Daily Report: Mammoth Motocross, Saturday
Sunday, June 24, 2012 | 5:30 PM
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PrintRacing got started very early Saturday morning for the vet racers at the Mammoth Motocross. Blue skies and a smooth, perfectly groomed track awaited the riders as they made their way into the facility. The track wouldn't stay that way for long as the normal bumps, berms and ruts would slowly reappear early in the program.
The Masters class (50-plus) was absolutely dominated by Jeff Ward. Wardy pulled the holeshot and simply checked out in the first moto. In moto two he would have to get by his buddy, Troy Lee, who pulled the holeshot and led briefly. Wardy slid by on lap one and took off again to win the first big, wooden bear of the weekend.
The senior expert class (40-plus) was won almost as convincingly by Dr. D, Doug Dubach. He won both motos en route to the overall but he was kept honest by former northern Californa pro Billy Jo Mercier.
Ping finished fourth overall in the 30-plus class at Mammoth.
Matty Fran photo
The Vet expert class (30-plus) was wild as crashes and DNF's mixed up the standings throughout the day. In the opening moto KTM's Mike Sleeter grabbed the early lead and took off. For the first few laps he stretched his lead and looked to have the moto win in the bag. Just prior to the halfway mark, however, Mike broke a chain and had to push his bike back to the pits. That turned the lead over to Nathan Tierney who was being chased by Tyson Taylor and David Pingree. Ryan Hughes and Rusty Holland were near the front on the opening lap but the two of them got together and went down. Hughes got up and worked his way towards the front but when the checkers flew it was Nathan Tierney with the win. He was followed across by Hughes, Taylor, Pingree, Lars Lindstrom and Jeff Northrop.
The second moto holeshot went to Rusty Holland who was on a mission to have a better second moto. Coming down the downhill on the opening lap Hughes got bumped off the track and reentered after the horseshoe turn. This led to some protests following the race but no penalty was given. Hughes went on to win the moto and earn the overall on the day. Holland stayed in second and Tierney was third in the moto. The overall top five was Hughes, Tierney, Taylor, Pingree and Lindstrom.
Racing continues again today with the same classes. Check back for a Saturday race report later.
Ryan Hughes would take home the overall on Saturday.
Matty Fran photo
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ok. ryan hughes running that #4 plate is really starting to eat me up. Its even the same font as RC's number 4.
Come on man, RC was the goat with that number. The ama shouldnt allow other racers to have that number.
Ryno and Rusty Holland tangling like its the 90s all over again!
Re: the #4 wearing, 4 is not RCs number, or Reed, McGrath, Hannah, DeCoster, Bailey or ANY OTHER RACER's number.
Ya Rusty is known for always landing on people and taking them out... But old Crusty should of Socked Ryno in the eye....
Your info on vet pro is wrong, 1st moto,Hughes Holland got togther,both went down, Hughes started about a half lap down and finished 2nd to Tierney, almost catching him, great ride by both riders.2nd moto Holland holeshot, Hughes made a pass at very top of downhill, came down first, Holland punted him at bottom and went down handing the lead to Tierney, (Hughes cut out the horseshoe turn re-enterered in front) moved over and let Tierney by and passed him back on the freeway Hughes 1st Tierney 2nd, Holland caught up and got 3rd.
Wow Ryno is still riding Yamahas. After Hangtown on insidermx all he did was blame the bike and say thats why he crashed and how he could see stewarts point of view. lol guess buisness aint makin much as it used to before he punched people.
Come on guys, This is motocross, Rusty has been known to push the rules, Ryno is a racer, and a good person and he is good.. still !!!! good luck to all the local boys,,, so cal ......
ryno has always been a red ass on the track. it was one thing when he was pro, memo to ryno, no one gives a foink that you can win a vet race that no one takes as seriously as you do!
Readers get off the number thing, and jealousy.We all wish we could ride like that, get off him, (Hughes) He's a great rider,rides like a 20 year old and he's almost 40,racing is racing, and that is not your average vet race.
Wardy is the man. I would love to see him race or better yet be on the line with him, even though he would prob tripple lap me.
I think I know why Ping's Column was missing! Sandbagger!
Hey all I think it is just good to see that all of those guys still wanna race. I miss racing and it has been awhile. Doc says the hip rplacement cant take the racing, besides the 25 year old screws in my tib and fib feel like they are coming loose? Who knows it might just be the loose screws in my head. Gonna find out who all raced in the over 50 vet pro class and the others of course and see who I used to race against that is still racing.
Mamoth one of the races that I never made it to and wish I would have!
PS: I guess this is why I was dreaming about racing last night. What was strange was ? Someone had a Kawssaki for me to race and I was racing my ultra trick YZ490 instead. That bike could not have passed AMA Pro Inspection. It was not even near stock including the frame Tranny and a few other mods I did.
@Welker-I've had an artificial hip since 1978. Didn't listen to the doctors. Raced anyway for four or five years. Then, when I broke both of my knees, I rode quads. Had a really nice 250R Fourtrax, last time I raced, I got in a magazine, it was a pic of the holeshot, and two turns later, (@ Spring Creek!!!) on the landing of the first jump, I broke my rear axel! Hit the ground hard enough to make me decide I was to old and beat up for this stuff, and I stopped motoing...And it sucks. But I do still have a quad, and I snowmobile often which is a ton of fun. Like an endless moto track, only with oncoming traffic. My point is this, Maybe you can't go out and train and ride a ton to stay in shape-swimming might not be bad and bicycling is good too, but you can go race. Enough to scratch the itch, anyway. Being a racer for a moment, is better than being a spectator for a lifetime! Agreed, it's not as much fun, but you don't have to race to win. Good luck,old buddy. And no Mad Dog while you rae riding/racing!
@bucky394- I think its the mad dog that lets Welker dream like that. I know that MD2020 makes me think I am the FMOTP! lol Ah the moment of being a racer is far better than being a spectator, so true. Hopefully this old ass body of mine has a few more years of riding on it.
Way to go NATE DOG! Carson City's finest running out front. Congrats on a great weekend Tierney!
Being a 40plus b rider that is taking a body rest,it's great to see these guys out there racing there butts off.If it wasn't for us old guys that love this sport,young guy's wouldn't even have tracks to ride at.One thing that is a fact ,once a racer always a racer.And last but not least is,weather it's a am or pro race when you line up you go to give your best what ever that mite be.