Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

GFI Fall Ser ies North Round 1: Hollister Hills GP Track 80 BEG 0 -2 : l.M icha el Hales (Yam) ; 2. Ca me ro n Ew in g (Yam ): 3 . Ju st in Pose y (Suz) ; 4 . Bob Kirk (Yam); 5. Cod y Lam bott (Yam) . 80 NO V: 1. Bryer Perry (Hon); 2. Beau Weigand (Suz); 3. Brandon Freeman (Kaw) ; 4. Ja red Mo rriso n (Ya m) ; 5 . Zach Russell (Hon). 80 INT: 1. J oe DeWi tt (Yam) ; 2. Ju stin Woo ds (Ya m) ; 3. Casey Hinson (5 02); 4. A.J . Perez (S uz); 5. (Left) St ev e Mertens sc o red his first Pro overall victory in his first Pro rac e at round one of t he GFI Fa ll Se rie s at the Hollister Hills GP T rack. (Bel ow ) Rusty Holland w o n both 250cc Pro m ot os and the first 12 5 c c Pro m ota, but a nasty fa ll a nd t he resulting ri bcag e Inju ry prevented h i m from finishing the second 125cc Pro m ota. By J IM A ND V A L E RI E E N O S PH OTO S By JIM E N O S HOUJ5TER,CA, 5EPT.3 li ft e r capping off h is Amate ur " c a re e r with a supe rb runner -up finish in th e 125c c B Stock class at Loretta Lynn 's, Steve Mertens entered his first Pro ra ce a nd pr omptly posted a first-overall finish in the 125cc Pro class at the opening round of the GFI Fall Series . Merten s piloted his Pow erh ou s e /FMF / 9 0 9 / A x o - b a cked Yama h a to a 5 -1 score. which was, a mazingly, good e no ugh for the win, as both Ru s t y Ho llan d and Ra n d y Norman , who finis he d first and second respectively in moto o ne , posted disastrously lopsided sco res in moto two . A lthough Nathan Tiearney s nagged runn e r-u p honors via a sol id 3-3 sco re, t h e Ne vad an was in t he dri v e r' s s e at , n e ed in g o nly to p a s s Dennis Sta p leto n in m oto two for a n o ve ra ll win , but Sta ple to n held T ie ar ne y a t ba y th e e nt ire m oto. In fac t, th e two banged bars o n severa l occas ions in a fie rce dogfig ht that lasted a ll th e way to t he last turn . Fo r t he effort, S tap leton was re wa rd ed with t h ird overa ll, one of his be s t overall finishes in some time . More th a n 7 00 racers took to the AMP-prepped tra c k. The series open er also marked the first factory contingency race of the ne w yea r, with Yamaha, Suzu k i and Kawas aki paying out ple nty. In the first 12 5cc Pro moto, Mertens ' longtime Intermedi ate-class rival Nor man was also making his Pro debut, and in a big way. The Yamaha rider s na gged th e holeshot, a he ad of T iearne y , Da nn y Pa ladino , Ho lland and Or egon 's Ty "T ige r" Lacey. Hoi land quickl y d ispla ced Palad ino and T iearney but found th e confident Nor man a challenge . Ho lla nd ke pt th e pressu re on an d ev entually got b y Norm an to take over th e le a d . Meanwhile, Mertens , who had gotten off to a midpack