Volume 10 // Issue 5 by The Racing Paper

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 5 // 2013 aFred

FASTEST OF THE FAST AT PYRAMID VALLEY

Lantzer #98

PAMX S.C. SERIES: ROUND 4 AT PVR

COLTON GORBY • PAMX AT BAJA BRAWL • OUTLAW MOTORSPORTS • AARON FENCHAK 1

THE RACING PAPER

The Red Bull RE-MX returned to Steel City for its third consecutive year. Though the format was different, some things stay the same.

WORDS: BRITTANY DeNEEN PHOTOGRAPHY: JORDAN ROBERTS

Lantzer #98

The Delmont Closer

WORDS: BRITTANY DeNEEN PHOTOGRAPHY: ARLENE LANTZER #98, MIMI GREINER

With the help of some outside sponsors, Pyramid Valley handed out $4,500 worth of purse money for their third annual pro-am race.

Fastest of the Fast WORDS: JORDAN ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY: AFRED

contributor p.05 sign up p.05 pamx schedule p.06 next exit p.09 flashpoint p.10 front & center p.16 bar-to-bar p.18 fire off p.20 public address p.22 premix p.26 take 5 p.31 inventory p.45 tapped out p.46 miley cyrus p.49

Steel City held their last race of the season one day after the Red Bull RE-MX. Round 5 of the State Championship Series went off without a hitch.

Greiner

Pleasure Valley Raceway was hit by an overnight rainstorm that nobody was calling for, but the crew did a great job at getting the track worked in.

Running Wide

WORDS: JORDAN ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY: ARLENE LANTZER #98, MIMI GREINER

Editor / Designer Jordan Roberts Staff Lens aFred, Simon Cudby Staff Pens Jen Kenyon, Chase Stallo Head Honcho Davey Coombs Boss Guy Bryan Stealey Boss Girl Julie Kramer Advertising Tim Crytser Accounts Jerri Headlee Voice of Reason Rita Coombs Contributing Writers Timmy Coombs, Brittany DeNeen, Dan Hathaway, Tyler Newcomer Contributing Photographers Mimi Greiner, Lauren Hall, Arlene Lantzer #98, Zak Lowery, Amy Schaaf COVER PHOTO BY MIMI GREINER The Racing Paper 122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508 tel 304.284.0080 | fax 304.284.0081 | theracingpaper.com The riders appearing in this newspaper are, for the most part, skilled amateurs or highly trained individuals with experience racing and operating motorcycles. Please don’t try to imitate them. When you ride a motorcycle or ATV, always wear a helmet, eye protection and the appropriate safety gear. Never ride beyond your capabilities. Use your head, be safe and enjoy the ride. The Racing Paper publishes six issues annually by World Sports Holdings, LLC. Our editorial office is located at 122 Vista Del Rio Drive, Morgantown, WV 26508. Copyright ©2012 Filter Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing in this newspaper may be reprinted in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher. Editorial contributions are welcomed, but must be guaranteed exclusive to The Racing Paper. We are not responsible for the return of unsolicited material. Letters cannot all be answered, nor can all service inquiries be answered. We appreciate correspondence sent to our editorial office and will use the most interesting and appropriate letters in the newspaper. Email letters to: jordan@racerxonline.com Advertising: Please call Tim Crytser at 407-748-4663

THE RACING PAPER

USA

5¢

Just wanted to give you, your photographers, and your writers a big thank-you. We were so thrilled to see Garrett Smith (#624) in The Racing Paper! The photos were terrific and I know he was very proud, as is his family. We tell our non-racing friends all about the sport, but it just doesn’t seem like they get it. I’m not sure if they think we are crazy for letting our kids participate in motocross. Well, all I know is that it’s an awesome family-oriented sport and that, yes, at times can make you crazy, break the bank, and make you scared to death for your children, but it has been a blessing for us. We have met some wonderful people and our kids will have lifelong memories of really good times. Thanks again for making us proud parents! Michele and Ron Smith I received The Racing Paper today. It had all of the results from Loretta’s! So as I am looking through it, I get to the page with all of the PAMX riders, and I see all of the riders’ names and finishes, but my son, Phillip Williams, was not listed again for the second year in a row. Last year I didn’t think a lot about it, but to not get in there this year is a little bit disappointing! It is a shame at the amount of money that we spend that we can’t even get recognition! What did we need to do to be recognized? But then again, you never recognize the little 50 riders!! Jennifer and Dennis Williams

Some of you may be familiar with Tim Cryter’s Virtual Trainer column we run in each issue, be he’s got a lot more than that going on behind the scenes. On The Racing Paper side of things, Tim coordinates with local businesses and promoters for advertising space. He is also a Sales Associate for Racer X Illustrated and other Filter Publications operations. Tim has been on the sales staff for four years, running the Virtual Trainer website for eight and a trainer for over fifteen. He’s a Morgantown native and childhood friend of Davey’s, and also one of the original MX Sports staffers picking up garbage in the early days of High Point. Tim has since moved to Virginia, where he resides with his wife and two daughters, Rachel and Alli. During his spare time, Tim enjoys running, training, and riding mountain bikes and motocross.

Jennifer and Dennis, I am extremely sorry Phillip was overlooked as the last issue was being put together. I realize the dedication it takes to race week-in and week-out, and Loretta’s is certainly in a league of its own. It was an honest mistake, and we’ll definitely be looking for him next year. Congratulations to Phillip and his twentieth overall in (4-6) Shaft Drive Limited at Loretta’s! -Jordan

Want to write a letter to The Racing Paper? Send it to: jordan@racerxonline.com or TRP Sign Up 122 Vista Del Rio Dr. Morgantown, WV 26508 5

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER

9/1 9/8 9/14 9/15 9/22 9/28 9/29 9/29

Steel City Pleasure Valley Steel City Steel City Pleasure Valley High Point High Point Pittsburgh Raceway

Round 3 of the Fly Racing PA State Championship Round 4 of the Fly Racing PA State Championship Red Bull RE-MX presented by Scott Motorsports Round 5 of the Fly Racing PA State Championship Round 6 of the Fly Racing PA State Championship/ITB Triple Crown Vet National MX Vet National Hare Scramble Round 7 of the Fly Racing PA State Championship

10/6 10/13 10/20

High Point Pittsburgh Raceway Doubling Gap

Round 8 of the Fly Racing PA State Championship Round 9 of the Fly Racing PA State Championship/ITB Triple Crown Round 10 of the Fly Racing PA State Championship/ITB Triple Crown

12/7

PAMX Night of Champions

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Seth Slaman Jay Hardman Cody Dillon Andrew Boggs Seth Slaman Jay Hardman Tyson Tomey Aaron Lawson Christopher Eskridge Chance Marsh Jonathon Whitehair Derek A. Hill Brittany George Brandon Whitehair James Childers Chandler Taylor Robert Rittenhouse

250 B 250 C 250 Beginner Open A Open B Open C Open Beginner Mini Quad Jr. Quad Quad Schoolboy Quad Schoolboy Youth Quad Women Quad Quad Expert (A) Quad B Quad C Vet Quad

