ITP
QuadCross Championship Series
Round #1 - Glen Helen
Devore, CA
January 29, 2006
By:
Corry Weller / Weller Racing |
|
ITP
Quadcross Round #1 - Links |
|
|
|
|
You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day
for the opening round of the 2006 ITP Quadcross Championship
Series, which was held at the infamous Glen Helen National
Raceway this past weekend in Devore, CA. A crisp, sunny,
and more importantly – not windy – morning
greeted racers and race fans alike as the gates opened
promptly at 6am for the line that had already formed
on the road. This would be a record turnout at Glen
Helen for the ITP Quadcross Series, as riders from all
over the country were in attendance.
While many racers had come the day before (and some
days before), there were still plenty of local ITP regulars
driving in to get set up for the day in what open spaces
were left in the pits. This first round has been the
most anticipated round of the year for many riders due
to rumors and expectations that some of the GNC Pro
riders would be in attendance. Those rumors were confirmed
with a quick look through the pit area, where rigs belonging
to John Natalie, Dustin Wimmer, Kory Ellis, and Pat
Brown were easily spotted amidst the smaller haulers.
ITP Quadcross regulars were also already there, including
Jeremy Schell, Doug Eichner, Dana Creech and Dustin
Nelson – ready to compete in what was to be a
massive Pro class for the day!
The mood in the pits was upbeat and something like
a family gathering, as racers who hadn’t seen
each other for months or even years made sure to find
each other and catch up, discussing new rides, new sponsors
and the upcoming race as well as the GNC coming up the
following weekend.
|
The Glen Helen Track with its famous Talladega
first turn was freshly groomed and the many sections
of the track were redesigned for the opening round
of the series |
Due to the overwhelming number of Pro signups in the new
Pro Production class, the decision was made to split the
first Pro heats into two separate races. The top eight
finishers of each heat race would then go on to compete
in the Pro Main A race, while the remaining Pro racers
would compete in the Pro Main B race. The top finishers
from the 2005 ITP Pro class were automatically seeded
into the Pro A Main as a result of their hard work last
season.
Practice got underway right on time, giving everyone
a chance to test their machines and check out the changes
that had been made to the track since the previous day.
A quick walk around the track showed that the layout
for the day would include both hills, with the Pro’s
racing all the way to the top of Mt. St. Helen’s;
a unique whoop section going up Mt. Shoei, several doubles,
a triple and another high speed whoop section just before
Talledega. After a slight delay due to a Pro rider suffering
a broken femur during the Pro practice, the day’s
races were underway, and it was certainly looking to
be a full day of racing!
PRO HEAT 1
The first Pro heat race got underway as engines revved
and all eyes focused on the gate as it dropped, sending
John Natalie into Talledega ahead of the swarming pack.
The blue Yamaha of Pat Brown was hard on Natalie’s
heels from the start and this battle would continue
throughout the entire race. This was setting up to be
a great competition, and the crowd voiced their surprise
as Brown passed Natalie by taking the inside line in
a corner just before the 1st lap was finished –
and the race for the lead was on!
Donald Lysinger, who got a great start, was holding
third position early into the race, with Kory Ellis
behind him in fourth, and Brock Lyons close in 5th.
AZ Pro Jeff Spooner was holding his place in the top
half of the class as the race headed into the third
lap. Hunter Miller found an opening and made his pass
around Darrell Patton, while Tony Baxter and Chris Riley
had a battle going on as Baxter attempted to make a
pass around Riley but couldn’t quite close the
deal. Brown and Natalie still moved almost as one coming
over the big double and heading through the high banked
turns that make Glen Helen a favorite among quad racers.
Ellis had closed the gap at this point and now made
the pass on Lysinger and was intent on making up some
ground, shortening the distance between him and Natalie.
