“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” MOTOCROSS RACE REPORT: A ROAD TRIP 100 FEET TO THE NATIONAL TRACK

Sean Lipanovich (505) was the easy winner of the 450 Pro class.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI & DAN ALAMANGOS

“Saturday at the Glen” is only five races old, but seems to have found a strong following with former REM racers and a new group of younger riders. With inexpensive racing (at only a $10 gate fee and $30 pre-entry), it is hopefully building momentum. As always the biggest classes at “Saturday at the Glen” were the Over-50 Experts and the Over-60 Intermediates, while the best racing was found in the Over-50 Experts, where Pete Murray, Eddie Davis, Bill Sauro, Troy Cardiel and Phil Dowell battled it out in the top five. In what to many was a surprising outcome, Eddie Davis managed to beat 5-time World Vet Champion Pete Murray for the overall.

Murray, who is old enough to be a two-time Over-60 World Champion, came right back to win both motos  of the Over-60 Experts class over Zaca station Ed Guajardo, 6D Helmet’s Robert Reisinger, former CMC number one Val Tamietti, Saddleback specialist Luc DeLey, Fred Nichols, Robert Pocius and Dirt Bike Magazine editor Ron Lawson.

Dennis Stapleton (184) won the Vet Pro class (and finished second out of the combined 250/450 pack of riders behind Sean Lipanovich). Dennis was one of several Pros getting ready for the Pala and Hangtown AMA 450 Nationals.

Meanwhile, Tamietti, who recently turned 65, faced down current Over-65 points leader Bob Rutten to win both motos in super close battles. There were several close battles on Saturday, including a three-way tie in the Over-50 Intermediate class with three riders having 4 points after their two motos. Kenny Arndt’s 3-1 took the win over Cole Gress’ 2-2 and Don Goettling’s 1-3.

The Pro classes fell to Sean Lipanovich (450), Brian Medeiros (25) and Dennis Stapleton (Vet)

Normally, the “Saturday at the Glen” races are held on the former REM track that is situated above the Glen Helen main track, but this week the race was moved to the National track. What follows are the action shots of Debbi Tamietti and Dan Alamangos as “Saturday at the Glen” took over the Glen Helen National track:

Preston Tilford (17) was officially second overall in the 450 Pros on his new GasGas MC450.

450 PRO
1. Sean Lipanovich (KTM)…1-1
2. Preston Tilford (KTM)…2-2
3. Casey Casper (Kaw)…3-3

Casey Casper (280) raced a Kawasaki KX450 to a 3-3 day.

VET PRO
1. Dennis Stapleton (Hus)…1-1
2. Josh Fout (Yam)…2-2
3. Michael Lopez (Ho)…3-3

Ekolu Suspension’s Brian Medeiros (934) came to Glen Helen to iron out the bugs in his YZ250F before heading to Pala on May 28. Photo: Dan Alamangos

OVER-50 EXPERTS
1. Eddie Davis (Yam)…2-1
2. Pete Murray (Yam)…1-3
3. Bill Sauro (KTM)…3-2

Josh Fout (155) rode his YZ450FX off-road bike, the same one he uses for WORCS, SRA and the Lake Havasu GP, to get second in the Vet Pros and come back one moto later to win the Open Expert class.

OVER-50 INTERMEDIATES
1. Kenny Arndt (Kaw)…3-1
2. Cole Gress (KTM)…2-2
3. Don Goettling (Hus)..1-3

This is the front half at the start of the Pro race. Sean Lipanovich (505) has a half  bike lead on Dennis Stapleton (184), with Tyler Nichols (55), Brian Medeiros (95) and Casey Casper (280) are fighting for third.

OVER-60 EXPERTS
1. Pete Murray (Yam)…1-1
2. Ed Guajardo (Yam)…2-2
3. Robert Reisinger (Hus)…3-3

Jaxzen Tully (110) swept both motos of the 250 Intermediate class.

