This year's Mammoth Motocross was truly a success story of the off-road community working together with goverment and city officials. The collective effort saved a great riding area and a classic event, which now appears to have a safe future. This past weekend was host to the final events of the Mammoth Motocross: the Pro classes - 250, 125 and Open.
250 Pro Class
It was Honda rider Tim Weigand with the holeshot in the 250cc Pro final over Michael LaPaglia, Jeremy McGrath and Daniel Sani. As Weigand came around to lead lap one, he over-jumped the final table top jump on "the freeway" and landed in one of the Mammoth's imfamous, deep braking bumps, sending him high, up and over the bars, landing hard in the middle of the track. All 40 riders went safetly around Timmy; he was treated and later released with only minor injuries.
McGrath took over the lead and was chased by 18-year-old FMF/Fox rider Daniel Sani throughout the moto. As in the Open class, the kids would stay close to MC until about the halfway mark when the 30-something McGrath would then stretch out his lead, winning by a comfortable six seconds over Sani. Suzuki Rider Mike LaPaglia finished a distant third ahead of Yamaha Rider Jeremy Chaussee and KTM's Michael Sleeter.
An intersting side note: Freestyle rider Carey Hart rode both the open pro and 250 pro classes. During the 250 pro final about three laps into the race Carey pulls into the mechanics area and hugs his girlfriend Pink who is holding a sign board that says "will you marry me... serious". After some serious hugging Carey fires up his bike to finish the final, only to pull into the mechanics area a few laps later with a flat. Pink hops on the back of his bike and the two acknowldge applauding fans as they ride off. Is it true, are they getting married? Guess we'll have to watch the grocery store tabloids to know for sure.
250 Pro Results
1. Jeremy McGrath - Honda
2. Daniel Sani - Honda
3. Michael LaPaglia - Suzuki
4. Jeremy Chaussee - Yamaha
5. Michael Sleeter - KTM
250 Intermediate
1. Jarred Browne - Suzuki
2. Kevin Rookstool - Suzuki
3. Austin Eitel - Honda
4. Mark Samuels - Suzuki
5. Tyler Keefe - Kawasaki
250 Junior
1. Weston Peick - Honda
2. Dalton Baillie - Honda
3. Nick Watson - Honda
4. Cody Jefferies - Suzuki
5. Travis Roberson - Honda
125cc two strokes only was the rule for the School Boy class up at Mammoth Mountain, and it was Team Green Rider Ryan Villopoto who was quickest of the "premix" class. Villopoto took the win ahead of Michael LaPaglia and Jarred Browne both on Suzukis, who were followed by Team Green Rider Trey Canard with Suzuki rider Casey Hinson finishing fifth.
Schoolboy Final Results
1. Ryan Villopoto - Kawasaki
2. Michael LaPaglia - Suzuki
3. Jarred Browne - Suzuki
4. Trey Canard - Kawasaki
5. Casey Hinson - Suzuki
125 Pro
It was the #31, RM-Z250, of Michael LaPaglia with the holeshot in the 125 Pro Class Main followed by Team Green rider Ryan Villopoto. As they came down "the freeway" at the end of lap one, Villopoto ran his KX250F deep into the rough inside line to take the lead from LaPaglia. Also getting by LaPaglia was Tim Weigand on his CRF250R. Villopoto stretched his lead out to a comfortable ten seconds at the end ahead of Weigand, who was getting heavy pressure from a late-charging LaPaglia. Honda-mounted Daniel Sani finished fourth ahead of Yamaha's Jeremy Chausse who rounded out the top five.
125 Pro Final Results
1. Ryan Villopoto - Kawasaki
2. Tim Weigand - Honda
3. Michael LaPaglia - Suzuki
4. Daniel Sani - Honda
5. Jeremy Chausse - Yamaha
Open Pro
With only 40 entries, the Open Pro ran two 10 lap motos to determine the Open Class Champion of the 2005 Mammoth Motocross.
Moto 1: Sixteen-year-old Suzuki rider Michael LaPaglia pulled the holeshot and held for the first lap with Jeremy McGrath in tow. After a few laps, McGrath passed LaPaglia only to be passed back a few corners later. That was short lived, however, as McGrath passed LaPaglia for a second time, taking the lead and not giving it back. LaPaglia chased McGrath until his bike began to miss after five laps, letting McGrath build up a comfortable lead. Finishing third was Michael Sleeter aboard the big bore KTM followed by Josh Brown and Caleb Gosselaar.
Moto 2: Jeremy McGrath, on the factory Honda CRF450, was kept honest by TRE Honda rider Tim Weigand.Timmy never let Jeremy get more than ten bike lengths away, until the cross flags came out, signifing they were five laps into the ten lap main. Then Jeremy slowly stretched his lead to a comfortable eight seconds by the end of the moto. Finishing third was Michael LaPaglia followed by Michael Sleeter and Caleb Gosselaar.
