 PRO O/A: I. Daton Beavers (Hon); 2. Ty Conner (Yam); 3. Matt Karlsen (Hon); ... Mike Corder (KTM); 5. Charles Castloo (Hon); 6. Eddie Ray (Hon); 7. Brett Ohland (Yam); 8. Robbie Smith (Yam); 9. Austin Squires (Kaw); 10. Daryl Ecklund (Han); II. Aaron Hill (Yam); 11. Donnie Durrer (Hon); 13. Todd Downs (Han); 14. David Tarnow (Hon); 15. Brad Motherway (KTM); 16. Kyle Phenix (Han); 17. Beau Baron (Suz); 18. Justin Myers (Hon); 19. Shane Smith (Han); 20. Hatt Mebane (Hon); 21. Kevin Hornick (Han); 21. Rusty Huddle (Han); 21. Trevis Gnanna (Han). PHOTO BY JIM P. SANDERSON Thor/Parts Unlimited Northeast Classic Motocross Series Round 3: Old Bridge Township Raceway Park Nicoletti, Lawrence Rock the Old Bridge By JIM P. SANDERSON ENGLISHTOWN, NJ, APR. 24 Two of American Honda and American I Suzuki's hottest young prospects, Phil Nicoleqi and Jason Lawrence, rocked their competitors' world at round "three of the Northeast Classic Motocross Series at the legendary Old Bridge Township's Raceway Park. More than 400 of the East Coast's best riders came out to race on one of the most unique racetracks east of the Mississippi. Raceway Park's racecourse is completely manmade and very technical. The soil is dirt in some sections, sand in others, and in yet others it's a combination of the two, and as the race program progresses, the racecourse does, too - into one of the roughest and toughest in the east. Nicoletti aced two of the three classes he entered, going I-I both Schoolboy and 250ec Open Amateur competition, but he had to settle for runner-up in the extremely competitive 125cc Amateur class, behind another up-and-coming rider - Wareham, Massachusetts' Michael Picone. Nicoletti and Picone led the start of the first Schoolboy moto, with Ryan Blizzard and Erik Wilson in tow. Nicoletti and Picone qUickly pulled away from the rest of the field, setting a blistering pace unmatched by any other rider. Picone was consistently holding Nicoletti's pace and was well within striking distance until the last lap, when Picone went down in the 48 extremely rough back rhythm section. Nicoletti was ensured the moto win, taking the checkers with an II-second advantage. Adam Blessing, Picone, Michael Stryker and Blizurd rounded out the top fIVe. In the final Schoolboy moto, Nicoletti and Picone once again led the charge out of the switchback first tum, with Blessing, Blizzard and Will Hecksteden trailing. Again, Nicoletti and Picone set an unmatchable pace as they quickly left the rest of the field behind. However, misfortune once again struck the Suzuki rider on the final lap. Nicoletti appeared at the Carmichael double in the middle of the racecourse, alone. Picone was missing. Nicoletti cruised to another moto win, taking the checkers a whopping 16 seconds ahead of Blessing. Picone remounted to finish third. Blizzard and Lowell Spangler rounded out the top fIVe. Rossini Racing Products' veteran Honda thumper pilot Damien Plotts led the start of the first 2SOec Pro/Expert moto, ""ith Bromley Suzuki's Barry Carsten close behind. Lawrence gated just outside the top fIVe but was closing on Carsten in second before the end of the first lap. Lawrence got around Carsten on lap three, and less than a lap later Lawrence passed Plotts for the lead. On lap five, Carsten took second, relegating Plotts to third. Lawrence won by six seconds. Carsten led the start of the final 2S0 Pro/Expert moto, with Plotts and Casey Clari< trailing. Lawrence started outside the top five. JUNE 22, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS Plotts took the lead from Carsten before the end of the first lap. This time, it took Lawrence a little longer to get to the front, but he took the lead on lap five, relegating Plotts to second. Lawrence cruised to the win with another sixsecond lead. Plotts, Carsten, Clark and Dave Ginolfi rounded out the top fIVe. Lawrence also aced both 12Scc Pro/Expert class with a couple of perfect rides. eN OlD BRJDGI TOWNSHIP RACEWAY PARK NEW JERSEY REsuLTS: APRIL 24, 2005 (ROUND 3) ENGUSHTOWN, 65 (7-9): I. Anthony Maimone (Kaw); 2. Alexander Phil Nicoletti (71) and Michael Picone (72) battle for the lead in the first Sch_lbay mota at round three of the Northeast Cla88ic Motocross Series at Raceway Parle in Englishtawn, New Jersey. Potter (KTM); J. Bmn l.aard Wright (Yam). 250 AM: I.....Illip Nkolettl (Han); 2. Mkhael ""one (Suz); 3. Keny Kominskle Jr. (Kaw): 4. Morl< Undsay (Kaw); 5. Kyle Wlvrtenour (Suz). 250 PRO/EX: I.)awn I..awn:no:e (Suz); l. Darrnen Plott> (Han); 3. Ilmy Camen (Suz); 4. c..ey Oari< e- (Yam); 5.)awn H.."... (Suz). WMN: I. H;Hy Burl

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