ATVA ITP / Moose Racing National Motocross Series Amateur Race Report Round #5 - Budds Creek April 1-2, 2006

ATVA Motocross Nationals Round #5 - Links Race Results Amateur Photo Gallery Pro Forum Coverage Amateur Forum Coverage

Pro Am Production & Unlimited
So far this season the Pro/Am classes have seen their “Ups” and “Downs”. Not that the ProAm Production and ProAm Unlimited classes have been on an up swing entry wise nor a down swing performance wise. But, rather dominated by two up and coming racers by the name of Upperman and Downen. Riding out of Louisville, Ohio and under the guidance and sponsorship of Tim Farr’s Team Motorsport.com Honda, Josh Upperman continues to put the “Umph” in his performance round after round. If it weren’t for Pro rider Matt White competing in the Production class, Upperman would enjoy the top spot overall in the class. White, a Pro who’s on the up swing in his performances both in the Pro/Am classes and the Pro class, has taken two wins, one second, and one third place finish in four of the first five rounds and leads Upperman by fourteen points after the Budds Creek round.

Rounding out the top five in the Pro/Am Production class after the Leonardtown, Maryland round 5 were Mitch Reynolds of Arkansas in third and Clay Holmes of Tennessee and Brock Lyons of Indiana in 4th and 5th, respectively.

#727 Cale Downen hasn't had any luck in the Pro Am Production Class, but on Sunday's he is on fire keeping Upperman in his sights and consistently finishing in the runner spot in the Pro Am Unlimited Class.	Lost Creek Cycle's Jason Dunkelberger has been using the Pro Am Production Class to fine tune his Suzuki LT-R450 for the Pro Class Competition on Sunday, and he finished 3rd this weekend

#1 Heather Byrd took the easy win in the absence of Angela Butler

#113 Michelle Reiser was back in action this weeked after being sidelined at Echeconnee, and she was on her games as she was able to charge her way past Jami Luburgh to finish in 2nd place.	#303 Chasity Neece finished in the runners-up spot behind Candace Lee as she drops to 3rd place in points with Adrinne Cooper maintiaing the points lead even though she skipped Budds Creek

Candace Lee of Four Oaks, North Carolina began her racing career in the Dirt Track arenas and in 2005 nabbed the Women’s class national title and placed an astonishing 2nd in the male dominated 4 Stroke C class just a few points behind the national championship run of Timmy Duncan. With these credentials under her scarf, Lee has infiltrated the MX National ranks in the Women’s Sport class and has created a three way tussle for the title in ’06. Leading the pack of ladies in the Sport class, Adrinne Cooper of California has a 6 point lead over second place running Lee and only a 7 point lead over third place running Chasity Neece of Texas. With such a slim margin separating the top three and with the talent level of these three increasing at each and every round, the Women’s Sport class should, could and will be one to carry the adrenaline levels to the max as these three ladies see who will come out on top in their chase for the National Women’s Sport Class Championship.

Mario DiAngelo takes the win in front of a hometown crowd as the Maryland resident jumps into third place in points behind Ryan Costello and Jesse Mattucci

Age Classes (16-24 & 25 Plus)
After the first five rounds of the 2006 ITP/Moose Racing ATVA National Motocross Championship Series the 16 to 24 year old age class takes the cake for being the one with the tightest running top five out of all the classes. Take for instance this points spread. Separating first from fourth after the Budds Creek round was a five point spread and from first to fifth an eight point margin. Tied at the top of the heap in the overalls, Chris Williams of Florida was locked in a tie with Thomas Brown of Texas, both nurturing 75 points on the season. Sitting in third, just one point behind Williams and Brown, Cody Brown of Texas had tallied 74 points in the first five rounds. Then, to add to the complexities of the class, Nick Denoble of Wisconsin had fourth overall in his possession with 70 points and Devin Heimes, also of Florida, had a hold on the fifth place overall position with 67 points. Anyone with any racing sense at all would not even venture to make a call on the championship in the 16 to 24 year old class. With two Texas lads and two Florida fighters in the struggle for the national title, not to mention throwing in a fellow from Wisconsin into the mix, the 16 to 24 class could easily become a down right nerf knocking, tire rubbing, roost spewing dog fight right down to the finishing checkers at round fourteen in early September.

