“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” RACE REPORT: MXA’S JOSH MOSIMAN SWEEPS THE 450 PRO CLASS

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI, MARK RIKER & JON ORTNER

Josh Mosiman (22), Richard Taylor (141), Dominic Desimone (190), Justin Muscutt (816) and Brian Medeiros (25) share tight quarters in the 450 Pro race.

Bikes sales may be stagnant in 2024, but race turnouts at Glen Helen have been impressive. “Saturday at the Glen” had over 300 riders on what was just one race on “Saturday at the Glen’s” 25-race season. It helped that the heat wave that saw Glen Helen hit 114-degrees had been replaced by a cool marine layer off of the Pacific Ocean. For some reason, the smoke from the wild fires that have surrounded Southern California are barely noticeable in the canyon where the Glen Helen’s race tracks are positioned.

Amazingly, “Saturday at the Glen” was able to absorb 300 riders spread out across 38 different classes and still give every rider long motos and get done by 3:00 p.m. It seems simple for them to arrange all of the classes into just 12 motos by using double gate starts—aided by the over 2 minutes lap times (although Mosiman was running 1:54 times). With the right planning there is no need for riders to still be sitting in the pits until late in the afternoon waiting for their second moto—why can’t other race promoters get their programs done on time. Plus, Glen Helen only charges a $10 gate fee and a $30 entry fee for racers at their events. It helps that the history of Saturday races, dating back to “Saddleback Saturday,” was based on the premise that the Saturday racers needed to get out of the track by 2:00 p.m. in order to get their bikes ready for riding or racing on Sunday.

MXA’s Josh Mosiman (22) dominated both 450 Pro motos to go 1-1 and take the lion share of the purse money. The MXA guys were racing all of their 2025 450s as part of preparation for the upcoming 450 Shootout in the magazine (not the video)—Mosiman raced  the 2025 Yamaha YZ450F.

MXA’s Brian Medeiros (25) took MXA’s 2025 Husqvarna FC450 to second overall in the 450 Pros with a 5-3 score.

Todd Sibell (829) went 4-5 for fourth. Todd was sandwiched between Richard Taylor (third) and Sean Lipanovich (fifth)

Sean Lipanovich (505) had a 6-4 day, but he got to lead for awhile.  Enzo Temmermann (21) was second in the first moto, but DNF’ed the second moto. Josh Mosiman (22) knew the fastest lines.

This is really not the proper way to exit the 70mph Talladega first turn, but whatever floats your boat. Enzo Temmermann (21) seeks equilibrium.

Justin Muscutt (816) and Hawaiian Brian Medeiros (25) keep weight on their outside pegs as the ride high on the Talladega banking.

Dominic Desimone (190) had a third in the first moto, but DNF’ed the second moto. His dad Phil had better luck in the Over-50 Experts as he went 7-6 for sixth.

MXA’s Dennis Stapleton was assigned to race MXA’s 2025 Honda CRF450 because he was part of Honda’s pre-pro test team.

Kurt Nicoll went 1-1 in the Over-50 Expert class as he sets his sight on the World Vet Championship coming up in six weeks. Kurt has won the Over-50 World Vet Championship seven times. Sadly for Kurt, but lucky for the other Over-60 Expert competitors, Kurt doesn’t turn 60 years old until 12 days after the 2024 World Vet Championship.

Bill Sauro (311) went 2-2 for second overall in the Over-50 Experts.

Pete Murray (7) is a one-time Over-40 Champ, one-time Over-50 Champ and four-time Over-60 World Vet Champion, but he was edged out of Saturday’s Over-60 Expert win when Luther French’s 2-1 beat Pete’s 1-2.

Don Goettling (24) was fifth in the Over-50 Experts and Over-60 Experts.

Jon Ortner came out for his first race in three months. He raced MXA’s 2025 YZ450FX off-road model in the first moto, but switched to the 2025 Yamaha YZ450 that Josh Mosiman won the 450 Pro class on for his second moto and went 4-3 behind French and Murray in the Over-50 Expert class.

