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30th Annual NMA Ponca City Grand National Ch ico Izzi, Blake Wharton and jimmy Albertson reinforced the notion that they are destined for greatness after strong performances at the 30th annual NMA Ponca City Grand National Championships, held at jack Blevins Motocross Park in Ponca City, Oklahoma, while Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto and Suzukimounted Michael laPaglia moved a step closer to closing out illustrious Amateur careers with brilliant rides of their own. When all was said and done, it was Izzi and Albertson who claimed the most Ponca City GNC titles with a total of four each. The Suzuki/PR2/Dunlop/Maxima! Fox Shocks-sponsored Izzi, who will be moving up to a big bike after Ponca City, left his mark by going undefeated through all 10 of his motos, en route to titles in the 8Scc Stock (14-16), 8Scc Modified (14-16), 8Scc Open Modified and Super Mini (0-16) divisions. Wharton, also a Team Suzuki rider, claimed two titles with wins in the very competitive 8Scc Stock (12-13) and 8Scc Modified (12-13) divisions, while the Yamaha-mounted Albertson parlayed good starts into titles in the 12Scc Stock Intermediate, 2S0cc Four-Stroke Non-Pro, 12Scc Modified Intermediate and 4SOcc Non-Pro classes. Perhaps Izzi's most impressive win was his final one of the week, in the Super Mini (0-16) final, where he locked horns with the likes of Kawasaki's Kyle N Nick Paluzzi and Michael Leib. Wharton claimed the first of his two titles in the class with a strong win in the final. At the start, Rife was the qUickest off the line and led the pack through turn one, but Wharton moved around the Honda rider on the outside in turn three and never looked back. Rife suffered problems later in the lap, allowing Leib to move into second, while Tomac was stuck in the pack and finished the first lap in eighth. Leib pushed Wharton for the distance and was less than a second behind at the finish, while Tomac turned in an inspired ride, eventually working his way up into fourth, behind Paluzzi. Villopoto, who will turn Pro after the Loretta Lynn's Amateur Motocross Nationals, which runs the week after the Ponca City event, claimed three titles out of the four classes he entered, while his closest Ponca City rival, laPaglia (who was entered in the same four classes), finished out the week with one title. laPaglia, of Murrieta, California, seemed to be more comfortable in the bigger classes, winning his title in the 250cc Modified Pro division. On the other hand, Villopoto got much better starts on the smaller bikes and swept all four 125cc motos en route to titles in the 125cc Modified Pro and 12Scc Stock Pro divisions. The Washington native then went 2-1 to claim the 250cc Stock Pro-class title, as well. Izzi Does It Cunningham, in addition to Wharton and Honda's Trent Pugmire. Izzi swept underneath Wharton on the first lap of the race to take the lead and then fended off advances by both Cunningham and Pugmire before pulling away to a comfortable win. That win gave Izzi his fourth title of the week and Suzuki its 13th. "This is the first time I have ever gone undefeated at a race like this," Izzi said. "I'm happy with four championships - I worked really hard for it. This track is really rough, and I like rough tracks. I've trained really hard for this, and it feels good, but I want to be humble about it, because there is always someone out there that can beat you." The 85cc Stock (12-13) division was another extremely competitive division and featured a lineup of heavyweights, including Wharton, Shawn Rife, Eli Tomac, 40 "The 450 is definitely my bike of choice," LaPaglia said of his 250cc Modified win, after losing to Villopoto in three earlier races. "It feels good to get this losing streak off my back. I beat some heavy players in that last moto, and that's a good way to end the week." In the smaller classes, it was 6-year-old Rookie White of Winchester, California, who claimed one of the first titles of the week, taking the Pee Wee 50cc Stock (0-6) Championship, which didn't require a runoff, with 2-1 moto scores. White finished behind fellow Cobra pilot Mark Worth of Queen Creek, Arizona, in the opening moto on Tuesday but came back to claim the win and the title in Thursday's final moto. Worth ended up third overall after finishing sixth in the second moto, while another Cobra rider, jyire Mitchell, grabbed the runner-up position with a 4-3 finish. AUGUST 17,2005 • CYCLE NEWS NIco lui won all 10 at the motos he competed In and came awrzy with th.... cia•• champlon.hip•• Thousands converge in Ponca City for the 30th annual GNC STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHAN MOORE