“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” MOTOCROSS RACE REPORT: BIG TURNOUT, BIG HILLS & ONE BIG CRASH

Preston Tilford (491) won the 450 Pro class with very strong rides in both motos.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI & DAN ALAMANGOS

With close to 200 riders, “Saturday at the Glen” was a busy place to be—but true to their word, the races were scheduled and run so efficiently, that every rider would get two long motos and still be out of the park by 2:00 p.m. No one expected a big turnout, but with 50 riders in the Over-60 classes, 44 riders in mini classes and 30 riders in the Over-50 classes, there were over 124 riders in just those three age groups.

MXA’s ace photographers Debbi Tamietti and Dan Alamangos split up to try to cover every section of the track. Below, you will see the 38 photos they shot

Benny Breck went 2-2 in the 450 Pro class. Here, Benny enters the very sandy back canyon section.

Finnish rider Rene Rannikko (9) took the last step on the 450 Pro podium with a 3-3.

Cody Brownfield (124) won the 250 Pro class on a Suzuki RM-Z250 with a 1-1.

Josh Fout (45) raced MXA’s Ohlins-equipped KTM 450SXF to the Vet Pro victory. 

Mark Tilley (95) won the Over-40 Expert class with a 1-1.

Shawn Bushnell (804) went 3-2 for second in the Over-40 Expert class in front of Todd Gravitt who went 2-3.

Alison Bushnell (13)  went 4-3 to get third in the Over-40 Intermediates.

David O’Connor (30 had an off-day with a 7-8 score for 7th in the Over-40 Intermediates.

Val Tamietti (31) won the Over-65 Expert class, but he didn’t leave Bill Seifert a lot of room in this left-hand bend during the first moto. Val lifts his leg to clear the front wheel of Seifert’s GasGas MC350.

With no where to go, Bill Seifert’s bike is hit by Val’s bike, sending his front wheel into the air. Seifert deserves credit for trying to ride out the collision with his hands stiil on the handlebars. 

However, once both wheels are upset, Bill Seifert is doomed to hit the ground, as Val clears the scene of the crime.

It is interesting to note that as Bill Seiferts hugs the berm, the front end of his GasGas manages to spin around and hit him in the ribs. Thankfully, his chest protectors had rib cage protection.

 

Val Tamieti (left) went over to make sure that Bill Seifert was okay after the moto. They shook hands, but Bill didn’t feel well enough to race his second moto..

Mike Monagahan (34) was  third in the Over-65 Expert class behind Val Tamietti and Dave Eropkin.

You might have seen these signs at Glen Helen. They aren’t a joke. See below:

One note to warning: three rattlesnakes were found on the outlaying areas of the racetrack on Saturday. They were all captured and taken for a ride to a less populated part of Glen Helen. But if there were three, most likely there were four. 

Pete Murray (7) is amazing. He won the Over-50 Expert class and the Over-60 Experts.

Robert Reisinger (96) went 2-2 in the Over-60 Experts.

Luc De Ley (65), on MXA”s KTM 300SX two-stroke was third in the Over-60 Experts behind Murray and Reisinger.

Randy Skinner (72) raced Jody’s Gasqvarna to a two-moto sweep of the Over-60 Intermediates.

Robot Rogers (12) was third in the first Over-60 Intermediate moto, but in the second moto he made the mistake of thinking that he could clear the Mt. Whitney Ridge (which the Pros were doing). The Mt. Whitney Ridge is a blind tabletop jump with a 100-foot downside. Suffice it to say, you should never make up your mind in the middle of a moto to do something that you’ve never done before.  Robot came up three feet short.

And this is what Robot looked like after his rear wheel clipped the top of the tabletop. He endoed down the 100-foot drop, hit his face on the handlebars, had his goggle lens pop out and cut his face (right below his right eye). Of course, he rag-dolled down the hill, but he walked away.  He cleaned himself up and headed off to a wedding, where he was sure to scare the bride.

