2005 ATVA GNC MX Round #5 - Birchcreek Motorsports Park

[GNC_Reporter]

You care checking out the photo coverage of the 2005 ATVA ITP/Moose Grand National Championship (GNC) Motocross Series. This event made the fifth stop on the series and took place at Birchcreek Motorsports Park just outside the city limit of Danville, Virginia where roughly 360 individual riders made up 537 entries at this years national which was an increase of about 50 entries over last years event. With the wind having died down from Saturday, it was a perfect day for racing...and picture taking.

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A panoramic view of the track.

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Riders take their ATVs through tech checking width and various other checks necessary to race.

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At the riders meeting riders get treated to a special guest. Unadilla Motorsports host of round 11 of the series in New York came down to check out their first ATV only event. Confirming questions riders may have had pertaining to their event.

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The whole family came down and seemed really impressed with the magnitude of ATVs that were there.

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A rare sight this weekend was Tim Farr out and about with his wife, Julie.

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At the Pro riders meeting, Doug Gust suggests a few changes or areas to watch on the track.

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Riders look to another part of the track.

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ATVA Director, Doug Morris takes down the riders gate picks with John Pierson handing his #3 Clothespins.

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Dustin Wimmer finally catches a break by picking number one.

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Paul Turner, Doug Gust’s wrench, get prepared for the start.

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Pat Brown and Tim Farr chat just before the first moto.

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Same with Gust and Byrd.

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Jason Dunkelberger catches some shade as they wait for the grooming of the track to finish.

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Jason Luburgh (8) and Donald Lamborn (80).

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The starting line dance.

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Whatever it takes to get the most amount of traction off the start as possible.

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Apparently, John Natalie had the most amount of the traction as he claimed his fifth in a row holeshot.

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The rest of the pack follow…

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…while Jason Dunkelberger finds himself with one heck of a job ahead of him.

A clutch failure as the engines were revved caused his ATV to roll into the gate before it went down and frantically try to fix what the problem was to no avail. Everyone was nearly over the tunnel jump (about one jump and three turns after the start) before he made it down the track to the first turn. He was not happy and hoped to salvage at least 15th for the moto.

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John Natalie (13) and Tim Farr (4) roll one, two for nearly half the moto.

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Farr does a quick look-back to see a bad sign. Doug Gust (55) tailing him.

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With Jeremiah Jones (2) hot on his tail to boot.

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Joe Byrd (7) holds a slight lead over Travis Spader (30), Dustin Wimmer (191), Harold Goodman (708) and the impressive riding of Joe Haavisto (75).

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Getting rough starts were the likes of Donald Lysing (411), Gilbert Attix (309), Matt White (32), Jason Luburgh (8), Patrick Brown (199)…

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…as well as Don Lamborn (80), Tavis Cain (6), Kory Ellis (53) and Keith Little (12).

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I didn’t see it and probably thankful I didn’t as it was hard enough to see Doug Gust in and unfamiliar position, lying knocked out on the ground. On the second lap of the moto, Gust become a little loose and while in most circumstances he can land virtually anything he came down in just the wrong way as well as landing in somewhat of a pothole to send him and his bike tumbling. Down for over a minute, he eventually got back up and within five minutes he got back on his machine to salvage what points he could.

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With Gust out, Jeremiah Jones moved into third behind Farr for just a few more laps.

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Joe Byrd maintained a solid position in fourth for the entire moto.

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Dustin Wimmer (191) works to get by Travis Spader (30).

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Harold Goodman (708) holds off Joe Haavisto (75).

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Surprising even himself, Jason “Dunk” Dunkelberger puts together probably the most amazing moto he has ever ridden. By the half way point he surpassed the position he was hoping to at least get moving into 13th.

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Kory Ellis got hung up three different times and lost his rear brakes in the second lap causing a less than satisfactory performance.

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Still feeling the affects of the crash, Gust just putts around to the finish line eventually settling with a dismal 19th.

