2022 WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP FLASHBACK: TIME FLIES & SO DO THE STARS OF THE PAST

The calm before the storm. The World Vet Championship featured a Friday practice day to help foreign and out-of-state riders get accustomed to Glen Helen’s unique conditions and learn the long track design that featured lap times between three minutes to four minutes depending on the rider’s skill level

THE IDEA: Over 38 years ago Tom White had the idea to host a race dedicated to riders over the age of 30. Think about that for a minute. The first Vet race was almost 40 years ago. To be eligible for that race, you had to be 30 years old. The riders who rode that first race would now be 68 years old. Amazingly, a large number of riders from year one showed up at year 38. 

Originally naming it the White Brothers World Vet Championship (because no other aftermarket company or manufacturer wanted to sponsor an event for old riders), Tom farmed sponsors from the ranks of the brands that the White Brothers distributing company carried. When Tom passed away from cancer in 2017, his daughter Kristin and son-in-law John Anderson tok the reins to sponsor the World Vet Championship through their Dubya USA wheel company.

The heavy hitters at Glen Helen were Jeremy McGrath (2) and Mike Brown (3). Both racers are over 50 years old, but both elected to race in the Over-40 Pro class and Over-50 Pasha 125 Pro class. Brown also raced the Over-30 Pro class and the Pasha Over-30 125 Pro class. He was a busy boy.

That first World Vet Championship was held at Perris Raceway in SoCal and had a modest turnout of Over-30, Over-40 and a few riders older than required. Randy Rodriquez won the Over-30 Pro title, and Alan Olson took the Over-40 crown. Olson would win the Over-40, Over-50 and Over-60 World Vet Motocross Championships nine times before calling it quits. 

Three years later the event had grown in stature as four-time 250 National Champion Gary Jones won the Over-30 title in 1987, along with Alan Olson in the Over-40 class. In 1998 an Over-50 class was added to the program. That year Rex Staten won the first of his four Over-30 World Vet Championships in a five-year span (only being beaten by Warren Reid in 1989). As for the first-ever Over-50 Champion, Ron Way would win two years in a row.

Gary Jones, Rex Staten and Warren Reid gave the event the star power that it needed to grow in leaps and bounds, and it didn’t hurt that Tom White moved the event from Perris Raceway to the bigger Glen Helen Raceway in 1993. The rest is history.

Glen Helen’s triple-lane second corner was designed to get 40 riders started up the first big hill without any log jams. It was a popular place to make passes. Note that a fourth lane was ready as a standby.

THE CLASSES: From its humble beginnings with only two age groups, the World Vet now has races for riders from 25 years old to 80 years old, sub-divided into five-year increments and separated by Novice, Intermediate, Expert and Pro categories. Only the even numbered years (Over-30, Over-40, Over-50, Over-60, Over-70 and Over-80) are officially recognized as World Championship events, but many riders like to claim that they were the Over-35 Novice or Over-55 Intermediate World Champion. The Over-25 class was added many years ago, because East Coast riders wanted it, but it is not eligible for World Championship status because a true Vet is over 30 years old. Drivers’ licenses or birth certificates are checked at signup, and on occasionally someone tries to present a library card as identification.

If you’ve ever raced down the 220-foot drop from the top of Mount Saint Helen late in the day, you know what Mike Brown is feeling as he searches in vain for a smooth line. This downhill is scary even without the bumps.

THE TRACK: To make the World Vet track as authentic as possible, Glen Helen had MXA’s Jody Weisel design the course because he has built all of Glen Helen’s AMA National and Grand Prix tracks since 1997. This year’s track was a replica of a previous AMA National track, with all the big obstacles toned down. Lap times were stretched to the three minute mark for all but the fastest Pros, and it wasn’t uncommon for the slower classes to be pushing four minutes. With 1000 entrants at the 2022 event, the long layout guaranteed ample space for the wave starts.

Andy Jefferson (36) won the Over-40 World Championship back in 2002 and came to race the Over-60 class 20 years later. The Husqvarna PR man when 2-2 on Saturday, but had to skip the third moto on Sunday. His 2-2-DNF was still good enough for 12th.

THE FACES: Want to see stars of the past? This is the race to be at. Andy Jefferson, Jeremy McGrath, Mike Brown, Jeff Matiasevich, Doug Dubach, Gary Jones, Kurt Nicoll, Sean Collier, Ryan Morais, Ben Lamay, Pete Murray, Jon Ortner, Josh Mosiman, Jacob Hayes, R.J Wageman, Bob Rutten, Kevin Foley, Trey Jorski, Val Tamietti, and KTM’s Austrian test riders Guenter Schmidinger and Michael Staufer were among the big names racing, and many more stars were in the pits, including Bob Hannah.

