CMC Trans-Cal National SEriEs South
Round 2: Cahuilla MX Park
PHOTO BY JOHN BElHEA
They Couldn't Get Into Baker's Grill
Intermediate events, either, as Hunter Hewitt propelled his
BY JOHN BETHEA
MURRIETA, CA, SEPT. 18
or four motos of the 24th annual CMC RaceteclvMTA West
Trans-Cal MX Series' second south round, Michael Lelb and
Travis Baker rode like they were connected by a short tether, an
Invisible bungee cord that slung them back and fourth In first and
F
second place. Neither seemed to have an advantage. as they
exchanged the lead In mota after mota. But when the checkered
flag flew and the results went up, Temecula, California's Baker
had maneuvered to the overall wins In their two SOcc matches,
in the Supermini and SOcc (14-16) classes.
It was the CMC's first-ever race at Cahuilla MX Park, and
Baker's knowledge of the track may have been the deciding factor.
Leib, who now lives in Men~ee, CaJ~oml .. is only a recent transfer
to the area, having spent most of his 14 years in Lake Arrowhead.
Familiarity wasn't an advantage for the two Pro-class winners.
Kevin Rookstool, riding for his first time with the CMC as a
professional, went away the big-cash winner when he bounced
back from a step-off while running second in the 20-minute
12Scc Pro mota and eventually took the lead and, ultimately, the
win when Kawasaki jockey Tyler Keefe bobbled and gave the
victory away. Rookstool, who still has his mail delivered to
Klamath Falls, Oregon, but now lives In the Southland, has only
been here a few months. Meanwhile, the other Pro winner, even
though he's a veteran of more than a decade in purse chases, has
spent much of his last few summers up north: Craig Decker, who
aced out Rookstool for the 2S0cc victory, had only recently
returned from Canada, where he finished in the top fIVe of that
country's National Championships.
Hometrack advantage could not be claimed in the huge 125cc
Kawasaki to the first-mota win and backed that up with a
second-moto runner-up for the overall victory. Hewitt was
visiting from Pilot Point, Texas.
The top Junior of the meeting was Kawasaki-mounted Erik
Une, who won the all-important second mota In the 250 (Hon); 2. Joke Gaane (KTM); l.
Christopher Zobel (Han); ... Cody Sankey (Yam); 5. Dillon Kuntz (Kaw). 80
(14-16): I. T........ Baker (Yam); 2. Mkhael L.e;b (!(aw); l. Scott Champion (Yam);'.
jonathan Hornbeck (5oz); S. Conn<>< ""'hall (Kaw).
OPEN: I. Tr.M> Ilakeo(Yam); 2. Jonathan Hornbeck (Suz); 1. Everett Holcomb (Han); ... Jake Gagne
(KTM); S. Chrn Canillo (!(aw). 80 S/MINI: I. Tr.M> Baker (Yam); 2. Mkhael L.e;b
(!(aw); l. jonathan Hornbeck (Suz); •. Cody Sankey (Yam); S. Connor Penh:oll (!(aw).
125 BEG: I. Corey De Francesco (Yam); 2. Robbie Salinas (Yam): 1. Melka
Comefius (Hon);'. Matthew Allen (Yam); S. Jmmy Roy (!(aw). 115 IR: I. ~
La Founame (Han); 2. Erik Uno (!(aw); 3. Jack Barnbran< (Han); •. Jok. Nannare
(Han); S. Colfin Yeceshenk. (Han). 115 OPEN: I. Eddie Woolmono (Han). 125
IN'" I. Hu..... Hew;" (Kaw); 2. Freddy Sand>ez (Han); l. Aumn Eire! (Han); •.
Joey Bm. (Yam); S. Dane jackson (Han). 125 PRO: I. KM1 Rookstool (lem); 2.
lYl... Keel. (Kaw); 3. Cody Kn''''' (Yam); •. Bradley Graham (!(aw); S. Ramon
Guzmon (Kaw). 250 BEG: I. Anthony Guerrero (Han); 2. Mk..... Neace (Han); 3.
ea.-
eo
Eddie Mulder's West Coast Vintage Dirt Track Series
Round 6; Kern County Fairgrounds
Mees:·~Burns Up
TravIs Baker _s c_kin' at Cahuilla, mixing up
a batch of wins at round two of the CMC TransCal NatI_1 Serles South - the first round ever
held at the venue.
