Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Fall MX Classic AMA Eastern Thundercross Championship Series Round 3: TMT Motocross Park Brown Strikes Like Lightning at TMT Thundercross By GARY CRIDER MONTEAGLE, TN, SEPT. 17-18 Thirty-two-year-old Mike Brown of Gray, I Tennessee, set a blistering pace and left behind a field of much younger riders in both the 250F and 4S0F Pro-Am contests at TMT MX Park, site of round three of the AMA East- Mike Brown (3) won both 4S0F ProAm motos, ahead of Jacob Saylor (198), at round three of theAMA Eastem Thundercross Championship Series at TMT MX Park. ern Thundercross Championship Series. The series, popularly known as the "Four-Stroke Nationals," shared the bill with TMT's fourth annual Fall MX Classic event, which offered a full slate of Amateur classes each day. Riders representing IS states and Canada were on hand to compete. Between matos, announcers Erv Braun and Gary Avans quizzed the crowd with motocross trivia questions. Persons who were first with correct answers received gift certificates from Casde Powersports. The 2S0cc Four-Stroke class ran on Saturday and, due to Friday's rain, first-moto conditions were sloppy. Brown was not troubled by the wet conditions, however, and he walked away with both moto wins aboard his jim's Motorcycle Sales/Michelin/Thorbacked Honda. Maryland's Steven Stella finished 4-3 aboard his Kawasaki to claim the runner-up honors in a points tie ahead of North Carolina's Broc Tickle, who finished 2-S on a Honda. Canadian Kyle Keast was fourth, and Levi Kilbarger of Ohio rounded out the top five via his 11-2 finishes. Current Loretta Lynn's 2S0cc B champion jase Lewis had high hopes for the day. but engine failure in the first moto landed him in the DNF column. Track and weather conditions were nearperfect when the big 450cc guns were brought out on Sunday. Kentucky's jacob Saylor started things off with a bang as he leaped to the front at the start of moto one aboard his Freewheeling Honda/Pro Circuit/Dunlopbacked machine. Brown, meanwhile, had Over the Hill Gang National Race Hollister Hills MX Track Roschke Rocked, Wentz Went For It By CHRIS CUMBO HOlliSTER, CA, SEPT. 17·18 ome 200 motocross racers from four chapters of California's Over The Hill Gang, plus 60 SUPPOI1: ride", conve'ged on Hollister's hills. After Friday's open practice, no rider was more determined than Over 38 Novice jim Wentz. Wentz went wire to wire in moto one, with Sean Sinnott keeping close. In moto two, Mark Stadler came out of the gate like a comet. jeff Grandstaff latched on, along with Wentz. They both got around Stadler and then switched places. Sinnott joined in but fell. "I want to be in the top five," Wentz said on day two. "I'm worried about Chris King, Mark Davies and johnny Farr." Meanwhile, Wentz's kids were bouncing up and down in excitement, informing their dad that he had to jump and go faster. Good advice. Jeff Grandstaff came out swinging, followed by Farr and then King. Early on, Farr hooked up through the trees and moved into first, but King won moto three. "I'm not ready yet for the Intermediates - another month," Wentz said with the race director looking on. S 64 oaOBER 26,2005 • CYCLE NEWS gotten under way in sixth spot. At the end of lap two. he was in second. Brown steadily chipped away at Saylor's lead, and halfway through the 20-minute moto Brown took over the lead and held on for the win, over Saylor. A considerable distance behind the lead duo, Tickle finished third. Honda of Houston/ FMF/Shift-backed Lewis gained several positions to finish fourth. Brown led moto two from start to finish, netting a perfect score and thrilling the crowd with his speed. (Brown's lap times were several seconds under the two-minute barrier.) Saylor was again second, while Tickle mounted a charge from fifth spot to again finish third, ahead of Lewis. Alabama's Clark Stiles - who, at 29 years of age, was the second-oldest rider in the class - placed fifth. The Serious RacewearfTriangle Cycles-backed Tickle is currently the series leader in both classes, just three points ahead of Saylor in the 4SOcc division. A standout among the weekend's Amateur support riders was Champion Cycles' Brent jernigan, who won I I of the 12 motos he entered, taking all the gold in his respective 6Scc and 85cc classes. Similarly, Indiana's Wayne Coffman rode both days and won every mota in the 12Scc and 250cc C contests. Adam Britt was only on hand for Sunday's program, but he made a good impression via his wins in the tough 125cc Band 125cc Schoolboy divisions. eN TMT MOTOCROSS PARK MONTlAGUi, TENNESHE RESULTS: SEPTEM8ER 17-18, (ROUND 3 Of 7) 2005 Saturday 50 (4-6), I. J"kson Tumer (Cob). 50 (7-8), I. DoMy Brown (KTM); 2. Payton Reid Cooper (KTM); 3. MaJachi Peppers (KTM). 65 (1-9): I. Donny Brown (KTM): 2. Harrison West (Kaw); 3. Payton Reid Cooper (Kaw); 4. Trevor Tate (Kaw). 65 (10-11): I. BrentJernigan (KTM); 2. Shane McElrath (KTM). 65 MOD: I. Shane McElrath (KTM): 2. Donny Brown (KTM). 85 (1411): I. Brent Jernigan (KTM); 2. Shane McEI,.ath (KTM); 3. Matthew Turner (KTM). 85 (9.U): I. Brent Jernigan (KTM); 2. Chase Lee (Yam): 3. Matthew Tumer (KTM); 1. DiKoo Atkins (Han); S. Cole M

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