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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128604
AMA/Checkered Flag National Arenacross Series Rounds 5-7: Exposition Arena On Saturday, Huffman once again got the SRO crowd worked into a frenzy with his high-flying antics, and would he swept the Professional qualifying. Storm and Leach again picked up the second-place laurels in the 125 and 250cc qualifiers, respectiveIy. Storm got out of the chute fastest to lead the 125cc Pro final, but less than half a lap later Huffman had nabbed the lead when Storm bobbled in the whoops. Huffman darted past the Honda rider, but Storm, also known for his jumping abilities, stayed close to Huffman by matching all of Huffman's airborne maneuvers. Nevertheless, Huffman posted his third consecutive Pro-class win. Burns was third. Wallace's second win of the weekend came in the 125cc B final with a wire-to-wire performance, although Bv (Above) Ryan Huffman (75) soared to five Pro main-event wins, topping the 125cc and 250cc Pro finals on Friday and Saturday and also winning Sunday's 250cc Pro CLAV LIGHT PRINEVILLE, OR, FEB. 18·20 n 1999, Ryan Huffman had a season that he himself refers to as a "nightmare, n but in the past few weeks the Kawasaki jockey from Roseburg, Oregon, has shredded the competition. Huffman's latest rampage came inside the Crook County Fairgrounds' Exposition Arena, where he dominated three rounds of the AMA/Checkered Flag National Arenacross Series. In front of capacity crowds - the largest being Saturday's record 2200 spectators - the former Suzuki and Honda factory support rider put on a stellar display as he swept the five professional main events during three consecutive days of racing. This appears to have placed Huffman, who suffered four injuries in 1999 (his worst being a serious back injury), back on track. Huffman's Friday and Saturday wins came under tough pressure as Honda-mounted Mike Storm and Yamaha rider Ryan Leach applied the heat to Huffman in the 125cc and 250cc Pro finals, in which Huffman netted S1800 for his efforts after Sunday's 250cc Pro win ahead of Gary Terlecki, as well as a Jump-Off win. On Friday, Huffman, aboard the Kawasaki Motorsports of Canada/ Shoei/Answer/Hillsboro Motorcycles/Washougal MX Park-backed Kawasakis, won both Professionalclass qualifiers to take choice picks on the starting gate. Huffman took the holeshot in the 125cc final and went on to win by a four-second margin over Storm and Chico, California's Darren Burns. Huffman's 250cc Pro win, though, would come after initial challenges 34 MARCH 15, 2000' eye • class, at rounds five, six and seven of the AMAICheckered Flag National Arenacross Series. (Right) Rhett Johnson (57) swept the 60cc class on each of the three consecu1ive evenings of racing at the Exposition Arena in Prineville, Oregon. from arena cross phenom Leach, arguably the winningest indoor rider in the Northwest. Huffman held Leach at bay, while Burns finished third, ahead of Terlecki and local rider Nev Laborde. While Huffman was clearly the crowd favorite, several amateur riders logged impressive victories. With an overload of 80, 125 and 250cc Cclass contestants, qualifiers were run to trim the fields to 12 riders for their respective finals. Brandon Sheffel won the 80cc contest, c.J Baxter was tops in the 125cc class, and Allen Tompkins won the 250cc class. In the competitive B classes, comprised of Junior and Intermediate riders, Will Wallace overcame a dismal start in the 125cc B final to post his first win of the weekend ahead of Brody Baxter, who pressured him all weekend, while Yamaha rider Travis Cenega netted third. Baxter came back strong in the 250cc B final, holding off challenges from Yamahamounted riders Dave Cheney and Jeremy Kendall for his win. e n e vv s Huffman capped off his incredible weekend by leading from start to finish, ahead of Terlecki. The Suzuki rider applied pressure