........ WrigItt (Yam); •. J'-' Sumne", (Hon); S. Daniel Duro (Han). 1501R: I. Erik
Uno (!(aw); 2. jake Nannon. (Hon); l. Ryan Broguien> (Hon); •. Tr.M> Robe<-.on
(Hon); S. JU>tln Denn. (Hon). 150 INT: I. Joey Bitt. (Yam); 2. M"" SamueO (Suz);
1. Chad Anderson (Hon); ... Austin Eitel (Han); 5. Daniel HamiltOfl (Han). 250
PRO: I. c,.;g Dec... (Yam); 2. KM1 Rookstool (lom); 3. """'ley Gnhom (!(aw);
4. Tyler Keefe (Kaw); S. Chae Evans (Yam). 500 AM: I. Chuck Penny (Yam).
4-STlIK: I. Marl< Samuek (S",,); 2. Colton Udall (Yam); 3. Cole McCleary (Hon).
WMN: I. Toylor Mawneo- (Hon); 2. Meika Cornel"" (Hon); 3.les'ka
(Yam);
•. Erika C........... (Suz); S. Lao'" Spe;ght (ICaw). SCHBY: I. l\u$tin EOel (Hon); 2.
J..-ed Pomidge (Han); 3. Md1aeI H~I (Kaw); •. Hun"" Hewitt (Kaw); 5. C.....
Popinhok (Yam). 8TH (11·24); I. Done jackson (Han); 2. Eddie Wool...... (Hon);
3. Spencer Wernli (Han);'. Jake Poole (Han); S. Joke 8owenox (Sm). 25+ HST1I:
I. DavId Zah" (Kawl; 2. jon Zah" (Kaw); l. Merle H""""" (!(aw). VET BEG: I.
Scott Milei' (Han); 2. Donie! Gall.., (Honl; l. Shown Kelly (!(aw). VET IR: I. J""'"
Ketcham (Hon). VET HSTR: I. Merie Hammer (!(aw); 2. DavId Zah" (Kaw); l.
jon Z2Ivt (!(aw). orr AM: I. Joel H.moa (Yam); 2. Mitton M;ze (Hon); 3. Toby
TokI (Yam); •. Chuck Penny (Yam); S. Rol>enc Broguoen, (Hon). orr HST1I: I. Jon
Zah" (!(aw); 2. Mene Hammer (Kaw); 3. DavId Z2Ivt (Kaw).
""'en
PHOTO BY JAMEY BLUNT
Kern County!
eight, Mees turned his fastest lap of 10.19/100 seconds as he
stretched out his lead over Bonsey. Murray was also under attack
BAKERSFIELD, CA, SEPT. 24
from Jethro Halbert at this point, and Hernandez had joined the fight.
th a lot of effort, hard work, know-how and time investOn lap 12, Jethro Halbert ran third, with Hernandez fourth
ed, Eddie Mulder and Digger Helm brought motorcycle
and Murray back to fifth and trying to hold off Alex Wood. On lap
racing to the Kern County Fair in Bakersfield, California. As Sat15, a mistake by Hemandez would see him finish in 10th; Murray
urday night's featured entertainment in the main grandstands,
regained third. while Wood moved into fifth. At the front, TLD's
capable of holding some 15,000 should they decide to attend, the
Mees was on cruise control, going through lappers as smooth as
t~ck needed to be perfect, thanks to Rick Hollenbeck from
honey, with KLH's IS-year-old Bonsey following in his path.
Tulare Cycle Park. And it was. Some 165 participants made the
At the finish, the order was Mees, Bonsey, Murray, Jethro
night's show one to remember, and the fair has already asked
Halbert. Wood, Howard and Wallace, who had climbed to seventh.
Mulder to return next year.
