Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1545838
JULY 26, 2006 • C Y C L E N E W S 52 BY JAMEY BLUNT DEL MAR, CA, JUNE 23 L ess than a quarter of a mile from the thundering surf, just inside San Diego County, lies Bing Crosby's place; the Del Mar Fair- grounds. Originally built as a horse-racing facility, it has long been the home to the San Diego County Fair. The main attraction on this Friday night were the 200 entrants who made up the 25 heat races and 19 main events of round four of Eddie Mulder's West Coast Vintage Dirt Track Series. With 45 entries, the Motion Pro/Brown's Cycles Vet class was the largest field, though only the top 12 would advance to the A main event. Mike Vital and Craig Johnson came together entering turn one off the line, with Johnson getting the worst of it and dropping to ninth. This allowed Don Howard to emerge in the lead out of turn two, with Vital, Frank Aragaki, Steve Hill and Donnie Harrell giving chase. By lap three, Harrell had put a wheel under Hill and moved him out to take over fourth, with Joe Steffen following him past Hill as well. Howard, at the front, was inching away from Vital. On lap six, Harrell switched to a high line and passed Aragaki in turn two for third. By the last lap, Harrell had caught Vital, and exiting turn four he got the drive to beat him to the stripe for second. The finishing order was Howard, Harrell, Vital and Steffen. A last-lap mistake dropped Aragaki to fifth. It took four heat races and two semis to narrow the field down to 14 from 29 hopefuls for the Digger Helm Pro 600cc main event. Kawasaki-mounted Ales Wood nailed the start and led into turn one, followed by Garrett Stout, Mikey Rush, Stevie Bonsey, David Brown and Joe Steffen. Defending Del Mar champion Jimmy Wood, starting from the third row, got away in 12th, but 2 1/2 laps in he was up to fifth. Bonsey made short work of Rush and Stout; by lap three, he was in second and going after Alex. Exiting turn two on the fourth lap, Jimmy made a move on Rush to take third away, making the order at the front Alex, Bonsey, Jimmy, Rush and Stout, and moving Rod Spencer Jr. forward. At halfway, Alex led with his best lap time of 13.52 seconds. Bonsey was closing on him, turning his best lap of 13.22 seconds, and then, entering turn one on lap 12, Bonsey, who had set Alex up, stuck a wheel under him and took over at the front. A lap and a half later, Jimmy, who couldn't let Bonsey get away, made the pass on his cousin Alex in turn four to take second. Bonsey, at the front, had a six-bikelength cushion over Jimmy. On lap 16, Aragaki crashed hard in the middle of the back straight. A lap later, Brown was unable to avoid a collision with Aragaki's bike, bringing out the red flag. Since the race was more than three-quarters completed, and a 9 p.m. curfew was looming, the race was called complete, leaving the final tally Bonsey, Jimmy Wood, Alex Wood, Spencer, Stout and Howard. "I started chasing Alex," Bonsey said, "and I didn't think I could catch him at first, so I started trying different lines. It worked, and I got by him. Then I felt someone come up under me, and it was Jimmy. Then there were red flags. I don't know about the call, but that's racing. I'd like to thank A&A Racing, Motion Pro, my dad, Wayne, Tucker Rocky, and Eddie Mulder." An hour and a half later, Bonsey was on the move again - aboard a flight to Ohio for another race. CN DEL MAR FAIRGROUNDS DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA RESULTS: JUNE 23, 2006 (ROUND 4) YTH 50: 1. Kevin Alcorn; 2. Tyler Villalobos; 3. Tyler Shelter. YTH 60: 1. Kevin Alcorn; 2. Andre Ochs; 3. Sheldon Creed. YTH 80: 1. Dusty Phares; 2. Andre Ochs; 3. Geoffrey Shelter. 