Familiar Names, New Stars Emerge at Motocross Championships
Aug. 7 - Familiar names began popping up on the top of results sheets at the AMA Amateur Motocross Championships on Wednesday as the second full day of racing took place on a fast track under clear blue skies. Mike Alessi, already named to the Loretta Lynn's Hall of Fame four times, breezed to his second victory in the 2002 championships and Jimmy Nelson, last year's 105 Super Mini champ and 85cc Modified (14-15) runner-up rode to a win in the 125 B Modified class.
Mills eventually made his way from 21st to third, and Casillas, who moved from fourth to second in one of the closing laps, came closest to catching Gray. "I'm going to have to get a better start next time if I'm going to hang with them," said Mills. Was Gray looking over his shoulder? "I'm just going as fast as I can," he said. "If I see I'm making mistakes, I just try to calm down and ride smooth."
Mike Alessi continued his winning ways with another runaway victory on his Honda in the 85cc Stock (12-13) class. That followed his earlier win in the 85cc Modified (9-13) class. "I got the holeshot and just ran smooth," said the Moorpark, California rider. "The track is awesome."
Nelson showed he was making a smooth transition to full-size 125cc machines with a first-place finish in the 125 B Modified class.
Another rider on a roll was Matt Goerke of Lake Helen, Florida. After three motos, two in the 105 Super Mini (12-15) class and one in the 85cc Modified (14-15) class, Goerke was undefeated.
"I've gone three for three and it feels great," said Goerke, who hardly broke a sweat in the Wednesday evening Super Mini moto. "I've been practicing 40-minute motos at least once or twice a day. This year I trained mentally and physically, so hopefully I'll be ready." The Women 105cc, 125cc & Up class was blown wide open on Wednesday after a surprising turn of events left several racers with a shot at the championship title. Jessica Patterson, winner of the first moto, fell twice on the first lap and was only able to work her way back to fifth. Steffi Bau, still battered from a crash in the first moto, led early but faded as the heat and her injuries took a toll. After the moto, she dropped to the ground in front of the podium and was taken away by golf cart for medical attention.
That left the door open for Sarah Whitmore, of Cheboygan, Michigan, who charged to the front on her Yamaha and put herself back in contention with fifth-place and first-place finishes in the first two motos. "Every time I would bobble I just told myself, concentrate, concentrate," said a very happy Whitmore, who also crashed in the first moto. Another impressive finish was turned in by Leah Cantrell of Cairo, Georgia, who was the only frontrunner young enough to compete also in the Women 80-105cc (12-15) class. Teenager Cantrell passed the ailing Bau, one of the world's top women motocrossers, in the waning laps to take third. Tania Satchwell of Littleton, Colorado, also has a great shot at the title with third-place and second-place finishes after two motos.
Another fast rider was Ryan Sipes in the 250/Open B Stock class. Riding a Kawasaki, Sipes lapped as fast as 2:02.4 and set himself up with a good shot at the title by winning both the first two motos in his class. During the intermission, Team Green Kawasaki riders got some valuable advice from the all-time winningest rider at Loretta Lynn's. James Stewart, who won 11 titles here before turning pro this year, walked the track with the young racers, giving them tips on how to find the fast way around.
Racing continues through Saturday. © 2002, American Motorcyclist Association |
But
one of the best battles took place in the hotly contested 125 A class.
Brian Gray, of St. Augustine, Florida, and Gene Stull, of Gibsonia,
Pennsylvania, battled furiously for the lead in the early laps until Gray
finally made a break. But then he had to worry about Ryan Mills, of
Clintondale, New York, and Jesse Casillas, of Jamul, California, both of
whom overcame slow starts and worked their way through the field.
