REM GLEN HELEN RACE REPORT:

Hawaiian Brian Medeiros got a great start in the second 450 Pro moto and was untouchable at the front on his 2020 Husqvarna FC350.  Photo: Debbi Tamietti

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI, DAN ALAMANGOS & JON ORTNER

Braden O’Neal went 2-2 in the 450 Pro class. It ended up as a three-way tie between Medeiros (3-1), O’Neal (2-2) and Sibell (1-3). Photo: Dan Alamangos

This weekend’s REM motocross was the last race of the 2019 season. The 2019 REM series was 30  races long and started last January. For the hard-core REM racers it was a long haul, yet even though it came to an end on Saturday they were bummed that they would have to wait 19 days before the 2020 season started on January 11, 2020. Here is a quick glimpses of what happened at the big final motocross of the year.

Traffic jam on the I-94. In this photo you can see 450 Pro winner Brian Medeiros (934) going up Mt. Whitney, Over-40 Expert winner Alan Jullien (94) jumping out of the bowl and 250 Intermediate winner Brett McCormick (929) dropping into the bowl. Photo: Jon Ortner

Max Lee (50) won the 250 Pro class, but he had to work his way through some persistent 450 Pros to get to the front. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Mark Tilley (95) came out to Glen Helen so his son Jacob could ride the 65 class, but Mark decided to go out and roost some dirt since he was there anyway. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Brook Whipple (13) went 3-3 in the 250 intermediate class. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Photo 1: The hardest pass to make is going the long way around a guy who holds the good inside line, but Alan Julien (94) has come the long way around Tyler Nichols, but Tyler has no intention of giving the place up.  Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Photo 2: Julien (94) manages to get his front wheel in the rut that Nichols is intent on holding on to. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Photo 3: They both burp the throttle to try and close the gap, but Julien has the spot—although Tyler Nichols front tire is peeling Julien’s Gaerne boot down. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Josh Fout (38) was joined by Jon Ortner in testing the 2020 TM 300FI-MX four-stroke this week. Josh had a little trouble in moto one when the Neken crossbar pad started flapping around. He calmly reached down at speed and pulled it off and stuck it in the pocket on his vest. You can see it sticking out.  Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Randy Skinner leads this quartet out of this tight left-hander with his leg sticking out. He is chased by Jim Hansen, Mike Monaghan (16) and Will Harper (7). Photo: Debbi Tamietti

This pack includes Over-50 Elite winner Craig Davis (811), 250 intermediate winner Brett McCormick (929), Tyler Nichols (55), Josh Fout (38) and Tyler O’Hara (399). Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Luther French (2) and buddy Ron Shuler (33) engage in a little intramural war. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Dan Alamangos wears the white gear that he normally saves for when he is on a Husky. Dan was 6th in the Over-50 Experts with a 7-6 score. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Joe Sutter (111) went 5-5 to get fifth in the Over-50 Experts. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Pasha Afshar (L7) had one of his best days, even leading motos, when he finished 4th overall in the Over-50 Expert class (in front of Sutter and Alamangos), but he ended up behind Mike Monaghan (84), who passed Pasha here for third overall. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jim Hanson, Arnie Davis (119) and Hollywood stuntman Mark Donaldson (36) fly in formation. Donaldson raced a KTM 125SX this week, he had not raced a two-stroke in a decade, but he wanted to try. He got last place starts in both Over-60 Expert motos, but passed his way up to sixth in both motos before crashing back to last. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Will Harper (7) won the Over-60 Expert class with a 1-1 and came back to finish second in the Over-50 Experts with a 2-2. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Todd Sibell looked like he was going to win the 450 Pro class after dominating the first moto. A crash in moto two cost him the win. Todd was third, but at least he used all of the track and then some. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

It is probably still under warranty. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Lane Reiter (83) won the 450 Novice class on his all-white Suzuki RM-Z450. Lane and Greg Groom were the only Suzukis at REM. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

In the background behind Josh Fout (38) you can see the rise and fall of the REM race track. Photo: Jon Ortner

Randy Skinner aimed for the inside berm and hit it perfectly. Next time he needs to try to hit it with his wheels. Photo: Jon Ortner

The 450 Pro leaders are headed through the roller coaster section, while the riders going the opposite direction are a half a lap behind Medeiros (934) and O’Neal (127). Photo: Dan Alamangos

Bill Reimer (71) and Glenn Pietronico (262) battled over third place in the Over-50 Intermediate class. Reimer’s 3-3 score got it over Pietronico’s 4-4. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Lonny Paschal (51) finished behind Reimer and Pietronico in the Over-50 Intermediates. His 5-6 was good enough for fifth. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

You may remember Greg Groom (596). He is famous for the “Greg Groom Creative Line Award,” which is shorthand for cutting the track. This week Greg, racing here with Jody Weisel (96), didn’t cut the track, but he was penalized 5 spots for backing off the gate by 15 feet and getting a rolling start at it. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

450 Pro winner Brian Medeiros raced the 250 Nationals last year, but wanted to switch to the 450 Nationals for 2020. Brian had trouble staying onboard his Husqvarna FC450, so Husqvarna’s Andy Jefferson suggested that he switch to an FC350 because at 130-pounds, it would feel like a 450 to him, but be easier to throw around. And it looks like it is. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Dan Alamangos thinks that having a orange cone close by will keep the riders from roosting him while he’s shooting photos. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

The Jullien Brothers were out in force at Glen Helen this week. Alan (far left) won the Over-40 experts class and brother Glen (far left) went 7-7 in the Over-50 Novices. Mark (center) came from Dubai to support the family racing tradition. Photo: Jon Ortner

This tattoo works not only for motorcycle throttles, but can be used for thumb throttles also. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Last week AMA Pro Mitchell Falk gave REM’s Frank Thomason a bundle of his left-over 2019 race gear—and told Frank to give it away at the rider’s meeting or as prizes. Zac Carmichael was the big winner and won a complete set of Falk’s gear—including helmet pants and jersey. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

REM starts its 2020 rmotocross season on January 11. For more info about REM motocross go to www.remsatmx.com or their Facebook page by Clicking Here.

EVERYBODY LOVES A RACE PHOTO—DEBBI HAS THEM

Give Debbi a day or two to process this week’s REM photos to her SmugMug account and then browse to your hearts content. You can order digital photos of yourself or friends from her page—for as little a $1.50. To look at this week’s REM race (posted in a couple days) and Debbi’s favorites photos go to www.debbitamietti.smugmug.com