Story and Photos for Cycle News Feature Article

Round 1 SMUSA, Fernley March 28-29, 2008

see Cycle News, Issue #15, p. 60 for the article.

Captioned Photo Sampler (130 Photos)

.................................................... ................................... ....................................... ................................. Bob Stokstad

SUPERMOTO
Round 1  SupermotoUSA Nor Cal Championship Series
March 28-29, 2008
Reno_Fernley Raceway
Fernley, Nevada

 

SupermotoUSA Starts 2008 at Reno-Fernley

Story and photos by Bob Stokstad

SupermotoUSA NorCal launched its 2008 series on March 28 and 29 at Reno-Fernley Raceway.  The hardy Californians who crossed the snowy Sierra were greeted in Fernley with ideal racing conditions on Saturday morning. OK, it was a little chilly in the desert, but the sun did come out and the snow-capped hills were a beautiful sight.  The long, fast asphalt course and extensive dirt section were groomed to perfection.  Dry weather and dust-free conditions don't often come together, but they did this weekend.  The program included well-subscribed kids' races on Saturday morning, open practice in the afternoon and full-on racing all day Sunday.  There were over 150 entries in 14 classes - an excellent start for the nine-round season. 

The open expert class brought out the usual suspects - Andrew Dickson, Vince Guisande, Jr. and Casey Yarrow to mix it up with each other and some newer contenders as well - Brandon Case, Tyler O'Hara, and Derrick Patterson, to name several.   O'Hara, who started Supermoto racing only last year and at the ripe age of twenty, turned out to be the sleeper who stole the show.   Grid positions for the heat were on a first-registered first-placed basis and O'Hara started out tenth.  But in one lap he worked his way through the pack and stayed at the head for nine more.  That left Dickson, Guisande and Yarrow to generate the suspense, which they did, finishing in that order behind O'Hara.  In the main event, O'Hara's pole position put him in the lead at the start - no need to work through the pack this time.  Now it was Yarrow's turn.  Starting in fourth position he used up three laps to get past Dickson and then another three to catch Guisande.  With four laps to go, said Yarrow, he was "slowly, slowly reeling [O'Hara] in.  I made up a little bit of ground, but it wasn't enough."  O'Hara, for his part, remarked afterward that he was "riding normally" and not taking any big chances.

Other races provided other opportunities, however, and Yarrow and Guisande each got their turn.  For Yarrow it was the 450 class where, in both heat and main, he edged out Dickson mid-race to take the lead and then the flag.   Joey Pascarella, riding a 250 cc bike in this big-bore event, still managed to take third in both motos.  Fernley, with its long asphalt sweepers and single dirt section, does favor the big bikes.

The 250F class gave Pascarella his place in the sun.  Mike Camera was his closest competitor, maintaining the second spot for the entire race, though the gap grew greater with each lap.  Brian Martinez, Jr. and Wyatt Ferris fought it out for third and fourth.

With Guisande's recent appearance in the mini-motard class, this event had the aura of a shootout between him and Dickson, the 2007 series champion.  The big showdown on the little machines lasted all of fifteen seconds.  Dickson lost the front in the long sweeper right after the start and took himself, Guisande and several other riders off into desert.  While Dickson crashed, the others managed to get back on track and finish the heat, which Guisande won. Starting in last place in the main left Dickson no chance to catch Guisande (though he was in second place after the second lap).  Brok McAllister and Allan Uribe took third and fourth places.

Leave it to the vets to provide the dicey sparring that makes the heart race.  Rob Campbell dogged Al McElroy wheel-to-wheel for the entire Vet 45 heat, all the way to a photo finish.  It was happening again in the main until  the fifth lap when, in a tight corner, McElroy's rear wheel slid sideways just enough to push out Campbell's front.  Flat on the asphalt in a split second with his bike on top of him, Campbell was so fast in getting back up and running that the third-place rider (Ted Tamagni) never passed him. 

