Oliveira, Semmens Clinch NGPC Titles
D
ante Oliveira and Mason
Semmens have enjoyed
nearly unbeatable seasons in the
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA
National Grand Prix Champion-
ship (NGPC) Series, presented
by FMF. Of the six rounds prior
to summer break, both had just
one loss each in their respective
Pro classes.
Both entered round seven—the
Viewfinders Motorcycle Club's
51st annual Desert Classic
Grand Prix in Ridgecrest, Califor
-
nia, on October 4—with similar
goals: win and wrap up their
respective championships one
round early.
Mission accomplished!
FMF KTM Factory Off-Road
Racing Team's Oliveira got the
holeshot and led the entire 90
minutes for the largest portion
of the $8000 purse, followed by
Liqui Moly Beta's Dare DeMartile.
"I got an awesome start and
just hit my marks," Dante Oliveira
said. The Red Bull/Motorex/Al
-
pinestars 450 XC-F rider added,
"We do the win-only contract, so
I line up to win every weekend.
I've got a little baby to feed, my
lady to feed, so it's business as
usual, and I try to ride the best of
my ability."
And while Dante's brother and
teammate, Mateo Oliveira, was
physically third to the checkered
flag, he had to settle for fourth
overall and third Open Pro after
FMF RPM Racing KTM's Sem
-
mens crossed the finish line with
an eight-second quicker total
time to land his sixth consecu-
tive Pro II triumph, which locked
up his second straight class title.
Simi Valley Yamaha's Justin
Hoeft got the second-best start
before yielding to Mateo Oliveira,
then DeMartile (who needed
to make a few passes after a
mediocre start).
While Dante continued to
maintain a comfortable cushion
WIND
IN THE
P44
Dante Oliveira (1) led
the Desert Classic
Grand Prix comfortably
from start to finish,
which locked up his
sixth-straight AMA
NGPC Championship.
PHOTOS: MARK KARIYA