250 OPEN: 1. Paul Herman; 2. Lindsey King; 3. Mike Avila. 500 SUP: 1. Wayne Karcich; 2. Mike O'Neil; 3. Art Guilfoil. OPEN AM B: 1. Matt Stoutenberg; 2. Dusty Phares; 3. Joey Alves. OPEN AM A: 1. Garrett Stout; 2. Kayl Kolkman; 3. Jesse Sleeper. PRO 600: 1. Stevie Bonsey; 2. Jimmy Wood; 3. Alex Wood. VET A: 1. Don Howard; 2. Donnie Harrell; 3. Mike Vital. VET B: 1. Travis Petton; 2. John Larson; 3. Scott Podergois. VET C: 1. Anthony Mitchell; 2. Lloyd McGregor; 3. Daniel Kane. SR: 1. Tom Horton; 2. Bob Graves; 3. Bill Matherson. SR NOV / S/SR: 1. Jim McMurren; 2. Mickey Alzola; 3. Ed Steffen. DINO: 1. Mike O'Neil; 2. Marsh Runyon; 3. Brent Johnson. CLSC 250: 1. Bruce Reynolds; 2. Tom Horton; 3. Brad Holt. CLSC 500: 1. Chris Rudy; 2. Brad Holt; 3. James Kohls. MDRN 250: 1. Bruce Reynolds; 2. Tom Horton; 3. Brad Holt. MDRN 500: 1. Shaun Larkin; 2. Don Frauenberger; 3. Mark Stuckert. MDRN 750: 1. Jeff Johnson; 2. Jim Ottele; 3. Tom Horton. Eddie Mulder's West Coast Vintage Dirt Track Series Round 4: Del Mar Fairgrounds Bonsey on the Move in Del Mar Stevie Bonsey (51Y) makes the pass for the lead on Alex Wood (67E), who had led the first half of the race. AMA 2005 Horizon Award winner Bonsey also posted the fastest lap of the night, at 13.22 seconds, en route to winning the Digger Helm Pro 600cc main event. PHOTO BY KAREN GOULD BY JOHN BETHEA SAN BERNARDINO, CA, JUNE 18 A Father's Day crowd of more than 500 rid- ers came out to round three of the 13th annual Yamaha Dealers' Series at Glen Helen Raceway Park. The event was highlighted by two more runaway victories by Expert rider Derreck Murphy, a wild ride by Intermediate Cole McCleeary, and two top-notch battles between Women's-class combatants Ayla Cabus and Meika Cornelius. Murphy, who had already bagged a couple of overalls in the series' opening round a month prior, came out charging from the drop of the gate in his four 125cc and 250cc Expert motos, sweeping them all easily, while a fistful of fast opponents hovered just out of reach. Murphy got a late start this season. He missed the Prequel in early May. "I didn't have bikes or my body ready to race," he explained. Currently holding the series points lead in both classes, Murphy's aiming at conditioning himself for the final few outdoor Nationals. He currently prefers his John Burr Cycles Yamaha 450. "It's a lazy bike, 'cause it has more power and does all the work," said Murphy, so that's the class he'll contest when he heads east in August. A particularly close fight erupted between rookie Jeff Loop and veteran Sean O'Connor in the 250cc Expert class, as they traded second more than half a dozen times in their first moto before Loop finally broke loose at the end aboard his Honda. However, he was stifled in the second moto by a bad start that cost him a shot at runner-up overall. In that second race, Jeff Willoh broke out early on his Honda but fell back to fourth before coming back strong at the end, passing O'Connor to claim the number-two