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AUGUST 23, 2006 • C Y C L E N E W S 56 BY JOHN BETHEA SAN BERNARDINO, CA, JULY 9 D erreck Murphy's bid for two class champi- onships in the 14th annual Yamaha Deal- ers Series at Glen Helen Raceway Park took a serious blow at the fourth of five rounds when his 250F lost fire in the first 125cc moto, quite possibly leaving his only championship hopes alive in the 250cc Expert class. Joey Bitto, riding his first event as an Expert, stepped forward to take command, going virtually wire to wire in both motos for a victory in his premiere class appearance. He jumped out in front of Murphy early in the first outing, and for most of the race he held the points leader a few lengths behind him until the last lap, when Murphy's Yamaha suddenly sputtered and quit. "It just won't start," a disgusted Murphy said later. Bitto went on to lead a Honda sweep with his second-moto win for Chaparral Motorsports, with Hahm Motorsports-backed Tanner Langham edging out John Burr Cycles' Jared Minor for second. With his third-place finish, Minor takes over the championship points lead. Left to contend the 250cc class, Murphy retained his lead, even though he had to settle for second this outing after running up against a determined Daniel Sani, riding his Honda here for the first time since his podium appearance at the Prequel two months before. In second-gate action, Phil Thorstensen aced the 125cc Intermediates aboard his Yamaha over two-time runner-up Tony Blood, on a Honda, while Benny Breck, fresh off his 12-Hour Endurance Ironman win a week earlier, swept the 250cc Intermediates for Santa Barbara Motorsports and Honda pilot Weston Peick, riding for Temecula Motorsports, garnered a pair of seconds for runner-up. The first 125cc Intermediate moto was m a r r e d w h e n M o n t c l a i r Ya m a h a ' s D a n e Jackson crashed hard and broke his arm, putting him out of action for a while. Another spill, which at first appeared to be m o r e s e r i o u s t h a t i t w a s , s e n t S e n i o r Intermediate series points leader Brad Stewart t o t h e h o s p i t a l a f t e r h e s a i l e d o v e r t h e handlebars and knocked himself out, possibly incurring back injuries. "I don't even remember it happening," said Stewart after he was released from the hospital with only a broken middle finger. "I just stretched and beat my back up really bad. It pounded me pretty good." After dominating the Dealer's Championships for more than a decade, John Burr Cycles still trails in the points tally, behind Alba Action Sports, 4545 to 4413. JBC has won the series a dozen times in the previous 13 years but has lost three of the four rounds this year. Alba's winning riders this week included Honda-mounted Art Rodriguez in the Senior Novice class and Kawasaki jockey Enrique Salazar in the 250cc Four-Stroke Beginner class. But the shop's leading rider was Dakota Garner, who won five of his six motos and three overalls (in the 250cc Novice II, 250cc Four- Stroke Novice and 450cc Four-Stroke Novice classes), riding Kawasakis. CN GLEN HELEN RACEWAY PARK SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA RESULTS: JULY 9, 2006 (ROUND 4 OF 5) XR50/SHAFT: 1. Nicolas Bernabe (Hon); 2. Chase Whitton (Hon); 3. Taylor Matcham (Yam); 4. William Argyle III (Hon); 5. Nolan Keckley (Yam). 50 (4-6): 1. Logan Chambers (KTM); 2. Nolan Keckley (Yam); 3. Chase Whitton (Hon); 4. Cody Loyless (Cob). 50 (7-8): 1. Octavian Martinez (KTM); 2. Skyler Seifert (Kaw); 3. Miles McDonald (Cob); 4. Lauren Woods (KTM); 5. Conner Whitton (KTM). S/P/W: 1. Octavian Martinez (KTM); 2. Logan Chambers (KTM); 3. Lauren Woods (KTM); 4. Conner Whitton (KTM); 5. Jacob Hampton (KTM). 65 BEG: 1. Roly Nilarp (Kaw); 2. Tristan Stewart (Kaw); 3. Curt Loyless (Suz); 4. Chaz Vasquez (Cob); 5. Ryan Kubis (Kaw). 65 (4-8): 1. Ryan Surratt (Kaw); 2. Brandon Roach (KTM); 3. Skyler Seifert (Kaw); 4. Paul Stratton (Kaw). 