Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

PHOTOS BY STEVEN BONNAU AMAlWMA National Motocross Championship Series Round I: Glen Helen Raceway Park Geiger Counters Their Every Move BY STEVEN BONNAU SAN BERNARDINO, CA, MAY 14 I ike all series openers, there was anticipation L.surrounding the first round of the AMNWMA National Motocross Championship Series, sponsored in part by Hitachi, Z IR Hel- Torah Geiger (68) cruised to a perfect 1-1 score at Glen Helen RaceW'ay Pork. mets and Scott USA. This season is going to be big. Thirty-five Women Pros pre entered the event, and all the young women were healthy for a change. Previously, Tarah Geiger, Sarah Whitmore and Jessica Patterson had aU suffered injuries and ailments that caused uncertainty when it came to the races; but now, all were at I00 percent and ready to start the season right. Stefy Bau and Tania Satchwell both came in with a new attitude and outlook regarding their future in the sport; both are stronger than ever and hungry for results. All of this, plus the entrance of the young, talented A1isa Nix into the series had the pits bUZZing as to who was going to walk away with the title this year. In moto one, it was obvious who meant business. Geiger took the early lead, followed closely by Patterson, Bau, Satchwell, Sherri Cruse, Whitmore, Nix, Aubriana Dunn, Livia Lancelot and Allison Jones. The laps went by fast, and the girls started to get comfortable. Geiger, Patterson and Bau kept their pOSitions and started to get away from the pack. Satchwell was soon pressured by Whitmore for fourth. Nix also went around Cruse, but she now had the hardcharging Alex Haupt, Lancelot, Kirsten Raemish and Jessica Gebhardt on her tail. Early on lap three, Patterson was all over Geiger for the lead, and by the time they had made it to the finish line, Patterson had set her up and made the pass in front of the spectator Torah Geiger (68) tokes the moto-one holeshot over Jessica Palterson (1 I, Tonia SatchW'ell (1951, Aliso Nix (87), Stefy Sou (211), Sheri Cruse (774) and the rest of the pock at the AMA/WMA National Motocross Championship Series opener. section. Whitmore also made a move toward the end of lap three and passed Satchwell for fourth. However, that didn't last long, as Whitmore bobbled and Satchwell went back around. Within a few corners, Whitmore was right back on Satchwell's fender and they were battling again. Out in front, Patterson was trying to open a gap on the pack, but Geiger was keeping her honest, and the pressure paid off when Patterson went down with only a lap to go. Patterson was qUickly up and running again, but now she had Bau on her and very little time to make up lost ground. Geiger won the moto, Patterson had to settle for second, and Bau was third. Whitmore finally made a pass stick on Satchwell but ran out of time to move any further forward. Satchwell held on for fifth. Moto two was almost a carbon copy of moto one, with Geiger taking the lead and Patterson in second. Patterson crashed early and was now left with 20 minutes to work her way back through he pack. Geiger had Whitmore to deal With. Geiger would open up a lead; Whitmore would reel her back in. When the white flag came out, the two front-runners were less then two bikelengths apart. Whitmore challenged the entire last lap, but Geiger held her off for the overall. Whitmore was second. Bau moved around Sheena Patterson and then caught Dunn and made a pass to nail down third. Dunn held on for fourth, but with a crash and a DNF in moto one, she had to settle for 17th overall. Patterson charged hard through the field and finished fifth in the moto and fourth overall. eN GLEN HELEN RACEWAY PARK SAN BERNARDINO, CAUFORNIA RESULTS: MAy 14, 2005 (ROUND I OF 5) O/A:. I. Tarah Geiger; 2. Sarah Whitmo.-e; 3. Stefy Bau; 4. Jessica Patterson; 5. A1isa Nix; 6. Jessica Gebhardt; 7. Uvia Lancelot; 8. Elizabeth Buh; 9. Alison Jones; 10. Sheena Patterson. AMA/WMA NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After I of 5 rounds): I. Tarah Geiger (50); 2. (TIE) Sarah WhionorelStefy Bau (40); 4. Jessica Patterson (38); 5. Alisa Nix (30); 6. Jessica Gebhardt (27); 7. LM, l.ancelot (23); 8. E _ """ (22); 9. (TIE) All"", Jones/Sheena fIn'"""" (21). PHOTO BY MIKE BASSO Jack Milne Cup Costa Mesa Speedway Faria Decides to Keep the Cup By ELAINE JONES COSTA MESA, CA, MAY 14 " FIYin' Mike" Faria successfully defended the Jack Milne Cup at Costa Mesa Speedway, and the beautiful Queen Anne's Cup will reside in Reno for another year. This event is the most sought-after win of the Veteran Speedway racers, because if not for Jack Milne, there would be no Speedway in this country. He captured the World Championship in 1937, and this is the 37th season of Speedway at the Orange County Fairgrounds. It was a championship format: three rounds of Scratch racing, with 10 riders advancing to the two semis and five to the main event. Points were awarded 4-3-2-1·0. Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz got the action started by winning the opening heat of the night. Chris "The Kid" Manchester, Chris Kerr and "Radical Ryan" Fisher followed suit. The second round was a repeat for Fisher, Manchester and Kerr. Faria now was definitely on track, winning a heat. Three riders with perfea scores and Faria on track: It was going to be an intense third round. No one was disappointed when Manchester went perfect on the night, topping Schwartz in the first heat of round three. Fisher pulled off his final ride, topping Shawn "Mad Dog" McConnell in the second heat. Faria was full on in his final heat, as Tommy Hedden found out. Kerr, the youngster from up north, was very impressive as he pulled off a hat trick, winning his final heat over Randy "The Rocket" DiFrancesco. Before the semis, there was a run-off for the final spot between 72 JULY 6,2005 • CYCLE NEWS "Cowboy" Bobby Kreps and Hedden. The nod went to Hedden, and the field was complete. The first semi had Fisher on the pole, with Manchester in two, DiFrancesco in three, and McConnell and Hedden on the outside. The gate went to Manchester, but Fisher was putting on some serious pressure. Fisher got the edge on one lap, but Manchester would come right back and regain it on the next. It was a photo finish, with Manchester taking it by a tires' width. Both would advance to the main; DiFrancesco and Hedden headed to the last-chance qualifier. The second semi saw the pole go to Kerr, with Faria in two, Castro in three, and Yarrow and Schwartz on the outside. It was gate and The Jack Milne Cup will remain in Mike Faria's pos58ssion for at leost another yeor after his top performance at Califomia's race to Faria in the qUick four-Iapper, and Yarrow Casto Meso SpeedW'ay. would be going with him to the main. Kerr and Schwartz headed to the LCQ. year to try to stand atop the podium. Fisher was third, with The LCQ was short and sweet. Schwartz wasn't going to be Yarrow and Schwartz rounding out the field. CN left out of the Milne Cup main. Manchester had first choice of starting position, and he took COSTA MESA SPEEDWAY COSTA MESA, CAUFORNIA the pole. Faria loaded into two, with Fisher in three, and Yarrow RlSULT5: MAY 14, 2005 and Schwartz on the outside. When the tapes came up, Faria SCft.: I. Mike Faria Oaw); 2. Chris Manchester Oaw); 3. Ryan Fisller Oaw);

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