SURPRISE! NO SURPRISE! DOUG DUBACH WINS 21ST WORLD VET CROWN IN SATURDAY’S OVER-40 PRO CLASS


Photos by Dan Alamangos


After a career as a factory Yamaha rider and AMA Supercross winner, Doug Dubach could have retired, but instead he kept on racing and on Saturday Doug won his 21st title in the MTA World Vet Championships. The next closet rider has 12 (and sadly, Zoli Berenyi, Sr. passed away a few years ago).

The amazing Doug Dubach, who turned 50 this year, and originally planned to only race the Over-50 Championship because of a terrible crash in Mammoth that resulted in 21 fractures to his ribs and collarbones, decided to race Saturday’s $4000 Over-40 Pro race at the MTA World Vet Motocross Championship. He will also race the Over-50 Championship on Sunday.


Gordon Ward (left), Doug Dubach and Billy Mercier celebrate with champagne, placques and checks.

Since Doug’s ribs, which were separated in a medical condition known as a “flailed chest,” he is not even close to being healed up, but he wanted to race?and race he did.


Billy Mercier and Doug Dubach.

In the first moto, former AMA National Pro Tony Amaradio holeshot and opened up a big lead with Billy Mercier second, Gordon Ward third and Doug Dubach fourth. These four separated themselves from the remaining riders in the pack and had a race of their own. As Amaradio, who just turned 40 last week, scampered away, Gordon Ward worked on Mercier, while Doug Dubach whittled away at Gordon’s rear fender.


Gordon Ward.

Then things started to fall apart for Dubach’s competition. Gordon Ward passed Mercier and then fell, Mercier then fell and before anyone knew it Dubach was in second and closing on Amaradio. They raced hard for a few laps?and then Amaradio’s rear brakes failed and he fell back to 24th. Dubach finished an easy first with Ward, Mercier, Canadian Julian Cerny and Terry Bostard rounding out the top five.


Tony Amaradio (130) had a shot at winning the crown until his rear brakes broke, but he’s only 40 years and one week old?he’ll get more chances.

The second moto saw Dubach holeshot with Gordon Ward in second. For 15 minutes they played cat-and-mouse. Ward, the inventor of the heel clicker?although he was never a freestyle rider?could catch Dubach on the back part of the track and Dubach could gap him on the front part.


The Over-40 Pro’s in full flight. Dubach (15), Tim Sharp (714), Kevin Barda (852), Todd Mitchell (411) and Jorgen Huvell (864) form the phalanx. (Photo by Mark Chilson)

At the two-thirds mark, Dubach, as he has done 20 times in the past, kicked his YZ450F into overdrive and left Ward.


Marc Dionne and Julian Cerny.

Dubach’s 1-1 day was his 21st World Vet Championship. He has won in the Over-30 and Over-40 class, often winning both on the same weekend. On Sunday, Doug wants to add the Over-50 crown to his record (he would then have titles in the Over-30, Over-40 and Over-50 classes. Gary Jones is the only rider to win crowns in Over-30, Over-40, Over-50 and Over-60 Expert ranks…and Gary is the odds-on favorite to win the Over-60 title again on Sunday. Also up for grabs on Sunday are the Over-30 Pro class (with a $4000 purse), Over-50 Championship, Over-60 Championship and Over-70 title?plus all of the amateur divisions.


Kevin Barda made the top ten…and only used one hand. Or perhaps he’s pulling a tear-off.

RESULTS: OVER-40 PRO
1. Doug Dubach (Yam)………..1-1
2. Gordon Ward (Yam)………..2-2
3. Billy Mercier (Kaw)………….3-4
4. Julian Cerny (Kaw)………….4-5
5. Terry Bostard (Hon)………..5-6
6. Shawn Wynne (Yam)………6-7
7. Kim Olsen (Suz)…………….10-8
8. Jorgen Huvell (Hon)…………9-9
9. Todd Mitchell (Suz)………….7-13
10. Kevin Barda (Suz)…………11-11
11. Kevin Williams (Kaw)…….13-10
12. Brett Cross (Suz)………….14-12
13. Tony Amaradio (Yam)……..24-3
14. Darrin Hoeft (Hon)………….8-20
15. Marc Dionne (Suz)…………15-16
16. Ed Foedish (Kaw)………….16-17
17. Don Biscelgia (Hon)……….20-14
18. Troy Cardiel (Hon)………….19-15
19. Greg Pierce (Kaw)………….18-19
20. Phil Lewis (KTM)……………17-21

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