When Jeremy McGrath was informed that he would be receiving the Edison Dye Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 World Vet, he said, “Well, if I’m coming to Glen Helen for the award, I might as well race.”

THE STAR ATTRACTION: Jeremy McGrath was scheduled to receive the Edison Dye Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday night in the Glen Helen Museum. When they called Jeremy about accepting the honors, he said, “Well, if I’m coming to Glen Helen for the award, I might as well race.” Jeremy, now 50 years old, signed up for the Over-40 Pro class and the Over-50 Pasha 150 two-stroke race. He led both of his classes and came so close to winning the Over-50 Pasha two-stroke race on a custom-built KX144 that the crowd was going crazy, but 26-time World Vet Champion Doug Dubach passed Jeremy with a lap to go. Overall, Jeremy was second in the two-stroke race and third in the Over-40 Pro race behind Mike Brown (52 years old). 

The land rush to the first turn is a 70 mph blast to get to the banking first. Being first gives you a clear path up and down the first couple of massive hills. However, not being first didn’t hurt Josh Mosiman (171) as he would win this class from the back.

Pasha Afshar photo-bombs the podium picture of the Over-30 125 Pros. Pasha deserved to be in the photo with Mike Brown (left), Sean Collier (center) and Ryan Morais (right) because he put up the $13,000 purse.

Doug Dubach has an all-in-jest conversation with Jeremy McGrath after the Over-50 125 Pro race. Dubach, who will in 60-years-old next year, is telling Jeremy, “Don’t underestimate us old folks.”

THE BIG WINNER: Although few people outside of SoCal have ever heard of local hero Sean Lipanovich, he has raced 20 AMA Nationals and five AMA 250 East Supercrosses and most recently raced the 2022 FIM Motocross des Nations for Team Guam, where Guam made the main events and finished 17th. Sean was the class of the field in the Premier Over-30 World Championship and won the World Vet Championship over another SoCal legend Sean Collier, who would later in the day win the Pasha Over-30 150 two-stroke race with a 2-1 over Mike Brown.

Every journey begins with the first step. This is the right half of Glen Helen’s starting line and the destination for these Over-30 Pros is to get to the steeply banked 180-degree Talladega first turn at the front. Note that Sean Lipanovich (505) has the jump, while Mike Brown (3) is knocking another rider out of the way.

THE WORLD CHAMPS: There are lots of complaints from Europe about the World Vet Motocross Championship being called a “World Championship” when it is only held in the USA; however, it earned the right to be called a World Championship, regardless of what Giuseppe Luongo thinks, because it was the first-ever Vet-only Championship. It has been held for 37 years, had racers from 20 different nations this year, over 1000 riders were in attendance, and there was even a “World Vet Cup of Nations” support class in which 13 different nations fielded three-man teams, with standout riders from Brazil, Canada, Australia, Holland, Spain, Mexico, the Channel Islands, Ireland, and Guam.

Thanks to a mid-week rain storm Glen Helen’s dirt was fantastic on Saturday and Sunday. Here, Preston Tilford (L7) leads Ryan Morais (116) in the battle for third overall in the Pasha Over-30 125 Pro class. Morais ended up third overall with Tilford fourth.

RECORD SETTING: Former factory Yamaha, Honda, Maico, Can-Am and Ammex rider Gary Jones did something that no one thought possible when he won the 2022 Over-70 World Vet Championship. The amazing thing is that the path that Gary Jones was on to set this record started back in 1987. When Jones won his first Over-30 World Championship in 1987, who knew that he would win the Over-40 title in 1992 and 1993. Then, in 2002, he won the Over-50 World Championship and backed it up with two additional Over-50 crowns in 2003 and 2004. Then, seven years later, Gary won the Over-60 World Championships in 2012 and 2013. And nine years later, which just happened to be 2022, Gary Jones swept both motos of the Over-70 World Championship. That last win meant that he is the first rider in history to win the Over-30, Over-40, Over-50, Over-60 and Over-70 World Championships.

Alan Olson is a nine-time World Vet Champion and wrenches for 26-time World Vet Champion Doug Dubach. Lori Wilson runs Glen Helen Raceway.

The closest riders to Gary’s record are Alan Olson, with nine championships split between the 40, 50 and 60 classes (while Alan might still be able to win the Over-70 class, he has no chance of ever winning the Over-30 class), and Doug Dubach, with 26 Championships split between the 30, 40 and 50 classes. Doug won’t turn 60 until June 30, 2023. While it is almost guaranteed that he will win the Over-60 class in 2023, he will have to wait ten years to try to win the Over-70 class. The kicker? Gary Jones only has to wait nine years to turn 80.