65 (9-11): 1. Blake Lilly (Kaw); 2. Brandon Scharer (Yam); 3. Cody Sloan (Hon); 4. Seth Harnishfeger (Suz); 5. Jantz Grodzicki (KTM). 80 BEG: 1. Andrew Flores (Yam); 2. Jimmy Reinert (Kaw); 3. Brett Melton (Yam); 4. James Deckers (Hon); 5. Jeffrey Scott (Yam). 80 (4-11): 1. Brandon Scharer (Yam); 2. Michael Arana (Yam); 3. Shane Post (Hon); 4. J.D. Elliott (Suz); 5. Cory McDonald (Kaw). 80 (12-13): 1. David Meade (Suz); 2. Kyle Wolack (Suz); 3. Chris Bernabe (Yam); 4. Dylan Lemburg (Hon); 5. Justin Imhof (Hon). 80 (14-16): 1. Drew Weaver (Yam); 2. Colton Manwill (Suz); 3. Jake Canada (Yam); 4. Bruno Souza (Suz); 5. Ryan Calderon (Yam). 80 S/MINI: 1. Jake Canada (Yam); 2. Colton Manwill (Suz); 3. David Okon (Yam); 4. Kyle Wolack (Suz); 5. Justin Imhof (Hon). 125 BEG: 1. Andy Werhanowicz (Yam); 2. Jake Reinert (Hon); 3. Jesse Johnston (Yam); 4. Ethan Hagle (Suz); 5. Matt Gasser (Yam). 125 NOV D-1: 1. Bryce Vallee (Yam); 2. Scott Noble (Yam); 3. Ben Hagle (Yam); 4. Travis Bell (Hon); 5. Paul Larocque (Yam). 125 NOV D-2: 1. Dakota Garner (Kaw); 2. Jon Hornbeck (Hon); 3. Bobby Catren (Kaw); 4. Garrick Noble (Yam); 5. Matthew Williams (Yam). 125 INT: 1. Phil Thorstensen (Yam); 2. Tony Blood (Hon); 3. B.J. Bohrer (Hon); 4. Parker Eckman (Hon); 5. Shawn Mohr (Hon). 125 EX: 1. Joey Bitto (Hon); 2. Tanner Langham (Hon); 3. Jared Minor (Hon); 4. Scott Sease (Hon); 5. Derreck Murphy (Yam). 250 BEG: 1. David Noel (Hon); 2. Francisco Neblina (Hon); 3. Patrick Ball (Kaw); 4. Jedediah Rodriguez (Hon); 5. Devon Gustafsen (Hon). 250 NOV: 1. Jacob Dumesny (Kaw); 2. Paul Larocque (Yam); 3. Erik Line (Kaw); 4. Matthew Williams (Yam); 5. Kasey Morris (Kaw). 250 INT: 1. Benny Breck (Yam); 2. Weston Peick (Hon); 3. Mike Meade (Kaw); 4. Greg Jones (Yam); 5. Anthony Sanabria (Hon). 250 EX: 1. Daniel Sani (Hon); 2. Derreck Murphy (Yam); 3. Jeff Loop (Hon); 4. Sean O'Connor (Hon); 5. Jeff Willoh (Hon). 90+ 4-STRK: 1. Matty Dowell (Yam); 2. Christopher Gould (Yam); 3. Zane O'Brien (Suz); 4. Tristan Nelson (Kaw). 250 4-STRK BEG: 1. Enrique Salazar (Kaw); 2. Conner Stauff (Hon); 3. Ethan Hagle (Suz); 4. Jared Rodriguez (Hon); 5. Shaun Caudill (Kaw). 250 4-STRK NOV: 1. Dakota Garner (Kaw); 2. Bryce Vallee (Yam); 3. Scott Noble (Yam); 4. Jon Hornbeck (Hon); 5. Dillion Kuntz (Hon). 250 4-STRK INT: 1. Tony Blood (Hon); 2. B.J. Bohrer (Hon); 3. Brian Bebeck (Kaw); 4. Jake Narmore (GG); 5. Jacob Lee Buelna (Yam). 450 4-STRK BEG: 1. Chris Nelson (Hon); 2. Jedediah Rodriguez (Hon); 3. Jeff Whitton (Hon). 450 4-STRK NOV: 1. Dakota Garner (Kaw); 2. Matthew Williams (Yam); 3. Isaac Harding (Suz); 4. Erik Line (Kaw); 5. Ted Cordova (Yam). 450 4-STRK INT: 1. Benny Breck (Yam); 2. Weston Peick (Hon); 3. Mike Meade (Kaw); 4. Colton Udall (Yam). WMN: 1. Meika Cornelius (Hon); 2. Ayla Cabus (Kaw); 3. Jackie Ives (Yam); 4. Marlana Harding (Kaw); 5. Tracy Rhodes (Hon). SCHBOY (13-16): 1. Parker Eckman (Hon); 2. Tony Blood (Hon); 3. Donnie Kearney (Suz); 4. Michael Leib (Kaw); 5. Ben Hagle (Yam). 25+ NOV: 1. Nick Paulsen (Yam); 2. Justin Jensen (Yam); 3. Mike Berg (Hon); 4. Michael Bohn (Hon); 5. James Dickey (Hon). 25+ INT: 1. Justin McCoy (Yam); 2. Aaron Cooke (Hon); 3. Wesley Turner (Kaw); 4. Jayson Monroe (Yam); 5. Don Blosser (Suz). 25+ EX: 1. Craig McCall (Hon); 2. Phil Dowell (Yam); 3. Roger Oreb (Kaw). 30+ NOV: 1. Gordon Phillips (Hon); 2. Jason Fox (Hon); 3. Joel Beuler (Yam); 4. Tim Ellis (Hon); 5. Ron Clement (Yam). 30+ INT: 1. Bubba Erickson (Yam); 2. Geoff Walters (Yam); 3. Justin McCoy (Yam); 4. Stevie Martz (Yam); 5. Jayson Monroe (Yam). 30+ EX: 1. Craig McCall (Hon); 2. Phil Dowell (Yam); 3. Roger Oreb (Kaw). 40+ NOV: 1. Art Rodriguez (Hon); 2. Jon Varley (Suz); 3. Jeff Cardone (Hon); 4. Darrell Hill (Hon); 5. Rob Moore (Yam). 40+ INT: 1. Ron Clement (Yam); 2. Milton Mize (Hon); 3. Albert Balderrama (Hon); 4. James Hanson (Hon); 5. Mike Daversa (Hon). 