2024 WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP: NO MYSTERY! YOU DON’T NEED SHERLOCK HOLMES TO SOLVE THE RIDDLE

Justin Hoeft (27) is the 2024 World Two-Stroke Champion.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI, TREVOR NELSON & KYOSHI BECKER

You don’t need Sherlock Holmes to tell you that a two-stroke is a vastly superior motocross racing engine to a four-stroke. On a per-cubic-centimeter basis, it makes 40 percent more power and does it with less weight, fewer moving parts, less cost and without the need for much in the way of technical support. The two-stroke is the ultimate powerplant for a motocross machine.

Carson Brown (1) came to Glen Helen as the odds-on favorite to win the Open Pro class. And, after his first moto rout of the competition, his victory seemed assured, but it wasn’t to be. Carson gave it everything he had to pass Justin Hoeft in the second moto, but came up short.

In fact, the two-stroke was so superior to the four-stroke when it made its first mark on racing back in 1966 that it wiped the four-stroke off of the racetracks of the world. And, the two-stroke would most likely wipe the four-strokes off the face of the earth today—if the bureaucrats, fat cats, money changers, pencil pushers, professional alibiers and downright liars weren’t in charge of the direction of the sport of motocross.

The ultimate expression of two-strokedom celebrated its 15th year of existance at Glen Helne raceway this past Saturday. What follows are the pro results and some of Debbi Tamietti’s 1000 photos and able help from Trevor Nelson and Kyoshi Becker.

Ryan Villopoto came to Glen Helen to race the Open Pro class, represent Yamaha as their brand ambassador, showcase his new Fasthouse clothing deal and enjoy himself. Ryan was a little rusty in moto one, but holeshot moto two and led for a couple laps.

Ezra Lewis raced a GasGas MC300 in the Open Pro class and got the thrill of his life when he passed Ryan Villopoto in the first moto. Ezra also raced a very rare, Pasha Racing-built 2024 Fantic XX125 in the Pasha 125 Pro class. Ezra finished seventh in both classes.

This is the last corner mistake that cost Carson Brown his shot are defending his 2023 World Two-Stroke Championship. The lesson? Never bury a two-stroke into a deep berm. Photos by Kyoshi Becker.

15TH ANNUAL WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

 

You might think that Pasha Afshar loves the taste of money, but that can’t be true because he forked out $15,000 to the front runners in the Pasha 125 Pro class, Pasha Over-30 125 Pro class and Pasha Over-50 125 Pro class. Photo by Trevor Nelson

Sean Lipanovich won two Pro classes and raked in $3500 of Pasha’s money and got four holeshots to earn $400 in Boyesen Holeshot Award dough. Photo by Trevor Nelson

Josh Mosiman (right) had the worst start of his life in the first 125 Pro moto, but started making up for it halfway around the Talladega first turn, by lap three he had passed everyone except Sean Lipanovich. But he made that happen in this corner. Unfortunately in the second moto, his chain sucked a rock into the countershaft sprocket and locked the bike up. He got it out, but lost a ton of places and ended up with a 1-10 for fifth overall. Sean Lipanovich won.

 

Kurt Nicoll (2) swept both motos of the Pasha Over-50 125 Pro class.

It wouldn’t be a legit Over-40, or Over-50 and pretty soon Over-60 race without a Kurt Nicoll versus Doug Dubach (15) battle. Doug went 2-2. 

Glen Helen has a giant racetrack, but for safety reasons, they try to keep people out of the infield. Here, the fans gather to watch the 125 Open Pro moto on the viewing deck, the roof the building and on the cliff in the background.

Everyone who comes to race at Glen Helen wants to blast through the steeply banked Talladega first turn at 70 mph and climb the big hills. This is the first third of the first big hill 

Glen Helen’s Talladega first turn can be adjusted for steepness and width. For the 2024 World Two-Stroke Championship, it wasn’t as steep as it could be, but the width was set to accommodate the riders going through the corner five-wide.

This scary crash came in the Pasha 125 Pro class. Here, Dominic Desimone loses control while taking the inside berm and his front end corkscrews into the ground

In photo 2, Dominic wrestles the front wheel straight, but it’s too late to save it.

In photo 3, Dominic Desimone’s bike continues on its merry way without him. Broc Shoemaker (left) swerves to avoid the prone rider. 

WATCH THE 2024 WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP 125 PRO AND OPEN PRO MOTOS