start in th e IS -rid er field , had mad e his way up to Lac e y, in fourth , by m idp oint. Whil e Hol la nd ex te n d e d his lead slightly, Tiearn e y found his wa y up to Norman and a g ood ra ce for s e cond seemed im mi nent. How e ve r, o n t h e wh it e -fl ag la p , Ti e a rn e y ' s S uzu k i too k a n o ff-t rac k excu rsion and scoo ped up a line o f Yamaha b an n e rs - sta k e s an d all - and the excess b ag g a g e s lo w ed h im just enoug h t o lose Nor m a n . At the checkers , Ho lla nd too k th e win, fol lowed by No rm a n , T ie arn e y , La ce y a nd Merte ns . "O nc e I got into the lead , I wanted to put it into re la x m ode, b ut th o s e g uys s te p ped up th e p a c e and kept co m in g , s a id Br e e dl o v e Rac ing / Clawso n Motor s p orts ' Hoi la nd , a ta d s urprise d. In moto two, No rma n once agai n grabbed th e hole s hot. bu t Me rt e n s and Hollan d were righ t beh ind . Nor man made a good , clean m ove in the ensuing le ft -han d swee per , a move t hat almost sent Holl and over the berm yet allowed Mertens to move up righ t o n h is ta il. In fact, Mertens passed Norman o n the first u phill and opened up a littl e c ushion while Norman fought off Ho lla n d . Sta p le t o n hel d down fourth, followed by Craig Tr uglio and Tiearney . O n lap two, Holland made h is way b y No rm a n and was sett ing a fter Mertens wh en di s a ste r s t ruck. Holl a nd ex ited th e whoops a little too hot a nd could n 't nego t ia te th e ens u ing rig ht-hande r a nd e n ded up high-S iding . T he fa ll kept him do wn for s everal minute s , as a handl eba r to th e rib cag e left a na sty ga sh , a nd he wa s unable to finish th e ra ce . Norman inhe rited secon d, but he we nt dow n in a turn just seconds a fte r Holland 's mishap ; wh ile remounting , a no t he r r id er r a n in to No r ma n , k nocki ng h im back down . With th e t op t wo r id er s o u t o f co n te n t ion , Mertens o pened a fa ir -s ized gap on Stapleto n , Tiea rney and Trug lio. The th ree battled until the end. T iearney des perat ely t ried to get around Stap leton , t he tw o bumping in severa l a re a s and neither one bac k ing off. Mertens crossed the finish line with ti m e to spa re . Stapleton held off T iearney for second. Truglio followed , with Palad ino ro u nd in g out th e top five . When the dust sett led, Mertens and Ti earney were tied sco re , with the nod goi ng to Mer te ns via h is better second - mo to fin ish . Af t er getti ng mobbed by his famil y a nd friends , the ta ll, la nky So noma resident was a ll sm iles . "Its awesome," Merte ns re sponded when asked about his first Pro win . "Yo u know, I d idn't know how the ov er a II score was going to pan out; I wa s ju s t glad to