Yamaha/ITP Quadcross Series Round 1
Glen Helen Raceway, Devore, CA 3/8/09
Glen Helen Raceway, Devore, CA 3/8/09
Round one of the Yamaha/ITP Quadcross series was held at Glen Helen Raceway. The series will have some new contenders for 09 with Sage Baker, Hunter Miller and Jason Dunkleberger all choosing the Quadcross series over the AMA series this year, as well as French import Jeremie Warnia. With 25 entries in Pro Production, racers were split into two heats for gate pick in the one moto format main event.
Heat One: My #94 YFZ 450R pulled me what might have been my biggest holeshot ever. The track was brutally rough in some sections so I put my head down and tried to put in some strong, fast laps. By the halfway point I had a 10 second lead over a great battle for second between Baker and Warnia. Warnia made the pass on Baker with one lap to go and when the checkers flew I took the win about 12 seconds ahead of Warnia with Baker taking third.
Heat Two: I didn’t see much of this heat as they were on the track at the same time as our race, taking off from a second gate. I do know that Mike Machado took the holeshot and lead for almost the entire race until he was caught and passed on the last lap by visiting Yamaha France rider, Romain Couprie.
Main Event: Landon Hurst took the holeshot followed by Warnia, Couprie and myself. By this time the track was absolutely hammered, with some of the biggest holes I’ve seen at Glen Helen. When the track gets that rough it also becomes more one lined so I knew that getting to the front ASAP was important. After going side by side through about four turns with Couprie, I made the pass stick to get into third. On the second lap Warnia passed Hurst for the lead and started to pull away. I was able to catch and pass Hurst about midway around the third lap and set out to catch Warnia. After two strong laps I had closed the 4 second gap and began to apply pressure. I had a line picked out to try and get a good run up Mount St. Helens for a possible pass but I cross rutted in the corner and stalled my bike. Luckily, my YFZ 450R started right up and I was able to keep the second position, however, the mistake cost me 5 valuable seconds to the leader. For the remaining laps the gap stayed about the same and Warnia took the first win of the year followed by myself, Couprie, Miller and Dunkleberger.
Round one of the Yamaha/ITP Quadcross series is in the books and I believe that 09 will be a great Quadcross season. The competition is stronger and the field is deeper than ever before. I’m really looking forward to our next race at Arizona Cycle Park to try and notch my first win of the season.
Top Ten:
Heat One: My #94 YFZ 450R pulled me what might have been my biggest holeshot ever. The track was brutally rough in some sections so I put my head down and tried to put in some strong, fast laps. By the halfway point I had a 10 second lead over a great battle for second between Baker and Warnia. Warnia made the pass on Baker with one lap to go and when the checkers flew I took the win about 12 seconds ahead of Warnia with Baker taking third.
Heat Two: I didn’t see much of this heat as they were on the track at the same time as our race, taking off from a second gate. I do know that Mike Machado took the holeshot and lead for almost the entire race until he was caught and passed on the last lap by visiting Yamaha France rider, Romain Couprie.
Main Event: Landon Hurst took the holeshot followed by Warnia, Couprie and myself. By this time the track was absolutely hammered, with some of the biggest holes I’ve seen at Glen Helen. When the track gets that rough it also becomes more one lined so I knew that getting to the front ASAP was important. After going side by side through about four turns with Couprie, I made the pass stick to get into third. On the second lap Warnia passed Hurst for the lead and started to pull away. I was able to catch and pass Hurst about midway around the third lap and set out to catch Warnia. After two strong laps I had closed the 4 second gap and began to apply pressure. I had a line picked out to try and get a good run up Mount St. Helens for a possible pass but I cross rutted in the corner and stalled my bike. Luckily, my YFZ 450R started right up and I was able to keep the second position, however, the mistake cost me 5 valuable seconds to the leader. For the remaining laps the gap stayed about the same and Warnia took the first win of the year followed by myself, Couprie, Miller and Dunkleberger.
Round one of the Yamaha/ITP Quadcross series is in the books and I believe that 09 will be a great Quadcross season. The competition is stronger and the field is deeper than ever before. I’m really looking forward to our next race at Arizona Cycle Park to try and notch my first win of the season.
Top Ten:
1) Jeremie Warnia Can
2) Dustin Nelson Yam
3) Romain Couprie Yam
4) Hunter Miller Can
5) Jason Dunkleberger Yam
4) Hunter Miller Can
5) Jason Dunkleberger Yam
6) Josh Frederick Can
7) Justin Noss Yam
8) Beau Baron Hon
9) Jesse Goss Suz
10) Robbie Mitchell Kaw
7) Justin Noss Yam
8) Beau Baron Hon
9) Jesse Goss Suz
10) Robbie Mitchell Kaw
1) Jeremie Warnia 25
2) Dustin Nelson 22
3) Romain Couprie 20
4) Hunter Miller 19
5) Jason Dunkleberger 18
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