More excitement to come on April 13th with Round 2 at Infineon.
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Reno-Fernley Raceway
Fernley, Nevada
Results: March 28-29, 2008
            (Round 1 of 9)
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BEG:  1. Jim Quacshnick (Hon); 2. Justin Gushi (Hon); 3. Josiah Rundall (Hon); 4. Mike Jones (Kaw); 5. Loyd Wenzel (Hon).

NOV:  1. Brandon Greenwood (Hon); 2. Mike Lawrence (Kaw); 3. Joe Brown (Ktm); 4. Damon Podolny (Yam); 5. Greg Kamholz (Hon).

INT:  1. Brandon Case (Hon); 2. John Patterson (Hon); 3. Sam Knox (Hon); 4. Kyle Minor (Ktm); 5. Nick Neuhaus (Yam).

F-110: 1. Josh Serne (Ktm); 2. Ronan Lancaster (Ktm); 3. Michael Wentworth (Hon); 4. Brett Voorhees (Hon); 5. Kia Bartlow (Hon).

S/50: 1. Brett Voorhees (Hon); 2. Kia Bartlow (Hon); 3. Michael Pullin (Hon); 4. Casey Yarrow Jr. (Yam).

S/L/W:  1. Justin Ducut (Hon); 2. Ryan Kearns (Yam); 3. Brian Martinez Jr (Hon); 4. Gage Mcallister (Hon); 5. Tyler O'Hara (Hon)  (no relation to T. O'Hara in the Expert Class).

MINIMOTARD:  1. Vincent Guisande, Jr. (Hon); 2. Andrew Dickson (Hon); 3. Brok Mcallister (Hon); 4. Allan Uribe (Hon); 5. Mike Lawrence (Kaw).

125 S/SPT: 1. Josh Serne (Ktm); 2. Jayson Uribe (Kaw); 3. Ronan Lancaster (Ktm); 4. Robby Nelson (Yam); 5. Michael Wentworth (Hon).

150:  1. Blake Farris (Hon); 2. Josh Serne (Ktm); 3. Curtis Walker (Ktm); 4. Charles Weaver (Hon); 5. Rick Holtzman (Yam).

250F:  1. Joey Pascarella (Hus); 2. Mike Camera (Yam); 3. Brian Martinez Jr (Hon); 4. Wyatt Farris (Hon); 5. Justin Ducut (Hon).

400 AM:  1. Wyatt Farris (Hon); 2. Ryan Kearns (Yam); 3. Jimmy Gonzalez (Hon); 4. Tucker Lancaster (Suz); 5. Michael Smith (Yam).

450:  1. Casey Yarrow (Yam); 2. Vincent Guisande, Jr. (Hon); 3. Joey Pascarella (Hus); 4. Andrew Dickson (Hon); 5. Derrick Patterson (Hon).

SPTSMN:  1. Ted Tamagni (Hon); 2. Brian Bartlow (Hon); 3. Nick Voneuw (Kaw); 4. Sam Phippen (Hon); 5. Wesley Rundall (Hon).

VET OVER 45:  1. Al McElroy (Yam); 2. Robert Campbell (Hon); 3. Ted Tamagni (Hon); 4. Jon Eichelbaugh (Ktm); 5. Ed Derda (Ktm).

VET OVER 35:  1. Ron Hampshire (Hon); 2. Robert Campbell (Hon); 3. Kyle Minor (Ktm); 4. Bert Toth (Apr); 5. Ted Tamagni (Hon).

VINTAGE:  1. Ron Melton (Hon); 2. Gary Davis (Hon).

EXPERT:  1. Tyler O'Hara (Ktm); 2. Casey Yarrow (Yam); 3. Vincent Guisande, Jr. (Hon); 4. Andrew Dickson (Hon); 5. Derrick Patterson (Hon).

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Captioned Photo Sampler (130 Photos)