NOV. 2–DUBACH WINS OVER-40 CROWN ON SATURDAY

Saturday, November 1: After a week of fires, including one that burned up the hillsides at Glen Helen Raceway, the 19th Annual World Veteran Championship started without a hitch on Saturday November 1. The only World Veteran title up for grabs on Saturday was the Over-40 Championship (although there was a full day of racing for all the other classes, but the Over-30, Over-50, Over-60 and Over-70 titles are decided on Sunday).

DUBACH SMOKES EVERYBODY IN THE FIRE ZONE

Amazingly, a freak SoCal rain storm ended all concerns about the fire, smoky air or track conditions. As a full field lined up behind Glen Helen’s starting gate for the Over-40 World Championship, all eyes were on Doug Dubach. The nine-time (and current) Over-30 Champion was the odds-on favorite to win his tenth title, but he wasn’t as sure as the spectators. Dubach, a Yamaha factory test rider, had compressed a vertebra in his neck a week ago and couldn’t turn his head. Although he was focused on winning Sunday’s Over-30 Championship, he came to Saturdays Over-40 race to see if he was fit to ride. He was.

DUBACH, MUSGRAVE AND TEDDER

Doug won both motos by large margins. MXA test rider Willy Musgrave was second both times with Matt Tedder third in both motos. Back in the pack the results were all shook up. Pete Murray finished fourth in moto one ahead of Eric Baker, Canadian Zoli Berenyi, Jr., Rob Engel, Texan Michael Clement, Jon Nelson and Jon Ortner.

Moto two saw Dubach, Musgrave and Tedder in the top three spots, but the rest of the field was rearranged. Near the end of moto two Pete Murray made a pass that would have earned him fourth overall of the day, only to lose the front end and fall down. Murray lost three places in the process–and ended up sixth overall. Former Canadian National Champion Zoli Berenyi finished fourth and got fourth overall. Fifth went to Eric Baker. Baker’s 5-8 nipped Murray’s 4-9.

BAD DAY FOR LOTS OF RIDERS

Florida’s Kevin Foley finished fifth in moto two, but failed to score any points in the first moto.

Tahoe’s Shawn Hybarger was the victim of other riders in both moto and ended the day with a 15-12 score.

Four-time 250 National Champion Gary Jones tried to double class it on Saturday by riding both the Over-50 Pro class and the Over-40 Pros. He won the 50 class, but was a little tired in the 40 class and ended up with a 16-20 day. He will try to win the his second Over-50 title on Sunday (he has already won the Over-30 and Over-40 titles in the past).

Texan Michael Clement had a good first moto, but sucked a plastic pennant into his front brake in moto two while running fourth. He dropped out and went 8-36.

Spain’s Felix Millet went 21-14 for 14th overall (and a long flight home).

The Over-40 Pro class had riders from three countries and 12 states (California, Minnesota, Iowa, Texas, Wyoming, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho and Utah).

OVER-40 WORLD VET CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Doug Dubach…Yam
2. Willy Musgrave…Yam
3. Matt Tedder…Hon
4. Zoli Berenyi, Jr….Suz
5. Eric Baker…Hon
6. Pete Murray…Suz
7. Rob Engel…Yam
8. Jon Nelson…Suz
9. Jon Ortner…Yam
10. Rick Nagle…Yam