REM MOTOCROSS: WHO SHOWS UP WHEN ITS 106 DEGREES?
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Photos by Debbi Tamietti, Dan Alamangos, Mark Chilson & Rick Stuelke
Dakota Tedder (59) used a 2-1 to win the 450 Pro class. Photo: Dan Alamangos
When it was announced by the bevy of SoCal weathermen (and a few weather women) that the temps would exceed 100 degrees for the weekend, the powers-that-be at REM figured that the turnout would be small for round 5 of the “Straight Eight” series. Surprise! The turnout was the same as the week before when the temps were 15 degrees cooler. Most REM racers are used to the heat, and many have raced at Glen Helen when the temps topped 110 degrees. They are the ones that say, “There is not much difference between 110 degrees and 116 degrees.”
MXA’s 2016 Kawasaki KX450F got a workout at REM. Dennis Stapleton (64) raced it in the Pro class and two other MXA test riders raced it in other classes,. Photo: Dan Alamangos
The riders that most REM motocrossers feel for are the Europeans—who have a rep of wilting in the heat. And there were riders from Italy, Sweden, England, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Spain and Kuwait at this week’s race. As you would expect the Brazilians, Australian and South Africans didn’t have any issues. The riders from Kuwait live in a desert much hotter than SoCal and although they don’t like hot weather (and don’t race in it back home in the middle east), they think 106 isn’t all that hot.
Two members of the Kuwaiti National team enjoyed the pleasant 106-degrees temps—”just like winter back home.” Khaled Alsanee (left) and Meshari Aboushibah (right) give the mild weather a thumbs up.
And while it was hot—it was “dry heat,” and whether you believe in dry heat or not, we promise you that 106 in SoCal is not comparable to 98 degrees with 98 percent humidity back east.
Here is a selection of photos from REM on Saturday, August 15.
Brit Stephen Heighton (59) was second in the Vet Pro class with a 1-3 to Mike Cundari’s 2-1. Photo: Dan Alamangos
Kristoffer Palm (22) raced MXA’s 2016 KTM 250SXF to the win in the 250 Pro class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
Jon Ortner hit a particularly nasty bump on the way up Mt. Whitney and did the two-step. Photo: Rich Stuelke
The 2016 KTM 450SXF didn’t want to leave the race track, but had no qualms about throwing Jon Ortner down the bank. Photo: Rich Stuelke
Amazingly, Jon climbed back up the bank and salvaged a good enough finish to win the Over-50 Elite class overall. Photo: Rich Stuelke
Ron Shuler (33) and Steve Pfaff (612) in mid-air. Pfaff would win both motos of the Over-50 Experts. Shuler was fourth with a 6-4. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
Australian Dan Almangos (86) and Joe Sutter (111) in a classic YZ125 two-stroke versus CRF450 four-stroke battle. Sutter’s 8-8 beat the Aussie’s 7-9. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
Randel Fout (19) scrunches up to keep MXA’s Yamaha YZ250F hooked up over a small rise. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
Jody Weisel (64) raced both motos on a 2016 KX450F. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
Dave Eropkin (811), Bryan Friday 943) and Val Tamietti (31) are at the sharp end of the Over-50 Expert stick. Photo: Mark Chilson
Glenn Pietronico (262) cross-rutted and went down. Photo: Dan Alamangos
Dad went down, but James Pietronico kept it upright to win the 85 Novice class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
Kurt Thomas (588) was third overall in the 250 Intermediate class. Photo: Dan Alamangos
Bob Rutten (83) is developing quite the win streak in the Over-60 Expert class. Photo: Dan Alamangos
Shane Roberts (440) went 6-10 in the 250 Novices. Photo: Debbi Tamietti
Brazilian Vinnie Angelini (yes, we know that it sounds Italian) was drafted to race MXA’s 2016 RM-Z450 because he races a Suzuki full-time and we wanted his feedback. Photo: Dan Alamangos
Trevor Stewart went 3-2 for second in the 450 Pro class. Trevor was sandwiched between Dakota Tedder (2-1) and Dominic DeSimone (1-5). Photo: Dan Alamangos
For more info about REM go to www.remsatmx.com
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