 

Of Chapmanville, WV

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EXIT

WORDS: JORDAN ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY: ARLENE LANTZER #98

One day of recovery surely wasn’t enough, since my arms are still pumping up as I type this.

ummer is officially gone, as are its scorching heat and suffocating humidity. Some may see this as the tapered end of the riding season, but fall makes room for events and riding opportunities that are nonexistent during the thick of the season. Combine that with cooler temperatures and everything starts to … well, heat back up again. This issue covers three special events: Red Bull RE-MX at Steel City, Fastest of the Fast at Pyramid Valley, and Baja Brawl at Baja Acres. As far as late-season special events go, this is just the start. There’s the 23rd Annual DC Vet Weekend at High Point, the Two-Stroke Shootout at Sleepy Hollow, and the In The Blood Triple Crown, for starters—but we’ll get to those in the next issue. I had the opportunity to be the team manager for Racer X at the Red Bull RE-MX once again—yes, they haven’t fired me yet! Even though we had a solid team last year, the RE-MX “silly season” brought in a completely new roster. As you probably already know, we had Ty Newcome (A), Jared Lesher (B/C), and Ty Kesten (85) on the team. I was pretty confident in their ability to get Racer X into the main event again this year, but some bad luck overshadowed their true potential. Despite a few hiccups along the way, I’m pretty proud of the effort they put forth. Those first two motos were pretty impressive!

I know I said there wouldn’t be any mention of other special events in this issue, but a last-minute shift in The Racing Paper’s production schedule has this issue going off to the printer the day after the DC Vet Weekend instead of the day before. I made it this far without talking too much about it, but it’s fresh in my mind and I had too good of a time to leave everything on the table until next issue. I’ll condense it to a personal account and save the meat and potatoes for next time. Once again, I was scrambling at the eleventh hour to find a somewhat functional bike to ride and race. That’s pretty much been the theme of my 2013 riding season, as opposed to the “It’s not pretty, but it might last a full moto” theme of years prior. That said, I have to send out a big thank-you to MegaWatt. He shared his ride with me on Saturday and I would’ve only been a spectator if not for him. I was able to race with three of my coworkers on Saturday, an opportunity that rarely presents itself. Andrew “aFred” Fredrickson, Melanie Marra, Jessica Coombs, and myself all lined up together for two motos. I could’ve cared less if I was beaten by any one of them, but I knew I would have been subject to ridicule at work if lost to a couple of girls—which is completely unfair, because they are fast. The fear had most certainly set in once I was riding with them in practice. It wasn’t all bad, though. I had some vacation days on reserve and was more than willing to use them up until the interoffice buzz died down. I was able to show up to work on Monday morning, but barely. My pride wasn’t hurt—just everything else. One day of recovery surely wasn’t enough, since my arms are still pumping up as I type this. The plan for next year is to go in fit enough to ride both days, but for now, heavy lifting is out of the question. 9

Charles Bright brought up a whole stable of bikes for Round 4 of the PAMX State Championship Series at Pleasure Valley. In his stable was this sweet KX 500 (with custom-painted number plates included), which he raced in Two-Stroke. PHOTO: MIMI GREINER

THE RACING PAPER

The racing at the Red Bull RE-MX was close. Real close. The spectators got to witness what was arguably the best battle in Moto 3. Shane Smallwood (4), Aaron Fenchak (2), Jared Lesher (3) and Timmy Crosby (1) battled for the main event transfer positions throughout the entire lap. Flip to page 33 for more. PHOTO: MIMI GREINER

Notice the green number plate on the front of Layne Michael’s KTM? This GNCC rider went head-tohead with some pro motocross riders at Pyramid Valley’s Fastest of the Fast Pro Invitational. Flip to page 38 to see how he stacked up. PHOTO: AFRED

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Watch out, A class! After running the show at a local level in the B class for some time, Jared Lesher and his YZ 250 moved up to the A class one day after the Red Bull RE-MX. Lesher scored seventh overall in both 250 and Open A in his first outing, respectively. PHOTO: ARLENE LANTZER #98

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Roberts

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INTERVIEW BY JORDAN ROBERTS

The Racing Paper: Congratulations on the Red Bull RE-MX win. Did you think you had to join the cheater team to win this year? Brock Papi: No. Slusser’s team has won two years in a row before this year. I thought maybe we’d try a new team this year and see if we could come out and win it. I kind of struggled the first couple of motos but then just pulled it off in the last moto and we got the win.

What other guys are going to be there that you know of? I don’t even know. Chase Sexton.

So it worked this year. Is there a potential you’ll come back to the dark side? [Laughs] I don’t know. I can’t tell you.

What do you have planned after Monster Cup? Get ready for Mini Os.

Let’s talk about the Monster Energy Cup. I think last time I talked to you, you had just gotten invited, and that was a pretty big deal. What are you going to do for training up until then? I’m going to Brock Sellards’ track to start off this weekend, and then I’m going to go there every couple of weekends. I’ll get really comfortable with supercross and hopefully come off of Monster Cup and have a really good year. How’d you guys get hooked up with Sellards? My buddy Spencer, one of my really good friends, lives right up the hill from him. I started going up there. He’s been talking to him and brought up Monster Cup. He goes, “Yeah, you can come out. I’ll get the track ready for you and then you can start training here.” The guys you’re going to be racing against out there, have you been racing against them quite a bit this year? No, not really. I raced against Austin Forkner at Baja, and that’s really about it.

Are you going to be riding your big-wheel 105, or what do you plan on riding there? Yeah, just a big-wheel 105. I really don’t want to ride the 112 yet. Maybe next year we’ll start riding that, but not for Monster Cup.

What class are you going to be racing down there? 85 12-14 Stock and Mod. Probably Supermini 1 or Supermini 2. Are you going to stick with the 105 for that? Probably, yes. So other than some of these bigger races like Monster Cup and Mini Os, what else have you been up to? Any other races? Not too much. I did RedBud and then we went to Baja [Brawl]. We really don’t ride during the week much. Just maybe practice on the weekend, like Pittsburgh Raceway and stuff like that, but that’s about it. How’d Baja go for you? You did pretty well up there, didn’t you? I won my 85 classes, and then I got second in the Supermini. It was good. (Continued on page 18) 17

aFred

Did you get to see any competition there that’s going to be at Monster Cup? Yeah, just Forkner. He was the only kid racing there that will be at the Monster Cup. But it was a good race. What race did you go to RedBud for? Was that just a regular local race? That was just a regular race. My buddy’s from up there and I really like riding that track. Do you guys have anything else going on? Getting some scooter time in? That’s about it. Scooters and skate park... What’s the latest trick you’ve been learning on the scooter? Finger whips, Briflips, and Superman grabs. Is that the weekday thing? Yeah, weekday thing, and then doing the cyber school and just riding on the weekends. What’s your cyber school thing about? It’s PA Cyber online. I just log in at a certain time with my teachers and I’m done by 1:30 every day. Does that help go to races and still keep up with everything? Yeah. Who’s been helping you out this year? KTM Orange Brigade, WMR Performance, Nihilo, Fly, WPS, 100%, FMF, DT1 Filters, DC Shoes, Arma Energy Drink, Renthal, Vertex, Dubya, Motorex, Ethika, Skullcandy, Total Image Auto-Sport, Dunlop, Champion Tool Storage, Motion Pro, Acerbis, ODI Grips, Gaerne, Mosites Motorsports, Kid Dynamite Apparel, Mad Mike Jones MX Training, Brock Sellards, and Mom and Dad. 18

