“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN RACE REPORT:” THEY HAD A MAMMOTH TURNOUT EVEN WITH MAMMOTH STARTING

Josh Mosiman  (171) and fellow MXA test rider Brian Medeiros ran away  from the pack in the 450 Pro race. Mosiman would have swetp both 450 Expert motos, but he stopped to help fallen rider Ricky Richards, while Brian took over the lead. Josh rejoined the race almost a lap down , but still got third in moto one and then won the second moto to get second overall with a 3-1 to Brian Mederios’ 1-2.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI, JON ORTNER & MARK RIKER

Brian Mederios (934) has returned to the Suzuki fold and the 450 class. He had moved to the 250 class on Yamaha YZ250Fs for the AMA Nationals, but decided to go back to the 450 class and to Suzukis. His 1-2 victory at “Saturday at the Glen” was more of a gift from “Good Samaritan” Josh Mosiman

Glen Helen has been packed with races and events for the last month, so the “Saturday at the Glen” racers have to to stand by, while other racing clubs use their Arroyo track. When big events are held at Glen Helen, the original Arroyo Cycle Park track, which has been refurbished and rebuilt since it’s hey-days in the 1970s and early 80s, is often take by the overflow races—bumping the weekly “Saturday at the Glen” races off the schedule.

Paul Krause (825) has obviously be riding a lot, because he was much faster on Saturday than what we saw a month ago from the famous off-road racer.

With the Mammoth Mountain Motocross starting this weekend, everyone expected a light turnout at Glen Helen. Half of the MXA gang went to Mammoth for the Vet days, while the remainder stayed home and raced “Saturday at the Glen.” Josh Mosiman’s Mammoth 450 Pro races aren’t until late next week, so he came to “Saturday” to break in a new Yamaha YZ450F before heading to the mountain, he was joined by Brian Medeiros and Jon Ortner and, of course Jody, and his Vet buddies.

Dave Eropkin (811) showed up with a Stark electric bike this Saturday. Dave, already a great starter, was of course  much better on the Stark, but he couldn’t hold off a charging Pete Murray. Pete is a six-time World Vet Champion.

But it wasn’t a light turnout. The pits were jam-packed as 242 riders showed up. There were 47 rider over the age of 60 and the biggest single class was the 250 Beginners with 22 riders on the line, followed by 19 racers in the 125/ 250/450 Beginners

Pete Murray (7) raced the Over-60 Expert class and went 2-2 behind Luther French. Pete also raced the Over-65 Expert class, where he let the pack go before chasing after them. He caught Dave Eropkin with a couple corners to go and passed him for the win.

The Arroyo track was in good form, bun spite of the rain, the Arroyo track was in close to perfect condition. The rain never puddled anywhere on the racetrack and the constant flow of bikes kept the track in raceable condition—despite the constant drizzle. It didn’t hurt that the previous two months of rain had turned a large portion of the Arroyo track into a sand track.

Ricky Richard (45), parents both have worked in the motorcycle industry. His dad managed Kawasaki’s Team Green during it’s formative years and his mother, Sharon Richards, has worked at lots of aftermarket companies. Unfortunately, Ricky hit a kicker coming over the ridge and was ejected from his bike  in the second moto of the Over-40 Intermediate class. Ricky was knocked out and lay motionless on the track. When the 450 Pros came over the ridge, Pro Josh Mosiman pulled over to check on Ricky and then went back up to the top of the ridge to block the path of any bikes that might come down the side of the track where Ricky was laying. Finally Josh told the flaggers where the stand to direct traffic around the blocked side. Ricky recovered quickly and walked off the track, but might want to take some time off. .

The Arroyo track is composed of lots of rolling terrain . In this section they climb the hill in the background, immediately turn at the top and come down the hill that these riders are at the bottom of. Next they go down a small downhill that leads to a tabletop. Sometimes they go up the right side and down the left side and they even go over the top of the ridge; and down into the canyon behind it. 

You rarely see crowds lining the fences at local races, but “Saturday at the Glen” has  a loyal following and grows bigger and bigger each week. Josh Mosiman shot this photo in between his 450 Pro races because his friend Jax Krahenbuhl (125), going by the tree, was winning the 250 Novice class.

Is Ron Lawson (1) coming hard up the inside? Or is Arnie Davis (119) cutting down to block Ron? Given that  Arnie went 3-3 and Ron 4-4 in the Over-65 Intermediate class this battle will resumed next Saturday.

Marc Crosby (95) normally races a 2025 KTM 350SXF, but after hearing every MXA test rider who raced the 2025 Husqvarna FC250 Heritage Edition rave about it, Marc asked if he could race it too. He went 5-5 in the Over-65 Intermediate class, when he always makes the top three on his KTM 350SXF. But, he said the Husky was better and wanted to keep racing it. 

Koah Horowitz (101 was third in the 85cc class and sixth in the 250 Beginner class.
  Stephan Moore (45) was third overall in the Over-40 Intermediate class with a 3-3, behind Jason Klements (2-1) and Jeremiah Johnson (1-2).

River Caputo (46) went 3-2 for second overall in the 50cc First Timer’s class and came back later to go 5-4 in the 7-8 year old Pee-Wee class.

Ryan Pekarek (59) won the 125 Novice class on his GasGas MC125 and came back later to race it in the Open Novice class.

Chuck Peterson (157) went 4-6 for sixth in the Over-60 Novice class. He actually tied on points with Howard Tresville for fifth, but Howard’s 6-4 took the tie breaker. 

Carole Feeney (60), the wife of the late Dave Feeney, helps out with the SoCal OldTimers/VetMX club and races herself. Carole went 4-4 in the Women’s class.

BONUS PHOTO FROM THE PAST (AND A MODERN VERSION OF IT)

Jody Weisel (71) drag races Lars Larsson (171) under the checkered flag. Before the race Jody scoped out exactly where the transponder wire was buried  and you can see his head turned to the exact spot beating Lars by half a wheel length. These two motocross pioneers have race each other hard for decades without worrying about anybody else in their race.

Here is what the future of motocross race coverage will look like as Debbi Tamietti made an AI version of the above photo. 

2024 “SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” SCHEDULE

If you are looking for a racing oganization that offers long motos, low cost and very consistent race schedule—this is it. “Saturday at the Glen” motocross will race again on June 28, July 19 and August 2. 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

2024 SATURDAY AT THE GLEN MOTOCROSS (UPDATED)
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
Apr. 20…Arroyo track
May 4…National track
May 18…National track
June 1…Arroyo track
June 15…Arroyo track
Jul. 6…National track
Jul. 20…National track
Aug. 3…Arroyo track
Aug. 24…National track
Sept.14…Arroyo track
Oct. 5…National track
Oct. 19…Arroyo track
Oct. 26…Arroyo track
Nov. 16…National track
Nov. 23…National track
Dec. 7…Arroyo track
Dec. 21…National track

2024 WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP RESCHEDULED TO APRIL 10-20

Because of the threat of excessive rain impacting Glen Helen Raceway this coming weekend, the World Two-Stroke has been moved to April 19-20. For more info go to www.glenhelen.com