be leading . I knew Rusty went down , but I didn 't let up on ce [I was] in the lead because I wanted to show thos e gu y s wh at I had . I want to thank m y tr a ine r , Damon McGrath , for his help in getting to th is lev el. " T iearne y was c ontent with second overall. "I wasn't thi nking about the o verall ," he ins isted . "I wa s jus t concentrating on trying to get by Staple ton , We got tog ethe r a lot o ut there , but it was fun." De nn is S tapleton (8-2) too k thi rd overall. "Me a nd Tiearney bumped a co uple of times out there, but I m an ag ed to hol d him off," he s a id . "I'm stoked to lea ve here with a third. " eN H ollister Hills 6P Track H ollister , Califomia Results: Septe mber 3. 2000 [Round 1l Pee Wee Track 50 Fff: I. Elric Flory (Han) ; 2. Dustin Boedd eker (KTM) ; 3 . Alexand ra Moore (Suz) ; 4 . Alysia Nelson (Yam) . 50 P/W J R: 1. Ju stin Muscu tt (Yam ); 2 . lvo ree Howell (Han ). 50 (4· 6) STK : I. lack Martinez (Cob): 2. Colton Fre dri cks on (Cob ) ; 3. Tim m y Ja nnisse (KTM) ; 4 . Danny Barber (KTM) ; 5. Danie l Hod ges (KTM ). 5 0 ( 4-6) MOD; 1. Landon Cohen (HM). 50 (7 · 8) STK : 1. Zac Cyr (Pol ); 2 . Zac Andrade (KTM) ; 3 . Chris Arag on (Co b ); 4 . Jared Th in ger (Co b) ; 5. Chri s A rro yo (Cob) . SO (0· 8) O PEN ; 1. Zak Fr edri ck son (Co b) ; 2 . Keith Kn ig ht (Co b) ; 3 . G rayson Sw ift ( Cob); 4. Crystal Layt on (KTM) ; 5. Charl ie Moor e (Cob) . Main Track SO (4-6) STK : 1. Jer em y Young (K TM): 2. Zeck Mll rtinez (Co b); 3. Landon Cohen (HM). 50 (7 -8) STK : 1. Zak Fredri ck son (Cob ); 2 . Jos h Greco (Pol) ; 3. Ja rred Holt (HM); 4. l ac Cyr (Pol) ; 5. Crystal Layton (KTM) . 50 OPEN : 1. Austin Howell (Co b ); 2. Gra yson Swift (Cob); 3 . Charlie Moor e (Cob): 4. Keith Knight (Cob) . 6 0 FIT : 1. Cory Bee cher ( KTM) ; 2 . Landon Brook s ( Kaw); 3 . T yler Newman (KTM ) ; 4 . Tyler Boeddeker (KTM ); 5. Dyla n Johns (Yam ). 60 BEG: J. Cody Lambott (KTM); 2 . Keith Knight ( KT M ); 3 . C ry sta l Layton ( K a w); 4 . Cam er on Beaubier (Kew): 5. Jarred Holt (Kaw ). 60 NOV ; 1. Eric Path (KTM); 2. Brand on Reyna ( KTM) ; 3 . Ruben Hern an dez ( Kaw) ; 4 . Ryan Kirk (KTM); 5. Mason Womack (Kaw) . 60 INT: 1. Dustin Enoc hs (KTM) ; 2. Jus tin Enos (KTM ); 3. Nico las Bak er (KTM ); 4. Matt hew Spencer (KTM); S. Bry ce Huffm an (KTM) . 60 OPEN: 1. Dustin En ochs (KTM) ; 2. Nic olas Baker (KTM ); 3 . Bryce Huff m an (KTM); 4 . Ruben Hernandez (Kaw); 5. lack Dupu is (KTM ). 80 F{T: 1. James Smith (Yam ): 2. Brad Mo rrow (Yam) ; 3 . Je sse Beeche r (Yam); 4 . Delan o Carte r (Han) ; 5. Stephen Chenn ing (Suz). 80 BEG 0 ·1 : 1. Dusty Som o g yi ( Yam) ; 2 . Anthony Maniglia (Yam ); 3. Brandon Barth (Kaw ); 4 . Bryan J annisse (Yam ); 5. Shane Stiefel ( Kaw) . cue I e Adam Kowalcyzk (S uz) . 