Behind Lysinger, Brock Lyons and Jeff Spooner were
having a battle of their own, followed by Miller, and
then Patton.
|
Pat Brown was able to hold off the hard charging
John Natalie to take the win in Pro Heat One |
As the final laps were being run, Brock Lyons had been
moving up through the pack and managed to make the pass
on Kory Ellis, taking away the number three spot and
putting Ellis back into 4th again. Heading up Mt. St.
Helens, Brown pulled Natalie just enough to keep his
lead as they made the turn and headed back down and
into the back section.
With the white flag out, Brown and Natalie were still
racing grab bar to bumper through every turn and jump.
Natalie and Brown were side by as they tripled into
the fast whoop section, with Brown coming out just ahead
of Natalie over the table just after the whoops. Throughout
the final lap, Brown managed to stay just a nose ahead
of John Natalie and as the checkers came out, it was
Brown followed immediately by John Natalie for the win.
Lyons came in at 3rd place with Ellis and Lysinger rounding
out the top five.
PRO HEAT 2
As soon as the Pro’s from the 1st heat race were
off the track, the gate went back up and the Pro racers
in the second heat locked eyes onto the gate to wait
for the drop. As the gate fell, it was Logan Holladay
who took the lead early and led the pack up the whooped-out
hill after Talledega, followed closely by Joe Haavisto,
Tavis Cain and Cody Miller.
Partway through the first lap Haavisto sought and made
the pass on Logan Holladay for 1st place with Holladay
following closely behind, reluctant to give up his lead.
As the racers headed into the next lap, Haavisto throttled
up the first hill again while Holladay and Cain battled
behind him for 2nd place, with Cody Miller in fourth
place and racing to stay ahead of Cale Downen, as both
of their Yamaha’s fought for traction up the steep
and rutted hill. Behind them, the tight group of Rocco
Arno, John Shafe, Matt White and Jason Dunkleberger
had their own battle for position that would continue
for most of the race.
Haavisto, still in first place, sailed the triple with
ease as Cain, Holladay, Miller, Downen, Arno, and Dunk
followed behind, along with the rest of the 19 Pro riders
racing this heat. Logan Holladay, after a strong start
and some great racing, wound up having some problems
during the race and would eventually DNF this heat due
to a broken chain.
|
#75 Joe Haavisto makes the pass on Logan Holladay
to take over the early lead, and he cruised to
the Pro Heat Two Win. |
Joe Haavisto dominated the 2nd Pro heat race, with
Tavis Cain staying steadily behind him, and as Haavisto
continued to lead the heat race, Cain was slowly beginning
to close the large gap between them. Towards the middle
of the pack, Quadcross regular Tony Munio made a swift
pass on Jesse Goss and would eventually finish just
ahead of him. Matt White, Cody Miller, and Rocco Arno
continued to battle for position, with White edging
out Miller for the finish, after Arno had made a pass
on Miller, but then took an unexpected detour down the
side of the hill while he was heading up the whooped-out
section before Mt. St. Helens on the final lap.
As the checkers came out, Haavisto was still riding
strong and with a good lead on Cain, and as Haavisto
approached the finish line, he checked over his shoulder
to see where the rest of the pack was, and went on to
take an easy 1st place win for the race over Tavis Cain,
with Dunk coming in just behind Cain for the 3rd place
position. Cody Miller came through the checkers just
ahead of Chad Wienen, who was followed by Arno. Tony
Munio and Jesse Goss had a fight to the finish line
with Munio coming in just ahead of Goss and followed
by WORCS regular, Josh Frederick.
PRO MAIN A
|
Three -Time ITP Quadcross Champion, Jeremy Schell,
won't be back to full strength until Round Three
due to his leg injury |
For the Pro Main A race, the top 8 finishers in each
of the previous heat races qualified for this gate,
as well as the seeded entries of Schell, Eichner, Creech,
Nelson and Machado, and were joined together to make
a full gate of 22 Pro’s.
