Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

flre orledns Arenq L6s r/3go.. NV D D ontrary to what you miSht think, everything about the MiniMoto SX is big. Take this year's third running of the event for example: The larSe 500 entry limit was easily reached (in fact, many would-be racers were turned away), the Orleans Arena was sold out, the pit a.ea was huge, a large $15,000 purse was up for grabs, and the riders looked extra big on the little bikes. Plus, there were many big-name .id- ers competing, but none bigSer than seven-time Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath. Yes, the king of Supercross competed again, including some other people you mi8ht have heard of, such as l'4{SX racers Guy Cooper, Ryan AbriSo, Jeff Willoh, .leff Gibson, Buddy Antunez, Hichael Blose, David Pingree, off-road racer Ricky Dietrich, and watercraft racer MctorT Sheldon. There v/ere even some big names in the stands, such as leff Stanton, Jeff Emig and Gary Jones, to name a few. So, as you can see, the Mini- Moto SX is anythinS but mini. And the racing action was big-time good, too, and the best race was in the lo-inch Expert final, which came down to a drarnatic finish that won't soon be for- gotten in the world of minis. Mccrath was the early leader but got passed by Blose and then salled his engine, which put the crowd favorite out of top contention. Blose then led the fleld around the technical track, while Pingree worked his way up through the Pack, pulling local hero Derek Costella along with him. On the last lap, Pingree had Blose in his siShts Ohio's Willy Browning took third. Pingree finished ninth after getting off to a bad start. Blose finished sixth. ln the Over 35 class, \ffi Mclor Sheldon flat out ran away "q in the final. He got out in front early and never looked back, taking the win over lllinois' Kevin Popaeko, and California's Sean Finley, lf there is perhaps any kind of fallout from the MinilYoto SX's quick growth and super popularity, it is that some feel that the racing has gotten ''too serious." There was some evidence of this in the Stock 50 class when two mid-packers got together, crashed, and staned throwing punches into each other's helmets. (Yes, you read correctly, this was in the Stock 50 class.) The two riders were rolling around on the tiack as the bikes rode past. Two track offlcials eventually sepa- rated the two riders, put them back on their bikes and got them on their way again. (Oh yeah, the winner of the race was Greg Crater from Washington-) Jeremy f,lcGrolh wos upftonr oll nighr bul couldn't quite pull off Victor Sheldon (162) led wire-to-wire in llte Over 35 finol. Mithoel Blose rqrhe behind to win rho thrilling I lnch Expert finol. The Amateur classes had no such drama but DouSlas Sullivan and Drew Petrie pulled off hard-€arned wins. as did Hawaii's lan Pontanilla in the Women's linal, which featured some of the closest and most excitin8 racing all ni8ht long. CN OI|IANS AltNA [15 VTGAE, NEYADA Rr3urB3 MaY 5, 2006 I x'loy 5, 2oO6 3nd Annual MiniMoto 5X \ u : - -i*b' / \ ,-7rr' r,t lD a\ I a-aj t \ BY KE PATMER PHoros BY KTNNEY .-. Lorol fovorite Derek Costello took o populor win in the l2-ln(h Expe (loss. J a -lt -1 BAEI IiEI \ _< + ..-L (, I TI t7 ,} - > T I I and was thinkinS about passing him when Costella pulled out all the stops and put the move on Pingree. The three riders charged down the flnal rhythm section toward the checkered flag, nearly side by side by side. Blose managed to hold his ground, but Pingree and Costella lo(ked handlebars as they {lew over the finish- line iump. Pingree lost cantrol of his bike and crashed, while Costella managed to somehow keep himself from falling. Costella's last-second gonzo move paid off. as he was credited with second place and a disappointed Pingree with third. For winning, Blose pocketed $4000 from the $7500 Expert-class Pursei Cqstella got $2500 and Pingree $1000. ln the l2-lnch Expert final, McGrath again got out in front earb,/ but, this time, managed to keep his bike running. He opened up a quick lead and was in good shape to win his ,irst MiniMoto SX, but Costella simply ran McGrath down, passed him and rode off with the win, making it a $6500 night for the local rac- ers. McGrath held onto second. while w,, / wOltlEN! l.lm Pomanilhi2. Hana Fo6be.E: l. T ia S:rchrcll, ,t. la

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