“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” MOTOCROSS REPORT: KING KONG IS BACK AFTER A LONG LAY-OFF

Will Harper (7) has been riding injured, but still managed a 3-3 day in the Over-65 Expert class. 450 Pro Preston Tilford (background) cheers Will on.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI

When the temperature dropped from its previous weeks of over a 100-degrees to just 91-degrees on Saturday, you would have thought winter had at arrived at Glen Helen Raceway. It’s no secret that Glen Helen Raceway is located approximately 15 miles away from the desert to the East and 50 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the West. In that span there is a 30-degree difference between standing in the sands of Laguna Beach or blasting into the sand section at Glen Helen. If you live anywhere outside of the West Coast, and watch your local weather channel to see what the temperature is in SoCal, you will get the beach temperature. It’s accurate for the part of SoCal that is within ten miles of the ocean, but not for any other parts of the region. For every mile you drive to the East, the air gets warmer and warmer. By desert standards, Glen Helen is balmy. Located at 2000 feet above sea level and nestled in a canyon, the racetrack has a cooling breeze and is a few degrees cooler than the closest big town (San Bernardino).

THE 450 PRO BATTLE

Sean Lipanovich (505) won the 450 Pro class with a 1-1.

The Glen Helen specialists don’t sweat the heat after the first few 100-degrees days of Summer. Instead of worrying about the mercury, they gauge the temperature by how hot it is today compared to how hot it was yesterday. Using that system, there are 105-degree days that the locals will swear are cool (because the day before it was 110). Using that scale, 91 degrees in August is almost parka weather.

Josh Mosiman (45) battled at the front in both motos of the 450 Pro class. He came to Glen Helen to put more time on the 2023 KTM 450SXF that he will be racing at the Pala National on Saturday. Sean Lipanovich (505) has plenty of time on his 450SXF and he took the win.

The “Saturday st the Glen” race promoters try to help the riders as much as they can with the heat. They start practice at 8:00 a.m., shorten the rider’s meeting to a few words, start moto one at 9:00 a.m. and organize every moto with multiple starts so that the day’s complete two-moto format has its last moto over before 2:00 p.m. Why 2:00 p.m.? Because in the days of Saddleback, Indian Dunes and Carslsbad, racers often raced as many as four days (and some nights) a week and, even if they only raced two days, the Saturday promoters, most famously “Saddleback Saturday,” made an effort to get them out of the track in time to work on their bikes so they could be at Indian Dunes or Carlsbad the next morning. And the same is true at Glen Helen, as a lot of racers will race “Saturday at the Glen” and be back at Glen Helen the next morning for whatever big race is scheduled for Sunday.

Another unspoken reason that Glen Helen tries to get the riders out by 2:00 p.m. is that temperature sky rockets at 3:00 p.m. The worst races to go to in the Summer in SoCal are the ones that hold 20 classes (racing two motos each, often with less than 6 riders on the track at a time). These races drag on into the hottest part of the day with motos spread apart by hours of down time. Glen Helen hosts those kind of races, but not at “Saturday at the Glen.”

Brian Medeiros, who won the 250 Pro class, pushed his box-stock Suzuki RM-Z250 up into the midst of the big bikes and was running third overall in the first Pro moto, but there is a price to pay when you are in the roost of the big bikes. However, Brian isn’t ducking for roost here, this friendly fire came from someone on a water hose. He will be racing the Pala National next Saturday.

As with most local tracks, the best races to watch at “Saturday at the Glen” are the Expert classes—most notably the 450 Pros, Over-50 Experts and Over- 60 Experts. Why do people want to watch the older Expert classes? Because SoCal is the home of the American motocross industry, thus more riders from the 1970s and 1980s are able to keep racing because they own a motorcycle product company, work for a motorcycle manufacturer or are still sponsored by shops, gear companies or tuners who helped them when they were the big names during their Pro days.

Preston Tilford (17) was third overall in the 450 Pro class and glad to be back on his GasGas MC450F after jumping back and forth between Will Harper’s Husqvarna FC450 and Kent Reed’s KTM 450SXF for a couple weeks.

It doesn’t hurt the spectator’s interest in the older classes that they are also the biggest classes. Week in and week out the Over-50 and Over-60 classes are jam-packed—and local riders who admired the Pros who were racing when they were young, have a vested interest in watching them race now that they are older. Additionally, since Glen Helen is getting closer to the 2022 World Vet Motocross Championship on November 5-6, older riders are coming out to get in better shape, tune their machines, work on their suspension and get a feel for Glen Helen’s different dirt compositions.

Josh Mosiman (45) was right behind Sean Lipanovich the first 450 Pro moto when he saw fellow MXA teammate (and his AMA National mechanic) Josh Fout crashed on the backside of a jump. Mosiman pulled over and ran to help his friend—after Josh Fout was checked out by the EMT’s, Josh got Josh on the back of Josh’s bike and rode back to Josh’s pits.