80 EX: I. Charlie Mo rri son (Yam) ; 2. Daniel Sani ( Hon) ; 3 . Er ic Mc Crummen (Y am); 4 . Ni ck D avis (Suz). 80 S/MlNI: 1. Charlie Morr ison (Yam) : 2. Dan iel Sim i ( Ho n); 3 . Er ic McCrummen ( Yam ) ; 4. J oe DeW itt (Yam ); 5. Ca sey Hinson (Suz) . 80 B /W: I. Cha rlie Hartzell (Ho n) ; 2 . Ja cob Jen k ins (Hon) . SCHBY ( 12 · 15) : 1. Bmy Ju revich (Yam ): 2 . Eric Nye (Hon) ; 3 . Aaron Bergantz (Yern) : 4. be Baxte r (Ho n); 5 . Nic k Th iel (Yam) . 125 BEG 0 - 1: 1. Chris Stewart (Yarn): 2. Shane Currier ( Yam) ; 3. Alle n Lorscheider ( Han ); 4 . Michael Fargher (Han): 5 . J ason Spaul di ng (Yam ) . 125 BEG 0 -2: 1. Joe l Ande rson (ve rn): 2. Kaide Garrett (Kaw) ; 3. Trevor Doniak (Han); 4. Chris Hall (Kaw); 5. Wes Doniak (Yam ). 12 S NOV 0 - 1: I. Josh Cox (S uz); 2 . George Sc hneider ( KT M ) ; 3 . John Wea r (Ha n); 4 . Co ry McDaniel (Yam ); 5. Rick Berhor st (Han) . 12 5 NO V 0 · 2: 1. Joey Funad o (K aw); 2. Tyson Enzweil er ( Ho n); 3 . Ni ck Th iel ( Yam) ; 4 . J ame s Sparhewk (Han) ; 5. Sean Naffziger (Hen} . 125 I NT : 1. Er ic Nye (Hon ) ; 2. Bill y Jurevi ch ( Ya m); 3 . Matt M c Cr um m en (Y am ); 4 . Ca lv i n And lovec (Suz); 5. J im my Stewart (Yam) . 125 PRO: 1. Steve Mert ens (Ya m); 2 . Natha n Tleern e y (Suz) ; 3 . Denn is Stapleto n (Han) ; 4. Craig Tru glio (Kaw ); 5. Ty Lacey (Suz). 2 50 BEG 0 · 1: 1. Danny Gran t (vern) : 2 . Nick Howland (Yam); 3 . Philip Busalacc hi (Yam) ; 4 . Scott Will iam s Jr. (Yam) ; 5. Jeremy Brown (Yam ). 250 BEG 0 -2 : 1. Aa ron Hoe by (Yam ); 2. Pat O 'Con nell (Yam); 3. Kri s Santana (Han) ; 4 . Dann y Bergthold (Han) ; 5. Casey CapreJian (Hon ). 250 NO V: 1. Cole Bridenbake r (Kaw) ; 2. Steve Thinge r ( Hon) ; 3 . Don Batley ( Ha n) ; 4 . Dway ne Trialet (Yam) ; 5. Justin Brooks (Han). 250 INT : 1. Jon Replogle (SUl ); 2 . Billy .Jurevlch (Yam ): 3 . Sta n Finney (Suz) ; 4 . Calvin Andlov ec (Suz): 5. Chris Lored o (Yam) . 250 PRO : I. Rusty Holland (Suz) ; 2 . N athan Wood s ( Yam) ; 3. Dan iel Blair ( Han); 4 . Ty Lacey (Hon); 5. Craig Trugl io (Kaw). 500 B EG: 1. Bob Pile green (Ya m); 2 . J oey Hurlb ra (Hon) ; 3. Micke y Langston (Yam ). 500 INT : 1. J ohn Moore (Yam ); 2 . Dan DeNuzzo (Hon). 500 PRO : I. Ne th e n Woods ( Yam); 2 . Rusty Holl and (Suz) ; 3. Ryan Dudek (Yam) . 25 + BEG: 1. Sco tt Willia m s (Yam ); 2. Jere my Brown ( Yam) ; 3. Sean John son (Suz) ; 4 . Je rem y Trujill o (Kaw) ; 5 . Ken Mazzoriel1o (Hon). 25 . NOV: I . Mllrc We ym ss ( Ho n ): 2 . Steve Snyde r (Hon); 3. Steve Th inger (Hon) ; 4 . Manuel Del Campo (Suz) : 5. David Chick (Ka w) . 25+ I NT : I. Jo hn Moo re (Yam) ; 2. Skip Guinn (Kaw); 3. Pat Spark s (Han); 4 . Joe Alford (Han ); 5 . Calvin An dlo vec { Suz }. 