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View Full Version : 2005 GNC MX Round 2 - Lake Whitney



GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:28 PM
Welcome to Round 2 of the 2005 ATVA ITP Moose Grand National Championship Motocross Series. You’ve already obtained the LIVE version of what happened via the ATV Riders trusty admin, now we’ll add the photos to help bring the picture in your mind into full view of just how interesting of a weekend it really was!

Mother nature really had it out for this event and many riders gave up and headed home when it looked like there was no chance it was ever going to stop raining. We are going to start with a quick preview from Saturday to let you see just how challenging the day was for riders and fans.

Just walking through the pits were hard enough…

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:29 PM
Getting through the pits was tough...

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:30 PM
…let alone trying to get around the track.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:31 PM
After major difficulties in scoring, Racer Productions (the promoter) decided to use hot pink colored tape to put the riders’ numbers on the back of their helmets as seen here with Gilbert Attix’s Pro number 309 prior to qualifying.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:32 PM
What looked like a swamp, Pro riders do their best to skim across the surface to avoid getting stuck in the mud. The outside was the best line in this situation as Keith got the holeshot and win for the qualifier.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:33 PM
Keith Little had by far the biggest mud deflector duck bill of any rider in the pits. Whatever works, works!

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:34 PM
Harold Goodman…I'm pretty sure!

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:35 PM
Riders were becoming camouflaged and I’m not sure if the pink tape was still working for Gilbert Attix.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:35 PM
A rider completely exhausted after battling the mud more than any riders.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:36 PM
Pat Brown would have been better off using a Yamaha jet ski instead of his ATV, as the roost resembles that of one. Unfortunately of the 21 Pros that signed up to race, Brown would be the one to go home without qualifying. Not even making it to the first turn, this is about as far as he got after the gate dropped in the Pro LCQ having to call it quits for some issues with his motor.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:37 PM
Kory Ellis tried hard to keep from showing his excitement for the challenge that he and most every other Pro is feeling about what is happening to the track and what is to come the next day. :D

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:38 PM
Not to worry too much though as this may have been what the gate looked like on Saturday...

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:39 PM
By the Pro second moto, it would look like this after some hard work and several races to bring it to such condition. A far cry from what Saturday was.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:42 PM
But wait! We need to back up here and get you situated on just exactly where you are before we get any further.

Lake Whitney MX Park is located on The WB Ranch in Whitney, Texas. Roughly 75 south of Dallas/Fort Worth with a population of just 1833. This ranch is incredibly interesting and nothing like you could ever imagine you’d ever see at a motocross event. A beautiful gate with a cast iron overhang welcomes visitors inside it’s arch.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:44 PM
Almost immediately there are some more cast iron signs with the words,

“Slow. Exotic animals. 20 MPH”

On Saturday when we came in, I didn’t see anything exotic, but Sunday while I was taking this picture, Suzuki’s John Lawson was driving by and said, “Hey, make sure you get some picture of the elk up there!”

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:45 PM
Elk? In Texas? Is that normal?

None-the-less there was a “herd” of them. Apparently there are zebra on the property as well, but they were elsewhere.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:46 PM
Just driving back to the track they were grazing, oblivious to the cars merely a few yards away.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:47 PM
God bless Texas!

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:48 PM
A Marine helicopter did a fly by, waving to the crowd.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:49 PM
To be a kid again. It's as if yesterday was a distant memory to them, besides all the left over mud that is.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:50 PM
Probably one of the coolest graphics new since round one was Natalie Racing's new scheme.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:51 PM
Unlike races where everything generally goes as planned, this event basically had to wing it, which pushed the Pro motos back to 1pm and 4pm. Riders like Jeremiah Jones and Tim Farr could be seen walking around, checking out all angles of the track and watch as the conditions changed with every lap. The sun was out, the track was drying even though there would still be riders that would fall victim to the track in the early stages of racing for the day.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:52 PM
Tim Farr

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:52 PM
Prepping for a photo can be tough. Even tougher when someone surprises you by coming into the viewfinder first over a field of other riders you thought would be there instead. Keith Little takes the holeshot over Jeremiah Jones (2), Jason Luburgh (8) and Travis Spader (30).