OVER-60 INTERMEDIATE
1. Robot Rodgers (Hus)…1-1
2. Stephen Watson (KTM)…3-2
3. Arnie Davis (KTM)…2-3

Brett Fox (29) led a strong Over-40 Intermediate field to the checkers in both motos. Photo: Dan Alamangos

OVER-65 EXPERTS
1. Val Tamietti (Yam)…1-1
2. Bob Rutten KTM)…2-2
3. Pete Vetrano (Hus)…4-4

Eddie Davis (155) can be rightfully proud for dueling head-to-head against Pete Murray in both motos of the Over-50 Expert class. And, even more proud for taking a 2-1 win over the five-time World Vet Champion’s 1-3 (Murray fell late in the second moto while chasing Davis.)

OVER-65 INTERMEDIATES
1. Sam Lupear (TM)…1-1
2. Donnie Quanstrom (TM)…2-2
3. Duane Joice (Kaw)…4-3

Pete Murray (7) didn’t dwell on his loss in the Over-50 Expert class, as he rebounded to win both motos of the Over-60 Expert class in front of  Ed Guajardo (27), Robert Reisinger, Val Tamietti, Luc De Ley, Fred Nichols, Robert Pocius and Ron Lawson.

250 INTERMEDIATES
1. Jaxzen Tully (Hon)…1-1
2. Chris Chapman (Gas)…2-2
3. Damian Collier (Hon)…3-3

Robert Reisinger (96) powers over the Log Cabin tunnels on his way to a 3-3 day in the Over-60 Experts.

OVER-30 INTERMEDIATES
1. Caleb Rice (Hus)…1-2
2. Joel Licon (Yam)…3-1
3. Braden Larsom (Hus)…2-3

Robot Rodgers (5), of Saddleback fame, got a new Husqvarna FC450 motocross bike and swept both moto of the Over-60 Intermediate class. No Surprise though, because he was winning this class before on his Husky FE450 enduo bike.

OVER-40 INTERMEDIATES
1. Brett Fox (Hon)…1-1
2. Stephen Moore (KTM)…2-2
3. Greg Anderson (KTM)…3-4

Back in the day Bob Rutten (83) dominated in the desert and Val Tamietti (32) dominated Saddleback Park. Now, all these years later, they are trying to prove which one of them dominates the Over-65 Expert class. This weekend, it was Val Tamietti.

OVER-30 NOVICE NOVICES
1. Michael Oetzell (KTM)…1-1
2. Mark Taylor (Yam)…2-2
3. James Calle (Yam)…3-3

Joe Sutter (111) was taken out on the steep Shoei downhill, that the locals call “The Falls,” when the rider in front of him fell and Joe hit his bike and was catapaulted head first down the hill. Fellow racer Bruce Ashmore gave up his fourth in his first moto to drive Joe home to Calabasas. Joe reported from the hospital that he broke three ribs, compressed L3 and L5 and broke a tooth.

OVER-40 NOVICES
1. Rick Richards (Suz)…1-1
2. Robert Alves (Yam)…2-2
3. Gary Taylor (KTM)…3-3

Marc Crosby (17) leads Pete Vetrano (37) in the Over-60 Intermediates. They would finish in the same order for 5th and 6th. After the races, Marc would return to his dental offices to fix Joe Sutter’s broken teeth at 9:00 p.m. that night.

OVER-50 NOVICES
1. John Murray (Gas)…1-1
2. Alfredo Arratia (Hon)…3-3
3. Aaron Lunsford (Hon)…5-2

Before Australian racer Dan Alamangos (42) was hospitalized for a month with Covid 19 he was a threat to win the Over-50 Experts. Now, he has one good moto and falls apart in moto two. He’s working on a plan to get back to where he was.

OVER-60 NOVICES
1. Chuck Peterson (Hon)…1-1
2. Gary Chapman (Gas)…2-2
3. Chuck Cook (Hus)…5-3

The famous Talladega first turn doesn’t look too intimidating from this angle, but…..