THE RACING PAPER

aFred

WORDS: TIMMY COOMBS PHOTO: JORDAN ROBERTS

Who is this guy who’s trying to virtually train young impressionable riders in my PAMX area?

ho is this guy who’s trying to virtually train young impressionable riders in my PAMX area? I don’t think it’s even a person. You know, I’m the kind that gets stomach cramps so bad the morning of the race, usually lasting throughout practice, never easing up until the gate drops or as soon as the “blackout” hits in the first turn pile-up, making you realize that you’ve got bigger problems at the moment than a proper diet prepared by Julia Child. Who in the world even owns a cooler that can fit twelve different kinds of food in it, let alone a twelve-pack of Budweiser? 1. Eggs: First of all, where’d they get eggs from? The last time my little brother Davey and I messed with those things, I missed the whole candy store and he knocked me out in the back of the head with the one he launched while slightly behind me. 2. Avocado: What’s the problem with avocados? If you don’t like the way they make you look in your prom dress, try walking the entire track before practice, making a special effort to bend over and pick up each and every rock you see, placing them in neat piles along the outside of the track, but not in the paths of the water truck, or even “Lawn Boy” for that matter. Keep them in your pockets like a kid on his way to the arcade. Better yet, carry a fivegallon bucket around and fill it up—they’re not just for garbage anymore. 3. Mixed Vegetables: Where’s all the room for the ice supposed to come from? Frozen this, frozen that. Dual-task like me and wait until you finally get that vasectomy so you can fill up the bottom of your cooler with frozen peas. By the way, does my groin have a shoulder too? 4. Mixed Fruit: Now let’s deal with the mixed fruits. If you’ve got that much cash lying around, buy something like “super octane fuel” like Ricky. 5. Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt? Is that like Go-Gurt? I have three young kids and that wouldn’t last halfway through practice with them around. 6 Honey: Okay, honey. That’s the most logical thing I’ve read so far. Bring your honey to the races—hell, bring two. It’ll rev up everyone’s engines and may even be able to distract your competition throughout the day. 7. Chocolate Milk: Now chocolate milk is the sanest thing I’ve read so far, but making it taste like crap by going organic is every young racer’s nightmare. It may also be more expensive than 2%, skim, or powder with water added. 8. Nuts: Are you crazy? Do you want to be? 9. Peanut Butter: Oh yeah, peanut butter, the safest spread that can now actually kill you if your genes are that messed up. And then to say “steer clear of Jif” is getting far to choosy for particular mothers who religiously choose it on a regular basis. 10. Beets: 11. Boneless Chicken: Boneless chickens—how are these things raised? I’ve heard horror stories about veal and whatnot, but doesn’t the beak even qualify as a bone anymore? Try getting somebody to take all the bones out of a chicken the night before a race to possibly have an effect on the fact that you’re going to get your ass handed to you, unless she can also take the backbones out of everyone that you’re going to have to race the next day. 12 Frozen Salmon: Again, where’s all the room for the ice supposed to come from? Salmon sounds kind of expensive to me. Besides, everyone knows fish have no feelings. Eat too much of that stuff on race day and your arm pump could go through the roof like mine does at Loretta’s every moto as I exit the second turn and head for disaster. Let’s call them the 10 Disasters from now on. Besides, I’d rather have my girlfriend be the envy of everyone in the pits than my cooler. A cooler that loaded would have to be constantly guarded throughout the race day, leaving your ultra-hot pit tootsie wide open to anyone who’s already eaten a well-balanced breakfast and has plenty of extra energy to search for things better than well-rounded coolers. 19

INTERVIEW BY JORDAN ROBERTS PHOTO: MIMI GREINER

with colton

I’ll be done with my 65 after Loretta’s next year.

The Beginning I always wanted to race motocross. My uncle did it. My older cousin also raced. My first bike was a KTM Mini Adventure. My first race was a fair race in Fayette, and my first race at a regular motocross race was shortly after. That was pretty good but a little different than what I expected. The fairground race was definitely different than the regular track. I liked the regular track better. RE-MX I was on the Pro-Action team, and this is the third year I’ve raced it. The first year was pretty muddy. I can’t remember what team I was on the first year, but I was on Pro-Action the second and third year. I liked racing all of the fast kids this year. It was a good thing I had fast teammates, because they were able to make up for my bike problems. My bike blew up at the gate. Pro-Action Suspension Team Eric asked me to be on the team. I haven’t been to their shop before, and I always see him at the track. He helps me out with my suspension. Last year I had [Shane] Smallwood on my team, and I can’t really remember the other rider, but [Jason] McConnell and [Josh] Liston were my teammates this year. It was pretty fun racing with Jason and Josh. They go pretty fast. 65 vs. 85 I have a KTM 65 and a Kawasaki 85. I like riding 85 a little bit more. It’s easier to jump, and I’m getting a little too big for my 65. It depends on the track, too. I like to race tracks that have smaller jumps when I’m on my 65, but when I’m at tracks like PRP, I like to be on my 85. A lot of the jumps there are pretty big, and they don’t really have smooth landings. The finish line at Pittsburgh Raceway Park is probably my favorite jump there. I can do that on both bikes. I’ll ride my 65 next year, though. I want to try to make it to Loretta’s on that since I didn’t make it this year. I think I have a better chance on a 65. 20

THE RACING PAPER

Loretta’s This year was a little bit easier compared to last year. This was my second year on 65s and it was pretty hard, but it was fun. I guess the Area Qualifiers weren’t that hard. There weren’t a lot of people at them. One of the Regionals had a lot of kids. I raced in three different regions, and there were quite a few riders at the race in Illinois. I’m not too sure what I got there. I think I got thirteenth in Stock and seventeenth in Mod in that Regional Qualifier. I felt like I was at it pretty good. I was about three seconds off of the fastest time. But yeah, I’ll try again next year on both my 65 and 85 in Stock and Mod, and I’m 10 right now. I’ll be done with my 65 after Loretta’s next year. Local Scene My favorite practice track is PRP. I like to go to Pleasure Valley too. I like to race at other tracks, but those are my two favorite local tracks. There are a couple that are kind of far away that I like, like Mini Os. I’m not sure if we’ll go to that this year. I like Byron in Illinois and Unadilla in New York too. When I’m at the local tracks, I usually ride with Cole Jones, Christian McCauley, and Cameron Davis. I’d like to beat Cameron Davis. I’m starting to catch up a little bit. Pro Scene Ricky Carmichael and Travis Pastrana are my favorite pro riders. As far as guys that are racing right now, I like Darryn Durham, Ken Roczen, and some local riders. I like to watch Mike McDade and Jimmy Evans and some other ones too. My favorite pro tracks are High Point and Steel City. Well, not Steel City now, but when they had the pro race there. I haven’t been to any of the other nationals, but I’d like to go to Muddy Creek sometime. Backers My mom and dad, Musky’s Motorsports, Pro-Action, Cernic’s, FMF, DeCal Works, and 343 Wraps.

