Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128400
Oregon Motocross
Portland International Raceway
26 Rounds Later,
It's Over
By
JUSTIN WHARTON
PORTLAND, OR, SEPT. 29
I
has been a good year at Portland International Raceway. as
the last race of September marked the Raceway's last race
of the year. And there are sure to be many more good ones to
come next year.
Arguably the best race of the night was before the 50ce
races. Every week, the SOcc parents run after their kids down
the start chute and then stand by the finish-line corner to cheer
t
on their kids. This time, the promoters ran a "SOcc Parents"
race: They placed 40 bucks under a dirt clod on the start
straight and had the parents race for it. When the gate
dropped, camage ensued. After the whole group ran post the
money. Andrew Nessels' dad, Tim, charged his way through
everyone and took the cash!
After watching their parents pretty much make fools out of
themselves (more than one parent ended up "crashing"), the
combined 50cc (4-6) and 50cc (7-8) classes went on to contest
their race. Conner Mitchell ended up being the man of the
night, winning both motos of the 50cc (7-8) class. Nessel (2-2)
garnered second overall, followed by Ryder Waite (3-3),
Warren Higgins (5-4) and Cody Herzog (4-5). Winning the
50cc (4-6) class was Coleman Stegmeir (I-I), followed by Ryan
Martin (2-2), Taber Waite (3-3), Austin Black (5-4) and
Christian Ross (4-5).
After riding the entire PIR series in the ascc Intermediate
class, Zach johnson ended up being justlWo points shy of taking
the high-point award. With no points being awarded for the last
round, johnson showed up with a brand-new, dual-exhaust
outfitter CRF2 SO. You would have never guessed he just got the
larger machine a week before, as he waxed the competition in
the 12Scc junior class and took third in the Before The Hill
class. Finishing second to johnson in the I25cc junior class was
Steven jacobs (4-2), followed by Andy Richards (3-3), Broc
Barnes (2-6) and Chris Kolde (7-4)y. Winning the Before The
Hill class was Mitchell Rask (I-I), with Tyler Riehl (2-2), Johnson
(3-3), Richards (5-4) and jacobs (6-5) in tow.
As the series finally wound down, everyone got their yearend high-point awards. There were many points battles going
on all at once, and many of the victories weren't decided until
the very last round, going down wire to wire. There was only
one double-class winner this year, and that was Andrew Nessel,
in the 50cc (7-8) and 65cc (6-8) classes.
So with the banners taken down, the shops closed up, and
racers all going home, it's the end of the year for PIR. Now we
just have to wait until next year, and wait to see if the rumors of
some spectacular changes to the venue could be true
RESULTS
50 (4-6): I. Cok!man Stegmeir (KTM); 2.. Ryan Martin (Cob); 3. Taber Waite
(Pol); 4. Austin Black (Cob); S. Christian Ross (KTM). 50 (7-8): I. Conner
Mitchell (Cob); 2. Andrew Nessel (Cob); 3. Ryder Waite (Pol); 4. Warren Higgins
(Cob); 5. Cody Herzog (Cob). 65 (5-8): I. Conner Mitchell (KTM); 2. Andrew
Nessel (KTM); 3. Cody Herzog (KTM). 65 (9.11): I. J.D. Baker (KTM); 2. Mason
Wharton (KTM); 3. Nick Mancuso (Kaw); 4. Forest Jackson (!