''Awesome track!" Mees enthused. "Back home, I grew up on
With $10,000 at stake, 25 Pros showed up for the Digger
Helm Pro 600. Heat-race winners Stevie Bonsey, Steve Murray, .. short tracks, but they weren't this small. It was my first time on a
Wood bike, and it was great. It was great to come out west and
jared Mees and Jethro Halbert all staged on the front row for this
20-lap feature. The 2005 AMA Horizon Award winner, Bonsey,
win. It's cool. I tell you what - that Bonsey reminds me of me:
led off the line from the three-row-deep field, only to have three
He's clean, and I take my hat off to him."
riders hit the dirt before one lap was complete: Daniel Brown,
"I wish they would have stayed with the first start," Bonsey
Craig Johnson, and Marshall Lapp were the three involved, with
lamented. "I felt a lot better, but oh well. I'm happy with second.
all but Johnson making the full restart.
I learned a lot from Jared; he's a little bigger than me and didn't
On the second attempt, Bonsey once again shot to the front,
bounce around as much, but he's such a great rider. I'm just
only to have three more riders go down in turn one. This time,
happy with how it turned out."
Sam Halbert, Marshall Lapp and Brown were picking themselves
"The track was pretty slippery, but it was a lot of fun," Murray
up - Brown for the second time.
commented. "I could run a decent pace. but no faster - ~hat was
On the third full restart, Bonsey worked his magic again to
all I had. The bike was good, but [that] was the best I could do."
lead, with Murray in second on the A&A machine, Mees in third
With six rounds down and two to go at Willow Springs on
aboard a Mr. Ed's/Jim Wood-Ron Wood-framed Honda, and
October 22 and 23, the Maxxis Tires $4000 Pro Point fund is a
Jethro Halbert fourth. On the third trip into turn three, Mees
dogfight between Alex Wood and Don Howard, who are tied for first.
went up the inside of both Murray and Bonsey to take over at
and hot Stevie Bonsey is right on their tails, just two points back!
the front. Running in fifth was Joe Hernandez Jr., with Don
KERN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
Howard sixth. Quietly working her way forward from the back
BAKERSFIELD, CAUFORNIA
of the field was Lauren Wallace.
RESULTS: SEPTEMBER 24, 2005 (ROUND 6)
By lap fIVe. Alex Wood was past Sam Halbert for seventh and
trying to find momentum forward on the Ron Wood Yamaha. On lap
YTH so: I. Kevin Alcorn; 2. Kole Hansen; 3. Trevor Larsen. YTH 60: I. Larry
BY JAMEY BLUNT
w:
eN
66
OCTOBER 26, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS
Wearing a helmet cam for Trident Films, Jared
Mees made his trip from HDney arook,
Pennsylvania, worthwhile as he rode to victory
in the $10,000 Digger Helm Pro 6ooc( main
event at round six of Eddie Mulder's West Coast
Vintage Dirt Track Series.
Smith; 2. Andre Oehs; 3. Nathan Howard. YTH 80: I. Jonn Lyles; 2. Andre Ochs;
3. Ross Stuckert. DINO: I. Mike O'Neil; 2. Marsh Runyon. eLSe 250: I. Bruce
Reynolds. eLSe SOO: I. Chris Rudy; 2. Jeff Lessley; 1. Ron Lessley. MORN 250:
I. Jeff Lessley; 2. Bruce Reynolds; 3. Ron Lessley. MORN SOO: I. Ken Thiebaud; 2.
Rod Lake: 1. Keith Tennis. MORN 750: I. Joe Hoogerhyde; 2. Bob Scally; 3. Randy
Douglas. 250 OPEN: 1. Lauren Wallace; 2. Devin Booher: 1. Jeff Lessley. 500
SUP A: I. Joe Steffen; 2. Dan Shaw; 3. Mike O'Neil. SOO SUP B: I. Keith Tennis;
2. Allan Malm; 3. Steve Baker. PRO 600: I. Jared Mees; 2. Stevie Bonsey; 1. Steve
Murray. OPEN AM A: I. Lauren Wallace; 2. Patrick McNamara; 3. Andy Wood.
OPEN AM B: I. Uoyd McGregor; 2. Clyde Adams; 3. Tom Sahli. VET A: I. Craig
Johnson; 2. Ken Thiebaud; 1. Joe Steffen. VET B: I. Matt Rohr; 2. Lloyd
McGregor; 3. Ernie 4'les. SR: I. Bob Scally; 2. Jim Kohls; 1. Jack Alexander. SR
NOV I S/SR: I. Dave Cheney; 2. Mark Stuckert; 3. Roy Burris.