FINAL WORDS: There are lots of 30-year-old racers who could be the World Veteran Motocross Championship, but first they have to show up on the appointed day. And, it couldn’t be easier. The World Vet championship is a run-what-ya-brung race. It does not require an AMA, FIM or AARP license. There are no qualifying rounds, series points or tech inspections. All you gotta do is show up, sign up and race. See you next year!

2022 DUBYA WORLD VET MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS:

Although not considered a World Championship status class, the Over-25 riders are afforded the opportunity to experience the World Vet atmosphere in preparation for when they turn 30. Jacob Hayes (90) and winner Josh Mosiman (45) blast out the Canyon section of the track.

OVER-25 EXPERT CLASS
1. Josh Mosiman (KTM)…3-1-1
2. R.J. Wageman (Yam)…2-3-2
3. Hunter Carmody (Yam)…4-4-3
4. John Mason (KTM)…7-5-4
5. Jordan Borowski (Yam)…6-7-5
6. Jacob Hayes (Kaw)…1-2-21
7. Brett Stralo (Gas)…10-9-6
8. Manukau Autai (Yam)…8-8-9
9. Billy Leas (Yam)…9-10-7
10. Blayne Thompson (Hus)…12-6-8
Other notables: 11. Dane Rouse (11-11-DNF) 

Former AMA Pro Sean Lipanovich (505) is a Glen Helen specialist, but no one expected him to win the most prestigious of World Vet titles—the Over-30 Pro class. Never discount local knowledge as Sean used massive holeshots and hard riding to take the big prize.

2022 OVER-30 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Sean Lipanovich (KTM) …1-2
2. Sean Collier (Gas)…3-1
3. Ryan Morais (KTM)…2-3
4. Ben Lamay (KTM)…4-4
5. Guenter Schmidinger (KTM)…5-5
6. Mike Brown (KTM)…7-6
7. Preston Tilford (Gas)…9-7
8. John Mason (KTM)…6-11
9. Benny Breck (Yam)…11-8
10. Marcello Disetti (Gas)…8-12
Other notables: 11. Michael Staufer (12-9); 12. Bryce Huffman (13-10)

KTM factory test rider Michael Stauffer (7) came over from Munderfling, Austria, to finish 4th in the Over-40 Pros and 7th in the Over-30 Pros.

2022 OVER-40 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Mike Brown (KTM)…1-1
2. Kris Keefer (Yam)…2-2
3. Jeremy McGrath (Kaw)…4-3
4. Michael Staufer (KTM)…3-4
5. Mark Tilley (Kaw)…5-5
6. Danny Ham (Hon)…6-6
7. Shawn Bushnell (Hus)…7-7
8. Ryan Gauld (Yam)…10-8
9. Jim Frederickson (Kaw)…9-10
10. Jeremiah Moore (Hon)…8-11
Other notables: 11. J.R. Vielle (11-9); 12. Justyn McCabe (12-12)

Kurt Nicoll (2) suffered months of pain, by putting off hip surgery, so he could be able to race the 2022 World Vet Championship. After winning the Over-50 World title on Saturday, Kurt immediately left the track to get ready for surgery a couple of days later. That is determination, mixed with a little foolishness.

2022 OVER-50 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Kurt Nicoll (KTM)…1-1
2. Julien Cerny (KTM)…2-2
3. Bryan Sabbaugh (Gas)… 4-5
4. Scott Steffy (Kaw)… 6-4
5. Justyn McCabe (Hon)… 8-3
6. Bill Sauro (KTM)… 3-11
7. Ed Foedish (KTM)… 10-7
8. Steve Nelson (Kaw)… 9-8
9. Luther French (Yam)… 12-6
10. Arek Kruk (KTM) …7-13
Other notables: 11. Ralf Schmidt (13-10); 24. Jeff Matiasevch (11-DNF)

The Over-60 Experts head into turn two with Pete Murray (7), Ed Guajardo (27), Robert Reisinger (96) and Jon Ortner (10) at the front.