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Matt White gets around Gilbert Attix as Jason Dunkelberger creeps up on both of them.

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Joe Haavisto (75) is the leader of his own race as Patrick Brown (199), Jason Luburgh (8) and Keith Little (12) tail him.

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John Natalie Jr. leads start to finish.

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Tim Farr works hard to keep Jeremiah Jones staring at his rear number plate and gets around him headed into the stellar triple that Birchcreek is famous for but Farr gets him back over the triple. Farr would eventually loose his second place spot to Jones and having to settle for third.

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Dustin Wimmer is unable to get around Joe Byrd and has to settle for fifth even with a broken bolt that caused his rear fender to become loose for much of the moto.

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Travis Spader would take sixth.

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Jason Dunkelberger performed some magic coming from more than dead last to seventh. Impressive.

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Although Harold Goodman was putting on a good ride for the moto, he admittedly got tired finishing 12th in the moto loosing spots to Keith Little who finished 8th and Pat Brown who crossed the line just behind him.

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Jason Luburgh was involved in connection with Joe Haavisto and was unable to get his ATV started again. He obtained some assistance from a course worker to get pulled to get started causing him to be disqualified for outside assistance. He would have been better off with a DNF as he would not have lost as many points towards the overall had he stayed put.

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Unfortunately, Joe Haavisto was one of two riders for the weekend that had to push his ATV across the finish line as a result of motor problems. Without any back-up parts, he was done for the day.

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Tim Farr does his after action review for ATV Sport TV.

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Fans watch as John Natalie’s ATV gets a quick bath.

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Pat Brown hangs up his chest protector for a break between the motos.

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Paul Turner and Walsh Race Crafts, Mike Walsh work to fix the damage done on Doug Gust’s ATV, hoping he will be able to return to competition although everyone was skeptical if he would.

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Joe Haavisto and crew work feverishly hoping to return his bike to competition ready. It wasn’t going to happen.

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I missed the train of fans that were circling many of the riders earlier in the Pro autograph session. Here Keith Little signs some poster for fans. The pros are really stepping up their set-ups for autograph signings. It’s making for a better and more fan friendly appearance.

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Doug Gust remained hidden for the time between motos trying to get it back together even missing his autograph signing leaving Jeremiah Jones out front.

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Gilbert Attix signs a lucky fans shirt.

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Both John Natalie and Michele Riser sign autographs for fans.

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For the first time this season, the first moto winner doesn’t follow-up with the second as Tim Farr and Kory Ellis beat everyone else to the first turn with Tim Farr gaining the early lead.

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Tim Farr leads for the entire moto while Kory Ellis having fixed that brake problem from the first moto takes second in stride with Jason Luburgh pulling up in third for the first lap.

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John Natalie takes sixth around the first lap working to reel in Travis Spader and Joe Byrd.

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Although Dustin Wimmer is riding relatively up front he would begin to experience moto problems beginning a backwards movement, as Keith Little and Pat Brown work to get around.

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Having a much better start, Jason Dunkelberger leads over Donald Lysinger, Harold Goodman and even Jeremiah Jones who suffered a terrible start that sent him on a quest to the front.

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Doug Gust made the start easy enough but never fully recuperated and therefore just settled at the back of the pack away from racing action.

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John Pierson hung tight finishing the moto in 18th. For an overall 19th.

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Tavis Cain edges a little over Dustin Wimmer but would loose that spot momentarily.

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Tim Farr has an impressive ride over the rest of the class.

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Travis Spader holds off John Natalie but for a moment.

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Jason Dunkelberger holds off Jeremiah Jones for about two laps before Jones would eventually make the move over him en route to the front runners.

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Keith Little has a fighting pack of riders behind him about half way to go.

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On the high-speed long jump in the back, an upset in the bike as he crested the hill launched Joe Byrd one way while his bike and seat went another. For what felt like forever, Byrd would come down hard possibly breaking some ribs, chipping a tooth and hurting his back. Although down several laps he would get back on to finish the moto while most anyone else would have quit.