Known as the “Pre Ben Gay Set”, the 25 Plus class has seen its’ share of entries this year but not the competition levels quite like the 16 to 24 class. Leading the 25 Pluser’s after the first five rounds, Dane Heilman holds a commanding 145 point to 62 point lead over second spot running Stan “Big Daddy” Digby. Sitting in third overall and only making the 4th and 5th rounds of the series, Daniel Schneider of New York holds onto the last podium spot in the overalls with 46 points.

Production A and 265 A

Nathan Commer earned wins in both the Production A and 265 A Classes, and he is also the current points leader in both classes

When most people think of a city named Philadelphia they think of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The troops of the 265-A and the Production A classes in the 2006 MX Nationals think of Mississippi. And, for good reason. Riding out of Philadelphia, Mississippi and putting a severe thrashing on the contestants of both classes, Nathan Commer and his Honda have taken three wins and one fourth in both classes in corresponding rounds to lead the overall point standings coming out of round 5 in Maryland. In the 265-A class Commer enjoys a healthy lead over the second spot overall position of Matthew Wienen with 72 points and third place overall Ryan Sowers with 71 points. His top dog standing in the Production A class is not as substantial. Commer hangs in first place overall in the class by two points over Casey Martin of Kentucky. Both Commer and Martin have missed one round each and are out front and running a good thirty points plus ahead of their closest rival Aaron Meyer of Ohio in third.

Russell Shumaker finished 4th in Production A, but he won his second race in a row in 4 Stroke A and currently leads the 4 Stroke A Class Points	FMF Media Allstars, Caleb Moore, has proved he can do more than Freestyle as he is currently in 2nd place in points in Opan A and 6th in Production A

Youth (50 Stock Limited & Youth Production)
When you’re four to six years old and you race the ATV MX Nationals, you may be on your game one day and the next not quite in sync with racing. In other words, when the 50cc Stock Limited (4 to 6 year old) class hits its’ shortened version of a national track, you’d better be ready for some quiet time and some rather nervous parents.

After five rounds of the ’06 series, Jeffrey Dodson of Catlett, Virginia has raised the pulse of his parents more than one time. Young Dodson won rounds 3, 4 and 5 and after the Budds Creek round enjoys the top spot in the class overalls. Behind Dodson and one to give pop a heart attack on more than one occasion, Jordan Digby of Fulton, Mississippi and son of Stan “Big Daddy” Digby, has managed a second place finish and a third place finish along with some 4ths and 5ths to hold down the second place position overall after five rounds. Topping off the top three in the 50 Stock Limited Class, Conner Fuhrman of Brighton, Michigan has taken his DRX to the podium twice and has captured a couple of 4ths to lay claim to the third place overall position thus far in the series.

Three years ago the Youth Production class in its’ inaugural year might see a half dozen entries and sometimes may not. Now, in 2006, youths between the ages of 13 and 15 have to qualify on Saturday just to make the second moto on Sunday. With entries swelling to astonishing levels and the competition becoming as fierce as the Pros, the Youth Production class has become a showcase for youth talent which plans to move up to the amateur ranks when they turn sixteen. Leading the charge in the ’06 MX Nationals, Neal McGrath of Bradenton, Florida is showing no mercy on his counterparts. He leads the class overall standings with 108 points. His closest competition, the second place overall position holder after five rounds, Richard Lindsay of Atco, New Jersey missed the first two rounds and is in a state of playing catch up with only 85 points to his credit. This puts him in a deficit hole of 33 points in order to catch the front running McGrath. Hanging in third and only three points behind Lindsay, another New Jersey based youth racer, Robert Mazey has managed one second place finish, one third place finish and a couple of 4ths to put himself in contention for the championship. McGrath’s advantage so far on the season has been his ability to make all the rounds, whereas Lindsay and Mazey, the “New Jersey Duo” have missed two and one rounds, respectively.

Brena Marra claims the win in the 90cc Production Sr (12-15) Class over Brittany Snider and Kristy Laurine as the youth women are making their presence known, which is great for the sport	#88 Joel Hetrick in back to his winning ways after a rough start to the season, and he has won the last three races in the 90cc Modified (8-15) and is the current points leader over Glen Massung and Jeffray Rastrelli

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