Monday: A Horizon Award winner rocks and young racers roll

Jun. 30 – The AMA Progressive Insurance Dirt Track Grand Championships launched into their first day Monday, with the under-125cc bikes taking the track on a day that was capped by a Pro Sport race where last year's Dirt Track Horizon award winner nabbed an easy win.

More than 40 heat races and semis narrowed the field of competitors in 10 classes, and when the finals started in the afternoon on the half-mile track at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, the racers were ready. Riding a well-groomed track under sunny skies, racers offered a show that produced the Grand Championships' first double-champions.

Michael Martin, of Lockefod, Calif., put on a show in two 65cc classes to take victories in both.

In 65cc DTX 7-11, Martin came from about a third-place start to overtake second-place starter Hayden Gillim of Owensboro, Ky., and holeshotter Tyler Whitecoten of Indianapolis, Ind., early in the race. Gapping the field slightly, Martin stayed in front to cruise to the win, while behind him, Tyler Kidwell of Northeast, Md., put the pressure on Whitecotten. In the end, it was Kevin Walter in second and Whitecotten in third.

In 65cc Modified, Martin dialed in his start to get the holeshot, and led all the way to the flag, with Tony Davila of Pleasanton, Calif., passing into second by the third lap, and Kevin Walter of Amery, Wis., passing to take third.

The second double winner of the day, Ethan Gillim, proved that there must be something in the water in the town of Owensburg, Kentucky. Home of Tommy, Nicky and Roger Lee Hayden, the town is rapidly gaining a reputation for producing winning dirt-trackers. Riding in the 50cc classes, Gillim won the Pee Wee 4-8 class going away, and held off a strong challenge in the 50cc Junior 4-6 class to win only two races later.

The day also saw the return to the Grand Championships of last year's Horizon award winner, Logan Myers. Lining up in the points-paying Pro Sport class, Myers grabbed the holeshot and opened an impressive gap to take the win. His Rotax was hooking up so well on the fine pea-gravel track that Myers was able to wheelie out of the corners in an impressive display. For a quick look at what Myers has been up to since winning the most prestigious award in amateur dirt-track, click here.

The Rest of the Races:

85cc DTX 9-13: Brad Baker of Chehalis, Wash., made the long drive from the Pacific Northwest worth his while, taking the holeshot and running all the way to the flag. Austin Greenland, of Spring Mills, Penn., was second, with James Rispoli of Londonderry, N.H. taking third.

85cc Mod 12-15 Dedicated to Justin Turner: The classes that include riders about to turn pro always provide some of the best action of the day and 85 Mod 12-15 was no exception. Starting with a textbook holeshot from Austin Greenland, the race seemed like it would be an easy win for the Pennsylvania native. But Cody Anselmi kept his focues through the race, working up from about a fourth-place start to challenge Greenland onthe last lap. Pulling even in turns three and four on the final lap, Anselmi, of Lodi, Calif., inched ahead on the front straight to win by less than a bike-length. Cory Hildebrand, of Milford, N.H., rounded out the podium.

50cc Senior 7-8 years Premier: Ian Keith of Brimfield, Ill., got the holeshot, and hung on through the race despite a charge by Jake Lewis of Princeton, Ky. After a red-flag restart turned the race into a two-lap dash, Keith held the lead to the line, with Lewis second and Bailey Spence of Rising Sun, Md., in third.

85cc Mod 7-11 Premier: One of the best races of the day, this class saw Patrick Jacobsen of Montgomery, N.Y., take the holeshot. Kyle Andselmi charged into the lead by mid-race, and was then pressured by James Rispoli of Londonderry, N.H., The two drew even on the last lap, and it was Rispoli, putting on an impressive charge from a fifth-place start, who took the win.

125 Mod Premier: Another great matchup, this class saw a strong performance from the son of a current AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship racer. Aaron King, son of Harley-Davidson factory rider Rich King, took over the lead from holeshotter Travis Myers with an impressive pass on the second-to-last lap, then held on for the win. Chris Laubersheimer of Brooklyn Park, Minn., rounded out the podium.

Returning to the Grand Championships

Making it look easy: Logan Myers shows off his finishing position in Monday's Pro Sport final

Among all the returning racers and newcomers at Monday's Dirt Track Grand Championships was one rider who stood out: Logan Myers.

Last year's AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award winner, Myers came out to the event that made his name known--and promptly smoked the field in the purse-paying, ultra-competitive Pro Sport class. It was a nice return for the guy who shared the 2002 Horizon Award winner, Nicky Cummings.

"Since I won last year I've just been hitting a couple races, like the Pro Sport stuff at Daytona and springfield, and I'm leading the points in the Hot Shoe series,'' Myers says. "I had to come back and give out the Horizon Award to whoever the young person is who wins it, and while I was here I wanted to show them all how it's done.''

Still, Myers says he's glad to come back to the place where he won the highest honor in U.S. amateur dirt-track. He admits the Horizon Award opened a lot of doors for him since this time last year.

"It got me a lot of press, a lot of people looking at you,'' he says. "It helps you get sponsors, and it really boosts your confidence a lot. It's a pretty nice thing to win."

Go fast, turn left: Myers put on a clinic in the Pro Sport class, proving why he won last year's AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award.

As for this plans for the rest of the year, Myers hopes to do in his other races what he did in Pro Sport today? And the rest of the AMA Hot Shoe Series racers had better watch their backs. When asked if he could hold the points lead to the series end, Meyers just smiled:

"No problem," he says.

Honda rider Cody Anselmi worked hard for the win in 85 Mod 12-15.	Looking comfortable at speed, Brad Baker slides hard into one.	That's pretty far over for a 65cc bike! Michael Martin hangs it out.
Little guy, big bike. Ian Keith used the holeshot to his advantage.	Does that number look familiar? Aaron King, son of pro dirt-tracker Rich King, flies the family colors.	It was easy to get the feeling that James Rispoli and Kyle Anselmi aren't finished with this rivalry quite yet.
You suppose guys like James Rispoli practice riding with a checkered flag in one hand?