on Huffman early in the final, but when the Silverton, Oregon, rider came up short on the massive triple jump, Huffman opened up a comfortable lead and polished off his five-for-five sweep. Wallace was looking to take the 125cc B contest and place himself in the small circle of three-day winners, but after tangling with Baxter on the opening lap of Sunday's final, Wells who was Saturday's 125cc C winner took the win, this time in the nexthighest classification. While both Baxter and Wallace quickly remounted, Wells maintained a comfortable lead over Huerta and Light to post the victory. KX riders Huerta and Light netted second and third, ahead of Baxter, Beebe and Wallace. Scott Allen, who was in contention for the 250cc C crown after finishing third on Friday and first on Saturday, got the jump on the field in Sunday's 250cc C final, but he found himself on the ground after tangling with Fred Gillison, who went on to victory, ahead of Tompkins and Jacob McCart. eN Friday P/W: I. Mitchell Newton; 2. Brandon Jasa; 3. Dyilln Slone. 60; I. Rhett Johnson (Kaw); 2. B.J. Hart (Kaw); Baxter stayed within striking distance. Sean Light finished third, ahead of Jason Beebe and Josh Huerta. Baxter bounced back to dominate the 250cc B final. Cheney loomed in Baxter's shadow for much of the final, but after a hard bump from Baxter, Cheney backed off the throttle and was content with second, ahead of Kendall and Bill Kinney. Jeremy Wells, Jonathan McGillivray and Daniel Harris posted wins in the 125cc C qualifiers, while the crowd favorite, Ashley Cheney, topped the LCQ. In the final, c.J. Baxter had a good thing going up front until he bailed off. Wells took command, leading Harris, Andy Holmes, Dustin Kendall and McGillivray to the finish in the 12-rider final. An overnight snowstorm blanketed the Central Oregon desert, and many out-of-state Professional riders bolted for drier climates, although a slim field did stick around to challenge the previously unbeaten Huffman in the lone Pro main of the evening, the 250cc Pro final. 3. Bradley Hillman (KTM). 80: 1. Brandon Shefrel (Hon); 2. Eric Turner (Yam); 3. Colton WlIibel (Hon). 125 C: 1. c.J. Baxter (Suz); 2. Jason Beebe (Hon); 3. Nathan Barton (Hon). 125 B: I. Will Wallace (Kaw); 2. Brody Bllxter (Suz); 3. Travis Cenega (Yam). 125 PRO: I. Ryan Huffman (Kaw); 2. Mike Storm (Hon); 3. Darren Bums (Yam). 250 C: 1. Allen Tompkins (Kaw); 2. Robert Knight (Vam); 3. Scott Allen (Hon). 250 B; I. Brody Baxter (Suz); 2. Dave Cheney (Vam); 3. Jeremy Kendall (Vam). 250 PRO: I. Ryan Huffman (Kaw); 2. Ryan Lellch (Yam); 3. Darren Bums (Yam). JUMP·OFF: 1. Darren Bums (Yam). Saturday P/W: 1. Mitchell Newton: 2. Trevor Ivey; 3. Jeremy Steward. 60: I. Rhen Johnson (Kaw): 2. Dustin Steward (KTM); 3. James Barrett (KTM). 80: J. Eric Turner (Yam); 2. Andy Holmes (Hon): 3. Brandon Sheffel (Hon). 125 C: L Jeremy Wells (Han); 2. Daniel Harris (Kaw); 3. Andy Holm.. (Hen). 125 B: J. Will Wallace (Kaw); 2. Brody Baxter (Suz); 3. Sean Light ·(Kaw). 125 PRO: 1. Ryan Huffman (Kaw); 2. Mike Storm (Han); 3. Darren Bums (Yam). 250 c: 1. Scott Allen (Han); 2. Fred Gillison (Suz); 3. Matt Johnson (Yam). 250 B: J. Brody Baxter (SUI): 2. Dave Cheney (Yam); 3. Jeremy Kendall (Vam). 250 PRO: 1. Ryan Huffman (Kaw); 2. Darren Bums (Vom); 3. Gary Terlecki (Su,). JUMP·OFF; 1. Mike Storm (Hon). Sunday PfW: 1. Derek Garland (Yam). 60: 1. Rhett Johnson (Kaw); 2. Blake Anglen (KTM); 3. James Barrett (KTM). 80: 1. Brandon Sheffel (Han); 2. Colton Waibel (Han); 3. Ben Anglen (Suz). 125 C: 1. c.J. Baxter (SUI); 2. Trevor Derry (Yam); 3. Dustin Kendall (Han). 125 B: I. Jeremy Wells (Han): 2. Josh Huerta (Kaw); 3. Sean Light (Kaw). 250 C: I. Fred Gillison (SUI); 2. Allen Tompkins (Kow); 3. Jacob McCart (Hon). 250 B: 1. Brody Baxter (Suz); 2. Jeremy Kendall (Yam); 3. Sean Light (Kaw). 250 PRO: 1. Ryan Huffman (Kaw); 2. Gary Terlecki (Suz); 3. Nev Laborde (Kaw). JUMP·OFF; I. Ryan Huffman (Kaw).