Bill Sauro (311) did the unthinkable. He beat Pete Murray in the first Over-50 Expert moto, but Bill’s 1-2, was beat by Murray’s 2-1

Jim Hanson (83) went 2-1 for the Over-65 Intermediate class win. Pete Vetrano won the first moto, but had to settle for second overall with a 1-2.

Jumping the Mt. Whitney Ridge on the left side is easier because the hill is not as steep going over this way, but jumping over the right side is tricky and very steep.

Pasha Afshar (L1) won the 125 Expert class with a 1–1 over Robert Kuhry (3-2), Chris Packwood (2-3) and Mike Monaghan (4-4).

Greg Groom (596) has been missing for so long that he couldn’t even remember where he normally cuts the track.

Joe Sutter (111) came back to Glen Helen from his big crash on the Nationals track as a test to see if he’s ready to race—he looked ready.

Australian racer Dan Alamangos broke his tib/fib in a workshop accident several months ago. They rodded his tibula and it has been a long recovery. He’s back shooting photos because it requires a lot of hiking up and down hills, which makes his leg stronger.

Scott Hyde (521) took the Over-60 Novice class win with a 1-1 score.

Gavin Sorensen tries to cut in new berm below the rider he is chasing.

Matt Lieberman (98) was third overall in the 450 Novices, while Dirk McCoy (357) was second overall in the 250 Novices. 

Ginger Hill (104) leads Gary Taylor and Farzan Marzi (84) through the wild flowers. Ginger was 9th in the Over-60 Intermediates, while Taylor and Marzi were second and third respectively in the Over-50 Novices

Ryder won the 125 Beginner class with  1-1 in front of Jet Bushnell’s 2-2 and Joshua Packwood’s  4-3.

Mike Phillips (2) leads Joe Wilson (46) and Scott Murphy (733) in the Over-50 Novice class. By the end of the day, Murphy would go 1-1. Phillips 5-6 and Wilson 9-DNF.

Ernie Becker (87) had a week off from his race car gig and decided to spend it racing at Glen Helen. Ernie went 8-10 in the Over-60 Intermediates.

Brett Dykmans (44) used a 2-2 score to take the 85cc Beginner overall when first moto winner Reed Brenton went 1-3 and second moto winner Nicolas Vakkur posted an 8-1.

Maddox Wiggins (91), Connor Bergin (77) and Ryder Paul (411) drag race down one of the long straights on Glen Helen’s Arroyo racetrack.

Henry Gardner (94) went 2-1 to win the PW/XR Pee-Wee class over Konner Spark’s 1-2.

Ryder Pail (411) swept both motos of the 50cc 7-t0-8 year-old class. 

Riser Ramsey-Reutgen (567) was third in the 50cc 4-to-6 year old class with a 3-3.

“Saturday at the Glen” will race again on Saturday, May 13. There will only be one race in the month of May, but in June “Saturday at the Glen” wlll race on June 3, June 17 and June 24. To learn more go to www.glenhelen.com

“SATURDAY AT THE G LEN’S REMAINING 2023 RACE SCHEDULE
May 13…Spring Series #5 (National track)
June 3…Summer Series #1 (Arroyo Vet track)
June 17…Summer Series #2 (Arroyo Vet track)
June 24…Summer Series #3 (Arroyo Vet track)
July 15…Summer Series #4 (Arroyo Vet track)
July 29….Summer Series #5 (National track)
Aug. 19…Fall Series #1 (Arroyo Vet track)
Aug. 26…Fall Series #2 (Arroyo Vet track)
Sept. 16…Fall Series #3 (Arroyo Vet track)
Sept. 23…Fall Series #4 (Arroyo Vet track)
Sept. 30…Fall Series #5 (National track)
Oct. 21…Winter Series #1 (Arroyo Vet track)
Oct. 28…Winter Series #2 (National track)
Nov.3-5…World Vet Championship (National track)
Nov. 18..Winter Series #3 (Arroyo Vet track)
Dec. 9…Winter Series #4 (Arroyo Vet track)
Dec. 16..Winter Series #5 (National track)

 

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