40+ EX: 1. Phil Dowell (Yam); 2. Bryan Vanorder (Yam); 3. Ron Loyless (Suz); 4. Bill Maxim (Suz); 5. Gary Bartlett (Hon). 50+ INT: 1. Rodolfo Castenada Jr. (Yam); 2. Jon Varley (Suz); 3. Ernie Balderrama (Yam); 4. Bob Boldt (Yam); 5. David Blosser (Yam). 50+ EX: 1. Dennis Boulware (Hon); 2. Bill Maxim (Suz); 3. David Hassell (Hon); 4. David Furtbush (Hon). Yamaha Dealers Series Round 4: Glen Helen Raceway Park Bitto Likes a Bit o' Murphy's Law - for Murphy Sean O'Connor (212) leads Daniel Sani (86), Derreck Murphy (738), Joey Bitto (102) and the rest of the pack in the first 250cc Expert moto at round four of the Yamaha Dealers Series. PHOTO BY JOHN BETHEA BY GARY ROBERTS AUBURN, CA, JULY 21 O n Friday, July 21, Fast Fridays Speedway hosted the annual North vs. South Speedway team event at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn, California. The final result, for the sixth consecutive year, was a win for the North team. Both sides were down on strength from previous years. The North was missing retired Bobby Hedden and injured Bart Bast. The South was without Chris Manchester and Ryan Fisher, both of whom were still suffering from early-season injuries. All four of these riders have been former top scorers at this annual event. The North had the benefit of the on-form pairing of Bryan Yarrow and Tommy Hedden and the experience of Mike Faria and Chad Felicio. The South had the experience of Charlie Venegas, Buck Blair and Nate Perkins; all three have been regular contenders at Fast Fridays this season. The South also had the benefit of a last-minute addition, a retired veteran who is exciting to watch and always on form: former World Finalist John Cook. In each of their heats, one member of the Yarrow-Hedden pairing won every race in their regular races. After 18 regular races, the score was 62-49, favoring the North. But because of the weighted scoring in the main-event races, it was still possible for the South to pull off a win. The B main had Felicio and T.J. Fowler for the North, and Cook and Perkins for the South. Felicio got the gate and seemed to have a solid lead, but Perkins, who definitely got better as the evening went on, worked his way past Felicio, while Cook used an outside line to challenge for second. However, on lap three, Cook went down, leaving the score at 68 to 56. This made it still possible for the South to win, if they could take both places in the A main. Coming out for the North were the on-form Hedden and Yarrow. The South nominated Blair and Venegas. Yarrow got the gate, and although Blair made a challenge for second, it was not to be. The Hedden-Yarrow partnership was too strong. These two riders have spent a lot of time together this year with their extremely successful trips to Southern California, and it paid off for the North team, with a final score of 88 to 66. The Youth North vs. South contest that had taken place for the past three years was not to be this year, but there were four Youth races for Division One and Division Two Youth riders. This turned out to be an all-Felicio evening, as Ricky Felicio was the North vs. South Civil War Challenge Fast Fridays Motorcycle Speedway North Wins the Civil War (Again)! Tommy Hedden leads John Cook and Bryan Yarrow at the annual North vs. South Speedway team event in Auburn, California. PHOTO BY MICHAEL KIRBY high points scorer for Division One, while his sister Amber was victorious in Division Two. CN FAST FRIDAYS MOTORCYCLE SPEEDWAY AUBURN, CALIFORNIA RESULTS: JULY 21, 2006 O/A: 1. North - Bryan Yarrow (15), Mike Faria (12), Chad Felicio (12), Tommy Hedden (12), T.J. Fowler (7), Matt Becker (4); 2. South - Buck Blair (18), John Cook (11), Charlie Venegas (10), Nate Perkins (6), Shawn Harmatiuk (3), Bobby Schwartz (1). YTH D-1: 1. Ricky Felicio; 2. Ben Essary; 3. Will Hilgenberg; 4. Cody Cicciarelli. YTH D-2: 1. Amber Felicio; 2. Tanner Kane; 3. Thomas Reich.