REM RACE REPORT: TREVOR STEWART IS HOT, THE WEATHER IS COOL

Trevor Stewart is setting up for a right-hand sweeper by jumping this step-up on the outside corner and arcing the bike into the turn for when he lands. Photo: Jon Ortner

Photos by Debbi Tamietti, Jon Ortner & Dan Alamangos

When the heat wave disappeared on Friday morning, every motocross racer in SoCal knew that by the weekend the temps would be cool—with a chance of drizzle to help keep the tracks moist with the help of cloud cover. Virtually every motocrosser heading to Glen Helen Raceway on the 15 or 215 Freeways had to drive through a few small rain storms, but when they got to the Palm Avenue exit, the steady drizzle disappeared.

Bradley Denton was third in the 450 Pro class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

After month of hot humid weather, this was the change that everyone was waiting for, but this is California, so there is a pretty good chance that the hot weather will return sometime in the next week or two—whether it will be October or not.

Last week’s 450 Pro winner had to settle for second this week. Photo: Dan Alamangos

The rail birds always enjoy when Trevor Stewart comes to REM to race thw 450 Pro class. Formerly a full-time motocross racer, Trevor got an off-road ride with Johnny Campbell Racing and if anything it has made him an even faster motocrosser. Stewart carried more speed through the corners than his 450 Pro rivals and easily won over last week’s winner Todd Sibell, Simi Valley’s Bradley Denton and Hawaiian Pro Brian Medeiros. The 250 Pro class was won by Daniel Vanderziel, while Tony Amaradio took the Vet Pro victory.

Brian Medeiros throws all of his ample body weight into turning his Husky FC450. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Vet Pro winner Tony Amaradio. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

In the Intermediates Tyler Nicholls was the 450 victor, while Parker Alley took the 250 gold. Craig Davis swept both motos of the Over-40 Expert class beating Dutch racer Ralf Schmidt and movie bad guy Pasha Afshar.  In the Over-40 Intermediate class Daniel Eickholt went 1-1 in front of Xenofon Angelus’ 2-2.

There are places where you don’t want to look at the side of the track. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

All eyes were on the Over-50 Elite/Expert class as Ed Foedish had come over from Arizona to get in some pre-World Vet Championship practice, while Craig Davis, Luther French, Jon Ortner and Ron Shuler filled out the Elite ranks. Craig Davis needed a come-from-behind win to take the overall Elite prize and that is exactly what he did to best Jon Ortner’s 2-2, Ed Foedish’s 3-3, Ron Shuler’s 5-4 and Luther French’s 4-5.

Meanwhile in the hard fought Over-50 Expert ranks the battle boiled own to Will Harper against Australian Dan Alamangos. With a lap to go, the Aussie was on the Hollywood stuntman’s tail for the first moto win, but at the bottom of the steepest downhill, Alamangos pushed a little too hard and went off the edge of a cliff-like bank. By the time he pulled his bike and body back up to the top, he had been passed by C.T. Falk, Joe Sutter and Pasha Afshar (doing double duty in the Over-40 Experts and Over-50 Experts). The Aussie’s 5th place in moto one ended his chance of stringing back-to-back Over-50 Expert wins. But, Dan did come out for moto two and ran the fast starting Harper down to win the moto. Overall, it was Will Harper first with a 1-2, C.T. Falk second (2-3) and Dan Alamangos third (5-1) followed by Joe Sutter (3-5), Fred Nichols (6-4), Pasha Afshar (4-7), Ray Poltack (7-8), Mike Monaghan (9-6 ) and Robbie Carpenter (8-10).

Mike Monaghan clips Fred Nichols’ (56 ) rear wheel and gets thrown off balance. Photo: Dan Alamangos

As Dave Eropkin (811) comes up the inside of Mike Monaghan, Mike’s handlebar catches on Dave’s side panel. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Mike goes down. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Phil Cruz went 1-1 to win the Over-60 Intermediate class over Kent Reed (3-2), Mitch Evans (2-4), Owin Wright (5-3), Curtis Jablonski (4-6) and Mark Moore (6-5). In the Over-65 Intermediates, which is basically the 0 to 100 class, Brian Martin swept both motos—even though his starts weren’t all that impressive.

