2014 Yamaha / Quad-X Racing Series Round #1 - Glen Helen San Bernardino, CA February 16, 2014

San Bernardino, CA (2/19/2014) - The season opener for the 2014 Yamaha Quadcross was held this past weekend in San Bernardino, CA at Glen Helen Raceway. The Pro Am class was the largest of the day with twenty-one riders and it was JRI/Lonestar Racing's David Flores taking top honors, followed by PEP rider Marc Mclernon in second, and Elka/STI rider Levi Shirley rounding out the podium. The action packed event was a great way to start off the 2014 Yamaha Quadcross Series.

The track was set and ready for battle as the sun came up over the surrounding mountains. Typically known for its gusty winds, Glen Helen offered exceptional racing conditions with temperatures in the high 70's and only a slight breeze to take the edge off. As the Pro Am racers staged around 11:00 am, every gate was filled and the intensity grew as the riders and teams prepped their gates.

When the gate dropped, JRi's David Flores found himself battling just outside the top five. With several sections of the track limited to one fast race line, Flores had to get creative and execute passes as quickly as possible. Setting the fastest lap time of the race on lap five, he was on a mission to the front of the field, and he took over the lead on lap six. With the help of his JRI suspension and Lonestar components, Flores' machine was able to handle the roughest sections of the track with ease. Using the power from his Golden Motorsports motor built by Rob Golden, he flew up the hills with impressive speed and continued to make smooth line choices. Crossing the checkered flag with an eight second lead, Flores' was ready to recoup for moto two.

The second moto was similar to the first for the JRi rider, as Flores rounded the famous "Talladega" holeshot turn several riders behind the leader. He once again made quick passes on the competition and found himself leading the race by LAP. The combination of his JRi Suspension, Goldspeed tires from GPS Offroad, and Golden Motorsports motor, allowed Flores to attack the rough track despite the extreme braking bumps and deep ruts. Taking the second moto win, Flores managed a 1-1 for the day, leaving the opening round with a perfect score.

PEP rider Marc Mclernon came all the way from Ireland to compete in the opening round of the 2014 Yamaha Quadcross. Riding the #11 Yamaha machine, Mclernon tackled the challenging course with impressive speed as he worked his way towards the front.  Navigating his way through the field after a ninth place start, Mclernon took over third place on lap seven as his lap times remained consistent the entire moto.

As the gate dropped on the second moto, Mclernon once again found himself battling from several positions behind the leader. Moving into fourth place on the second lap, he set his fastest lap time on lap five and was able to race his way into second place to secure second overall for the day with a 3-2.

Rounding out the podium was Elka/STI rider Levi Shirley aboard his Roll Design/Duncan Racing backed Honda machine. After scoring a 2-3 for the day, Shirley was able to grab the final spot on the podium taking third overall for the season opener. As Shirley was one of the most consistent riders in the class last season, he will be a contender for the championship this year as he looks to put his #81 Honda at the front of the pack for the eight race long season.

ATV racing veteran Kory Ellis proved he still has what it takes to race at the front as he placed fourth overall for the day aboard his #53 Yamaha. After two great starts in both motos, Ellis consistently raced near the front of the pack both motos, taking a 4-4 score for the day.

Rounding out the top five was Big Kid Racing's Keith Taylor on his Fox/Dasa backed Yamaha. After nearly pulling the holeshot in both motos, Taylor lead both motos for several lap. After getting tangled up in the first moto, he was forced to settle for a sixth place finish. Taking fifth in the second moto, his 6-5 score gave him fifth overall for the event. Taylor's speed and smooth riding will definitely make him a front runner in the next few races to come.

With the first round of the 2014 Yamaha Quadcross completed, the racers will head to Perris Raceway in Perris, CA on March 30 for round two. With such a large class and so many fast riders, it will be interesting to see who will walk away with the win at the next race. We are looking forward to more exciting Pro Am action next month!