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Tavis Cain creeps up and will pass Harold Goodman to take home for the moto 10th while Goodman earns a 13th.

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Doug Gust would earn a 16th for the moto for an overall 17th. Definitely not your normal Gust finish.

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Gil Attix takes the 14th spot over Donald Lamborn who has 15th respectively. Attix would take the overall 15th while Lamborn would take just one spot behind.

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Matt White would work to get around Donald Lysinger to earn the 11th spot while Lysinger takes 12th. Overall White would land in the top 10 with 9th while Lysinger would earn 14th.

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Even a shot motor couldn’t keep Dustin Wimmer out as he limps to a ninth place for the moto taking home the 7th overall.

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Pat Brown gains one over his first moto to grab an eight for the 8th overall enough to get himself back in the top ten.

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Not realizing he needed to take one more position to gain another spot, Travis Spader finishes in seventh for a fifth overall while…

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...Jason Dunkelberger sneaks up to steal that spot of sixth and fourth overall to finish up his amazing race weekend.

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Bummed he had a DSQ from the first moto, Jason Luburgh had every intention of just going out and having fun with the second moto, and in doing so put on a great ride finishing just behind the front runners with a fifth and an 18th overall for the day.

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Finishing in this order for the moto, Natalie never made a strike at Farr’s leading position because he knew he didn’t need to beat him to take the win overall. Second through fourth would fall down just like this, Natalie, Ellis and Jones who had an amazing ride from the back to finish up in fourth enough for a third overall.

Ellis’ bummer of a first moto landed him with a 6th overall. Now if he could just put two good motos together we might see what he’s capable of doing which is landing on the podium.

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A motor problem that started early in the moto, finally went out on Little and as a result was the second rider having to push his ATV across the line. The fans cheered him on as he got across exhausted.

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Tim Farr proved the soiler in a nice record run of holeshot to moto winners and earning him the winner of the moto with a second overall.

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Natalie makes it three in a row AND takes over the points lead.

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Let's celebrate...

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Natalie takes a sip while Jones is like, "Bleck!"

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Your 2005 Birchcreek National Pro Podium

1st - John Natalie Honda number 13
2nd - Tim Farr Honda number 4
3rd - Jeremiah Jones Suzuki number 2

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For official results log onto www.atvaonline.com

We'll see you in Budds Creek in Maryland just over a week away. ;)

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I want to sincerely apologize for the insane delay in getting this report up...it has been a less than favorable week for me pertaining to the technology we rely on so much this day and age.

I'll do my best to keep it from happening again. ;)

[Admin]

The wait was well worth it, and I am once again very pleased with the coverage.

[Cindi]

:) Doug Gust would like to apoligize for not coming out on Sunday and signing autographs. :eek: He was pretty banged up after his crash and needed to try to prepare for second moto. He went to the hospital Sunday night and got checked out. He is still pretty sore and buised up but is doing better.

;) Thanks for all the emails

Cindi H

[BlueZ440]

Thanks for the update on Gust..

[TCracin440ex]

did anybody see the kid there w/ the twin mohawks

[p@iNn3ck]

Great pics!

[twisted threads]

Originally posted by Admin
The wait was well worth it, and I am once again very pleased with the coverage.
I agree 100% GREAT COVERAGE!!!:macho




Doug Gust would like to apoligize for not coming out on Sunday and signing autographs. He was pretty banged up after his crash and needed to try to prepare for second moto. He went to the hospital Sunday night and got checked out. He is still pretty sore and buised up but is doing better.
Tell Doug that were all glad to see he is alright.

[Jeff2269]

Love to see those honda's up front!!

[mxed250r]

don't sweat the auto's doug, some things are more important than a autograph. glad that your ok, keep up those sick rides. and last HONDA RULES!!! hope to see doug back on honda, maybe next year?