spot. O'Connor, a multiple series champion in recent years, admits his attitude toward racing has changed since he broke his arm severely nearly two years ago. "I just ride for fun now," he said. "The arm, even with therapy, still goes numb at times. I don't ride in fear; and if you crash, you crash. Besides, I just bought a new house, and I've built a couple of choppers." Another rookie, Matty Dowell, tried to give Murphy some pressure in the first 125cc moto but retired his Yamaha due to mechanical gremlins. "It began making a weird noise coming down Mount St. Helens, and it locked up," Dowell reported. McCleeary, contesting the first 250cc B moto, held a narrow edge coming out of Talladega turn one when he got virtually sideways. "I thought I lost it for sure," said McCleeary, who somehow made the save, only to spill later in the moto at the top of the mountain. Amazingly, he caught up and passed second- running Broc Armbruster on the final lap. However, the two Honda riders were side by side in the final turn when McCleeary swung wide and Armbruster got it back. Yamaha- mounted Shaun Higham scored the overall triumph with a 1-2 punch. For months, Ayla Cabus has been inching her way closer and closer to usual leader Meika Cornelius. Apparently, she has finally caught her, as she won a nail-biting first moto in which the two were never more than several bikelengths apart. Cabus, who expects to move to the Novice ranks after the Mammoth Mountain event, held the lead in the second round as well until a flattening front tire forced her off the pace. "Beat her?" she said of her rival. "Yeah, I'm gonna do it." CN GLEN HELEN RACEWAY PARK SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA RESULTS: JUNE 18, 2006 (ROUND 3) XR50: 1. Nolan Keckley (Yam); 2. Chase Whitton (Hon); 3. Taylor Matcham (Yam); 4. Brandon Hairston (Cob); 5. Trevor Monroe (Hon). 50 (4-6): 1. Logan Chambers (KTM); 2. Weston Geim (Cob); 3. Chase Whitton (Hon); 4. Nolan Keckley (Yam); 5. Chandler Laroque (KTM). 50 (7-8): 1. Matthew Hubert (Kaw); 2. Tristan Miller (Cob); 3. Skyler Seifert (Kaw); 4. Conner Whitton (KTM); 5. Andrew Casias (KTM). S/P/W: 1. Blake Green (Kaw); 2. Logan Chambers (KTM); 3. Weston Geim (Cob); 4. Conner Whitton (KTM); 5. Andrew Casias (KTM). 65 BEG: 1. Tristan Stewert (Kaw); 2. Curt Loyless (Suz); 3. Daytona Anderson (Suz); 4. Phillip Hauser (Suz); 5. Ryan Kubis (Kaw). 65 (4-8): 1. Blake Green (Kaw); 2. Ryan Surratt (Kaw); 3. Gil Sabalza (Suz); 4. Brandon Roach (KTM); 5. Skyler Seifert (Kaw). 65 (9-11): 1. Brandon Scharer (Yam); 2. Jantz Grodzicki (KTM); 3. Kyle Smith (Suz); 4. Amber West (Suz); 5. Troy Lee (Hon). 80 BEG: 1. Andrew Flores (Yam); 2. Jeffrey Scott (Yam); 3. Jimmy Reinert (Kaw). 80 (4-11): 1. Garret Eckman (Suz); 2. Michael Arana (Yam); 3. Brandon Scharer (Yam); 4. Teren Salinas (Yam); 5. Shane Post (Hon). 80 (12-13): 1. David Meade (Suz); 2. David Okon (Yam); 3. Kyle Wolack (Suz); 4. Chris Bernabe (Yam); 5. Dylan Lemburg (Hon). 80 (14-16): 1. Ryan Calderon (Kaw). 80 S/MINI: 1. David Okon (Yam); 2. Kyle Wolack (Suz); 3. Garret Eckman (Suz); 4. David Meade (Suz); 5. Dylan Lemburg (Hon). 90+ 4-STRK: 1. Zane O'Brien (Suz); 2. Ramaldo Rivas (Suz); 3. Christopher Gould (Yam); 4. Drew Mann (Kaw). 125 BEG: 1. Josh Gilbert (Kaw); 2. Jesse Johnston (Yam); 3. Conner Stouff (Hon); 4. Cory Lopez (Hon); 5. Enrique Salazar (Kaw). 