Check out our collection of digital issues, on the house. www.TheRacingPaper.com

PHOTO: ROBERTS

“So what was all that one-in-a-milion talk?” PHOTO: ROBERTS

In The Blood was fortunate enough to find Steve Roman’s Mini Me for their RE-MX team. PHOTO: LANTZER #98

Arlene and Lisa break from girl talk for a quick photo. PHOTO: ROBERTS

Adam’s whistling seminar was attended by all. PHOTO: ROBERTS

Cameron is a multi-talented athlete and has no problem balancing motocross and boxing at any given time. PHOTO: ROBERTS

John Wells traded in for a twostroke right before the race. 22 THE RACING PAPER

Sleeves were optional at the RE-MX, for some. PHOTO: LANTZER #98

Fido knows that if he doesn’t take his human out for a run, he’ll undoubtedly be up all night.

Dakota McNemar got some ink from #200 right before he went out and won the race.

PHOTO: ROBERTS

PHOTO: AFRED

Challenge accepted. PHOTO: LANTZER #98

PHOTO: ROBERTS

Eddie would not. Stop. Playing. Wrecking Ball. PHOTO: ROBERTS

Don Cheadle made a cameo appearance as the finish-line flagger at the RE-MX. PHOTO: ROBERTS

“The milk. I always forget the milk.” PHOTO: LANTZER #98

MegaWatt brings one in with Little Miss Sunshine. PHOTO: ROBERTS

Logan + Josh = MotorRad. Get some. PHOTO: GREINER

Pre-race show and tell. Dennis, you animal.

Josh Mazzei’s fan club.

Zack goes with the classic one-handed back drag. What a showboater. 23

PHOTO: ROBERTS

PHOTO: AFRED

And these guys thought they were going to be in Racer X... PHOTO: LANTZER #98

Caden Florence does his best Roczen impersonation.

Jennine may be at a motocross race, but she still forgot her table manners

PHOTO: AFRED

PHOTO: GREINER

Who’s going to get this holeshot? PHOTO: ROBERTS

As the rain came, Brian realized he once again forgot to install the full cab enclosure on his quad. PHOTO: ROBERTS

Hot Wheels and Transformers? Gage is pretty rad. PHOTO: ROBERTS

Rodney momentarily lost concetration and began singing along to Wrecking Ball.

“I got three. What’d you get?” 24

THE RACING PAPER

“I got two, suckaaaaaaaa. You said you were going with which gate?”

Would you like your photo in Public Address? • Email jordan@racerxonline.com • Snail Mail TRP Public Address 122 Vista Del Rio Dr. Morgantown, WV 26508

Kickboxing trains muscles to be explosive and respond quickly upon demand, which is exactly what you need when you are on the bike.

he weather in the PAMX area is certainly starting to change and soon it will be too cold to ride, let alone train outside. Unless you like to train like Rocky in the Siberian cold (remember Rocky 4?), your only choice will be to move your training indoors. Strength training is no problem since 99.9% of us train indoors when it comes to lifting weights. But cardio training is a different story. Most motocross athletes choose to run, cycle, or mountain bike and for the most part they choose to do these activities outdoors. But once the weather turns cold and you are forced indoors, most will resort to the treadmill or stationary bike. This not only tends be very boring for some but also in many cases is far less effective. If you belong to a gym, there are several options to get your cardio workout sans the boredom and without compromising the quality of your workout. I have been a group fitness instructor at clubs around my hometown for over 15 years. I teach kickboxing, spin, boot camp, TRX, circuit training, and even a bit of step aerobics back in the day. Most gyms have tons of classes and offer enough variety that you should never struggle to find something you like. The problem I see with most motocross athletes is that they are extremely reluctant to take a group fitness class. They think those classes are only for girls and involve a bunch of dancing and choreography. Okay, I’ll give you Zumba; you can skip that but that is not the type of class I am talking about. I’m talking about high intensity, kick-your-butt type classes. No dancing required and when you are forced inside to train, these classes are great cardio alternatives to the standard treadmill and stationary bike protocol. Below is a list of a few choices that I think are great for the motocross athlete. Check them out at your local gym and get signed up. Kickboxing: My personal favorite and one of the classes I teach regularly. This class is perfect for motocross because it encompasses all the aspects that are important to the MX athlete: muscular endurance, cardiovascular conditioning, strength, flexibility, coordination and mobility. Kickboxing trains muscles to be explosive and respond quickly upon demand, which is exactly what you need when you are on the bike. For some extra fun this winter, find a real boxing gym in your area and tell them you want to box for fitness.

Spinning: Spinning is also a class that I regularly teach. In a spin class, participants are led on a “virtual” outdoor road race complete with hills, valleys, straightaways and finish lines. The workout is made difficult by changing the

Roberts

pedal resistance on the bike and also by sitting and standing while pedaling. If you primarily use road cycling for your cardio, then spinning may just what you are looking for. Spinning can be performed at low intensity (think base building) or interval style. If you don’t have access to a Spin class, try the techniques on your own stationary bike. Boot Camp: I also teach this class, and it is great because no choreography is involved. For us older guys, it is like going to football or basketball practice back in the day. Basically, the class is just a bunch of drills all put together using intervals. There are so many combinations of drills to do that you never have to worry about getting bored. I actually take my class outdoors when the weather allows, adding even more versatility. This class is called different things at different gyms, so ask the aerobics coordinator what they call the class at your gym. Again, this is a great way to cross train for MX. TRX Suspension Training: If you have followed anything from the Virtual Trainer website over the past few years you know I love the TRX. One of the great things about TRX is its versatility. Not only can you get a great strength or cardio workout on your own but it’s also great in the group fitness arena as well. If your gym offers TRX, take the class. You can thank me later. Crossfit: Crossfit is a training/gym idea that has been spreading like wildfire. It’s controversial (although I honestly have no idea why) and people either love it or hate it. In the beginning I was a hater of the whole concept (I’m still not a fan of the cult-like following) but after a few years of observing and participating, I believe in the Crossfit model. While it may be a little out of place on this list as a true cardio workout, Crossfit is definitely a motocross friendly activity that is perfect for off-season training. The key thing to remember with Crossfit is that most of the workouts are high intensity so you’ll want to make sure you mix in a fair amount of base cardio over the winter months. 3-2-1 Go! So there you have it, a list of five solid modes of exercise to get you off the treadmill and into something fun. So this winter when you are feeling down and demotivated because of the cold weather, remember this article and check out the classes at your local gym. You’ll thank me next spring when it’s time to go racing again. For more information, be sure and check out all the helpful articles at www.racerxvt.com. Thanks! 25

PHOTO: RACER X ARCHIVES

handful of PAMX riders migrated north during the last weekend of August to contest in the quickly growing Baja Brawl. The Brawl, which is held at Millington, Michigan’s Baja Acres, is home to an abundant amount of fun-filled activities ranging from racing to various forms of nighttime entertainment. Those who attended were apt to witness golf cart racing, goon riding contests, freestyle pond jumping and much more The action-packed weekend attracts several outof-state riders including Austin Forkner, Mitchell Harrison and Jordon Smith, just to name a fast few. Brock Papi was the PAMX rider that represented our region with the best string of finishes. Papi swept every moto of 85 (9-13) and almost did the same in Mini Sr. (12-15), but placed third behind Michigan’s Matt Gross and Dar Comfort in the last moto. Brad Esper also had impressive rides, finishing second overall behind Mitchell Harrison in Schoolboy 2 (12-16) B/C.