Tony Cooksey, former New Zealand National Champion and MXDN team member, won the Over-65 Expert class with a 2-1 over Val Tamietti’s 1-2, Mike Monaghan’s 3-3, Chris Cumbo’s 4-4 and Will Harper’s 5-5. Last year at the 2023 World Vet Championship Tony Cooksey raced against an almost identical group of Over-65 riders that he faced on Saturday, with the exception of 2023 Over-65 Champion Randel Fout, who sadly died in a crash back in February, but included were Val Tamietti, Chris Cumbo, Mike Monaghan and Will Harper. 

Val Tamietti’s 1-2 was edged out in the Over-65 Expert class by Tony Cooksey’s 2-1. Cooksey, Tamietti and Monaghan also raced the Over-60 Expert class, where Tamietti was 6th, Cooksey 7th and Monaghan 9th.

Off-road racer Haydon Laughlin swept the 125 Intermediate class. It looks like he’s been taking riding lesson from Enzo Temmermann.

Mark Tilley (95) won the Over-40 Expert class, but Dakota Garner (261), an Over-30 Expert, didn’t give him much breathing room.

Here, Tyler Nichols (55) leads Cameron Purczynski (27), who was racing MXA’s 2025 Kawasaki KX450 as part of the MXA 450 Shootout test regimen. Cameron went 2-1 for the overall win in the Over-30 Intermediate class. Tyler Nichols ended up with a 3-7 for fifth.

Ricky Richards (45) loves the Husqvarna FC450 that he replaced his Suzuki RM-Z450 with. Ricky went 3-3 for third in the Over-40 Intermediates.

Josh Fout (28) raced MXA’s 2025 KTM 450SXF, but since he lives in Big Bear, California, which has been caught in SoCal’s wild fires, he had to leave after the first motos.

Geno Prida (28) took the overall in the Over-50 Intermediate class with a 2-1. That is Robert Kuhrey (33) chasing him.

Wayne Ashby (193) was second in the Over-50 Intermediates with a 1-2.

Marc Crosby, the Dentist of the Stars, wheelies MXA’s 2025 GasGas MC450F down the backside of a series of rolling jumps. Marc went 3-3 in the Over-65 Intermediate class.

Nicholas Neys (92) leads 32 riders in the charge to the first turn in the second gate drop of race four. He would go on to win the Over-30 Expert class.

Drew Marson (37) scored a 4-7 to get a top five finish in the 250 Intermediate class.

Maddox Temmermann (50) swept both motos of the 85cc class and went 1-5 in the SuperMini class.

Caleb Tetangco (124) went 3-2 to finish second behind Maddox Temmermann in the 85 class on his DR.D YZ85.

Bode Bushnell (699) went 2-4 for third in the 85 class.

Sanos Mijo (4) won the 65cc class with a 1-1.

2024 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” RACE SCHEDULE

If you are looking for a racing organization that offers long motos, low cost and very consistent race schedule—this is it. “Saturday at the Glen” motocross will race again on October 5 on the National track, October 19 on the Arroyo track and October 26 on the National track (as preview race of most of the 2024 World Vet track). 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 (or just show up in person on race day). For more info go to www.glenhelen.com

UPDATED 2024 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” SCHEDULE
Jan. 13…National track
Jan. 20…Arroyo track
Feb. 3…Arroyo track
Feb. 24…Arroyo track
Mar. 16…National track
Mar. 23…Arroyo track
Apr. 13..Arroyo track
May 4…National track
May 11…Arroyo track
June 1…Arroyo track
June 15…National track
July 6…Arroyo track
July 27…Arroyo track
Aug. 3…National track
Aug. 24…Arroyo track
Aug. 31…National track
Sept.14…National track
Oct. 5…Arroyo track
Oct. 19…Arroyo track
Oct. 26…National track
Nov. 16…Arroyo track
Nov. 23…Arroyo track
Dec. 7…Arroyo track
Dec. 21…National track