125 NOV D-1: 1. Bryce Vallee (Yam); 2. Scott Noble (Yam); 3. Ben Hagle (Yam); 4. Logan Mason (Hon); 5. Connor Penhall (Suz). 125 NOV D-2: 1. Bobby Catren (Kaw); 2. Jon Hornbeck (Hon); 3. David Okon (Yam); 4. Garrick Noble (Yam); 5. Dakota Garner (Kaw). 125 INT: 1. Tony Blood (Hon); 2. Benny Breck (Yam); 3. Brian Bebeck (Kaw); 4. Shaun Higham (Yam); 5. Wes Flippin (Hon). 125 EX: 1. Derreck Murphy (Yam); 2. Cody Knauss (Yam); 3. Jared Minor (Hon); 4. Matty Dowell (Yam). 250 BEG: 1. Ryan Riess (Hon); 2. Taylor Peters (Hon); 3. Randy Ball (Yam); 4. Jedediah Rodriguez (Hon); 5. Ryan Hulfe (Yam). 250 NOV: 1. Paul LaRocque (Yam); 2. Trey Garcia (KTM); 3. Michael Suchomel (Yam); 4. Anthony Gould (Yam); 5. Kasey Morris (Kaw). 250 INT: 1. Shaun Higham (Yam); 2. Cole McCleeary (Hon); 3. Brae Armbruster (Hon); 4. Dustin Williams (Hon); 5. Justin Dennis (Hon). 250 EX: 1. Derreck Murphy (Yam); 2. Jeff Willoh (Hon); 3. Sean O'Connor (Hon); 4. Jeff Loop (Hon); 5. Dennis Stapleton (Hon). 250 4-STRK BEG: 1. Conner Stauff (Hon); 2. Cory Vondracek (Kaw); 3. Cody Martin (Hon); 4. Shaun Caudill (Kaw); 5. Matt Gasser (Yam). 250 4-STRK NOV: 1. Bryce Vallee (Yam); 2. Logan Mason (Hon); 3. Scott Noble (Yam); 4. Jacob Buelna (Yam); 5. Jon Hornbeck (Hon). 250 4-STRK INT: 1. Tony Blood (Hon); 2. Brys Kuntz (Yam); 3. Wes Flippin (Hon); 4. Cody Rye (Hon); 5. Benny Breck (Yam). 450 4-STRK BEG: 1. Ryan Riess (Hon); 2. Jeff Whitton (Hon); 3. Jedediah Rodriguez (Hon); 4. Bryan Dodge (Yam); 5. Jonathan Loncaric (Hon). 450 4-STRK NOV: 1. Isaac Harding (Suz); 2. Travis Staley (Yam); 3. Jason Fox (Hon); 4. Ted Cordova (Yam); 5. Nathan Verdugo (KTM). 450 4-STRK INT: 1. Daniel Nelson (Kaw); 2. Justin Dennis (Hon); 3. Dane Jackson (Hon). WMN: 1. Meika Cornelius (Hon); 2. Ayla Cabus (Kaw); 3. Marlana Harding (Kaw); 4. Tracy Rhodes (Hon); 5. Samantha Steffens (Yam). SCHBY (13-16): 1. Tony Blood (Hon); 2. Parker Eckman (Hon); 3. Donnie Kearney (KTM); 4. Scott Noble (Yam); 5. Ben Hagle (Yam). JR VET NOV: 1. Justin Jensen (Yam); 2. Michael Quiroz (Yam); 3. Michael Bohn (Hon); 4. Nick Paulsen (Yam); 5. Scott Thiele (Hon). JR VET INT: 1. Justin McCoy (Yam); 2. Jayson Monroe (Yam); 3. Don Blosser (Suz); 4. Shane Childs (Yam). JR VET EX: 1. Cody Knauss (Yam); 2. Craig McCall (Hon); 3. Roger Oreb (Kaw). VET NOV: 1. Gordon Phillips (Hon); 2. Ron Clement (Yam); 3. Craig Gisler (Hon); 4. Tim Ellis (Hon); 5. John Hillmann (Hon). VET INT: 1. Bubba Erickson (Yam); 2. Justin McCoy (Yam); 3. Gary Lacy (Hon); 4. Geoff Walters (Yam); 5. Jayson Monroe (Yam). VET EX: 1. Craig McCall (Hon); 2. Phil Dowell (Yam); 3. Roger Oreb (Kaw). SR NOV: 1. Rob Moore (Yam); 2. Steve Oort (Hon); 3. Jeff C a r d o n e ( H o n ) ; 4 . A r t Ro d r i g u e z ( H o n ) ; 5 . E r n i e Balderrama (Yam). SR INT: 1. Stephen Watson (Yam); 2. Steve Yager (Hon); 3. Doug Yarnell (Yam); 4. Brad Stewart (Yam); 5. Albert Balderrama (Hon). SR EX: 1. Phil Dowell (Yam); 2. Ron Loyless (Suz). S/SR INT: 1. Rodolfo Castaneda Jr. (Yam); 2. Jon Varley (Suz); 3. Ernie Balderrama (Yam); 4. Robert Ripley (Hon); 5. Bob Boldt (Yam). S/SR EX: 1. Bill Maxim (Suz); 2. David Hassell (Hon). Yamaha Dealers Series Round 3: Glen Helen Raceway Park Murphy Makes It Two More Derreck Murphy swept the 125cc and 250cc Expert classes at round three of the Yamaha Dealers Series. PHOTO BY JOHN BETHEA