Open Pro Final Results
1. Jeremy McGrath - Honda
2. Michael LaPaglia - Suzuki
3. Michael Sleeter - KTM
4. Tim Weigand - Honda
5. Caleb Gosselaar - Honda
125 Intermediate Final Results
1. Josh Hill - Yamaha
2. Jarred Browne - Suzuki
3. Kevin Rookstool - Suzuki
4. Aron Harvey - Yamaha
5. Trey Canard - Kawasaki
125 Junior Final Results
1. Bruce Rutherford - Yamaha
2. Brodie Humphries - Suzuki
3. Dalton Baillie - Honda
4. Craig Tomlinson - Suzuki
5. Nick Brown - Honda
Open Intermediate Final Results
1. Jarred Browne - Suzuki
2. Kevin Rookstool - Suzuki
3. Josh Hill - Yamaha
4. Mark Samuels - Suzuki
5. Austin Eitel - Honda
Open Junior Final Results
1. Weston Peick - Honda
2. Brodie Humphries - Suzuki
3. Cody Tithof - Suzuki
4. Wade Sprowl - Honda
5. Cody Jeffries - Suzuki
To determine the class winners at Mammoth the results from each of the two days racing are combined, and low score wins. For a complete list of the results go to www.mammothmotocross.com.
65cc 6-8
Darian Robinson dominated the 65cc 6-8 class with four moto wins for the class win. Connor Pearson was just as consistent, but just one place back each moto with four second place finishes to finish second overall.
1. Darian Robinson - KTM
2. Connor Pearson - KTM
3. Kinser Edicott - KTM
4. Zac Commans - //
5. Brandon Olivares - Suz
65cc 9-11
Jessy Nelson's three moto wins combined with his third place finish in moto three, beat out Aaron Siminoe's four second place finishes for the 65cc 9-11 class win.
1. Jessy Nelson - KTM
2. Aaron Siminoe - KTM
3. Levi Hall - KTM
4. Michael Maze - KTM
5. Ty Siminoe - KTM
85cc 12-13
Suzuki Rider Eli Tomac won both finals to take the class win over Blake Wharton who went 3-2 over the two days.
1. Eli Tomac - Suzuki
2. Blake Wharton - Suzuki
3. Blake Baggett - Kawasaki
4. Chris Plouffe - Kawasaki
5. Jake Canada - Yamaha
85cc 14-15
Kawasaki's Kyle Cunningham won the 85cc 14-15 with three moto wins and a second place. Suzuki's Drew Gosselaar put an end to Cunninghams moto win streak by winning the fourth and final moto to finish second overall for the two days.
1. Kyle Cunningham - Kawasaki
2. Drew Gosselaar - Suzuki
3. Trent Pugmire - Honda
4. Topher Ingalls - Yamaha
5. George Jeffers - Suzuki
85cc 9-11
It was Jessy Nelson's win on Wednesday that made the difference, as his 3-1 final finishes beat out Tanner Krahenbuhl's consistent 2-2 final finishes for the overall win.
1. Jessy Nelson - KTM
2. Tanner Krahenbuhl - Suzuki
3. Austin Politelli - Kawasaki
4. Levi Hall - KTM
5. Aaron Siminoe - KTM
Super Mini
Suzuki's Drew Gosselaar split final wins with Kawasaki's Kyle Cunningham, but it was Drew's second place finish in Wednesday's final that beat our Kyle's third place finish on Tuesday, for the overall class win.
1. Drew Gosselaar - Suzuki
2. Kyle Cunningham - Kawasaki
3. Trent Pugmire - Honda
4. Blake Wharton - Suzuki
5. Terren O'Dell - Yamaha
Women Amatuer
Honda Rider Jacqueline Ross went 2 -1 to win the competitive womens amatuer class over Jen Ellis who went 1-3. Fourteen year old Tatum Sik finished third with a 3-2, while twelve year old Sara Price finished fourth.
1. Jacqueline Ross - Honda
2. Jena Ellis - Honda
3. Tatum Sik - Yamaha
4. Sara Price - Kawasaki
5. Erika Contreras - Suzuki
Women Pro
Nineteen year old Yamaha Rider Tarah Gieger dominated the Womens pro class with two moto wins. KTM rider Sherri Cruse with a pair of second place moto scores finished second overall.
1. Tarah Gieger - Yamaha
2. Sherri Cruse - KTM
3. Sheena Patterson - Honda
4. Alisa Nix - Yamaha
5. Kaide Garrett - Yamaha