2022 OVER-60 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Pete Murray (Yam)… 1-1-1
2. Jon Ortner (Yam)…3-3-2
3. Michael Clements (Hus)… 4-4-3
4. Doug Frankos (Hon)… 5-5-4
5. Dave McGregor (Hus)… 7-6-6
6. Ed Guajardo (Yam)…6-11-5
7. Randel Fout (Hus)… 8-9-7
8. Bill Stork (KTM)…10-7-9
9. Rick Nagle (Hon)… 11-10-8
10. Jerry Hampton (KTM)…12-12-10
Other notables: 12. Andy Jefferson (2-2-DNF); 16. David Claybaugh (20-17-15)

 

Four-time 250 National Champion Gary Jones is the only rider to win the Over-30, Over-40, Over-50, Over-60 and Over-70 Expert classes. Still sponsored by Honda, it took Gary 36 years to rack up his nine World Vet wins in five different age categories.

2022 OVER-70 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Gary Jones (Hon)… 1-1-1
2. Tom Jessmer (Yam)… 2-2-2
3. Carl Gazafy (Hus)… 3-4-3
4. David Chunn (Yam)… 5-3-4
5. Dwight Catalano (Yam)… 4-5-5

Sean Collier (207) won the Over-30 125 Pro class in a surprise win over Mike Brown, who had issues in moto two. 

PASHA OVER-30 125 PRO
1. Sean Collier (KTM)… 2-1
2. Mike Brown (KTM)… 1-2
3. Ryan Morais (KTM)… 3-3
4. Preston Tilford (KTM)… 4-4
5. Bryce Huffman (KTM)… 6-5
6. Guenter Schmidinger (KTM)… 5-6
7. Dustin Pulliam (KTM)…8-7
8. Ben Griffin (Yam)…7-8
9. Joe Hall (Hus)…9-9
10. Michael Brown (Gas)…10-10
Other notables: 11. Robert Worth (11 -11); 12. Trevor Pollock (13-12)

Doug Dubach (15) closes in on Jeremy McGrath in the Over-50 125 Pro second moto. Doug’s last lap pass on Jeremy gave him the win with a 3-1 to McGrath’s 2-2.

PASHA OVER-50 125 PRO
1. Doug Dubach (Yam)…3-1
2. Jeremy McGrath (Kaw)…2-2
3. Alan Jullien (Gas)…4-3
4. Arek Kruk (Hus)… 8-4
5. Kevin Barda (Yam)… 5-5
6. Ed Foedish (KTM)… 7-6
7. Aaron Athanas (KTM)… 11-7
8. Kyle Killebrew (Gas)… 13-8
9. Rod Tapia (KTM)… 14-9
10. Ralf Schmidt (TM)… 10-10
Other notables: 14. Pasha Afshar (17-14); 26. Mike Brown (1-DNF)

EVERY WORLD VETERAN CHAMPION (1986-2022)

Doug Dubach has won 26 times in the Over-30, Over-40 and Over-50 classes. Doug has won 11 times in the Over-30 Pro class, 11 times in the Over-40 Pro class and 4 times in the Over-50 Expert class. He will be eligible for the Over-60 Expert class next year.

1986
30 …Randy Rodriques (ATK)
40 …Alan Olson
1987
30 …Gary Jones (Hon)
40 …Alan Olson

Rex Staten dominated the World Vet Championship during the time it was held at Perris Raceway—winning in 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1992.

1988
30 …Rex Staten (Hon)
40 …Alan Olson
50 …Ron Way
1989
30 …Warren Reid (Kaw)
40 …Alan Olson
50 …Ron Way
1990
30 …Rex Staten (Hon)
40 …Tom White
50 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
1991
30 …Rex Staten (Hon)
40 …Alan Olson
50 …Ron Dugan
1992
30 …Rex Staten (Kaw)
40 …Gary Jones
50 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
1993
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Gary Jones
50 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.

Alan Olson won nine World Vet titles—five in the Over-40 class, three in the Over-50 class and once in the Over-60 class.

1994
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Kent Howerton
50 …Alan Olson
60 …Fred Sessions

Canadian Zoli Berenyi won 12 World Vet crowns in the Over-50, Over-60 and Over-70 classes. He reigned from 1995 to 2006.

1995
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Kent Howerton
50 …Alan Olson
60 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
1996
30 …Erik Kehoe (Hon)
40 …Mike Webb
50 …Gary Dogget
60 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
1997
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Ron Turner
50 …Alan Olson
60 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
1998
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Ron Turner
50 …Rich Thorwaldson
60 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
1999
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Ron Turner
50 …Hideaki Suzuki
60 …John Berkezewski

Pete Murray won the Over-40 class in 2000, the Over-50 class in 2012 and the Over-60 class in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

2000
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Pete Murray
50 …Hideaki Suzuki
60 …George Spearing

Lars Larson won the Over-60 class when he turned 60-years-old in 2001, then, ten years later, he won Over-70 class in 2011 (and repeated in 2012) and, you guessed it, ten years later Lars won the Over-80 class in 2021. 