2 5. EX: 1. Rusty Holland (Suz); 2. Mike Hodges (Suz); 3. Dann y Barb er (Han) ; 4 . Kevin Wil ke nson (Suz) ; 5. Steve Hlebo (Han) . 30 . BEG : 1. J eff Clark (Ya m) ; 2. Lou is Webb (Hon); 3. Paul Cilluffo (Yam ); 4 . J esse Holt (Hon); 5. Chris Wolff (Yam ). 30. NOV: 1. David Chick (Kaw); 2. Greg Blevins ( Yam); 3. Chri s Kepha rt (Kaw): 4. Tim Pitg (KTM); 5. Meliton Morales (Kaw). 3 0 . INT : 1. Brad Halcomb (Hen): 2. Pal Sparks (Han); 3. John Moore (Yam) ; 4 . Eri c Arn ett (Yam); 5. Sk ip Guinn (Kaw ). 30 . EX: 1. Stan Fin ney (Suz) ; 2 . J ohnn y Souza ( Han); 3. Mi ke Hod ges (Sua): 4. J on l hart (Kaw); 5. Mer le Hamm er (Kaw) . 30 . PRO: 1. Jeff Watts ( Hon) ; 2. T roy Cross (Han); 3. Dann y Paladino (Yam ). 3 5 . NOV: 1. Bru ce Th in ger ( Han) ; 2 . Dou g Ru ssell (Y am) ; 3. L ud D aw so n (Suz ): 4 . Ste v e Rami rez (Kaw) ; 5. Marcus Wood s (Kaw). 35 . INT : 1. J ohn Moore (Yam); 2. Steve Storie (Han); 3 . Jeff Baxt er (Yam) ; 4 . Neal Nelson (Han) . 3 5 + EX: 1. Tro y Cross (Han); 2. Richard Anaye (Yam). 4 0 ... NOV : 1. Chris Kepha rt (Ka w) ; 2. Tim Sm ith ( Yam): 3 . Ron Knorr (Han); 4. Mark Mitzel (Han); 5. Nick Mc Kinnon (Yam) . 40 . INT: I . Ran d y Kersl ake (Ha n ); 2 . Co rey Dougl as (Han); 3. Manuel Del Campo (Suz); 4 . Mik e Newm an (SUl); 5. Jeff Baxte r (Hon) . 40+ EXP: 1. Mich ael Gorda (Han). OTHG WMN : I . Teresa Reed ( Yam ); 2. Ma rika Flory (Yam) ; 3. Robin Maggett i (Yam) . OTHG 30. BEG; I. Greg Greenlaugh (KTM); 2. Da v id Bo oth ( A T K ) ; 3 . Roger Gibso n (Ya m) : 4 . Dwayne Reed (Yam) ; 5. Mll C McMannay (Hbg) . OTHG 30. NOV: I. Jo hn ny Chav ez (Han) ; 2. Bra d Sum me rs ( Kaw); 3 . Rich Dandol o (Ha n ); 4 . Larry Sm ith (Han) ; 5. Mike laGron e (Han) . OTH G 30. tNT ; 1. Ted Pipp in {Kew): 2. Shawn Davis ( Yam): 3 . J eff McN ei l ( Yam) ; 4 . Ric k Berkowsky (Han): 5. Lud Dawson (SUl ). OTHG 30. EX: 1. Carlo Fortino (Yam ); 2. Mike Renner (Han); 3. Jeff Beck er (Han); 4. Rob Belskey (Yam) ; 5. Brett Flory (Yam ). OTHG 30. PRO: I. Jeff Watts (He n ): 2 . Mike Hodges (Suz) ; 3 . J ohnn y Souza (Han ) ; 4 . Fra nk Cornwa ll (Yam ): 5. Nelli Nelson (Yam) . O TH G 38 ... BEG: 1. Rich Kroske (KTM ); 2. Dav id Weeks (Ya m) ; 3 . Mark G ree n ( Hon); 4 . Robe rt Gerome (Han ); 5. Gino Scola ri (Han ). OTHG 38 . NOV: I. Dal e Mathers ( KTM ) ; 2. Mark And rews (KTM ); 3. Nick McKinno n (Yam); 4 . Ron Knorr (Hen) : 5. Mick Parrish (Ho n) . OTHG 38. INT : I. Brian O 'D ell (Han) ; 2. Kev in Peterson (Kaw) ; 3 . Lynett e Wo sic k (Ya m ) ; 4 . Phil Holm es (Yam ); 5. Mark Mitzel (Ha n). OTH G 38 . EX: 1. Alex Chellew (Yam) ; 2. Rich Tiag o ( Han). OTHG 38 . PRO: I. Br ad Hal comb (H an ) ; 2 . Troy Cross (Hon) . nevvs S EP TEM B ER 2 7 , 200 0 41

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