This week’s track had a couple tweaks to the layout. Most notably the sand section was not straight for the full length of the sand, but instead had several sweeping corners and a sand jump that wasn’t at the last “Saturday” race. Also returning to the layout was the “King Kong” tabletop. After the Red Bull X-Fighters Freestyle events left Glen Helen ten years ago, they left an enormous three-level step-up sequence that allowed the freestyle riders to backflip their way up the cliff face, Jody Weisel had the three levels turned sideways, so they could be used as tabletops. The first one at ground level was mellow, the second one was 20 feet above ground level and steeper and the third one was 60-feet tall and humongous.

This was the X-Fighters step-up to the third level back in 2012. These jump were done by going up the cliff face.

To see how big the “King Kong” tabletop is, don’t look at the two riders on the normal tabletop. The King Kong tabletop is to their left and at the top of the cliff…way up. The tabletops are built going across the cliff face, not up and down it like at X-Fighters. The banked first turn in the distance is an optical illusion, the riders on the tabletop will veer left and make two hairpin turns before they come close of the banked Mini-Talladega first turn

Over the ensuing ten years, the small tabletop has been removed and the second level tabletop became the main one. The third level tabletop wasn’t used as often because it was considered to be too big. But this week, Glen Helen’s John Allen put the “King Kong” tabletop back into the track layout. The Pros could get enough speed up the ultra-steep face to sail over it (it’s landing was just as steep as its take-off). The other classes just used it as a steep hill with a short jump to the flat on top, followed by a big drop-off jump.

What follows are Debbi Tamiettti’s photos of this past weekend’s “Saturday at the Glen” motocross. Enjoy them and maybe someday soon, you’ll be in one of them.

JON ORTNER’S GOOD DAY TURNS SOUR

Jon Ortner (10) has been racing the National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) series this year and is leading the points in the Over-50 and Over-60 Expert classes. So, when he came to “Saturday at the Glen” he signed-up for the Over-50 and Over-60 Expert classes. How did he do? He won the first motos of both classes. As for the second moto, look below.

Chasing Luther French (21) into the second corner of the second Over-50 Expert moto, Jon Ortner got cross rutted and went down.

Jon landed on his head and shoulder as Australian Dan Alamangos (75) squeezed by on the inside. The riders directly behind Jon try to move over to avoid hitting him. Here, Ron Shuler (33) collides with John Griffin (7).

Ron Shuler (33) bounces off John Griffin (7) and rebounds into Jon Ortner’s stomach with his front wheel, while Griffin tangles with Baja star Paul Krause (835).

Although Shuler tried to do everything in his power not to hit Jon Ortner, he ended up riding directly over Jon’s body, while John Griffin and Paul Krause are locked together and on their way over the outside berm.

The force of Shuler’s KTM 450SXF hitting him rolled Ortner over, while Ron Shuler pulled the front brake hard enough not to run completely over Ortner.

When Jon Ortner got back to the pits (and called it a day), he had ample evidence that he had been run over—made evident by the tire tracks across his stomach.

THE BIG WINNERS ON THE DAY

Dirt Bike Magazine’s Mark Tilley went 1-1 in the Over-40 Expert class.

Luther French (21), who stayed clear of the Jon Ortner crash in the second moto, took advantage of Ortner’s absence to win the Over-50 Expert class overall with a 2-1.

Robert Reisinger (95) cuts from the outside berm to the inside berm. It must have been the hot line because he won the Over-60 Expert class.

Val Tamietti (31) missed the start of the first Over-65 Expert moto, even though arch-rival Bob Rutten waved his arms to tell the starter to wait for Val. The starter didn’t wait. Val got to the line about 20 seconds too late, but came through the 12 riders between him and Rutten, but he couldn’t catch Bob. But, Val’s second place in the first moto was good enough for the overall when he won the second moto. Val’s 2-1 beat Rutten’s 1-2.

Randy Skinner (72) is another rider who is racing with an injured shoulder, but he was so happy to be assigned to race MXA’s 2023 GasGas MC450F (his favorite bike), that he forgot the pain. He went 1-1 in front of Pete Anagnos 2-2, Todd Wiseman’s 3-3, Arnie Davis’ 4-4, Bill Reimer’s 5-5 and Jim Hanson’s 6-6 .

Corby Reutgen (513) used a 2-1 to win the Over-60 Novice class over Chuck Cook’s 1-2. In front of Corby is Over-65 Intermediate winner Phil Cruz (950),

Chad Tewksbury (45) may not look like it in this frozen moment in time, but he was the class of the Over-40 Novices.

Scott Murphy (733) took the Over-50 Novice victory by sweeping both motos.

Daniel Castillo (122) took his GasGas MC250F to a 1-1 sweep of the 250 Beginner class.

Lucerne Valley’s Angel Vargas went 1-1 in the 125 Beginner class.

