Walsh, Justice dominate Sunset Ridge Qualifier

Walnut, IL May 19, 2007

By Merle Acord

Before the start of day one first moto, at the totally reworked Sunset Ridge MX Park, site of the  last area Amateur Championship Qualifier in the North Central Region Jan Pistole, “Mrs. Inside” the person to see at Sunset Ridge if it concerns administrative procedure, , when asked what’s the track like today, said “It’s a new world out there. Old buildings have been removed and a new concession kitchen installed. “Mr. Outside” Bob Pistole, who built and maintains the track, and his crew of sweaty elves, made substantial enhancing changes to a beautiful collection of doubles, triples, tabletops, whoops, high speed straights, switchbacks and sweepers, all that is expected, and more, from a first class racing facility and has it all neatly tucked into the rolling hills four miles south of Walnut, Illinois off Illinois route 92. (Look for the sign)

            It’s a good idea to come early to a Regional Qualifier; those Motor (homes away home) homes are huge and normally fill up most parking areas quickly. Not a problem at Sunset with their auxiliary parking in an open field adjacent to the mini-track, still it’s a good idea to come early for that choice parking slot.

The area qualifiers are winding down, with Sunset Ridge hosting the last chance in the North Central area to get an invitation to race the Amateur Regional at Indianola, Iowa or the Youth Regional at Millville, Minnesota and qualify, (or as MX Sports phrases it, “finish in an advancement position”)for the Championship. That would be the top eight in each class.

In his arduous trek to Hurricane Mills, Tennessee and the week long big show. Darren Walsh from Hamilton, Ohio riding a KTM in the (10-11) 65cc class put the locks on a gate position at Millville, MN for the North Central Youth Regional June 9-10. Darren, with the confidence of a White House Lawyer, powered out of the gate and led the way in both motos, then came back in the 85 (7-11) stock with a pair of treys for his second invitation to Millville and a chance to attain a position of advancement.

James Justice a force to be reckoned with took six moto wins and said “The track is super fast, but it’s getting chopped out this late in the day, but that’s ok it’s still a great track.” Hey, James it’s always a great track when you win.

Killy Rusk on a Suzuki , one of the long travelers, with a home track in Aztec,  New Mexico carded a 3-2 in the Schoolboy  (12-15) and said, “I got a crappy start in the first moto but this is a good track and I was able to come back with a third.” A pair of deuces in the 85 (14-15) and a 4-4 finishes in the Super Minis added one more invitation at Millville.

“I think I got a fifth in the first moto,” said Steven Page of Mokena, Illinois then came back with a third second time around and said, “I’m already qualified I’m just here today for the practice.

Brendan Harp from Baytown Texas earned a start at Millville in the Schoolboys with a seventh place overall and said, “I had a pretty good start but got pushed off the track in the first turn and after making a comeback I got pushed again on the last lap.”

Colton Chapman from Fairland, Indiana finished fifth overall on a KTM and said, “I did alright, but I could have done better.”

Ryan Poulter, from Prophetstown, Illinois took a third overall in the Pro Sport to go along with his wins in the MX A and MX lites class and said, “I feel good, the track is a little beat up but it’s OK. I got the hole shot in the 250 class in the first moto and rode smart after making a couple of big mistakes and almost crashing and still got the win.

Jason Hussey from Foristell, Missouri scored a pair of treys for a second overall in the MX Lites A and commented, “It’s a sandy track and late in the motos it gets rough and it’s fast and fun to ride.”

Vince Friese from Cairo, Georgia scored a pair of aces but he had to work for them. “I had a second place hole shot followed the leader until he got caught up in some lappers on the white flag and I got around and took the win. In the second moto I got the hole shot but I knew they were back there, so I tried to ride smart and not make any mistakes and it worked. I got another win. Now I’ve got to ride the Regional and move on to Loretta’s Championships.”

Kyle Corman Decatur, Illinois riding a Suzuki * carded a pair of deuces for his invitation to a Regional and ride “The Farm MX” at Indianola,  June 16/17 for a chance to move up to Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. “The first moto was good and I led all the way except for the last lap when I got hung up with some lappers.  In the second moto I got behind Vince and stayed there. He’s riding real good today and the track is getting slick and I didn’t want take a chance of going down and not qualifying.”

Mike Ross third overall in the 250B stock said, “I got a really good hold shot in the first moto and held on for a third place finish and finished fourth in the second moto for a fourth overall and I’m all set for the Regional.”

Jared Schudel from Elgin, Illinois riding a 450 Suzuki in the MX B stock class said, “I had a sixth place start and worked up to fourth and I just stayed there for the rest of the moto. Did a little better in moto two with a third, but I’m here to qualify, not wipe out on the final lap.”

Matt Gillispie in the MX B class on a 450 Honda out of Midlothian, Texas got his place on the line at “The Farm” Regional in Indianola with a fifth overall after a problem in the first moto. “I had an ok start but slid out in the first corner. I was able to keep the bike running and then caught up to fifth and just hung there. Got another fifth in the second moto and I’m happy with that. After driving all the way from Texas I sure wanted to make the top eight and qualify.”

Jeremy Hullett riding a RMZ 450 Suzuki in the MX B class out of Northfield, Minnesota took the eighth and last qualifying slot in the MX B’s with eight and ninth place moto finishes and philosophically stated, “I got a top five start in both motos and just hung on for eight place finishes. I got a little tired but I think I got the job done.”

Cody Vanbuskirk, second OA in the MX C lite from Harvard, Illinois near the Wisconsin border just next door when you compare Tyler Waldrip’s  haul from Cordele, Georgia, for his fourth place qualifying slot or Blake Green 65 (7-11) and 65 (7-9) of Riverside, California taking no chance of not qualifying and carded a pair of aces in both classes. (Never found out if he’s driving back for the Youth Regional June 9/10 at Spring Creek MX in Millville, Minnesota…) Cody wasn’t concerned when he stalled his machine then had trouble restarting; Cody had taken the precaution to qualify at another area qualifier just in case of such a mishap.

Brianna Mahon on a 250F Kaw from Sullivan, Illinois added a little excitement to the first moto when she dropped it in a sweeper and then had to work thru the pack for her moto win. “The first moto was good,” said Brianna. “I got the hole shot and then went down in the second corner. It got a little crowded, but I was able to catch back up and score the win. In the second moto I went wire to wire.”

            “I’ve been on a 450F for the last year,” said second overall Rochelle Charnowski. “So we down sized to a 250F out of Pro Motor Sports in Burlington, Iowa and it’s taking a little getting used to. I miss the power but I like to ride the 250F. If you go fast enough to win any track is technical and that is where the smaller machine shines.”

‘I didn’t have too good a day,” said Women third overall April Roper. “I fell in the first moto and finished fourth then didn’t have too good a hole shot in moto two but still finished third. I was all ready qualified so this was just practice. The track is awesome, even better than last year; the changes Bob made are really working. I got my machine from Cycle M. “

In closing, the AMA Amateur Championship will be at Hurricane Mills, Tennessee July 30thru Aug 4 2007.