REM GLEN HELEN MOTOCROSS: TREVOR STEWART, TONY COOKSEY & JON ORTNER CLEAN HOUSE

Trevor Stewart, who is leading the AMA National Grand Prix off-road series, was uncatchable on his Johnny Campbell Racing Honda CRF450, Trevor won both 450 Pro motos with ease. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

REM motocross  racers were surprised to see another new track layout this week, since the last time they raced the REM track at Glen Helen Raceway had a few new features. Some of those one-week-old features were removed from the track design and two long straights down the center of the stadium section of the layout were added. This allowed riders to spend more time in front of the crowd—before heading over the hills and out back.

Kurt Nicoll (2) takes the low line, while Bradley Denton (474) goes high. That leaves just enough room for the eventual second place 450 Pro, WORCS racer Dalton Shirey (46), to squeeze through the middle. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

The new track was much faster, but because there were less tight corners to brake for or accelerate from it didn’t get as rough as normal. An added plus was that the extra speed into the corners produced more lines in the turns because some riders came in too hot and some came in too slow. To accommodate the long straights, the first turn was made into a much shorter hairpin (much as it had been several years ago). Either way, motocross racers love new track designs—unless they hate them. Check out Debbi Tamietti’s and Jon Ortner’s photos from this week’s REM Motocross.

Six-year-old Logan Fout displays classic leg out counter-balancing on this flat turn on the REM Kid’s track. We wonder where he learned that trick? Photo: Debbi Tamietti

This is Logan’s dad, Randel Fout, displaying the same style on the flat-track corner that goes across the REM starting line. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

In what is an REM custom, Pro riders often pull out of the 250 Pro and Vet Pro classes and moved to the 450 Pro class to make it bigger. This often leads of surprises. Vet Pro Dennis Stapleton finished third overall in the 450 Pro class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

With the weird rainy season seemingly never ending in SoCal, Bradley Denton (474) takes advantage of the  loose soil left behind. Photo: Jon Ortner

Photo 1: In moto one of the 450 Pro class Richard Taylor (44) and Willy Simons, Jr (246), both the sons of former AMA National riders, try to fill the same space at the same time. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Photo 2: Taylor’s Suzuki submarines under Simon’s Yamaha YZ250F and they both fall—Taylor to the front and Simons to the rear. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Photo 3: Neither rider was hurt, but both had to be untangled, as Richard and Willy had their left legs trapped in the bikes. Note REM’s Frank Thomason is on the scene before they stop sliding. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Richard Taylor(44) would end up with a sixth overall in the 450 Pro class, while Willy Simons, Jr. would get fourth. Both rode amazingly well, but the incident above didn’t help their day. Photo: Jon Ortner

Keaton Ward (195) ruins his totally black-and-white motif with a splash of red on his helmet and a touch of yellow on his Husqvarna. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Brian Calhoun (713) lofts the front end in the Over-50 Expert class. The REM track was changed significantly since the last REM race. It had longer straights and lots of challenging ups and downs. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Former SoCal Pro Rich Truchinski (58) has been on the sidelines, working on his career as a financial advisor for the last ten years. This week he made a comeback as the former Tru Technologies owner finished second in the Over-50 Expert class with a 5-1. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jon Ortner (1) used a 1-2 to take the Over-50 Elite class victory, but in the first moto Craig Davis (111) didn’t give Jon any breathing room until Craig crashed on the last lap. At REM there are four different Over-50 classes — Elite (for former Pros who still have serious speed), Expert (for riders on their way up to Elite), Intermediate (for aspiring riders) and Novice (for the smarter 50 year olds). Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Mike Monaghan on a Yamaha YZ250X cross-country two-stroke won the Over-50 Expert class with a 3-2. He raced a regular YZ250 earlier this season, but decided that he liked the softer suspension, 18-inch rear wheel and mellow power of the X better. Photo: Jon Ortner

Former New Zealand National Champion and MXDN rider Tony Cooksey (16) had a good day while vacationing in SoCal. He won the Over-60 Expert class and the Over-50 Intermediates with perfect 1-1 scores. At the 2018 World Vet Championship Tony was 7th in the Over-60 class, in 2017 he was 3rd and in 2016 he was 4th. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Eddie Davis (155) and Robert Reisinger (96) battle in the Over-50 Elite class. Davis went 3-1  for second and Reisinger had a 4-4 score for fourth. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jody Weisel staring as far ahead as possible. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

At every REM rider’s meeting they present a selected rider with a custom-framed action photo. This week, Bryan Friday was awarded the photo by Rich Stuelke. You can see Rich’s REM and Old Timer’s Club photos  at www.motophotollc.com. Unfortunately for Bryan, he fractured two ribs,  separated his shoulder and broke his shoulder blade in his second moto. He spent the night in the hospital and was released the next day. Photo: Jon Ortner

Kawasaki’s Brad Puetz (45) hasn’t raced motocross since he was 16 years old, but as you can see he hasn’t forgotten what he knew. Photo: Jon Ortner

Pick your poison. Val Tamietti (YZ250  two-stroke), Mic Rodgers (FC350 Husqvarna four-stroke) and Marc Crosby (RM-Z250 four-stroke) find three pretty equal lines. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

He signed up as Randy Lesovsky, but his front number plate says “Dillon Lesovsky.” No matter, this Lesovsky won the 450 Beginner class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Rich Stuelke took up racing after he retired. He often races REM on Saturday and SoCal Old Timers events on Sunday. Rich was a High School Principal, most notably of Garden Grove’s Lake High School, before switching to being a full-time motocross racer in retirement. Photo: Jon Ortner

David Cincotta (861) and Ralf Schmidt traded 2-1 and 1-2 scores in the Over-40 Expert class. Cincotta got the win. Both were on TM two-strokes. Photo: Jon Ortner

BREAKDOWN BY MOTORCYCLE BRAND AT REM THIS WEEKEND
1. KTM…33%
2. Yamaha…30%
3. Honda…11%
4. Husqvarna…14%
5. Kawasaki…7%,
6. Suzuki…3%
7. TM..2%

REMAINING 2019 REM RACE SCHEDULE
June 8…Cahuilla Creek
June 15…Glen Helen
July 13…Glen Helen
July 20…Glen Helen
Aug. 10…Glen Helen
Aug. 17…Glen Helen
Sept. 21…Glen Helen
Oct. 4…Glen Helen
Oct. 19…Glen Helen
Oct. 26…Glen Helen
Nov. 16…Glen Helen
Nov. 23…Glen Helen
Dec. 14…Glen Helen
Dec. 21…Glen Helen

REM races at Cahuilla Creek for the last time in 2019  this next Saturday and will return to  Glen Helen on June 15. For more info about REM motocross go to www.remsatmx.com or their Facebook page by Clicking Here.