THAT OLD GANG OF MINE

Because of his Over-50 Expert crash, Ortner didn’t line up for the second moto of the Over-60 Experts (where he had won the first moto). This left Ed Guajardo (27) and Robert Reisinger (95) to fight it out for the overall. Guajardo led Reisinger for most of the second Over-60 Expert moto, but got too protective of the inside lines and Reisinger swept by him on the outside of a right-hand sweeper to go 3-1 and beat Guajardo’s 2-2.

MXA’s Jody Weisel two fingers the clutch, while using one finger on the front brake on MXA’s 2023 Husqvarna FC350.

MXA’s Dan Alamangos (76) was winning the Over-50 Expert class after Jon Ortner crashed, but had to give the lead up when the red flag came out for Ortner. Dan went 6-6 in subsequent starts to finish fifth overall.

All day long Mike Monaghan’s (34) YZ125 two-stroke suffered from a coolant leak. He changed the radiator cap, checked the hoses and inspected the radiators. The first person he asked for help after racing four motos (while filling up his radiators between races), said, “Most likely you have a blown head gasket.” Which proved to be true.

Ron Lawson (12) hugs the inside of this turn because it is close enough to the foliage in the background to make his camo gear make sense.

Luc DeLey (82) has been trying all year to make the podium in the Over-60 Expert class on his GasGas MC250F. This was the week. Luc’s 4-3 got him third overall behind Robert Reisinger and Ed Guajardo.

Bob Rutten (83) obviously got roosted as his orange bike, white front number plate, white boots and jersey are splattered brown.

Rich Hurtado’s GasGas MC450F stands out with its Over-the-Hill-Gang yellow number plate backgrounds and black numbers. Richard went 7-6 in the Over-50 Novice class.

Tehachapi’s Frank Blanks (8) raced a KTM FreeRide electric bike to a 6-5 score in the Over-30 Novice class. It was good enough for fifth overall.

THE 50s, 65s & 85s

Bryson Rowney (99) won both motos of the 7-to-8 year old Pee-Wee class.

Dillon Chipman (556) and Jagger Anderson (16) do their best to look like Chase Sexton and Eli Tomac. Chipman went 1-8, while Anderson went 6-5 in the 4-to-6 year old Pee-Wee class.

Ryder Paul (411) flew to third in the 4-to-6 year old Pee-Wee class.

Connor Bergin (77) was all-business on his way to victory in the PW50 class.

Dakota Ramos (27) was second in the Pee-Wee class on his Cobra and came back on a Yamaha YZ65 to end up in a three-way tie for second place with Carson Stevenson’s 4-2 and Tate Anderson’s 3-3. Unfortunately, Dakota’s 2-4 ended up fourth overall.

THIS WEEK’S SELECTED WINNERS

450 Experts…Sean Lipanovich (KTM)
250 Experts…Brian Medeiros (Suz)
Over-40 Experts: Mark Tilley (Kaw)
Over-50 Experts: Luther French (Yam)
Over-60 Experts: Robert Reisinger (Hus)
Over-65 Experts: Val Tamietti (Yam)
450 Intermediates: Tyler Nichols (Gas)
Over-30 Intermediates: Braden Larson (Hus)
Over-40 Intermediates: Adrian Spiker (KTM)
Over-50 Intermediates: Morgan Pierce (Yam)
Over-60 Intermediates: Randy Skinner (Gas)
Over-65 Intermediates: Phil Cruz (Hus)
Over-30 Novices: Steve Severance (Kaw)
Over-40 Novices: Chad Tewksbury (Yam)
Over-50 Novices: Scott Murohy KTM (Yam)
Over-60 Novices: Chad Tewksbury (Yam)
450 Novice…Corby Reutgen (KTM)
250 Novices: Jantzen Tani (KTM)
250 Beginner: Daniel Castillo (Gas)
450 Beginner…Chris Hand (Kaw)
125 Expert…Tim Beatty (Yam)
125 Intermediate…Michael Lopez (Hon)
125 Novice…Hayden Herman (Yam)
125 Beginner (KTM) Angel Vargas (KTM)
Women… Shana Tamayo (KTM)
85 Beginners: Eli Hicks (Hus)
85 Class: Jack Aaron (KTM)
65 Beginner: Joshua Tamayo (Yam)
65 Class: Jaiven Martin (KTM)
Pee-Wee (4 to 6)…Tate Anderson (Cob)
Pee-Wee (7-to-8)…Bryson Rowney (KTM)
Pee-Wee (PW/XR)…Connor Bergin (Yam)

How hard do you have to launch to get the holeshot? Josh Mosiman (45) and Sean Lipanovich (505) demonstrate (and the guys in the second gate will never line up directly behind them ever again).

“Saturday at the Glen” motocross will race again on September 10, September 17 and October 1. Pre-entry is only $30 ($25 for minis). Post entry is $40 ($30 for minis) on the day of the race. The Gate fee is $10 (per person). You can sign up for the next “Saturday at the Glen” motocross as late as the Friday before the next race. For more info go to www.glenhelen.com

 

 

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