Rogerson deals four aces

Sunset Ridge Park June 24, 2006
by Merle Acord

W

ithout benefit of a hole-shot, 125A/250A rocket Ryan Rogerson crossed first under the checkers four times at Sunset Ridge’s MX under a sky that couldn’t make up its mind to wash-out the superb track prepping efforts of “Mr. Out-side” Bob Pistole and crew or let the eager earthlings continue on their quest to gain double points at Sunset’s Bonus event... So just to let the scurrying creatures know that she was still Queen of the May, so to speak, what amounted to a good track watering was dumped on the race between motos. Some thought it just right, others didn’t, but of course you can’t please everyone; Mother Nature doesn’t even try.

A smiling Ron Walker from Naperville, Illinois was pleased with the track watering, and said, “As long as you stayed out of the blue groove it was fine. I had a few problems in the first moto, fell down but managed to catch back up. I kept it together in the second moto and won it so that will give me the overall. I would like to thank Andy Stacy at Tuf Racing in DeKalb and Rusty Ott at Pro Source.”

Paul Brako from Aurora, Illinois turned in a fourth in moto one and third in moto two to finish third overall being edged out for second overall finisher Michael Dakovich. “A little bit of rain doesn’t hurt anybody,” said Brako.

“Anytime you win overall you feel pretty good,” said David Benson +45 class double moto winner. “I got two good hole-shots and kept the good eye on everybody, set a good pace and just kept going”. (Sounds like a plan.)

“The little bit of rain made the track really nice, fit right in with the excellent prep job that you expect and get from Bob (Pistole)” said Bob Westergaard , third overall 30A rider. “I rode three classes today, 30A, 35+, and 40+. Yeah, I’m a little tired but I like to keep busy. I would like to thank our sponsors, Scott Goggles, Bridgestone, EVA and Barnett.”

“I was fourth off the line in the first moto,” said Anthony Westergaard up on a Yamaha out of Spring Grove, Illinois. “And I had to work my way up thru the pack. It’s a little slick out there now because of the rain, but its still really nice. I would also like to thank Scott Goggles, Bridgestone, EVA and Barnett.”

Third overall Chad Lindahl of Oswego, Illinois said, “The first moto was awesome and then the little bit of rain made it interesting. I can tell from here if I’m going to beat Westergaard it’s going to take a lot of practice. Right now I can keep him in sight and that’s about the best I can do.”

Mike Valiente on a super-clean Kawasaki won the vintage class over-all and said, “This machine suites my style, it’s big and heavy like me. This is the first time I’ve beat Scott and that’s over three years. I beat him today because I like the rain and he doesn’t. I think it psyched him out because we only had enough rain to settle the dust and give us a couple of slick spots. It was a good battle; we weren’t more than two bikes lengths apart the whole time. I got hole-shots and I needed them.”

Ryan Rogerson, Oswego, Illinois didn’t get the hole-shots in the 125A class but he was close. “I had good starts in both motos,” said Ryan “And really I don’t know why I’m going so much faster this season, I try to be consistent and carry my momentum through the corners. My game plan is to repeat in the 250A. I would like to thank Rusty Ott at Pro Source.”

Chad Westerbrook, of Cape Corel, Florida made the long trek to Sunset Ridge to ride the 125 and 250 A classes and picked up a second over-all in the 125A’s. “This is one of the better tracks in Illinois,” said the well traveled Cape Corel, Florida resident. “Wide, well prepped, and you can fall down and not die no rocks. The soil is sandy and a horsepower gobbler very good if you’re riding a 450. I came up for the Red Bud National, but actually this is my home area, we just moved to Florida a few months ago. I would like to thank Rock River Power Sports and Brad Jeromenski for all that he has done for me.”

Blake Young a Honda rider in the 125A and 250A class said, "Today was my first day back in 3 weeks after having a broken nose, so taking 3rd overall in both 125 and 250 A was an accomplishment for me.  This is my first year in the A class, so I am still just trying to figure everything out.  The track was awesome, as always, and I had a great time.  I would like to thank Motor X Monster Energy, Scott Goggles, Devol Engineering, Dr. D, Dan at Bike Graphics, and Motoworldracing.com; also, my family for all their awesome support." 

“I crashed in the first moto,” said Matt Mellott fourth place 125A overall, second year A rider from Mendota, Illinois twenty minutes North on rt. 92. “I was able to finish and then took a third in this moto. I would like to thank No Limit Racing, Mississippi Valley Mill Works, and my Dad. Couldn’t have done it without them.”

“I got two hole-shots in the +25,” said Suzuki rider Bob Gardner from Dunlop, Illinois. “In the second moto I was able to hold off Josh Gray and got the win. I would like to thank FMF Industries and my Uncle Al.”

“Bob beat me by just about an inch in that second moto,” said second place +35 overall Josh Gray of Peoria, Illinois. “We had a great race; I struggled most of the day from arm pump but managed to get it together for the second moto. I would like to thank RTR Cycles and my Mom.”

Quentin Jones, third overall, was second off the line in the first moto of the 85 seniors then washed out, caught back up and finished second. “I took a third in this moto,” said Jones and have a good shot at second overall.”

But it was not to be and the “Rocket” from East Peoria, Illinois Cody Stum with a second place finish in moto two took second overall behind Tyler Baylis in a cliff-hanger finish in the 85 seniors. “I had a bad start but worked up to third and couldn’t get around Quentin Jones; he was having trouble holding his line and was all over the place. In the second moto I went down to the line with Bayis, but just couldn’t get around and will have to settle for second overall. I would like to thank RTR Cycle, Thor, and Mom.”