RIDER ANGELO AGOSTINELLI

CLASS 65 (7-9) LIM 65 (7-9) 65 (7-11) BRAD ESPER SCHOOLBOY 2 B/C 250 B JARED LESHER 250 B TWO STROKE B/C JASON McCONNELL 250 A PRO SPORT OPEN A PRO SPORT BROCK PAPI MINI SR. (12-15) 85 (9-13) SUPERMINI (12-16) COREY PASSIEU 65 (7-9) LIM 65 (7-9) 65 (7-11) 26 THE RACING PAPER

M1 M2 DNF 6 9 6 DNF 10 3 2 3 6 7 5 4 2 10 10 DNF 10 1 1 1 1 2 2 9 4 4 DNF 10 9

M3 O/A DNF 20 8 7 10 13 2 2 5 5 6 6 2 2 7 8 DNF 12 3 1 1 1 DNF 9 2 4 5 12 8 10

PHOTO: COURTESY KOESTER

PHOTO: ROBERTS

style check

aFred

EVENT: PLEASURE VALLEY - RND 4 PHOTOGRAPHY: MIMI GREINER

DENNY ROE

JOEY DeNEEN

LUKE HIMLER

SETH ANDRES

Saturday, October 5

Organized practice (10a-3p). Open to all riders.

Sunday, October 6

PAMX FLY RACING PENNSYLVANIA STATE MX CHAMPIONSHIP PAMX State Champ Points Organized practices are open to all motorcycle riders. No membership required for practice. 27

style check EVENT: RED BULL RE-MX PHOTOGRAPHY: JORDAN ROBERTS

HUNTER HOFFMAN

BROC STREIT Jimmy Evans Circa 1998

JEFF McCARREN

TY NEWCOME

Who’s listening to what before the gate drops...

Name

Artist

Album

Michael Crocco’s Playlist 1 Louder Than Ever 2 Young Fathers 3 I Hear You Knocking 4 Two Fingers 5 People C’mon

Cold Wars Kids Typhoon Dave Edmunds Jake Bugg Delta Spirit

Mine Is Yours White Lighter From Small Things Two Fingers EP Ode to Sunshine

Hunter Hoffman’s Playlist 1 Tapout 2 Bandz A Make Her Dance 3 Donald Trump 4 Fly On The Wall 5 Radioactive

Rich Gang Juicy J Mac Miller Thousand Foot Krutch Imagine Dragons

Rich Gang: Flashy Lifestyle Stay Trippy Best Day Ever The End Is Where We Begin Night Visions

Jessica Coombs’ Playlist 1 Take On Me 2 Red Skies 3 Comfortably Numb 4 Stairway to Heaven 5 Radioactive

a-ha The Fixx Pink Floyd Led Zeppelin Imagine Dragons

Hunting High and Low Shuttered Room The Wall Led Zeppelin IV Night Visions

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craigslist motorcycles

pittsburgh / morgantown 1983 Yamaha YZ 60 - $600 ( Masontown WV)

runs great looks good for a year needs brakes $600 cash firm

“Frankenstein” rm cr yz ktm 125 $800 (lower burrell)

1996 Rm125, 2002 Yz125 Engine, Cr Front Fender, Ktm Shrouds. Frankenstein Bike. Runs. Needs New Gas Possibly Maybe A Carburetor Its Been Sitting A While And Seems To Not Want To Warm Up. Starts First Kick Though!

WORDS: NICK KOESTER

he 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship ended this past weekend and I’m flying back home, already looking forward to preparing for the 2014 Championship. I don’t write often; in fact, the last time I wrote like this was last year on this same flight home from Lake Elsinore. In that little article that Jordan so hilariously titled “Little Nicky’s Notebook,” I wrote about my first summer working for MX Sports/Racer Productions and how my introduction to the sport of motocross was going. Now I have a full year under my belt and have moved into a greater role in the office and at the races as Marketing Manager of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross, Amsoil GNCC Racing, Red Bull AMA Amateur National Championship at Loretta Lynn’s and Monster Energy RCSX. Whew! That happened fast but I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to be able to work and grow with. Along with taking on more responsibilities and getting more Cotter asschewings, I have become a true fan of the sport and the entire motocross industry in general. When I started at the Racer offices in April 2012, all I knew were the names Ricky Carmichael and Jeremy McGrath, and that I had flippin’ sweet MC Vans in 7th grade. All year I have been blown away by the passion and grit I see week in and week out by my co-workers, top riders, privateers, teams, truck drivers, sponsors, track guys, media people—heck, even girlfriends and wives. Another group of people I look at when I’m slowing down is all the track dudes. Whether it’s raining buckets like at Loretta Lynn’s this year or 100+ degrees like Lake Elsinore, those guys always have the track looking prime. This sport is not for the weak or meek. Every person at the races is all-in and working 100%. It is mind blowing how gnarly and how many hours some people in the industry put in. Obviously the athletes competing at the highest level in the world is what you see when you go to the races, but there is a group of people working equally as hard putting on the

show. I am not tooting my own horn, but it is really awesome to get stuff done with the entire crew at Racer. One of my favorite Tim Cotter moments just happened this weekend. Just as he was about to get the Friday Practice flagger meeting underway, I pull up in a cart and Cotter turns to me and another co-worker and gives us a minute-long ass chewing. When he got through, he turns around to 30 flaggers with terrified looks on their faces and simply starts the meeting with, “Listen up, my name is Tim Cotter and I’m an asshole.” It is easy for me to put forth the effort to get a task done when you see others working as hard as they do. The sport I grew up with is hockey and there is one unique and direct connection between hockey and motocross. Nine times out of ten, you’re born into the sport and have a passion for the sport from a very young age. The reason? Money. Families don’t decide to buy thousands of dollars of equipment and ice/track time on a limb. It is something that gets passed from one generation to the next. It is also something you do together as a family. Unlike basketball or baseball, where you can go down the block to the park and start playing, you have to travel (sometimes hours) to the track or visiting team’s ice rink. That is pretty cool and very evident when walking around Loretta’s or a GNCC. One distinct difference between hockey and motocross would be fighting. We need more fighting in motocross. Even NASCAR guys come to blows regularly… (Ed. Note: Sorry, but J-Law is long gone.) That is all I’ve got for now. There are a few more GNCC rounds left in the 2013 Championship and before you know it, we’ll be back at the races in 2014. Thank you to everyone that I have met so far and I look forward to working and seeing you again at the races! 29

