Chase Guthrie Becomes Michigan SuperMoto Champion
The weather was perfect for an early fall day and the track was in the best shape of the year with heavy rain the day before making the dirt section dust free and tacky. Most riders were able to clear the jumps and no major crashes occurred on this track that includes a NASCAR ¼-mile oval.
Heading into the final round, the top four riders in the Dubach Racing Development (DRD) Beginner Class were within one point of each other making for a competitive battle to win the series title. Germany’s Martin Hanstein, who began racing supermoto for the first time this year with the help of AMA pro Timm Kiener, was clearly the fastest and smoothest rider on the track. After getting in the lead Hanstein won both the heat race and main event for his first-ever race win. He competed on a former factory Husaberg 610 supermoto race bike winning the Beginner Class championship. Second place went to Dan Hughes followed by Jesse Maciag in third. Hanstein received a 2010 MISuperMoto pass along with the number one plate. Second and third place finishers received DRD gift certificates.
There was intense build-up to the EKS Brand Amateur Class final after round one and two race winner Team199/Cernic’s Suzuki/Red Bull’s Ron Meredith had been hounded at both events by Jonathan Kelesy. Meredith had also won two MISuperMoto races in 2008. He needed a good start off the pole in the main event in order to continue his winning streak. On lap one Meredith was in the lead on his Suzuki RM-Z450 with Kelesy on his Yamaha WR450 close behind. Kelesy hounded Meredith for six laps waiting for a mistake. On the sixth lap Kelesy went up on the inside of Meredith on the fastest section of the track and made the pass stick. Meredith kept with Kelesy for the following few laps until they got into lappers. Meredith, keeping in mind that he could still earn the class title with a second place, slowed a bit to protect his position. At the end it was Jonathan Kelesy, Meredith and Jonathan’s dad Shannon Kelesy. In the championship, the number one plate went to Meredith followed by Jonathan and Shannon. Meredith received a 2010 MISuperMoto season pass. The two Kelesy’s received DRD gift certificates.
The inaugural Husqvarna Challenge Cup was an epic event with riders from three states and on a variety of Husqvarna models both 450SMRs and custom supermoto bikes based on MX models. Jonathan Kelesy was clearly the fastest rider who wanted to bring home the trophy and $1000 in a really bad way. Once in the lead in both the heat race and main event he decimated the field with his fluid style. He did have competition from Ron Peterson in the heat race who made the trek from Illinois. Peterson had some trouble in the main event and couldn’t challenge Kelesy. At the main event checkers it was Kelesy taking the Husqvarna Challenge Cup win followed by Peterson who received $500 in Husky rewards.
The momentum was on the side of Guthrie in the College Bike Shop Pro Class having won rounds one and two. He clearly outraced the other riders when he worked up from lower positions in both events on his Kawasaki KX450F. Timm Kiener on a Husaberg 610, a former German pro motocrosser and AMA Pro Supermoto regular for the previous two years, was determined to take the glory away from Guthrie. With the number one plate and a Honda CRF50 up for grabs, everyone was gunning for Guthrie. Earlier in the day, two blown motors and two riders crashing tightened the final field. The top riders were Guthrie, Kiener, KTM’s Jason Hine and Kensington Motorsports’ John Lukasik, Jr. on a Yamaha YZ450.
In the Pro heat race, Kiener was on his game getting the lead early. In the heat race, Guthrie had passed Kiener at one point and then washed out his front wheel in the dirt section handing the lead back to Kiener who went on to win the heat race. However, Guthrie worked his way back up and was on the back tire of Kiener for the final few laps, finishing second by half a wheel to Kiener.
In the Pro main, Kiener again got the early lead with Guthrie in third place behind Hine. The 150 spectators in the stands watched as Guthrie put the hammer down, backing it in with precision at every corner. Coming out of the dirt section, Guthrie took the edge on Kiener as he lost some traction. At the checkers it was Guthrie with the win followed by Kiener and Hine. The final championship top three went to Guthrie, Hine and Kiener with Guthrie taking home the number one plate, bragging rights for 2010 and the Honda CRF50 courtesy of College Bike Shop.
“It was a rush to be standing back watching all this great racing taking place,” said MISuperMoto’s Dave Duprey, a former AMA Superbike racer. “All these racers were leaving everything they had on the track with a determination to finish at or near the top. We appreciate the riders and fans for supporting the first-ever Michigan SuperMoto Championship and for Husqvarna stepping in to support an organized, safe supermoto event. Thanks also to College Bike Shop, Taco Bell, DRD, EKS Brand, AxiomTV, Midwest Motorcyclist, and Auto City Speedway.”
Even though the 2009 series is over, you can still ride supermoto at one of MISuperMoto’s Test and Tune Days this month. To find out more, visit www.misupermoto.com.
About MISuperMoto
MISuperMoto is one of the fastest-growing regional supermoto series in the nation with both racing events and track days. Its Test and Tune Days enable current enthusiasts to ride supermoto on a safe course while new riders can try their hand at this growing motorcycle discipline. In 2009, MISuperMoto will have the three-round Michigan SuperMoto Championship, presented by College Bike Shop, and 11 Test and Tune Days. Events are held at Auto City Speedway in Clio, Jackson Speedway in Jackson and Ogemaw Heights High School in West Branch. MISuperMoto’s goal is to become the premier regional supermoto racing and track day series east of the Mississippi. The series is made possible with support from College Bike Shop (Lansing, Michigan), Taco Bell, Husqvarna, Dubach Racing Development (DRD), EKS Brand, AxiomTV, Midwest Motorcyclist, Auto City Speedway and Jackson Speedway. Visit www.misupermoto.com for more information.
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