250 NOVICES
1. Peyton Marett (Kaw)…1-1
2. Drake Pfeifer (Yam)…3-2
3. Bradley Herrock (Kaw)…2-3

But, when you look at it from ground level, the bikes are cranked all the way over and going 70mph when they hit the banking. Yet, it is considered the safest first turn in motocross because it has plenty of room (and no need to use the brakes). Photo: Dan Alamangos

450 NOVICES
1. Ezra Tate (Hon)…1-1
2. Michae; Oetzell (KTM)…2-2
3. Tyler Rich (Hus)…3-3

David O’Connor coming out of the sand turn on his way to a 4-5 day in the Over-40 Intermediates.  

Don Goettling (24) leads Nick Waters (H20), Darren Borcherding (297) and Joe Sutter  (111) through a wide corner with a lot of lines.

Robert Kuhry (33) attacks the Shoei uphill on his way to sixth in the Over-50 Experts (and he also won the 125 two-stroke class).

Pasha, Pasha, Pasha! Pasha Afshar (L7) is working on more 125 two-stroke Pro races for the future.

Peyton Marett (115) won the 250 Novices with a 1-1 in front of Drake Pfeifer.

Ryan Rich went 4-5 in the 250 Novices, but he got to style for awhile. His brother Tyler went 3-3 in the 450 Novices.

Chuck Cook’s Husqvarna has a clean white look and matches nicely with the yellow highlights on his Alpinestars gear, Gaerne boots and 6D helmet. The gloves, however, are a fashion faux pas.

Chuck Peterson (157) used a 1-1 score the beat a top of five of Gary Chapman (2-2), Chuck Cook (5-3), Dave Seitrich (4-4) and Pat Lavespere (3-6) in the Over-60 Novice class.

Steve Nelson (359) checks on the progress of the riders chasing him. No worries, Steve won the Over-40 Expert class. Photo: Dan Alamangos

The best way to get to the top of Mt. Saint Helen is by helicopter. It is 22-stories tall—this photo only shows the top four stories, from here on down the speed increases exponentially. Photo: Dan Alamangos

Brian Medeiros (95) came to “Saturday at the Glen” to get used to his YZ250F as he plans to move back to the 250 Nationals from the 450 Nationals at Pala in two weeks.

Preston Tilford (17), who was an up-and-comer on the Vance and Hines Yamaha team a decade ago, found a new sponsor for second try at the big time. Over-60 racers Kent Reed and Will Harper bought Preston a Justin Barcia Replica GasGas MC450, new O’Neal gear and a Shoei helmet. He hopes to be in shape to race a few 450 Nationals later in the season.

Shane MacMath (129) went 2-2 in the 50cc 7-to-8 year old class, while Gavin Filhart (117) did the same in the 50cc 4-to-6 age group.

Ryder Clubb (891) took the win with a perfect 1-1 in the 50cc 4-to-6 year old class.

Aria Hawkins, with her ponytail flying, went 2-2 in the 65cc class.

Traison Payne (108) won the first 85cc moto, but DNF’ed the second one. No matter, he looked cool flying by the palm trees.

2022 SATURDAY AT THE GLEN RACE SCHEDULE
Apr. 2…Spring Series #1
Apr. 23…Spring Series #2
Apr. 30…Spring Series #3
May 7…Spring Series #4
May 14…Spring Series #5 (National Track)
June 11…Summer Series #1
June 25…Summer Series #2
July 9…Summer Series #3
July 30…Summer Series #4
Aug. 13…Summer Series #4 (National Track)
Sept. 10…Fall Series #1
Sept. 17…Fall Series #2
Oct. 1…Fall Series #3 (National Track)
Oct. 15…Fall Series #4
Oct. 22…Fall Series #5
Nov.r 12..Winter Series #1
Nov. 19…Winter Series #2
Dec. 3…Winter Series #3
Dec. 10…Winter Series #4 (National Track)
“Saturday at the Glen” motocross will race twice in June (June 11 and June 25) and there is always the chance of additional dates being added to the 2022 calendar. To pre-enter for any “Saturday at the Glen” race Click Here to see the pre-entry sign-up system. Pre-entry is only $30, post entry is $40 on the day of the race. You can sign up for the next “Saturday at the Glen” motocross on as late as the Thursday before the next race. For more info go to www.glenhelen.com.

 

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