Dirt Bike News - 2005 AMA Part Unlimited Mini Moto SX from Las Vegas - Dirt Rider Magazine

"This is more money than I've made in Supercross all year," said Chris Gosselaar on the podium, "Maybe I should think about retiring!" Lil' Goose took the big win and the $7,500 purse in the 12" Expert class at the Las Vegas AMA Parts Unlimited Mini Moto SX. He led every lap of the final main event, fighting off last minute charge by Willy Browning. Third went to Blake Bilko. Gosselaar also podiumed in the 10" Expert class taking second behind David Pingree, who took home the other half of the $15,000 prize purse. Mike Sleeter rounded out the top three in the 10" class.What started out last year as a novelty event has now become a full-fledged, fiercly competetive cut-throat race. The stands of the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas were packed, and even more packed were this year's race entries. Nearly 500 racers entered for a chance to qualify in the biggest mini bike race in the world. The $15,000 and five AMA #1 plates up for grabs attracted many pro-level riders including Jeremy McGrath, Guy Cooper, Tommy Hoffmaster, Darcy Lange, Shae Bently, Rich Taylor, David Pingree, Chris Gosselaar and of course, Dirt Rider Editor Jimmy Lewis.Luck was a big part of it, as Jeremy McGrath, Guy Cooper and Tommy Hoffmaster showed. McGrath received a hard knock on the first lap of the 12" main event sending him completely off the track. Cooper and Hoffmaster both had crashes that kept them out of the top running. It was as much about survival as it was about skill. Those who were there saw first hand what a full-contact sport mini racing has become.The Mini Moto course was more technical than last year. More jumps, berms, a rhythm section and whoops made it into a dimunitive Supercross track, and the technology off the bikes has turned them into true factory racers. Classes offered were 10" rear wheel amateur and expert, 12" rear wheel amateur and expert, stock 50 and women's (unlimited).Stay tuned for more on the AMA Mini Moto SX on Dirtrider.com this week. We'll show you behind the scenes including some of the tricked-out machinery—from vintage to factory replicas. And we'll let you in on how the entire Dirt Rider staff fared at the event. (Hint: half of us qualified... and almost all of us were able to walk at the end of the night).