“Cody Stum and I had bad starts in moto one we started dead last,” said overall 85 senior winner Tyler Bayler. “Cody got hung up in the pack and couldn’t get by so I won that one after working up. And in the second moto I had an okay start and passed Cody and Quentin early and took the lead and held it the whole way for the overall. I would like to thank Mom and Dad, Kevin Boyle from Concept Haulers, and Rusty Ott of Pro Source.”

Maybe it’s just the challenge but some guys seem to like doing it the hard way and making it look easy and so it was with Anthony Westergaard in the 125 and 250B’s taking a pair of overalls with four moto wins.

“I like that new off camber-bump,” said Anthony, “It’s a little tricky, but everything right now is tricky, lots of ruts and speed bumps.” (Geez! It looked smooth the way Anthony was doing it.) “I would like to thank A Power Sports, Scott Goggles, EVS, Barnett, Team Green Embroidery and Mom and Dad.”

Tyler Knowlton second 250B overall from Mendota, Illinois said “The track was a little rough, but can’t complain it rained and it wasn’t dusty. Beats watching television and crash’n.”

Kyle Lindahl third 250B overall said, “I’m still having a little trouble off the line with the 450 it comes up on me. I got a fifth in the first moto and a third in the second so we’ll have to wait and see a lot of the guys were dropping back so I might get third.”

Rick Nickel overalled the 65 senior class and said, “I had two hole-shots and led all the way. When you do that the races are a lot of fun, I love this track.” Rick also loved the track in the 85 junior class when he scored two aces for the overall. “I would like to thank Mom and Dad and Tuf Racing,” added Rick

Danielle Grigoletti on a KTM from Elgin, Illinois, took two second place moto finishes for her second overall and if they gave a trophy for smiling she would have had the overall.

Dominick Bartemio took the 65 beginner’s class overall.

Andrew Estill from Edinburgh, Illinois second overall in the 250C’s said, “My first moto could have been better; I got a little side-ways and went over the handlebars. I came back and finished with a second. I absolutely love this track, conditions are perfect and the jumps are awesome. It’s so wide you can pass anywhere you want.”

“I had some trouble with Cody (Stum) off the line, but was able to take him in the second turn,” said overall schoolboy winner Dilon Hall, Yamaha mounted. The track is choppy and that is the way I like it, much more difficult to ride. I would like to thank Bel-Ray, Thor and my parents.”

“I had the hole-shot in moto one,” said Cody Stum, “But he went into the second corner faster than I did and momentum means a lot when you’re riding in the sand. I would like to thank FMF Suzuki, EVS, and Mom and Dad.”

Levi Kipp competing in the Schoolboy class had problems getting off the line in moto one and got in the loose stuff and crashed but was able to make it back to fourth. “In moto two,” said Kipp I had a good start but got passed by a bunch of people right away: made it back to third and held on. I hope that is good enough for third.” (Sorry Kipp but you finished fourth.) “I would like to thank Thor, Alpine Star, DeCal Works, and Brenny’s Cycle Works in East Moline”

Mike Dakovich got up at three o’clock to make the trek from Des Moines, Iowa and compete in the 30A class. The journey was a success; he took the overall trophy back to Iowa. “I really enjoyed this track,” said Mike, “Especially the tabletops. Haven’t ridden any this big before so that is how I spent my practice time.”

“I rode three classes today,” said 30A second overall Mike Hollaway, “And now I’m making three tracks. I was second in line both motos and followed Dakovich across the line. No excuses, he just out-rode me today. I want to thank Grayboy Motor Sports and that is about it.”

Bob Westergaard another vet playing iron-man rode three classes and finished third in the 30A’s, fifth in the 35’s and fourth in the forty’s. In a couple of years I’ll be able to ride the forty-five’s, but I don’t know about that I would like to thank EVS, Barnett, Scott, Unifilter, and Green tree Screen Printing.”

Bryten Brill aced both motos in the 125 C class then went to the line where his Dad Dave was waiting in staging for the machine. Bryten was asked if he would tell the old man not to teach the bike any bad habits, but Bryten was too smart too answer a question like that. “Actually I’ve been doing a lot better since I moved up to the bigger bikes,” said the former 85 class rider. “I would like to thank No Fear, Kawasaki, Smith Goggles and Renthal.”

Ryan Roberson from Oswego, Illinois aced both motos in the 250 class. “I got off the line good and felt smooth,” said Ryan “I had a close one; some guy crashed on the ski-jump and the flagger didn’t have time to get over there and I almost landed on him. We were both lucky that I was able to get away from him. That was my big moment and everything else went pretty smooth. I would like to thank Rusty Ott at Pro Source.”

“I had two decent starts,” said second 250A overall Matt Mellott from Mendota, Illinois. “I got in the second spot in both motos and just stayed there. Other than almost landing on the downed rider at the ski-jump things went pretty smooth...”

Ron Walker picked up a pair of moto wins in the 40 + class for his overall trophy and said, “I can’t complain and that is about it. I would like to thank Rusty Ott at Pro Source; he has done a lot for me.”

Dave Brail from Perkin, Illinois placed second in the 40 + class and said, “I was a little under-powered with my 250F up against their 450’s but we managed. I try to work out at least three times a week because I know I’m going to get beat off the line so I have to work hard to make it up. I would like to thank Tuf Racing, my wife and the kids are getting bigger and they are pushing me more on the track. I think I’ll race until the boys beat me and then I’ll hang it up. The twins are fourteen now so it may not be too long.”

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