SupermotoUSA Championship Series
Round 3 at Infineon
May 19-21, 2006
Wet Weekend at Infineon Makes for Exciting Racing
by Bob Stokstad
Infineon is good for Supermoto. The asphalt area out beyond Turn 7 is adjoined by a hill and sloping plateau that are ideal for cutting a dirt track. Carve they did, with backhoe and bucket loader to create a six-turn serpentine with whoops and jumps, connected with the seven turns on pavement, and all visible to spectators on the hill next to the pit area. And Supermoto is good for Infineon. Next door, fans weary of watching the weather wreak havoc with the AMA road-racing schedule on Friday and Sunday could wander over to the Supermoto course where the action was nearly non-stop, rain or shine.
The practice session Friday afternoon set the tone for the weekend -- be flexible. A couple hours of drizzle and rain turned the clay-based dirt track to snot and had to be closed when three out of four riders couldn't make it up the hill. After a quick reconfiguration, practice continued the rest of the day on wet pavement, where Supermoto racers are at home.
By 11 am on Saturday the dirt had dried sufficiently for racing on the full thirteen-turn course. The conditions were ideal: a dust free track and a cool day. Danny Casey swept the 250F class (Suzuki) with way-out-front first places in both heat and main. Casey Yarrow and Garret Willis took second and third in the main, followed by C.D. Howell and Andrew Dickson. Joey Pascarella, who was a strong second place in the heat slipped to eighth place in the main event.
On the first lap of the 125 Supersport (Supermoto Schools) main event, leader Shawn Ralls dropped his Honda in the second asphalt turn that by now had collected just enough dirt to trip even the best riders. The fans up the hill then cheered him on as he systematically worked his way through the pack, picking off his competitors at the rate of one a lap until he led once again. In the 125 Supersport class, size can matter, just like in horse racing. Ralls often pulled past on the straight sections, likely aided by his more favorable horsepower/weight ratio as he jockeyed his little bike out of turns and onto the straight-aways to take first place in both motos.
The big races of the day were the two Open Expert motos (Mach 1 Motorsports). This class, endowed with a purse this weekend, attracted many entrants, all eager to race for the money. Daryl Atkins on an Aprilla twin took the holeshot in the first moto but gave up the lead when he lost front-wheel traction in a dirt section corner near the top of the hill. Casey Yarrow led for two laps but then Chisum took over in the third and used the rest of the race to increase his lead, leaving Travis Marks and Danny Casey in distant second and third places. Casey Yarrow trailed in fourth. Atkins, who had rejoined the race, finished 19th. The second moto started similarly, but this time Atkins maintained the lead. Chisum just couldn't get past him, try as he might, until the last lap when a spill and cluster of lappers created the opportunity he needed to edge out Atkins. It was a great day for Josh Chisum who took first in both motos and got the big envelope on the podium. Standing next to Chisum, in order, were Travis Marks, Casey Yarrow, Danny Casey and Michael Hannas.
Sunday's racing started out fine, but darkening skies indicated trouble ahead. By mid afternoon the heats and two main events were complete when steady rain once again forced the closure of the dirt section. This time goo had turned to soup. A riders' meeting was called and the question put - how many want to call it a day, how many want to keep racing? It was a no-brainer. A half hour later racing resumed on a reconfigured track, which now included a chicane in the gravel parking area next to the asphalt. This addition and the gradually diminishing rain produced some of the most fun racing of the weekend.
The Super Lightweight (Cycle West) and 450 (Leo Vince Exhausts) classes completed a heat and main event and produced a set of familiar names: Danny Casey, Vincent Guisande, Jr., Casey Yarrow, Garrett Willis, Joey Pascarella and Andrew Dickson, in that order for the 450. Pascarella took first place in the Lightweight. Brian Bartlow, who got the prize on Friday's soggy practice session for the most attempts to make it up the hill, took first place in the Sportsman class (Bernal Racing), followed by Paul Hart and Daryl Tenbrink.