2001
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Jeff Ward
50 …Ike DeJager
60 …Lars Larsson
70 …Feets Minert
2002
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Andy Jefferson
50 …Gary Jones
60 …Eyvind Boyesen
70 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
2003
30 …Spud Walters (Hon)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Gary Jones
60 …J.N. Roberts
70 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
2004
30 …Ryan Hughes (Hon)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Gary Jones
60 …Hans Hansson
70 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.

Ryan Hughes (above) and Doug Dubach had epic battles in the Over-30 class. Hughes won four times.

2005
30 …Ryan Hughes (Hon)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Brent Wallingsford
60 …Alan Olson
70 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
2006
30 …Casey Johnson (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Kim Houde
60 …Terry Sage
70 …Zoli Berenyi, Sr.
2007
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Pete DeGraaf
60 …Bill Maxim
70 …Mike Dobbins

Thorlief Hanssen came from Sweden to race the Over-60 class in 2008—he decimated the field and probably could have won the Over-40 class.

2008
30 …Kyle Lewis (Hon)
40 …Eric Sandstrom
50 …Toon Karsmakers
60 …Thorlief Hanssen
70 …Jerry Harpole

Canadian Pete DeGraaf won the Over-50 Expert class in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. He started a new win streak in the Over-60 Experts in 2016, 2017 and 2018. 

2009
30 …Doug Dubach (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Pete DeGraaf
60 …Bill Maxim
70 …Jimmy Redwine

Former BSA factory rider and 1956 Catalina Grand Prix winner Feets Minert won the 2001 Over-70 class and ten years later he won the 2011 Over-70 Championship again, even through he was in his 80s.

2010
30 …Ryan Hughes (Hon)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Pete DeGraaf
60 …Bill Maxim
70 …Feets Minert
2011
30 …Ryan Hughes (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Pete DeGraaf
60 …Gary Chase
70 …Lars Larsson
2012
30 …Ryan Hughes (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Pete Murray
60 …Gary Jones
70 …Lars Larsson

Travis Preston won the World Vet in 2013 and 2014.

2013
30 …Travis Preston (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Doug Dubach
60 …Gary Jones
70 …Bart Kellogg

2014
30 …Travis Preston (Yam)
40 …Doug Dubach
50 …Doug Dubach
60 …Brent Wallingsford
70 …Gary Chase

KTM’s Ryan Morais took the Over-30 Pro victory in 2015.

2015
30 …Ryan Morais (KTM)
40 …Kurt Nicoll
50 …Doug Dubach
60 …Don Grahn
70 …Roque Colman
2016
30 …Mike Sleeter (KTM)
40 …Daryl Hurley
50 …Kurt Nicoll
60 …Pete DeGraaf
70 …Jim O’Neal

Mike Brown won the Over-40 Expert class in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

2017
30 …Brett Metcalfe (Hon)
40 …Mike Brown
50 …Doug Dubach
60 …Pete DeGraaf
70 …Steve Machado
2018
30 …Josh Grant (Kaw)
40 …Daryl Hurley
50 …Kurt Nicoll
60 …Pete DeGraff
70 …Gary Chase

Mike Alessi had a three-year run as the World Vet Champion (2019, 2020 & 2021).

2019
30 …Mike Alessi (Hon))
40 …Mike Brown (Yam)
50 …Kurt Nicoll (KTM)
60 …Pete Murray (Yam)
70 …Ike DeJager (Hon)
80 …Chuck Koistra (Hon)
2020
30 …Mike Alessi (Hon))
40 …Kris Keefer (Yam)
50 …Kurt Nicoll (KTM)
60 …Pete Murray (Yam)
70 …Ike DeJager (Hon)
80 …Chuck Koistra (Hon)
2021
30 …Mike Alessi (Hon))
40 …Kris Keefer (Yam)
50 …Kurt Nicoll (KTM)
60 …Pete Murray (Yam)
70 …Tom Jessmer (Yam)
80 …Lars Larsson (Hus)

Kurt Nicoll has racked with 7 World Vet Championships since 2015—one Over-40 crown and six Over-50 titles (Kurt has won the 60 class for the last 5 years in a row).

2022
30 …Sean Lipanovich (KTM)
40 …Mike Brown (KTM)
50 …Kurt Nicoll (KTM)
60 …Pete Murray (Yam)
70 …Gary Jones (Hon)
80 …Chuck Koistra (Hon)

 

Photos: Debbi Tamietti, Trevor Nelson, Dan Alamangos, Jon Ortner and MXA Archives