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:53 PM
No. 8 Jason Luburgh (Lonestar Yamaha) and No. 2 Jeremiah Jones (Suz) stayed like this for much of the race while they let Little get away from them. Jones would eventually get around Luburgh.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:54 PM
Dustin Wimmer (199) and Tim Farr (4) tail the No. 30 Travis Spader, both of which would get around him.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:55 PM
East Coast ATV’s Dustin Wimmer took fourth for the moto after a very impressive showing by holding off…

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:55 PM
…Baldwin Honda’s Tim Farr who settled for fifth.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:56 PM
John Natalie on his heavily taped up East Coast ATV Honda railed to a sixth in moto one.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:56 PM
Travis Spader on his Steele City Yamaha keeps his comeback going strong with a 7th for the moto.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 10:57 PM
Coming from a rather bad start, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Doug Gust has an uncommon finish in eight for the moto.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:05 PM
Lost Creek Cycle’s Jason Dunkelberger is beginning to show that he could be a man to be reckoned with as he holds off Alba Racing Yamaha’s Kory Ellis by taking 9th while Ellis’ settles for 10th in the moto.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:05 PM
Tavis Cain gets showered with mud roost in route to 11th.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:06 PM
Donald Lysinger (411) of Atco, New Jersey holds off Harold Goodman (708) of Romulus, Michigan temporarily until he suffers problems that unfortunately causes him to have a DNF. Goodman would take a 12th for the moto.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:07 PM
Joe Byrd of Union City, Tennessee – 13th moto one

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:08 PM
East Coast ATVs, Gilbert Attix scored a 14th for moto one.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:09 PM
Dustin Nelson of El Cajon, California had a rough first moto finishing with a 15th.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:10 PM
Joe Haavisto (75) – 16th moto one

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:11 PM
Greg Meeks (66) of Doyle, Tennessee - 17th

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:12 PM
Hailing from Puerto Rico and making this his first full year on the GNC circuit, Giovanni Colon finished 18th for the moto.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:12 PM
Matt White (32) found himself in trouble coming off a table top headed straight into what you see here. He would eventually find a way to get out after a big fight with the mud. He would at least earn points instead of a DNF finishing in 19th for the moto.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:13 PM
From start to finish with little challenge from other riders, the Lonestar Yamaha rider Keith Little lead all laps of the first moto.

Congratulations, Keith!

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:14 PM
Pro Moto Two

No harm, no foul. It’s a part of racing and both Farr and Gust know that about round one.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:16 PM
Keith Little was tired before the race even started as he missed getting his ATV to the gate before they started calling out the gate picks. He ran in full gear to claim his spot by plopping on the ground where his ATV (in route) would be.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:18 PM
There is absolutely no way to describe how this second moto of this Lake Whitney National played out. To see it in person is the only way it will ever be understood. It was probably one of the most intense, exciting and unpredictable races ever seen to date (by me anyways) although I have yet to meet someone that didn't feel the same including the riders in the race.

Those who saw it first hand, I can only say that you are one of the lucky ones.

Here again, Little edges out the rest of the pack in route to another holeshot, this moto would not be as easy as the first though…

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:19 PM
…because he had Gust, Luburgh, Natalie, Ellis and Farr tailing him.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:20 PM
A huge pile-up at the first turn (I was too far away to get anything but look for pictures which I’m sure will be in some of the magazines like ATV Sport) that took out Jones, Spader, Nelson and several others for nearly half a lap.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:21 PM
Neck and neck for virtually the entire moto, coming over the jump just after the finish line, you can see just how far Little, Ellis, Natalie, Gust (who moved up over Luburgh) were from each other while Farr and Luburgh were cresting the top of the hill just behind them.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:22 PM
Other fights for position included, Jason Dunkelberger eventually taking over Joe Haavisto.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:22 PM
Greg Meeks may have edged out Giovanni Colon in the first moto but Colon would eventually make his move over him finishing just ahead of him in position.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:24 PM
When the pile up riders got their bearings back together, Jeremiah Jones was a man on a mission as he started picking off riders in route to an amazing moto performance that would land him on the unexpected podium. He catches Dustin Nelson who was also involved in the first turn crash.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:25 PM
Tavis Cain would probably rather forget his experiences in Lake Whitney as he finished the second moto with a 20th and 18th overall.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:28 PM
Harold Goodman also missed the mark this round having to settle for a 19th with a 17th overall, which puts him 15th in the points with 13.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:30 PM
Gilbert Attix finished 18th earning him 19th overall and his first set of points for the year in the Pro class.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:32 PM
After having such a stellar first moto, I believe Dustin Wimmer (191) was a part of the first turn pile up that set him back to 17th for moto two giving him 10th overall. He still manages to remain in the top 10 for points with 23 in tenth place.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:34 PM
After an unfortunate DNF, Donald Lysinger gets his bike back in time for moto two and manages a 16th but due to the DNF takes home 20th overall.

