REM RACE REPORT: THE BRITISH, IRISH & SWEDISH RIDERS LAUGHED

On Jan 22, 2018 Last updated Nov 24, 2019

A late night shower left the Glen Helen dirt in perfect form. And you can say the same thing about Trevor Stewart’s form as he went 1-1 in the 450 Pro class. Photo: Debbi Tametti (Click on images to enlarge)

Although the the weatherman predicted rain and a cold snap for the weekend, the REM motocrossers were greeted by a track that had seen a brief shower at 2:00 a.m. in the morning and pleasant 65 degree temps. Okay, we admit that a 1/10th of an inch of rain and 65 degrees are extreme conditions for So Cal motocross racers—but, all in all, they toughed it out (to the amusement of the Swedish, British, Irish and German motocross riders in attendance who thought it as like a summer day back home).

Two-time ISDE Gold Medal winner and two-time Baja 1000 winner Justin Jones is now a full-time college student, but he hasn’t missed major race yet because of creative class scheduling. Jones went 2-2 in the 450 Pro class. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Kurt Nicoll was fast enough to have been third overall in the 450 Pro class, but he signed up as Vet Pro. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Irish racer Jim O’Neill flew in to watch the Anaheim Supercross, but had time to squeeze in an REM race before the jet lag kicked in. O’Neill went 5-5 in the 450 Pros. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Hawaiian Brian Medeiros (63) broke his finger last month at a Supercross in Pune, India, but had it plated when he got back to the States. This week’s REM was his first race back. That is Dylan Mroz (62) chasing him. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Dennis Stapleton (47) blows by Jeff Stehr (488) in the back corner of the REM track. Photo: Jody Weisel

Takasushi Kawakami (412) won the 250 Intermediate class on a YZ125 two-stroke. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Carter Dubach was third in the 250 Intermediates, but second YZ125. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Swedish racer Nicklas Gustavsson (315) went 3-3 for third in the 450 Pro class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Dutchman Ralf Schmidt won the Over-40 Expert class on a TM MX300 two-stroke. Ralf is the Dutch and American TM importer. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Does your race promoter race? REM’s Frank Thomason gets in a little racetrack recon on his Yamaha YZ450F. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

With 31 riders in the Over-50 class, this is a small part of the group climbing Mt. Whitney. Photo: Jody Weisel

Rich Stuelke went 3-3 in the Over-65 Intermediate class behind Swede Lars Larsson and Brit Tony Parsons. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Val Tamietti (31) won the Over-60 Expert class, but he didn’t seal the deal until the last lap of the second moto. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Former 1970s 125 Pro Dave Eropkin looked like he had Val Tamietti’s number in the Over-60 Expert class, but Val pulled a rabbit out of his hat to take the win with a 2-1 Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Josh Fout (78) had a good day on MXA’s 2018 Husqvarna FC450 Rockstar Edition, until he jammed his knee in a tight turn and pulled in to the pits. Photo: Jody Weisel

Success at REM comes from working all of the angles. This pack thinks ahead to the right-hand hairpin on the other side of this jump. Photo: Jody Weisel

Dan Berg’s brother Darren (2) leads Gary Stoltenberg (781) and Chuck Cook (827) in the Over-50 Novice class. Berg went 6-6, Cook 8-7 and Stoltenberg 9-11. Photo: Debbi Tamietti