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PHOTO: ROBERTS

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HANK HAYS

INTERVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JORDAN ROBERTS

aaron The Racing Paper: This is the second year In The Blood has been on the podium for the Red Bull RE-MX. How was that team originally put together? Aaron Fenchak: I know Justun [Palencsar] from the races and through a guy that does work on my bike. We hung out at the races all of the time. He brought it up one weekend and I said I’d definitely do it. Got me, [Steve] Roman, and Vinny [Luhovey]. I actually went and rode with Steve a couple times to get ready for it. He asked me if I wanted to do it again this year. I said, “Yeah, I’ll definitely do it.” Last year you were racing the C class when you guys made it on the podium. Was it kind of tough to go against some of those faster B riders? Did you expect to do as well as you did running with them? It was real tough, for sure. I didn’t expect it at all. I didn’t expect to make it on the podium, but we ended up getting second. That was really cool—to be a C rider with all the other teams having B riders. I can’t remember what the prizes were that year. Do you? We got Oakley goggles, money, and some other stuff, which was cool. What were the biggest differences between the race this year and the year prior? The first year we went to the LCQ and kind of had some problems, but this year we made it through in every bracket we were in. Went straight to the main event, so that’s pretty cool. We didn’t have to worry about not qualifying. Just went straight in.

Did you guys feel like you were a shoo-in for the podium this year? You had the same team, but there were some different teams coming in too. Yeah, for sure. We definitely felt like we could get top-three again, especially with Steve. We knew he could win all of his motos if he got a good start. We knew he’d be really fast. Our 85 rider, Vinny, helped too. We definitely thought we could do it. What were you thinking about the PR2 team coming in with some pretty good riders for the first time ever? Pro Action had a pretty decent team. There was an all-new Racer X team. What was your scope of the competition? I was more just worried about the B riders, especially those riders who got to race at Loretta’s and at the national level. I knew Steve raced some pro naitonals. I was just really worried about weighing my team down a bit, actually. So you were more focused on the guys you had to race rather than overall competition? Yeah, I knew Steve could easily win it all, and the same with Vinny. I was just worried about the B riders—how I’d do against them. What did you guys end up winning for second place this year? We got a pair of Scott goggles. I think it was $150 and a lot of Red Bull, so that’s cool. Other than the RE-MX, what else has been going on with you this year? I’ve just been trying to get faster in B class. I had an okay start but got knocked down after a bit. Just trying to get my speed back. Hopefully I’ll

have a good time at Mini Os in November. What do you plan on racing down there? I plan on racing 250 B Stock and Mod and Collegeboy. What do you like racing better, 250 or Open? I like 250 a lot better. I can get better starts compared to 450s in Open B. How has the B class been treating you at the local level this year? It has had ups and downs. I’ll have good weekends and bad weekends, but I like it. It’s helping me get faster, which is the main goal. Did you just move up to it this year, or did you move up to B late last year? This year was my first B race. I started the first PAMX round down at Tomahawk. What race has been the most fun this season, and which one did you do the best at? The most fun was probably the Red Bull RE-MX. I always think it’s a lot of fun, and it’s a team effort. But my best race was probably two weekends ago at Pleasure Valley. I got fourth overall, and that’s my best finish so far for B class. You said you might go down to the Mini Os in November. Do you have any other plans for the rest of the racing season? In April, I might try to go down to South of the Border for a week and train down there for a bit. I’m hoping to get a little faster for next season. Have you ever been down there before? No. (Continued on page 32) 31

What’s it going to take to go down there and do that? Really, my parents have told me I can go down as long as I keep my grades up in school. What year of school are you in right now? I’m a senior this year in high school. Do you have any plans after high school or are you still trying to feel that out? I plan to go to college or maybe do something in the military. I’m still undecided.

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Where do you go snowboarding? I usually go to Seven Springs or Blue Mountain. Are you in any hockey league, or do you just do drop-in stuff? I play for the Johnstown Warriors. They’re a travel team for the Pittsburgh Interscholastic Hockey League. I played for my school in the Lower Highlands League. How long have you been into that? I’ve been playing hockey since I’ve been about 6.

It’s kind of a big decision, but you’ve got a little bit of time to think about it. What happens when the weather starts getting bad around here? Do you put the bike away or do you try and hit up some indoor tracks? I usually try to get to an indoor track at least twice a month, but it’s hard because I play hockey on the weekends.

Did you do that before motocross or were they at the same time? I rode every now and then, but I would never race, so probably hockey first.

That was going to be my next question—are you into any of the winter sports like snowboarding or hockey, or maybe something else school-related? I usually weightlift during the week. I like to try to get out and snowboard as much as I can. I really enjoy doing that.

Who’s helped you get to the races this year, as far as family and sponsors go? My dad and mom have really helped out a lot with it. My dad will usually take off work if he has to. My mom will too. I had In The Blood help me out with stuff at the RE-MX. My friend Jack Machuta helps me out when I have bike problems.

When did you really start getting into racing? I really started around probably sixth grade on 85s, so about six years ago.

The Red Bull RE-MX was back at Steel City for its third-straight year, and so was another stacked Cernic’s Johnstown team. They weren’t the only stacked team, though. The event keeps attracting more talent and better teams. WORDS: BRITTANY DENEEN PHOTOGRAPHY: JORDAN ROBERTS 33

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2013 FALL SCHEDULE SEPTEMBER 7-8

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n September 14, Steel City Raceway had the honor of hosting the third annual Red Bull RE-MX in the Northeast region. This was my first year attending the relay-style motocross race, and it’s definitely an event to consider attending next year if you haven’t had the chance to participate or spectate yet. The Red Bull event organizers began the day by demonstrating the correct way to complete the relay-style portion of the race, and this did not involve passing a baton as I had initially thought.

The first set of riders began the race from one side of the starting gate and made their way around the course before meeting their teammates at the old finish line, where each rider had to tap his front tire against his teammate’s back tire to complete the relay. This appeared to be a pretty easy way to hand off the race, but making yourself slow down tends to be a little difficult when you’re doing everything you can to beat your opponents. However, only one incident during the hand-offs resulted in a tip over: Team Racer X’s Jared Lesher came in too hot in the first moto and knocked over his 85 rider, Ty Kesten. It delayed their progression in the relay, but it didn’t prevent Racer X from transferring to Moto 3, which was essentially a semifinal. Among the others who made it out of the first round of motos and into Moto 3 were Cernic’s Johnstown, In The Blood/Total Image Auto Sport, and Cernic’s Duncansville. The eight teams that failed to qualify through the first round of motos still had a shot at the main event via two rounds of LCQs, but only the top team from each round would transfer. These LCQs were run in reverse order, with the 85 riders first on the gate and the A riders last. LCQ 1 featured PR2 Racing, B&M2, FCR Suspension, and Steel City Honda. FCR’s Austin Legg initially had the lead, but PR2’s Andrew Maroney overtook him; his teammates, Brad Esper and Matt Toth, later helped secure the win and transfer spot. The second LCQ had Pro-Action Suspension, T&J Racing, Team #357, and Carben Racing. Pro-Action’s Colton Gorby, Josh Liston, and Jason McConnell took the victory.

