REM GLEN HELEN MOTOCROSS RACE REPORT: CHRIS HAY, BILLY MUSGRAVE, BRAD CAMERON, GREG NELSON & CAREY BROWN HAVE BIG DAYS

Chris Hay used a 1-2 to defeat Joel Nelson Jr. (3-1) and Chris See (2-3) for the 450 Pro gold.

In what most Glen Helen regulars believe will be the last cool weekend before the heat of summer kicks in, the weekly REM motocross at Glen Helen benefited from SoCal’s famous “June Gloom.” It was a busy day at Glen Helen (and part of an even busier weekend). There were three races taking place at Glen Helen on Saturday (a massive Lucas Oil Offroad Truck race on the truck track, a Ponca City Qualifier on the USGP track and the REM race on the upper track). On Sunday, Glen Helen was hosting an Old Timer’s Club race on the REM track and the Yamaha Dealer Series on the USGP track.

Chris Hay: The 450 Pro battle was about as close as it could get as Chris Hay, Joel Nelson, Jr. and Chris See swapped position?especially after Mark Tilley dropped out with engine trouble. Hay’s 1-2 was enough to take the victory over Nelson’s 3-1 and See’s 2-3.


Billy Musgrave was one of four MXA test riders to race the 2012 KTM 250SX two-stroke at REM. He was also the most successful, winning the 250 Pro class with a 2-1.

Billy Musgrave: MXA has been testing the 2012 KTM 250SX two-stroke for a couple weeks now and, to test some new settings, the bike was raced in the 250 Pro class by Billy Musgrave (2-1), Over-60 Experts by Jody Weisel (3-3), Over-40 Novices by Ernie Becker (2-2) and Vet Novice by Tom Hinz (7-7). The quickest way to find out if suspension, gearing and geometry changes work is by racing.


Mark Tilley showed some speed and style in the Pro class, but his bike showed some smoke…and it blew up.

Brad Cameron: The Vet Novice victory went to Renthal’s Brad Cameron with an impressive 1-1 over a top ten of Nick Nahas (2-2), Brian Steeves (3-5), Pete Vetrano (4-3), Adam Waheed (5-4), Joe Bianchi (6-6), Tom Hinz (7-7), Harry Leitner (8-8), Chris Smith 9-11 and Rob Deeds (11-12).


450 Intermediate Nicky Carter (12) holds tight to the inside line, while 250 Intermediate Rowan Trefz (854) takes the long way around.

Greg Nelson: Winning the Over-50 Expert class at REM is incredibly difficult. It is always the biggest class with the most talent (albeit for guys born before 1961). Over the last few weekends former Indian Dune’s Pro Willy Simons has been cleaning up. And, after his first motorunaway he looked like he would notch another victory on his gun. Nope! Simons crashed on the fourth turn of the first lap of moto two. He had trouble starting his bike, got it restarted and fell ten feet later. Simons found himself, not only 45 seconds behind his Over-50 competition, by mired in the second-wave start with the Over-40 Intermediates. Willy made quick work of them, but couldn’t catch up to Greg Nelson (second in the first moto) and Dave Eropkin (fourth in moto one). Nelson’s 2-2 was good enough for the overall win, while Simon’s 3-1 earned him second in front of Dave Eropkin (4-1), Dennis Boulware (3-4), Shawn Hybarger (5-5), Joe Pena (6-10), Randy Skinner (7-7), Mike Monaghan (11-6), Willie Amaradio (9-8) and Pete Vetrano (8-9).


250 Novice winner John Milner pursues Alex Boost out of a loamy corner.

Carey Brown: Carey Brown won the 125 Adult class over Aussie Dan Alamangos, new YZ125 owner Scott Williams, Darrin Wall, Bob Barnett of ARC lever fame, Dirt Bike‘s Ron Lawson and Kevin Clark. Carey came back on the same YZ125 to finish third in the Over-40 Intermediates.


Clockwork-sponsored Gary Scott has been racing since the Carlsbad days. Scott went 4-4 in the Over-50 Novice class behind Ben Brown, Dr. Bill Harrity and Ray Glover.

Former Saddleback specialists Bill Seifert quit racing for 25 years before deciding to take it back up at the age of 60. Seifert went 4-4 in the Over-60 Expert class.

Jon Rice, grandson of 1960s star John “John R” Rice, went 2-2 on his YZ250 two-stroke in the 250 Novice class.

Doctor John Tookey (REM has an amazing number of doctors, dentists, pastors and PhD’s among its racers) went 11-8 in the Over-50 Novice class for tenth overall.

The most watched battle in the Pro class are REM is among father and son Willy (422) and Billy Musgrave (42). The elder does his best to hold off the younger, but Billy has more speed than the old man…although it takes him a few laps to get around dad. Willy won the Over-30 Pro class.

Alex Boost (11), Mark Taylor (129), John Milner (11), Braden Larson (21), Adam Waheed (41) and Jon Rice (51) race through REM’s sand bed section.

REM races again next Saturday, June 18. Practice starts at 9:00 a.m. For more info go to www.remsatmx.com

Photos by Dan Alamangos