The racers in the Main A race were all business as
the 30 second board went up and pit crews scrambled
to get out of the way. As the gate dropped once more,
it was John Natalie on his red Honda taking the holeshot
and leading the pack around the sweeping first corner
and on up the first hill. Following behind Natalie again
was the blue Yamaha of Pat Brown, as the rumbling field
of quads raced up Mt St Helens.
Down on the in-field, Pro racer and ITP Quadcross Champion
Jeremy Schell made his way towards the finish line along
with another injured rider, Ricky Nickell. Both riders
were unable to race and would sit and wait for the end
of the Main to cross the checkers for series points.
Jeremy, with his foot and leg wrapped up in white bandages,
could be heard laughing and saying “You know,
that didn’t hurt that much, I almost want to get
out there go around some more!” Word has it Jeremy
should be back to full race strength by Round 3, and
ready to defend his championship once again.
Back on the track and still on the first lap, Natalie
continued his lead, stretching it out ahead of 2nd place’s
Pat Brown by about 5 quad lengths. Dustin Nelson was
running in the 3rd place position followed closely by
a hard charging Creech, Dunk and Eichner. Brock Lyons
and Rocco Arno had some close racing while Joe Haavisto
began making his way up through the pack behind them.
Natalie had no problem stretching his lead on Brown
as he showed everyone a bit of what he has in store
for the coming weekend. Pat Brown was easily keeping
his 2nd place position when suddenly he slowed way down
and then was completely off the track. Brown, who had
battled to win his first heat race ahead of Natalie
and who continued to show everyone the speed he’s
capable of, was now out of the race entirely with a
broken axle. Brown would finish watching the race from
the side of the track, as Nelson had now moved up into
2nd place. In the meantime, Kory Ellis made his pass
on Chad Weinen for another position closer to the front
of the pack, and proceeded to set his sights on the
backs of Matt White and Brock Lyons.
Already with a commanding lead, Natalie continued creating
an even bigger lead on the pack after Brown dropped
out. Nelson continued to race in the 2nd place spot
after his previous pass on Dunk, while Dana Creech and
Doug Eichner fought to keep their number 4 and 5 positions,
despite the very rough track conditions. As Dunk challenged
Nelson for 2nd place, it got interesting as both riders
seemed to lose their lines for a second while going
up the steep and whooped-out first hill of Mt. Shoei.
A little farther back, Jeff Spooner was having great
race with Darrell Patton, who was beginning to look
a little tired going into the off-camber downhill corner.
|
#19 Jason Dunkelberger put in a impressive run
in the Pro Main A to earn himself a second place
finish |
Back up front, Natalie was on cruise control, riding
smooth and fast and ever increasing his lead, while
behind him, Nelson and Dunk continued to fight for the
2nd place position, Nelson tripling the new triple while
Dunk chose to double it and set up for the corner. Just
behind Dunk and Nelson, another great race between Doug
Eichner and Joe Haavisto had been going on over a large
portion of the track – and with Eichner’s
smooth riding he was able to maintain his lead over
Haavisto as Haavisto attempted to make several passes
on Eichner.
Still working on coming up through the field, Kory
Ellis was able to make a pass on an uphill section on
Matt White for the 7th place position and began reeling
in Haavisto, but whether or not he would have time to
work through the pack would have to be seen. Somewhere
in the back, Dunk had managed to win a hard fought pass
on Nelson, and as they came back around into view, the
order had changed as Dunk was now in 2nd place with
Nelson just behind him in 3rd. Soon after his pass,
Dunk began to put a large gap between himself and Nelson
as he chased after Natalie and the number one position.