In the course of two days' racing including all motos, three riders each earned two first places: Chisum (Expert), Ralls (125 Supersport), and Don Biava (Vet 35+). But top honors go to Danny Casey and Michael Corbino who won three races each. Casey, in the 250F (2) and 450, and Corbino in the 400 Amateur(2) and Novice classes.
Infineon is a wonderful facility for motorcycle racing - for all kinds of motorcycles. The combination of Supermoto and Superbike is especially appealing because enthusiasts are guaranteed a broad spectrum of exciting racing, no matter what the weather.
Results
Expert (16+): |
1. Josh Chisum (Hon); |
2. Travis Marks (Hon); |
3. Casey Yarrow (Ktm); |
4. Danny Casey (Yam); |
5. Michael Hannas (Kaw); |
125 SuperSport (14+): |
1. Shawn Ralls (Hon); |
2. Mark Anolik (Hon); |
3. James Brooks (Hon); |
4. Paul Kellogg (Hon); |
5. Andrew Dickson (Ktm); |
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250-F (12+): |
1. Danny Casey (Yam); |
2. Casey Yarrow (Yam); |
3. Garrett Willis (Hon); |
4. C D Howell (Hon); |
5. Andrew Dickson (Ktm); |
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65/125 (up to 15): |
1. Gage Mcallister (Kaw); |
2. Brandon Sakai (Hon); |
3. Tucker Lancaster (Kaw); |
4. Wyatt Farris (Hon); |
5. Ryan Kearns (Yam); |
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Vet (35+): |
1. Don Biava (Suz); |
2. David Deveau (Hon); |
3. Brian Bartlow (Hon); |
4. Paul Hart (Hon); |
5. Allen Yarrow (Hon); |
+45 Vet: |
1. Colin Macdonald (Hon); |
2. Allen Yarrow (Hon); |
3. John Martin (Hon); |
4. Robert Van Ryn (Hon); |
5. Richard Deveau (Yam); |
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400 Amateur (12+): |
1. Michael Corbino (Hon); |
2. Richard Goforth (Yam); |
3. Bert Toth (Hon); |
4. Chase Mcfarland (Yam); |
5. Jimmy Gonzalez (Hon); |
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450 (14+): |
1. Danny Casey (Yam); |
2. Vincent Guisande Jr (Hon); |
3. Casey Yarrow (Yam); |
4. Garrett Willis (Hon); |
5. Joey Pascarella (Hus); |
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Beginner (14+): |
1. Randall Carvel (Yam); |
2. Jake Thompson (Hon); |
3. Greg Kamholz (Hon); |
4. Jerod Popejoy (Ktm); |
5. Jason Moran (Hon); |
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Intermediate (14+): |
1. Brett Moran (Yam); |
2. Tony Souza (Yam); |
3. Todd Risley (Yam); |
4. Daryl Tenbrink (Hon); |
5. Mike Haydel (Hon); |
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Mini Motard (12+): |
1. Cloyse Holland (Kaw); |
2. Ricky Colindres (Hon); |
3. Greg Kamholz (Hon); |
4. Paul Kellogg (Hon); |
5. Justin Ford (Hon); |
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Novice (14+): |
1. Michael Corbino (Hon); |
2. Brett Moran (Yam); |
3. Jimmy Gonzalez (Hon); |
4. Mike Haydel (Hon); |
5. Tim Lynch (Hus); |
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Sportsman (14+): |
1. Brian Bartlow (Hon); |
2. Paul Hart (Hon); |
3. Daryl Tenbrink (Hon); |
4. Brian Pecore (Yam); |
5. Casey Heidebrecht (Hon); |
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Super Lightweight (8 up to15): |
1. Joey Pascarella (Hus); |
2. Michael Martin (Hon); |
3. Ryan Kearns (Yam); |
4. Jake Thompson (Hon); |
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