GNC_Reporter
02-28-2005, 11:38 PM
The lead of the pack made some changes as Natalie and Ellis got together setting them back nearly an entire lap. Due to another "in the wrong place at the wrong time" I missed those shots. That is how it came to be that Gust was holding tight to Keith Little's rear tire, waiting to pounce at any given moment.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:17 AM
Wow. They (Gust and Jones) look so much alike in gear, I didn't look that good at the big No. 2 on his back. Gust and Farr were talking a lot prior to this moto so I naturally thought it was him. Whoops. :D It happens.

I am super sorry about the delay. Had technical difficulties, but not to worry. Here's the rest of the race.

Natalie eventually gets it going again but not after nearly loosing an entire lap and finished a disappointing 15th for the moto but still managing to secure a 9th overall. He's still in the top 10 for points with 27 points tied with Byrd, Luburgh and Ellis.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:21 AM
Travis Spader was a part of the first turn pile-up and was knocked out cold for what felt like forever to those around him, but Travis said it was about 10 seconds or so. How he even managed to get on and ride, getting air like this all the way up to 14th for the moto is beyond me. He overalled the day with eight and he currently sits in fifth for points with 29.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:25 AM
Giovanni Colon's motor started smoking so he decided to back off and finish the moto with a 12th instead of a DNF as well as a blown moto. He finished 15th overall and currently sits in 16th for points.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:28 AM
After an amazing run with the freight train at the beginning of the race, Ellis managed to make it back to 11th for a 7th overall. He along with Natalie, Byrd and Luburgh sit in 6th for points with 27.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:29 AM
Joe Byrd suffered bike problems from the first lap, but still was able to get 10th for the second moto. He finished the day with a dismal 12th but still maintains his place in the to ten for points.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:31 AM
Dustin Nelson made it in the top 10 for the moto but would end the day with a 13th overall. After having such an impressive showing at round one, he unfortunately drops out of the top ten for points back to 11th with 22 points.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:33 AM
Another one on the move when bad luck doesn't strike, Matt White held on to 8th for this moto but due to the stuck-in-the-mud incident from the first moto he would go home with 14th overall dropping him from the top 10 to 13th in points with 18.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:35 AM
New Hampshire's Joe Haavisto, had an excellent run getting seveth for and overall 11th.

He sits just one point behind Matt White in 14th for points.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:39 AM
Jason Dunkelberger upped his finishing position over moto one by claiming 5th in the second. He took 6th overall for the day and raised his points putting him in 12th with 19.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:41 AM
After a rough first moto, Doug Gust showed it was definitely a fluke by holding on throughout the moto to Little although unable to make any moves that would allow him to take over the lead. He would finish the moto in second taking home a fifth overall placing him in third for points with 41, just seven shy of the leader, Tim Farr.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:45 AM
After realizing he was going to have to either settle for fourth in the moto not knowing where he stood for the overall, or take a DNF trying to catch Luburgh, Tim Farr opted for the former. He may have missed the podium by a point but he still maintains the points lead going into round three.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:49 AM
All it took was getting a mechanic, in Jason Luburgh's words, so he could focus more on racing instead of wrenching. Lonestar Racing upped their efforts with him as Scott Butler now overseas his machine. The combination proved successful as the Zanesville, Ohio rider put his head down and just raced his race and proved he has what it takes to run up front. He finished third for second overall. His points position demonstrates the difference as he came into this round with only two points and 18th and leaves round two with 27 points and tied for 6th.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:52 AM
Having absolutely no idea where he was going to finish, Yoshimura Suzuki rider, Jeremiah Jones got up from the first turn chaos and skyrocketed back to sixth in the moto. He was shocked himself when everyone in victory circle had to yell for him to come back from his trailer to join the party as he edged out Tim Farr for third. He currently sits in second for points just six points behind with 42.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:54 AM
In the last minute efforts, you can see just how close the finish was. Little over Gust by a bike length at best.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:55 AM
The cheese factor begins with all the smiles on the podium. Luburgh was the first and downright should be stoked as it shows.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:56 AM
With the title of the event called the ATV Round-Up, the cowboy hat fit right in as Little demonstrates. I don't think it fit too well though.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:58 AM
Probably the most amateur Pro podium in a while, you'd think that Keith Little would have had more practice with the bottle from his TT Championship. Jeremiah Jones, the vet at such activities, blasts them with champange and then ditches the podium while both Little and Luburgh struggle to get the bottles open.

