TEN YEARS AGO TODAY! THE DAY OF THE REM MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS

 Finland’s Valterri Malin (430) used a consistent 2-2 to win the 450 Pro class.

 Photos by Dan Alamangos

This time of year many foreign riders come to SoCal for the good weather, plentiful race tracks, chance to train for their home country’s Nationals and the opportunity to catch a Supercross or two. Most of the foreigners end up at Glen Helen for the weekly REM races. REM is a laid back racing organization that caters to riders who want to race—and we mean race week in and week out. REM races approximately 40 events a year. They have lot of loyal riders, who race all 40 events.

This week’s race was held on the Glen Helen National track and was a combination of REM regulars, foreign riders and the last bastion of the Saddleback Specialist from the good old days. Here is a photo gallery of the riders and the track — shot by Australian Dan Alamangos (who is healing up from a broken hand suffered in a crash).

Sweden’s Max Von Schoting (3) won the first 450 Pro moto, but faltered to fourth in moto two. It was still good enough for second in the 450 Pro class.

Latvian Davis Ivanous (103) went 6-1 for third in the 450 Pros.

Finland’s Roope Vaatainen (62) had a 4-6 day in the 450 Pros.

American Preston Tilford (49) holeshot the 450 Pro motos, but could only score a 5-3 day for fourth in the 450s. Benny Breck (318) is second coming out of the Talladega first turn.

Latvian Karlis Sabulis used a consistent 2-2 to win the 250 Pro class. First moto winner Robbie Wagemen had a 1-7 and second moto winner Taiki Koga went 4-1.

Japan’s Taiki Koga was the best of four Japanese racers in the 250 Pro class. He was second overall behind  Latvian Karlis Sabulis.

Japan’s Ryota Baba went 5-4 for fifth in the 250 Pros behind Sabulis, Koga, Yusuke Watanabe and Robbie Wagemen.

Norway’s Haakon Karlsen’s 6-5 got him sixth overall in the 250 Pros.

Australian Chris Alamangos (16) makes the transition from going up to going down on one of Glen Helen’s steep hills.

In the 250 Intermediate class if you wonder what place you forget where you are, all you have to do is look ahead. Willy Simons, Jr. (46) went 3-2 to finish second in the 250 Intermediates behind Blake Green’s 1-1.

Hall riders: Tom White (80) was one of two AMA Hall of Famers in the Over-60 class. In fact, he was the first AMA Hall of Fame member as his 4-4 beat out Lars Larsson’s 8-6.

Our prayers are with Terry Varner (34), who collapsed in the pits with a suspected heart attack. The latest reports are that he is recovering at the hospital.

Max Lee (50), son of Troy Lee, recently switched to a KTM 125SX two-stroke and used it to win the 125 two-stroke class with a 1-2 over Derek Drake’s 5-1, Jeff Hesbol’s 2-4, Preston O’Neal’s 4-3 and Ryan Miller’s 3-7.

Aryton Ward (1), son of Jeff Ward, went 3-5 in the 250 Novices for fourth. The class was won by Cole Tompkin’s 2-1 over Richard Taylor’s 1-2. Blake Paschal was third.

Marc Crosby gets an excellent view of the road home. Marc finished 12th in the Over-50 Intermediate class.

South African Alan Julien (70) and Randel Fout (15) had terrific battles in the Over-40 Expert class. Here, Fout blows the South African out of a humped turn.

This is a classic holeshot by Jim Masters (439) as he heads to the third turn with a big lead. Ray Poltack (223) would use his CR250 two-stroke to run Masters down and win the class.

Mike Monaghan’s Husqvarna FC350 may be from Sweden (via Austria), but Mike is a Californian. Mike went 13-11 in the Over-50 Experts.

Jon Ortner (98) got the call to race MXA’s KTM 450SXF Factory Edition as part of the testing process. It wasn’t a requirement that he be color-coordinated, but the former AMA Pro is a stickler for detail.

Canadian Ryan Jackson drove down from Canada to race in SoCal with a buddy. When U.S. Customs turned his friend away at the border, Ryan drove his friend home and then headed South again.  He finally made it. Ryan overcooked it into this chicane… Photo: Bill Seifert.