Ed Foedish has some work to do before the World Vet, where he has finished in the top three before. He led the Over-50 Elite class at REM, but faded at the end. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Luther French (2) is shadowed by buddy Ron Shuler (33). They would split 4-5 and 5-4 score in the Over-50 Elite class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

The next high profile class, and the biggest classes at REM was the Over-60 Experts. Dave Eropkin (2-1) took the win over Will Harper (one of several Over-60 riders who also ride the Over-50 class). Val Tamietti, who had gotten the holeshot in moto one to take the first moto win, ended up 4th in moto two. His 1-4 was good enough for third place. Bob Rutten went 4-5 for 4th, with Joe Pena’s 6-6 netting him 5th. Of note in the Over-60 Experts was that Mike Monaghan crashed in the first moto and broke the chain on the 2020 KTM 150C-W TPI fuel-injection bike that he borrowed  from Dirt Bike Magazine‘s Ron Lawson. For the second moto Mike borrowed MXA‘s 2020 KX250 and raced it to third place. Mike also raced the KX250 in the Over-50 Expert race and crashed the KX250 down the same cliff that Dan Alamangos flew off of earlier in the day.

Jon Ortner (94) and Craig Davis (811) picked up where they left off last weekend at REM. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Rubbing is racing. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

But you can end up rubbing your whole body on the ground if you aren’t careful. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Dan Alamangos almost had back-to-back Over-50 Expert wins, but he went over a cliff. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Former Pro Circuit Husky rider and professional sports car racer Ernie Becker floats over a rise. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Dave Eropkin (811) got revenge on last week’s Over-60 Expert winner Will Harper. Eropkin’s 2-1 beat Harper’s 3-2. Photo: Jon Ortner

Will Harper heading out back at REM. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Josh Fout (95) raced the Open Vet class because it was in the same moto as the Pros. He likes the challenge. Photo: Jon Ortner

Randel Fout was testing spring rates on the 2020 Kawasaki KX250. Both the stock front and rear springs are too stiff for the average sized 250 racers. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

You don’t want to know how Mitch Evans (4) ended up inside this giant tractor tire, but it has something to do with his bike hitting the tire at speed. Photo: Jon Ortner

Mark Moore does his best tea kettle impression. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Mike Monaghan on one of the two bikes he wrecked at REM. This is a 2020 KTM 150XC-W TPI two-stroke. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

At this point of the start your front wheel had better be on the dirt, not still on the concrete. On the far outside Val Tamietti has a small lead. Photo: Jon Ortner

At this point of the start, Val Tamietti has turned that small lead off the gate into a big lead  Photo: Jon Ortner

Will Harper (7) and Ken Ehlers (103) try to share the same rut. Photo: Jon Ortner

Cole Cereoli (128) won the 450 Novice class, while Brandon Woods (56) was second in the Vet Novice and Renan Bayar (73) took the Vet Beginner win. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

For a Brit, Tony Parsons is pretty smart. Here, he gets out of the way as an Over-60 Expert freight train of Val Tamietti (31), Will Harper (7) and Ron Shuler (behind Val) blow by him. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Dirt Bike Magazine’s Ron Lawson took his KTM 250XC two-stroke (note the kickstand) to a 9-8- day in the Over-60 Experts. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Darren Berg went 8-6 in the Over-50 Novices.  Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Lots of guys can whip it, but this is absolutely flat. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

During a break in REM’s weekly race schedule ace photographer Debbi Tamietti went on vacation to Kaui. MXA test rider Brian Medeiros had his father and family give Debbi the royal Hawaiian treatment during her stay on the island. Brian’s dad picked Brian’s favorite tea leaves and his grandma wove them into the same lei that he raced with on his bike when he was a kid. Debbi brought the lei to REM and Brian ran them on his handlebars. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

MXA’s Jody Weisel raced a YZ450F and a KTM 450SXF at REM. He was one of ten MXA test riders at REM this week. They included — Ortner, Becker, Monaghan, Alamangos, Medeiros, Crosby, Skinner and the Fouts (Randel and Josh). Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Our fearless leader, REM’s Frank Thomason. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

REMAINING 2019 REM RACE SCHEDULE
Oct. 12…Glen Helen
Oct. 26…Glen Helen
Nov. 16…Glen Helen
Nov. 23…Glen Helen
Dec. 14…Glen Helen
Dec. 21…Glen Helen

REM will be back at Glen Helen on October 12. For more info about REM motocross go to www.remsatmx.com or their Facebook page by Clicking Here.