[1] FCR’s Austin Legg could only hold off PR2’s Andrew Maroney for so long in LCQ 1. [2] Ty Kesten (16), Cameron Davis (49) and Brock Papi (144) had an excellent battle going in Moto 3. [3] Aaron Fenchak heads into the last corner before sending his teammate, Vinny Luhovey, off. [4] Cernic’s Johnstown’s Timmy Crosby (79) and Racer X’s Jared Lesher (18) put on a good show for the spectators. [5] Dylan Slusser (558) and Daniel Lippman (736) go head-to-head on both Cernic’s teams.

oto 3 featured the top four teams from the first two rounds battling to reach the main event. Each team was stacked with some pretty skilled riders. Starting on the gate was Racer X’s Ty Newcome, Cernic’s Johnstown’s Dylan Slusser, Cernic’s Duncansville’s Daniel Lippman, and In The Blood/Total Image Autosport’s Steve Roman, who came out of the gate like a rocket and did not struggle a bit pulling holeshots all day. The A riders were pretty evenly matched, so the B riders—Lesher, Timmy Crosby, Shane Smallwood, and Aaron Fenchak—all went out at pretty much the same time. They were all within a few bike lengths of each other for the better part of the moto, which left it up to the 85 riders—Kesten, Brock Papi, Cameron Davis, and Vinny Luhovey—to make it happen for their teams. Kesten washed out in some loose dirt, allowing Papi and Luhovey to secure the top two spots. Due to some foul play during the race, Cernic’s Johnstown was docked a position to second place, but they and In The Blood/Total Image Autosport were still in for the main event. PR2, Pro-Action, Racer X, and Cernic’s Duncansville were all in the do-or-die LCQ 3, so those riders certainly gave it their all. Kesten had the lead out of the gate for Racer X and kept it until the hand-off. Esper got the lead over Lesher coming out of the relay and stayed out front, sending Toth out before Newcome. Newcome took a spill before the horseshoe turn, giving PR2 a clear path to the main event. Slusser, Roman, and Toth opened the main for the top three teams. Things changed up a bit when Esper crashed in the Sky Coaster, giving Crosby the lead and putting Fenchak into second place. Papi held the lead over Luhovey, who had too much of a deficit to make up in one lap, which put Cernic’s Johnstown on top of the podium for its third consecutive Red Bull RE-MX win. Congratulations to Cernic’s Johnstown, In The Blood/ Total Image Autosport, and PR2 for making the 2013 podium, and better luck next year to all the teams that tried so hard to do the same this year.

[1] Matt Toth and [2] Andrew Maroney got PR2 up on the podium. [3] Vinny Luhovey takes the checkers for In The Blood/Total Image Autosport. [4] 2013 Red Bull RE-MX podium with Cernic’s Johnstown, In The Blood/Total Image Autosport and PR2. [5] Rodney gets the post-race interview with Dylan Slusser. [6] The RE-MX bracket at the end of the day.

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Greiner

WORDS: BRITTANY DENEEN PHOTOGRAPHY: MIMI GREINER // ARLENE LANTZER #98

ollowing Saturdy’s Red Bull RE-MX was Round 5 of the PAMX State Championship Series. It was an all-around good day for weather, attendance, and track conditions. The Racer Productions crew worked on the track several times throughout the day to maintain riding conditions, and it held up fairly well.

Though the track was kept up, the Sky Coaster section seemed to give riders trouble throughout the day, with several crashes happening there. The pro section was also being run, and Justin Liston, Sam Greenawalt, Joey DeNeen, and Jason McConnell were some of the riders who were doing the large double in the back whenever it was dry enough to hit. Jared Lesher made his debut in the A class and held his own during the motos, later saying he already liked his move up. There were battles in many of the motos, which caused a toss-up in overall results and made for an enjoyable day of spectating. And who can forget the little 50 riders who are just out there having a good time? Their parents were getting their weekly workouts running around the track. It was a great day and a great way to end Steel City’s last race of the 2013 season. Greiner

[1] Mike McDade nearly swept both A classes, but a subpar start in the second Open moto put him back to 3rd overall. [2] Steve Roman ended up with 3-1 Open A moto scores to win the overall. It was also Jared Lesher’s debut A class race. [3] Jacob Ingram went 2-2 in both of his 85 classes, only to be topped by Cameron Davis. [4] Matt Marlowe swept +25 B/C. [5] Brad Esper won the first Open B moto, but the overall was taken by Josh Liston. Greiner

Lantzer #98

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Roberts

Pyramid Valley hosted their third annual Fastest of the Fast Pro Invitational over Labor Day weekend. The region’s top talent showed up to take a shot at winning a decent chunk of change offered up by the event’s sponsors. WORDS: JORDAN ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY: AFRED 39

or the third consecutive year, Lost Creek, West Virginia’s Pyramid Valley attracted the region’s top pro and A riders during Labor Day weekend. Morgantown Powersports once again sponsored the Fastest of the Fast Pro Invitational, putting up $2,100 to the top five riders in the Open A class. The promoters didn’t seem to have much trouble filling the gate with that purse last year, so it certainly didn’t hurt when Elite Well Services stepped in to up the ante to $4,500 to the top seven riders. If any one rider swept both motos, he would end up driving out of the front gate $1,400 richer. After sign-up, fourteen riders had shown up with open pockets, ready to take home their slice of the pie. The payouts were split by moto, so the riders couldn’t luck themselves into a paying topseven overall position. A first-place ride paid $700; seventh earned $100. Anything beyond that meant you were paying to be there. Though there were just fourteen riders, the race featured a variety of disciplines and experience. Layne Michael had just entered his first year of GNCC XC2 racing but dropped the bark busters for that particular off-weekend. Michael is just a teenager, as were fellow competitors Sam Greenwalt and Joey DeNeen, both of whom are relatively new to the A class. On the other side of the spectrum were Steve Roman, Shane Durham, Dylan Slusser, Logan Martin, and Mike McDade, all of whom have pro licenses and have qualified for at least one pro national.

[1] Mike McDade was immediately up front in every moto he entered. [2] Joey DeNeen and [3] Layne Michael enter the infield for the second Open A moto as the rain begins to come down. [4] The top four riders were able to keep McDade in their sites for at least one lap, but [5] they never saw more than the back of his jersey. [6] Shane Durham (545) and Steve Roman (731) were equally matched on this day, swapping between second and third in both motos. [7] The downside to matching someone’s speed and not being able to make a pass.

