“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” RACE REPORT:” THE GANGS ALL HERE

This overview shot from the top of the ridge shows the Stadium section, the score tower and the jam-packed parking lot.

PHOTOS BY DAN ALAMANGOS

“Saturday at the Glen” rotates between the Glen Helen National track and the old Arroyo Cycle Park racetrack— actually a new track on the old footprint of the classic racetrack where they held the first-ever 125 National Championship race back in 1973. Arroyo held the 125 Championship race because thethe AMA didn’t recognize 125 two-strokes as being a class worthy of their own Championship. Arroyo lasted until the early 1980s before it fell into disrepair and it unique hilly location became  a quad track, until REM’s Frank Thomason decided to move his race series from Carlsbad Raceway to the remnants of Arroyo Cycle Park in the northern corner of Glen Helen Raceway. It saw various uses over the years—even hosted a gigantic X-Fighters Freestyle Festival sponsored by Red Bull. After the Red Bull event, the race track was modernized and extended up and over the famous Arroyo ridges.

The first hill you climb leads you over a ridge and down to a fast sweeping corner that leads to the canyon section. Here, Stephan Thorpe (56) leads Oscar Gotting (299) and Seth Mueller (252).

Frank and Myra  held weekly races on what became known as the “REM track” for decades, but when they retired from promoting races, Glen Helen absorbed  REM’s racetrack and racers to keep the historic track alive. It was completely redesigned and the Arroyo name came back into the parlance of local SoCal racers. The new Arroyo sits adjacent to the Glen Helen National track on a bluff high above the National/USGP track.

It was designed by MXA’s Jody Weisel to be a point/counterpoint to the high-speed and humongous Glen Helen race track and used for the new “Saturday at the Glen” race series, vintage races and as a Vet friendly practice layout that encompassed all of the things that the big Glen Helen National track was famous for, but on a reduced scale. It included a banked first turn, lots of elevation changes and a variety of terrain and different soils—from SoCal hard-pack to several sand sections  in the canyon beyond the big hills.

The steep ups and downs are highlighted by several different kinds of passing opportunities. Shawn Bushnell (804) is about to show one to Kyle Knauss (313). Shawn would go on to win the Open Expert class and the Over-40 Expert class, while Kyle Knauss would sweep both motos of the Over-40 Intermediate class.

Parts of the Arroyo track have been used as an extension of the Glen Helen racetrack at AMA Nationals, FIM Grand Prix and for the World Vet Championship—not to mention that it is an important part of Glen Helen’s 6-Hour, 10-Hour and 24-Hour Endurance  layout.

For every hill you climb, there is an equally steep downhill waiting for you on the other side. Josh Fout (20) raced a 2026 Beta 450RX to the Over-30 Expert class victory.

But most of all, the “Saturday at the Glen” races are where the remnants of the “Saddleback Specialists” of the 1970s and 1980s can still be found—albeit in the Over-60, Over 65 and Over-70 classes—and those guys can still turn in fast laps.

Dennis Stapleton (184) flies over the drop-off jump with Josh Mosiman (57) in close pursuit. You can see the downhill in the background that guided them to the drop-off.

This week’s “Saturday at the Glen race” was unique in that MXA brought its crew of test riders and all of the 2026 new models for a “real world” test session in true-to-life race conditions.

Ignore the yellow flags at your own risk. They are planted on each side of the take-off before the downhill drop away. Since the jump from the canyon to the front part of the track is blind, the yellow flags guide the racers onto to the perfect slot to line up in the middle of the downhill straight.  Dennis Stapleton (184) floats over the jump.

In the Open Expert class, Shawn Bushnell (804) chases Dennis Stapleton, while Josh Fout (33), now switching from the Beta to a 2026 Yamaha YZ450F, tried to reel him in.

Not all of the steep Arroyo downhills are massive, but they all get your heart racing. Here, Josh Fout navigates the 2026 YZ450F into the the steep left-hand downhill turn at the bottom of the Mount Whitney downhill.

Josh Mosiman (57) raced the 450 Expert class on MXA’s box stock 2026 Honda CRF450 and got the win with a 1-2 over Brian Medeiros’ 3-1.

Josh Mosiman (30) switched to a Beta 450RX to race the Open Expert class.

Andrew Hopkins (23) was one of four Australians racing at “Saturday at the Glen.” Hoppo won the Over-50 Expert class with a 2-1 over Chris Heinrich’s 3-2, Craig Davis 4-3 and Pasha Afshar’s  1-DNF (the DNF came from a big crash late in the second moto.

Dave Eropkin (811) won the Over-65 Expert class on his Stark Varg with a 1-1 score in front of Dave Fontes (3-2), Bob Rutten (2-3) and Ron Lawson (4-4).

Bob Rutten (83) would then move to the Over-70 class where he would sweep both motos. Here, he dives inside of Brian Wilucky (122).

Dave Eropkin wasn’t the only Stark at “Saturday at the Glen,” Tristan Leidholdt (26) went 2-2 in the 250 Novice class.

Australian rally and cross-country racer Warren Strange doesn’t need a trophy room, he likes to have his greatest hits with him at all times.

Kyle Cohen (23) won the first moto of the 250 Beginner class, but DNFed the second moto. 

Alison Bushnell (13) won the Women’s class with a 1-1 and then raced the Men’s Over-40 Intermediate where she finished sixth with a 5-6 score.

Tucker Claybaugh (55)  went 4-2 in the 250 Beginner class behind Koah Horowitz (3-1) and Korbin Capilii (2-3). 

Christian Granados (147) swept all four motos in the  large 85cc class and the fast Supermini class. Five the  85cc class racers doubled up in the Supermini class—including Aria Hawkins, Colton Polkay, Chris Wilder, Kyle Clarke and Christian Granados.

Wyatt Jenkins (130) went 3-3 in the 7-to-8 year old Pee-Wee class for fourth overall behind Hunter Busch (1-1) and Parker Passick (2-2).

Clay Gonzalez (219) went 4-4 in the  4-to-6 year old PeeWee class on his Husqvarna and came back later to go 9-1 in the PW50 class.

2025 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” SCHEDULE

If yo are looking for a racing oganization that ofeer long moto, low cost and  very consistent race schedule—this is it. “Saturday at the Glen” motocross will race again on June 3, June 17, June 24, July 15 and July 29. 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

2023 “SATURDAY THE GLEN” SCHEDULE
Oct. 4…Arroyo track
Oct. 18…Arroyo track
Oct 25…World Vet Warm-up race (National track)
Nov. 15…Arroyo track
Nov. 22..National track
Dec. 13..Season finale (National track)