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Yamaha DEaler Series
Round I: Glen Helen Raceway Park
Addicted to MX
By JOHN BETHEA
SAN BERNARDINO, CA, MAY 1S
ven the seasoned officials at Glen Helen Raceway Park were
E
put to the test accommodating more than 750 riders and tons
of classes at the opening round of the 13th annual Yamaha Dealer
Series, which has been dominated since the beginning by John
Burr Cycles of Fontana
Sean O'Connor has been a longtime top performer for the
JBC group. and a multiple-class champion several times in the
past few seasons, and he kicked off this year's campaign with two
more race wins, apparently picking up where he left off in 2004.
He is, in fact, just coming back to full strength after laying off all
winter and into the spring after sustaining a severely broken arm
late last fall. He swept the Four-Stroke Expert class and then
claimed the 250cc Expert win with a 1-2 punch, losing the second
mota to his longtime teammate Terry Fowler.
"You know, about 10 or 12 years ago, I told myself that if I
was still racing like Rex Staten and Ron Turner [who raced into
their 40s], then just take a gun and shoot me," said Fowler,
plopped on his Yamaha in staging before going out to also win the
Vet Expert class; then, shaking his head - as he has come out of
retirement to race this series just one more time - he added,
"Well, now I'm probably older than they were then, and here I
am... It's like an addiction."
Comebacks aren't just for older racers. Jarred Browne, riding for
West Coast Motorsports, experienced a comeback of his own when
he crashed at the very start of the first l25cc Intermediate moto.
"It was hectic going into that first turn," said "Jet" of the righthander designed by MXJ':s Jody Weisel. '" swung wide, hoping to
make up some time, and it was a little soft, and I stuffed the front
wheel and fell."
His Suzuki finally fined after a few attempts. but he was now near
the back of the pack and time to catch up was limited, with laps
reduced due to the huge tumout. Incredibly. he rode his heart out
and staged a coup, pounding out a third in the field of 38 starters.
Jet then came back and won the second moto, besting Honda
PHOTO BY JOHN BETHEA
jockey Joshua La Fountaine and Kawasaki jockey Tyler Keefe. who
had beaten him in moto one.
Browne had an easier time in the 2S0cc Intermediate class,
sweeping both races, with Montclair Yamaha's Jeff Loop taking runnerup. (Loop won the Four-Stroke Intermediate class, aboard a Honda)
Another rider feeling the frustrations of being slightly out of
shape was Utah's Devin Sullivan,
"I haven't been able to practice lately, and my arms are weak,"
he said after a series of disappointments. While battling with
eventuaJ winner Gerritt Ordelman in the first I25cc Expert moto.
in a terrific dice for the point position, Sullivan had just taken the
lead when he hit the marbles out of the Talladega sweeper and
fell. When he crashed again in the 250cc Expert contest while
tracking down O'Connor, his hopes were dashed. He had to
settle for second overall in both classes.
CN
Devin Sullivan (8D) leads Sean O'Cannor (212)
and Terry Fowler (2) in 2SDcc Expert action at the
Yamaha Dealer Series opener.
INT; I. Jarred Browne (Su.); 2. Jeff loop (Hon): 3. Joth", La Fountzine (Hon): 4.
Shawn T.yior (Hon); S. Hrl Szmuelt (Suz). 250 EX; I. Sean O'C"""", (Hon): 2.
GLIN HELIN RACEWAY PARK
SAN BERNARDINO, CAUFORNIA
RESULTS: MAy 1 S, 200S (ROUND 1)
50 SHAFT: I. Braxton Taylor (Yam); 2. Otis Chandler (Yam); 3. Chase Whitton
(Yam). 50 STK (4.-6): I. Rookie White (Cob); 2. Mitchell Epstein (Lem); 3. Jarred
Flowen (Cob); 4. Sean Cantrell (KTM): S. Chaz Vosquez (Cob). SO MOD (4-6); I.