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 11:59 AM
:D

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 12:00 PM
Finally!

GNC_Reporter
03-01-2005, 12:07 PM
Needless to say, this was definitely a turn of events for not only the fans, but racers and industry notables alike. Factory involvement may becoming the norm but it's apparent you cannot rule out the privateers from making a statement as well, such as Lonestar Racing just did going 1-2.

It's going to be an interesting 2005 GNC MX season to say the least.

For official results log onto www.atvaonline.com Next round is March 12/13 at Gatorback in Gainesville, Florida.

rollie
03-01-2005, 05:51 PM
glad to see Haavisto is back out there racing:D


awsome coverage

USAMoto00
03-01-2005, 06:11 PM
It's about time you had some good luck Jason!:macho

Rico
03-01-2005, 06:32 PM
Great Pics.....

RUTHLESS
03-01-2005, 07:43 PM
GREAT REPORT, AWESOME PICS

THE LAST PIC OF Joe Haavisto LOOKED LIKE A PIECE OF ARTWORK

DON'T KNOW IF ITS THE EQUIPMENT, OR THE SHOOTER

BUT VERY, VERY, VERY TOP QUALITY!!!

RUTHLESS

laquerre2906
03-01-2005, 08:49 PM
yeah really nice reports and the picture looks awesome what kind of camera did you take for these amazing pictures?

creechfan
03-02-2005, 07:03 AM
awsome job!! cant wait till they come to Red Bud!!! will atvriders.com be covering the TT events this year too?

Roff333
03-02-2005, 07:53 AM
a big congrats to you lubrgh keep it up man

atvrulz
03-02-2005, 09:05 AM
Is Luburgh using the high rise or the low rise flexx handlebars?

Admin
03-02-2005, 09:20 AM
Originally posted by creechfan
awsome job!! cant wait till they come to Red Bud!!! will atvriders.com be covering the TT events this year too?

I am working on it, but any member wants is interested in helping out, it would make it that much easier, so send me a PM if anyone is interested in helping with any of the race coverage because the more help the better the coverage. I am always looking for GNC MX and TT race coverage assistance.

Thanks to those that make the coverage possible because I couldn't have done it alone. It requires a team effort.

TroyLeePred03
03-02-2005, 11:01 AM
Originally posted by nacsracer12
glad to see Haavisto is back out there racing:D


awsome coverage ya he stepped it up this race he should do better the rest of the year

jrdcrf419
03-02-2005, 02:04 PM
hey great pic thare were grate but i wish you got some of the little kid]

Admin
03-02-2005, 05:34 PM
Originally posted by jrdcrf419
hey great pic thare were grate but i wish you got some of the little kids

The kids are coming!!!:D

GNC_Reporter
03-02-2005, 10:14 PM
Originally posted by laquerre2906
yeah really nice reports and the picture looks awesome what kind of camera did you take for these amazing pictures?

I use a Canon 20D with an EF 70-200mm L4 lens. I'm still learning how to use the camera to it's fullest potential, but it's coming along. Cropping some of the pictures in different ways helps to accentuate the fun of what's really going on. I'm glad you enjoy them almost as much as I enjoy sharing them. I will be at all rounds but only covering the one's Harlen can't be at.

willow2679
03-03-2005, 05:45 PM
Real Nice pics
I like the way you ordered them in the first part showing the mud and going back to the beginnig of the event later :cool: