| Nor-Cal Championship Series
Round 3: Infineon Raceway
Sonoma, CA May 18-20
"I Won This for My Dad"- Casey Yarrow
Story and photos by Bob Stokstad Click to check out more images
The great thing about the month of May is the confluence of Supermoto and Superbike racing at Infineon in a three-day, two-wheeled motorsports buffet where race-hungry fans can gorge till they burst. This side-by-side placement of local grass-roots club racing and a big-time national AMA series is an annual Spring offering at Infineon, located just an hour north of San Francisco. The separate tracks on which these two very different races run were connected on Sunday by a long line of parked motorcycles stretching from the factory teams' big-rig-filled paddocks below, up the hill to the go-kart track where the Supermoto privateers parked their pickups and RV's. Another connection will come in ten years when the teen-agers riding Supermoto today start appearing on the podium after a Superbike race.
The Kart track at Infineon has nine turns. Turn eight is in the foreground, The bikes are rounding Turn 3.
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The Santa Rosa Powersports, Supermoto USA weekend at Infineon, presented by East Bay Motorsports, was relocated this year from the end of the dragstrip near turn-7 up to the Kart track where the racing conditions are better. The number of hay bales now needed to stake out the course is limited to the few around the hundred-yard long dirt section. The often-missed amenities at Supermoto events, from a good PA system, timing transponders, shaded tech-inspection areas to toilets that flush, were there in abundance thanks to Infineon and the Jim Russell Racing School, which is located at the Kart track.
This half-mile, nine-turn course is ideal for Supermoto: the one long straight section permitted speeds up to 85 mph while numerous tight corners kept the average speed down and the lap times at just over a minute. The dirt section lacked the steep climbs and drops of last year's location, but with three step-down jumps and as many turns was still capable of producing get-offs and pile-ups whenever the action was tight. That the asphalt surface seemed slippery was about the only complaint. In fact, the riders welcomed the change to the new location, even though its remote placement meant fewer fans at Infineon would watch them compete.
There were other attractions, too: three new classes, to be run just this weekend: a Premier Lightweight Mini-motard for younger racers, an Adult Mini (16+) and a Vet Mini (30+), all of which have AMA "World Cup." status. A total purse of $5000 was up for grabs by the top-ten finishers in the Motostrano Open Pro Unlimited, Premier Mini Motard and Premier Lightweight classes.
The 220 riders who showed up for Round 3 of this Nor-Cal Supermoto series produced 316 entries in 19 race classes. Fifty-five novice riders, twenty-six intermediates and twenty-two expert riders were gridded over the weekend - a healthy demographic that demonstrates the vitality of the Supermoto scene. Running a heat in the morning and main event in the afternoon for each of these many classes meant a very full program for the two days. No worry there, however, as the SupermotoUSA staff knows how to get it all done on time.
Photo finish in the 150 Heat. Gage McAllister (15)crossed the finish line inches ahead of Brian Martinez (5), but from this camera angle, it's hard to tell. The crowd went wild.
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The first buzz of the weekend came Saturday morning in the Mission Motorcycles 150 heat. Brian Martinez, Jr. stole the hole shot from Gage McAllister and settled into the lead, with McAllister remaining a respectful several bike lengths behind. These two gradually pulled way ahead of third and fourth place riders Blake Farris and Adam Musto. Soon it was just Martinez and McAllister to watch as the six-lap race droned on. But then, in the last 50 yards of straight-away before the finish line - if you blinked you would have missed it - McAllister passed to win, literally, by inches. All scorers agreed on this, as did the crowd which roared its approval.
The 150 main started out the same way and the first five laps were an exact repeat of the heat. Would Martinez win this one or could McAllister pull the same last-lap pass to a photo finish again? After the race, McAllister said, "I saw how every lap he kept going wide on this one turn, so I decided to stick it in there when he went on the outside. He tried to cut in but I got underneath him." That fits with Martinez's recollection, "I just left the door open on him and he got underneath me," he said. This all happened at the exit turn from the dirt section. From there to the finish line McAllister stayed in front. The fans showed their appreciation once again with generous applause for a second great race put on by Brian Martinez (13 years) and Gage McAllister (11 years).
450 Main. Casey Yarrow (92) who led until lap 5, has just been passed by Vince Guisande (76), who went on to win.
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This theme - the follower lying in wait for the leader to "open the door" - played out again with the big bikes in the Leo Vince 450. In both heat and main, Casey Yarrow and Vince Guisande, Jr. pulled ahead of the pack and diced with each other to the finish. In the heat race, Guisande got the hole shot and stayed in front with Yarrow on his rear wheel for five of the six laps. But then, toward the end of the last lap, Yarrow got around him on the inside and took the checkered flag. Later on, in the main, their roles were reversed. This time Yarrow came out ahead, only to be passed in lap six of the nine-lap race by Guisande who then finished with Yarrow, Michael Hannas and David Deveau in tow. This is the kind of racing that makes a day at the track memorable. And there was more to come: Guisande and Yarrow were to face off again in the Motostrano Expert class the next day.
The Premier Lightweight class had three divisions. Faster riders like Cameron Beaubier, J.D. Beach, and Mike Camera (plus others) were placed in the first division, while divisions two and three ran together. Beaubier and Beach were consistent and well-spaced first and second place finishers, with Mike Camera third and Christian Olguin fourth. In division two it was Gage McAllister on top again, this time playing cat and mouse with Wyatt Farris. Tucker Lancaster, Vision Hayes and Joshua Serne took division three, in that order.
Sunday, like Saturday, began with gorgeous Bay Area weather: a bright sun on fading green hills and modest breezes that would become strong winds late in the day. By 11 am over twenty bikes were circulating at top speed over the course, each carrying a transponder. Determining the pro qualifying times this way saved a lot of time compared to the usual individual warm-up and timed lap, and was an impressive sight, not to mention sound. The fastest of the fast were, in order, Casey Yarrow, Justin Ross, Vincent Guisande, Jr., Drew Dickson, and Cameron Welsh, all with best lap times between 1:05.3 and 1:06.8, and all within 1.5 seconds of each other.
There were four races aimed at the vet set: RV Joe's 45+ Vet, Bernal Racing - Sportsman, SME - Vet 35+ and (on Saturday) the Premier Vet 30+ Mini. Al McElroy, well-known track designer from Fernley, NV and colleague Robert Campbell from Sparks took first and third place in the 45+ main event. Local regulars Colin Macdonald and Brian Pecore set a blistering pace in the heat race, but managed only the 4th and 5th place slots later in the day. But it was their turn to shine in the Sportsman. In both heat and main, Macdonald got out ahead of Pecore and just stayed there till the end. Vet 35+ with 30 entries was one of the largest classes. Nevadians McElroy and Campbell slipped back to 3rd and 4th while David Deveau and Mark Agan spent all eight laps in first and second place.
The SMR 250 F was where the under-twenty group of Beaubier, Beach, Camera, Corbino and Welsh could mix it up in the fast lane. Beaubier held the lead until the fifth lap when he lost it and dropped back to sixth. While he was working his way back up to fourth, Camera, Beach and Welsh held their 1-2-3 positions and Corbino placed fifth after being passed by Beaubier in the last lap.
Expert Moto 1. Yarrow (92) and Ross (319) will take first and second, while Guisande (76) and Dickson will follow in third and fourth position. Here, it looks like ice dancing.
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The Motostrano Expert class (16+), carrying the biggest purse of the weekend at $2500, was won by Casey Yarrow with first place finishes in both Motos. Yarrow took off from the start and kept the front position for ten laps, pushing hard like a man on a mission. He lapped seven riders including, just before the finish, his cousin Brian Yarrow. In Moto 1 it was Justin Ross who kept closest to Yarrow while Guisande and Dickson fought for third and fourth. But in Moto 2 Guisande moved up to push Yarrow, at least until the 8th lap when Ross, in third place, tangled with Guisande's rear wheel, taking them both down. "On that lap I didn't hear Vince come out of the dirt behind me," said Yarrow, "so I took a peek over my shoulder and saw him picking up his bike. I said to myself, 'just cruise now and don't throw it away'." Ross was the quicker to get back up and grabbed the second spot. Guisande's shift lever was bent so he had to ride the last two laps in second gear and dropped back to sixth place. Drew Dickson was a consistent fourth in both Motos, which placed him third overall in points, followed by Beaubier and Guisande. Beaubier and Beach, both under 16 years, justified race director Michael Day's decision to let them run in the Expert class by their fourth and sixth place spots on the podium.
This was a special race for Casey Yarrow. "This is the first race since my dad passed away. I wanted to win this one for him, he said. "It was a good one to win." Indeed, it was a special event for the whole Yarrow family, who had four of the clan on the track this weekend - Casey's brother, Cory, his cousin Brian, and his daughter, Cesi. Barely three weeks since Allen Yarrow died, the family and especially Allen's wife, Micki, showed the stuff they are made of by their active participation in this event. And, in a real way, it was the Yarrow family's way of showing their appreciation to their friends - the Supermoto community - for the support and sympathy they received during these last, very difficult six months.
The Yarrow family celebrating Casey's win.
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A tip of the helmet to those riders who made multiple trips to the top spot on the podium - Drew Dickson (three first places!) and, with two first places each, Cameron Beaubier, Michael Camera, Tucker Lancaster, and Gage McAllister.
Round 4 of the Nor-Cal Championship Series will be at Madera Speedway on June 2nd.
Results
Super 50: 1. Ezra Beaubier (Ktm); 2. Ronan Lancaster (Hon); 3. Josh Serne (Ktm); 4. Kia Bartlow (Hon); 5. Ben Anolik (Hon).
65/125: 1. Tucker Lancaster (Ktm); 2. Brandon Crawford (Hon); 3. Tyler Ohara (Hon); 4. Blake Farris (Hon); 5. Vision Hayes (Kaw).
Formula 110: 1. Tucker Lancaster (Hon); 2. Josh Serne (Suz); 3. Alex Snow (Pol); 4. Matthew Kellogg (Kaw); 5. Andrew Snow (Pol).
Supermoto School125 S/S: 1. Tyler Ohara (Yam); 2. Ron Melton (Ktm); 3. Mark Anolik (Apr); 4. Dan Caldwell (Hon); 5. Brian Pecore (Apr).
Mission Motorcycles - 150: 1. Gage McAllister (Hon); 2. Brian Martinez Jr (Hon); 3. Blake Farris (Hon); 4. Adam Musto (Hon); 5. Kevin Rae (Hon)
Super Lightweight: 1. Cameron Beaubier (Hon); 2. Deion Campbell (Hon); 3. Ryan Kearns (Yam); 4. Jake Thompson (Hon); 5. Justin Ducut (Ktm).
Mammoth - Mini Motard: 1. Andrew Dickson (Hon); 2. Jeff Klugman (Hon); 3. Mike Lawrence (Kaw); 4. Paul Kellogg (Hon); 5. Derick Powell (Hon).
Novice: 1. John Willenborg (Ktm); 2. Colton Welch (Yam); 3. Mike Haydel (Hon); 4. Ted Tamagni (Hon); 5. Scott Weems (Hon).
D H Cycles -Intermediate: 1. Derrick Patterson (Hon); 2. Daryl Tenbrink (Hon); 3. Sam Knox (Hon); 4. Scott Weems (Hon); 5. Kerry Edwards (Hon).
Bernal Racing-Sportsman: 1. Colin Macdonald (Apr); 2. Brian Pecore (Apr); 3. Cory Yarrow (Yam); 4. Armando Miranda (Yam); 5. Andrew Lennon (Yam).
RV Joe's - Vet (45+): 1. Al McElroy (Yam); 2. Tim Mcardle (Hon); 3. Robert Campbell (Hon); 4. Colin Macdonald (Apr); 5. Brian Pecore (Apr).
SME - Vet (35+): 1. David Deveau (Hon); 2. Mark Agan (Hon); 3. Al Mcelroy (Yam); 4. Robert Campbell (Hon); 5. Bobby Black (Hon).
SMR _ 250-F: 1. Mike Camera (Yam); 2. J.D. Beach (Hon); 3. Cameron Welsh (Yam); 4. Cameron Beaubier (Suz); 5. Michael Corbino (Yam).
400 Amateur: 1. Mike Camera (Yam); 2. Ross Reppond (Hus); 3. Jimmy Gonzalez (Hon); 4. Anson Maloney (Suz); 5. Brandon Sakai (Yam).
Leo Vince - 450: 1. Vincent Guisande Jr (Hon); 2. Casey Yarrow (Yam); 3. Michael Hannas (Apr); 4. David Deveau (Hon); 5. Michael Corbino (Yam).
Motostrano - Expert: 1. Casey Yarrow (Yam); 2. Justin Ross (Ktm); 3. Andrew Dickson (Hon); 4. Cameron Beaubier (Hon); 5. Vincent Guisande Jr (Hon).
MINI MOTARD WORLD CUP
Premier Lightweight Divisions
Division 1: Cameron Beaubier; 2. J.D. Beach; 3. Mike Camera; 4. Christian Olguin; 5. Anson Maloney; 6. Colton Welsh; 7. Deion Campbell; 8. Brandon Sakai; 9. Ryan Kearns; 10. Brian Martinez Jr; 11. Justin Ducut; 12. Jake Thompson.
Division 2: 1. Gage McAllister; 2. Wyatt Farris; 3. Tyler Ohara; 4. Brandon Crawford; 5. Joshua Pederson.
Division 3: 1. Tucker Lancaster; 2. Vision Hayes; 3. Joshua Serne.
PREMIER Mini Motard
1. Andrew Dickson; 2. Ricky Colindres; 3. Vincent Guisande Jr; 4. Brok McAllister; 5. Cloyse Holland; 6. Mike Lawrence; 7. Jeff Klugman; 8. Logan Lackey; 9. Shawn Ralls; 10. Paul Kellogg; 11. Gregory Beck; 12. Greg Kamholtz; 13. Dan Caldwell; 14. Brad Bellah; 15. Ron Melton; 16. Tom Griffith.
Vet Mini
1. Andrew Dickson; 2. Brok McAllister; 3. Paul Kellogg; 4. Brian Pecore; 5. Shawn Ralls; 6. Brad Lackey; 7. Derick Powel; 8. Dan Caldwell; 9. Adam Musto; 10. Brad Bellah; 11. Ron Melton.
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