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[1] Logan Martin was forced to DNF in the first moto because of a broken throttle tube, but came back for a sixth in the second moto. [2] Joey DeNeen (22) and Sam Greenwalt (400) had solid battles for cash-paying positions. [3] Layne Michael transitioned from the woods to the moto track, scoring 4-4 over some fast motocross specialists. [4] Mike McDade proved once again heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the guy to beat in this region, taking 1-1 in both 250 and Open A motos as well as most of the cash.

Roberts

f those aforementioned riders, only McDade has a pro title, and the 2012 AMA Arenacross East Lites Champion was able to lock down early leads in both Open A motos. From there, the Kawasaki-mounted rider locked his throttle wide open and never looked back. He rode unchallenged to a 1-1 sweep and the promised $1,400. McDade also ran 250 A, winning both motos over Michael and DeNeen.

Roberts

Second place paid a hotly contested $500 in each Open A moto. Roman was able to nab that over Durham in the first moto, but the two swapped positions in the second to come out at an even $850 apiece. Surprisingly, the number-four spot didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go to anyone holding a pro license in either moto; the rising XC2 rider Michael rode solid in both A classes, going 4-4 in Open and 2-2 behind McDade in 250. The second moto went much better for Martin, who experienced a broken throttle tube in the first. He was able to finish right behind Slusser in sixth place. Robbie Bercosky, who is actually a B rider at any other race, made his way between Greenwalt and DeNeen to finish eighth, just one position away from the money. The Fastest of the Fast Pro Invitational offers the opportunity for any quick rider to work for some quick cash on Labor Day. As long as the purse remains elevated, the top spots may be unobtainable for some, but the other cash-paying positions may see some new names in years to come.

The fourth round of the PAMX State Championship Series stopped at Pleasure Valley Raceway, and so did an unexpected and univited guest. Still, the race went on without any major problems. If anything, it made it more interesting. WORDS: JORDAN ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY: MIMI GREINER, ARLENE LANTZER #98

t wasn’t in the forecast. The meteorologists weren’t calling for it. It even went undetected by every motocross rider’s surgically repaired limbs. That’s right, we’re talking about the heavy rainfall that came down and sabotaged the unsuspecting track that winds through the hills of Seward, Pennsylvania.

The track had not been prepped for the incoming storm, which meant practice was less than stellar, but Zack Himler and crew immediately got to work and began taming the beast. The start straight was given the once-over so the rest of the track could be tended to. The optimum gate choices were clear by the time racers gathered in staging. A sliver of the inside had clear lines up to the first turn, as did the outside half of everything to the right of the doghouse. It certainly wasn’t planned, but Pleasure Valley had a replica of the Monster Energy Cup’s split starting gate!

[1] A holeshot helped Shawn Woody get the win in the second Open B moto, but a crash in the first moto sent him back to fifth overall. [2] Brock Bell finished third behind Jared Lesher and Timmy Crosby in 250 B. [3] Jaydon McCurdy has swept every 50cc 2 and Open moto in the State Championship Series! Greiner

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Greiner

Lantzer #98

Greiner

he split start made for interesting holeshots in most classes. It was easy to point out the two riders who got the best jump from either side, but not which rider would be first into turn one. Shawn Woody, for one, demonstrated that pulling the holeshot from the far outside was a valid option in the second Open B moto. He took advantage of that holeshot and continued to extend his lead until Lamont gave him the checkered flag.

Crosby’s rear wheel, and even though that rock sent Esper home after the moto, the Suzuki rider was able to put his head down and make a pass on Crosby for the moto win. In the second moto, Crosby was all over Garrett Smith just like Esper was on him in the first moto, but the opportunity for a clean pass never presented itself. The moto win wasn’t necessary, though—Crosby’s 2-2 finishes were enough for him to take home the overall.

Though some areas of the track became one-lined, there was great racing at the front of some of the faster classes. In Schoolboy, Brad Esper tailed Timmy Crosby for the majority of the first moto. Esper was close enough to catch a rock to the chest from

By the time this feature goes to print, the last PAMX race at Pleasure Valley (and the first round of the In The Blood Triple Crown) will be all said and done. Hopefully the weather cooperated, or at least gave a fair warning before dropping by. Lantzer #98

[1] Brad Esper had a great battle with [2] Timmy Crosby in the first Schoolboy (12-16) moto. [3] Garrett Smith picked up the battle with Crosby in the second moto and held on for the moto win, but Crosby got the overall. [4] Dylan Slusser went 1-1 in Open A. [5] Zack Babich got his best State Champ overall with a fourth in 250 C.

Lantzer #98

Greiner

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WORDS: JORDAN ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY: AFRED

pro-wheel

TRACKSIDE TRUING BAR www.ProWheelRacing.com

I’m not going to lie; I have no idea how to use this thing. It seems like a great idea, though. I’m sure it would come in handy to someone that’s, well, more handy than I am. In fact, I’m willing to give one of these as a gift to one of you more handier than I. That way, you can true my wheel! I’ve been having a difficult time keeping my bike from getting squirrelly and I know it can’t be from the lack of riding.

$39.95

airoh

AVIATOR 2.1 CARBON

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Hopefully your wheels are straight now, because I’m still swapping left and right. It’s ok, though. This helmet will help me shoot down the track as straight as an Airoh. What did you say? There’s no way this helmet will make me ride better? Well you might be right, but at least I’ll have some carbon fiber digs before I take a digger in this ultra-protective lid. You don’t need to know rocket appliances to know how important preventative measures are for head injuries.

$659.99

motorsport products

LAY-OVER STAND www.MotorsportProducts.com

I like a product that can lay the bike over better than I do, and these guys have done just that. I didn’t mean lay it over as in whipping it. I can crack a whip harder than Indiana Jones. I’m talking about when I have to wash the underside of my bike and it keeps falling off of that bucket I tried to prop it up on. I just got done riding. I have arm pump. Picking things up off the ground isn’t an option.

$66.95

black sheep movement

PA RAIN SHIRT

www.BlackSheepMvmt.com

Black Sheep Movement is a new Pennsylvania-based apparel company that is bringing a punk flavor to the local scene. This is one of their staple designs, but their are plenty of mens and womens shirts boasting unique photo/design combinations. Make sure to check these guys out on Facebook, or better yet, the track.

$20.00 45

tapped out

WORDS & PHOTO: JORDAN ROBERTS

As far as good days go, the PR2 team wasn’t having one by the time the riders’ meeting commenced for the third annual Red Bull RE-MX. Brad Esper, the team’s B rider, had a bruised--if not broken--collarbone going into the event. Matt Toth, the team’s A rider, had a nasty get-off in practice that left him with a sprained wrist and tire marks on his back, and many wondering if the team would even race the RE-MX. “He drove all the way from New Jersey,” said Toth of his teammate, Andrew Mahoney. “Besides, I get hip surgery in two weeks anyway.” Toth wrapped his wrist up and decided to go for it. The PR2 team fought their way from the very first LCQ up to the main event, where Esper suffered another crash. They left Steel City bruised and battered, but not before they collected their bronze medal atop the podium.

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