JAN 31–TOTAL WAR AT REM GLEN HELEN

On Jan 31, 2005

Following a night of heavy rain, the REM track was ready to race on (after major reconstruction and rerouting). The result of the downpour was a twisty, tight, rough track that handed out a beating for every foot of track traveled. By the end of the day most riders had been down at least once. Not the least of which were the Alessi brothers, Mike and Jeff.

JOSH GRANT RETURNS

Josh Grant broke his wrist this winter and the Factory Connection rider has been waiting for a chance to try it out in competition. He chose a very tough day for his maiden voyage. Grant brought friend and protege Chris Nihan with him for an attack on REM success.

Facing Grant and Nihan were the Alessi brothers, Andy Bakken, Doug Dubach, Willy Musgrave, Rich Truchinski, Bryan Begnier, Mark Tilley, Paul Kellen and Euro Gwidael Buchon.

MOTO ONE IS TOTAL WAR

In the first moto the combined Pro classes blasted off the line with Jeff Alessi getting the holeshot on his KTM 450SX. Doug Dubach, in the Vet Pro class, was second, while Mike Alessi, Chris Nihan and Josh Grant rounded out the top five. Jeff Alessi opened a safe gap on Dubach, who squelched every attempt that Mike Alessi, on a KTM 250SXF, made. Lap after lap, the 42-year-old Dubach gave Alessi fits. Finally around lap ten Alessi got by. Dubach waved Josh Grant by so that they could continue their battle. Jeff Alessi, troubled by lappers, was reeled in by Mike Alessi, who took the lead with three laps to go.

Unfortunately, Mike lost the front end in a downhill left hand turn and laid his KTM down. In his rush to get going, he looped his bike out, killing the engine, which he had trouble restarting. In the end Mike remounted, but was no longer in the running for the overall.

Josh Grant had fallen a few times, but got the win ahead of Nihan and Bryan Begnier in the 125 Pro class. Mike Alessi won the 250 pro moto ahead of Mark Tilley and Andy Bakken.

THE SECOND MOTO A-GO-GO

Following complaints by the Alessi brothers, the Vet Pro class was moved to a second gate and the 125 Intermediates, who had started in the second gate (as is the practice of REM’s multiple starts–were moved to a different race). With Dubach removed from the equation, Mike Alessi got the holeshot on his 250SXF, while Nihan and Grant were back in the pack.

With Alessi out of the overall following his first moto crash, Nihan and Grant dueled for superiority. Each made mistakes, each flopped over, but they kept coming forward. Mike Alessi pulled out a large lead and then inexplicably, his brother Jeff, who was holding down second place, crashed in the exact same corner that Mike Alessi had crashed in earlier in the day. Jeff hurt his shoulder and walked off the track. Within a lap, Grant got back by Nihan for the final time and won the 125 Pro class with a 1-2.

Doug Dubach, disappointed that he had been forced to start in a separate gate in moto two, won the Vet Pro class over Willy Musgrave and Dean Welsh.

OTHERS WINNERS FOR THE DAY

Tyler Keefe won the 125 Intermediate class ahead of Curtis Malins and Tony Blood. Tim Olson won the Vet Intermediate class ahead of former Yamaha team manager (and Jeff Emig’s mechanic) Steve Butler.

The Vet Junior win went to Jonny Benskin with Mark Kalpakoff, Wesley Turner, Sean Harris and David Stupin rounding out the top five.

Dave Baumgartner went 2-1 to win the Vet Beginner’s against National Aerobatic pilot Doug Jardine 1-3. Ron Borland went 1-1 in the 250 Junior class to beat Craig Cheever, Jamie Williams, Ben Baines and Ryan Amaradio.

There is no REM race next Saturday at Glen Helen because of a National ATV Championship. Racing resumes on February 12.

(Tim Olson sleeps after his victory)