Back in 4th place, Creech was able to stay ahead of
Haavisto after Haavisto had finally made a successful
pass on Eichner and was trying to close the gap; and
knocking on Eichner’s door now was Kory Ellis
as he moved in after his pass on Matt White. A little
father back, Arno and White had their own race going
on as they raced side by side up Mt. St. Helens, with
Arno trying to cut into the inside at the top to take
the lead, but White managed to block his pass.
|
John Natalie Jr kicks off the 2006 season with
a Win at the ITP Quadcross, which could be a sign
of things to come for the ATVA MX |
As the checkers come out on the final lap, John Natalie
was riding with a commanding lead on the field, almost
coasting through the final “S” turns before
the finish – looking back to see where Dunk was
and knowing he had this race wrapped up. Dunk earned
his 2nd place finish after some great racing, followed
by Dustin Nelson, Dana Creech, and Kory Ellis. Doug
Eichner, who had been running a terrific race in 5th
place until halfway through the final lap, was nowhere
to be seen at the checkers. We later found out that
he had DNF’d due to a failed CDI box on his Honda.
The remaining Pro’s continued to cross the checkers
as the sounds of Pro Main 2 could be heard starting
their engines.
PRO MAIN B
For a 4th time that day, the starting gate dropped for
the fastest Pro riders on the West Coast, and through
the roar of engines and flying dirt, it was Cale Downen
from Junction, IL who took the early lead in this final
Pro moto with #191 Dustin Wimmer hot on his tail as
the final gate of Pro’s flew through Talladega.
Dustin Wimmer wasted no time in getting around Downen
and took the lead away from him on the first lap and
never looked back.
In the 1st lap, it was Wimmer followed by a hard charging
Downen, as John Shafe held his position in 3rd place.
Bossy Ross was tailing Shafe and followed closely by
TJ Dietrich, with Jesse Goss behind him and looking
to work his way through the pack. Dustin Terry, WORCS
Pro Josh Frederick, Jason Weller and Chris Riley made
up the top ten riders in the early portions of Pro Main
B.
As the race carried into the 2nd lap, Dustin Wimmer
still maintained a solid lead over Downen and Shafe,
who was beginning to drop back into the field. A little
farther back, ITP regulars Cyle Chislock and Jason Weller
were battling for position, as Chislock cleared the
triple only to come into the corner too hot and opened
the door for Weller to get back around.
Up in front, Dustin Wimmer continued to increase his
lead, while behind him things had changed, and now Josh
Frederick had moved up through the pack and was running
in second place ahead of Dietrick and Downen. Dietrick
was trying to take 2nd place from Frederick, and even
though Frederick chose to take some riskier, wider lines,
he kept his lead over Dietrick each time.
Jesse Goss, who was now running in the 4th place spot
behind Dietrick, lost traction and almost went off the
side of the steep, whooped-out uphill section that Arno
had previously gone off of, but he managed to keep his
quad on track and throttled into the top corner, never
losing his position. Jason Weller and Cyle Chislock
continued their battle for position, with Chislock finally
getting around Weller and heading for Terry, who was
now running behind Downen.
|
#191 Dustin Wimmer takes the win in the Pro Main
B |
As the race progressed, Dustin Wimmer started coming
up on his first lapped riders as he continued to stretch
out his 1st place lead. Logan Holladay, who had had
bad luck in the first heat race, had been steadily moving
up through the pack and now made a pass on Weller up
the hill for 8th place as he now charged after Chislock.
As the checkered flag came out once more, Dustin Wimmer
had simply dominated the Pro Main B moto with a solid
1st place finish, to be followed in 2nd place by Josh
Frederick, who ran a solid race and it paid off. TJ
Dietrich came through the finish line behind Frederick
in 3rd place, with Jesse Goss and Cale Downen, who had
dropped back a little after a great start, finishing
off the top five positions of the Pro Main B race.
The racing action had been fast, loud and exciting,
and as all of the Pro riders headed back into their
pit areas, the remaining Quadcross motos continued throughout
the afternoon and finished up just as the California
sun disappeared behind the hills. If Natalie, Brown
and Wimmer’s performances are indicative of what
was is to come this coming weekend, the 2006 race season
is going to be some of the best racing we have seen
in a long time!
Look for coverage of the Amateur ITP Classes here on
ATVriders.com shortly!
|