Rookie White (Cob); 2. Mitchell Epstein (KTM); 3. Jerred Rowers (Cob); 4. Alec
Mellick (Cob); 5. Sean Cantrell (KTM). 50 STK (7.8): I. Mike Victorian (Cob); 2.
Blake Green (Cob); 3. Punky Jones (KTM); 4. Skyler Seifert (Cob); 5. John Cabrera
(KTM). 50 HOD (7-8): I. Blake Green (Cob); 2. Brandon Outcault (KTM); 3. Mike
Victorian (Cob); 4. Branden Keeler (KTM); 5. Octavian Martinez (KTM). XASO: I.
Curt Loyless (Hon); 2. Noah Willet (Hon); 3. Conner Whitton (Hon); 4. Max Root
(Hon). 65 BEG: I. Lance Rioux (SU'l); 2. Travis Console (Kaw); 3. Jharynd Cecil
(Kaw); 4. Zane O'Brien (Ka.w); 5. Curt Loyless (Suz.). 65 (4~8): I. Mike Victorian
(KTM); 2. Branden Outcault (KTM); 3. Chaisson Cozzens (KTM); 4. Punky Jones
(KTH): S. Goge Farner (KTH). 6S (9,11); I. J.ke Gogne (KTM): 2. Joey s."''ID'
(KTH); 3. Joseph Reynolds (KTM); 4. Dillan Epstein (Suz); 5. J.D. Elliot (5uz). 85
BEG: I. David Okon (Yam); 2. Jake Mitler (Kaw); 3. Jacob Partridge (Yam); 4. Brae:
Shoemaker (Suz): 5. Michael Mofhia. (Yam). 85 (4-11): I. Gabe Adame (Hon); 2.
Shone
(Suz); 3. J"'"Ph Reynold, (KTH); 4. Gorrett Eckmon (502): S. AJ. L.me,
(Hon). 85 (12·1]): I. Jake Canada (Yam); 2. Michael Leib (Kaw); J. Steven Tokarski
(Kaw); 4. Kyle Engle (Suz); 5. Cody Sankey (Yam). 85 (14~16): I. Travis Baker
(Yam); 2. Marcus Carritlo (Kaw); 3. Michael Hernandez (Suz); 4. Christian Gullett
(Yam); 5. Robbie Salinas (Yam). 85 51 MINI: I. Parker Eckman (Hon): 2. Jake
c.n.d. (y",,): 3. Hkhoel L..., (Kow); 4. Steven T"""'10 (Kow); S. Kyle Engle (Suz).
12S BEG 0·1: I. Robert Dixon (Hon); 2. Derec.k Maher (Hon): 3. Josh Gilben
(Kaw); 4. Eric: Rizzo (Yam); 5. Sean Heinrich (Hoo). 115 BEG D~2: I. Sean Nash
(Yom): L Mylet l.ujon (y",,): 3. Crinen McSNne (Yom): 4. lOmmy _
(Kow): S.
Kyle YilITIeJl (Yam). 125 NOV 0-1: I. Preston Titford (Yam); 2. Cesar Popinhak
""'t
(Yom): 3."""" Fox; 4. Nkldkmey (y",,): S.And<.wYomeI (y",,). 125 NOV 0-2;
I. Bruce Rutherlonl (y",,); L Cody TMof (Suz): 3. Kru. Grilli'" (Hon); 4. Donn;e
Kezmey (Suz); S. Dzlton Bzi!I;e (Hon). 12S INT; l. JMred Browne (Suz); 2. lYler
Keefe (!Caw); 3. Joth", La Foun"';ne (Hon); 4. Hrl s.muelt (Suz); S. May Tzytor
(Yam). 125 EX: I. GerTitt Ordelman (Hon): 2. Devin Sullivan (Hon): J. Cody
Knzuts (y",,); 4. Jzred Hi"", (y",,): S. Brian M