onus Morgan a District 17 rising MX star suffered a debilitating spinal injury motocrossing and is now working hard just too be able to walk again. His sprits are still good and he still loves to talk about racing and does his best to put his friends at ease when they are discussing coming off the big triple crossed up, or caught up in a gust of  wind off a camel back and how they feel knowing they might eat a little dirt in the next couple of seconds. The thrill of the start and the frustration of being boxed in and having too wait your turn to get thru a switch-back while the leaders are checking out. Motocross racing was the thing he did and loved and he likes to remember the thrills and frustrations and he wants his friends to remember also.   

A benefit motocross race was held for Jonas Morgan at Sunset Ridge Moto Park. A Kawasaki 85 pit bike was raffled off: Tee Shirts, helmets and all kinds of MX gear were on sale and donations were accepted. There was a sea of #48 yellow Tee’s, Jonas’ riding number, being worn, attesting to the large number of people visiting the benefit tent.   The final count isn’t in but was at $8K and climbing when last noted… go man go.

“I’m so surprised I won this bike,” said April Roper, “I never win anything. I was out on the track riding the last moto and when I came in they told me I had won the bike. Oh my gosh I have a pit bike. I want to thank Jonas and I wish him all the luck in the world.” We all wish you the best Jonas.

Kevin Markwardt from Freeport, Illinois took the 250A overall with a couple of aces and said, “I just can’t say enough about Ryan (Rogerson) the kid is riding awesome as is everyone else. I got a second in the 125A’s, Ryan won that one and I just couldn’t get around him but I had a fun day and I’m glad I came out. I would like to thank 4-Play racing, Mom and Dad, UFO, Tuf Racing, EVS and Scott Goggles.”

“I got a second place hole shot behind Kevin,” said second overall 250A Ryan Rogerson. “It was dusty and slick and I didn’t want to crash and with the my fourth place finish in moto one all Kevin had to do was keep it up for the OA. I would like to thank No Limit Racing, Pro Source Yamaha, Borelli Suspensions and Mom and Dad.”

“I stalled it in the first corner of moto one and went down,” said fourth overall 250A rider Greg Braet on Brenny’s Clinic Yamaha, “but I was able to come back and finish seventh. In this moto I finished third, so we’ll just have to wait and see how the numbers play out.”

Tim Filippi from Rock Falls rode six motos today and finished fourth in the +25, third in the 30A, and second in the 35A. “It has been a busy day,” said Timmy. “I’ll be able to ride that forty class in a few months and I want to get in shape for it. I would like to thank Gieson’s Motor Sports, Spy Goggles, and Bob and Jan for putting on a good show.”

There was some confusion in the ranks of the 80 Open; the last class to take practice, the 80 Open, was the first class off the line in the first set of motos. Joey Tarver from Des Plaines and Tylor Baylis, not believing the practice scheduling, went back to the pits instead of the starting line. These two are fast but not so fast they can spot the field a lap, which is what they did in moto one. Tarver not used to a 10^th place finish roared back in moto two with Baylis in tow and as a point of honor they finished 1-2 in moto 2.

Kawasaki’s Vaughn Mays from Genoa City, Wisconsin overall winner with a 1-3 card said, “I took the lead on the second turn in moto one and went all the way. In moto two I had the lead for a couple of laps then Joey got around. I was trying to stuff it under him and slid out. I finished third but I didn’t have a good race.” Dustin Bartz and Adam Jordan filled out the top three.

            Jon Six, fourth overall 125A Kawasaki rider from Ottawa, Illinois accredits his riding improvement to, well, riding. “I’m not doing anything different, other than practicing more. I go to Loretta Lynn’s in a couple of weeks and I’m getting ready for that. I would like to thank my Dad.”

            “I’m just glad that it is over,” said Dan Corsiatti Overall 250B winner from Montgomery, Illinois. “I always get bad starts and have to work my way up, but today wasn’t so bad; I didn’t get any hole shots, but I was with the front runners. I kept passing people and aced both motos. I would like to thank “No Limit Racing” and the Rogerson Family.”

            Dean Holstrom with a pair of second place finishes won second overall in the 250B class. “The track gets a little choppy in the second moto but now that Bob is running the quads on Saturday the track is holding up great. In the first moto I was running out front and then stalled it and dropped back to ninth. In the second moto I got the whole shot, which is nice, but then I let Dan by. I was trying real hard but I just got too tired. I would like to thank Sunset Ridge and Mom and Dad.” Jeffrey Shuck was third.      

Mike Valerier, from Frankfort, Illinois, on an aging Kawasaki that ran like it was new, won the vintage class and said. “Actually I’m just riding this class for fun and spotting lines for the +45 class.”

            Joey Tarver overall 85 senior winner, unlike the 80 Open class, was one of the first to the gate and said, “In the first moto I got a good start an led all the way, but in the second moto I got a bad start. I kept pushing and before the end of the first lap I had the lead and I never let up and won that moto too. I would like to thank SoCal Decal and Mom and Dad.”

            Tyler Baylis second overall in the 80 seniors, also missed the first lap in the Open 80 and wanted the folks to know that this is what they can expect when he makes it to the line on time. “Actually I had a couple of bad starts and had to work hard for my second place finishes. I would like to thank Concept Haulers, Shoei Helmets, and my Mom.”

            “After getting a good start I fell out back and had to work back up and got a third,” said 85senior third overall Steven Page. “I got the hole shot in the second moto but Jason got around me and I finally ended up third again. I would like to thank Scott Goggles, and Thor.”

            “ Dustin Bartz got me on the hole shot in the first moto,” said 80 junior overall winner Reese Miller. “Then we battled back and forth for a while before I took over the lead and the win. I would like to thank Illinois Valley Mill Works, and EVS.”

            Levi Kipp from Moline, Illinois was 80 junior second overall and said, “In the first moto I didn’t get such a good start and had to catch a bunch of people in the first corner. And I did the same thing in the second moto and had to work back to second. I would like to thank Thor, Alpine Star, SoCal DeCal, JCC, and Mom and Dad.”

            “I got the hole shots in both motos,” said third 80 overall Dustin Bartz of Silvis, Illinois. “But I kept messing up on lines and couldn’t hold it.”

            “I had a fourth place start in the first moto and when JR Garrett and Kurtis Mandersheid fell I got around them and rode for a second. In the next moto I had a third place hole shot and just stayed there. I didn’t worry about Garrett in second because he had DNFed moto one. I would like to thank Tuf Racing, UFO, Alpine Star and Mom and Dad.”

            “I was concentrating on getting the hole shot,” said overall +25A winner Greg Braet. “It was getting a little dusty out there, and it gets a little scary following close when you aren’t sure where the guy is at. But I got the hole shots, and put in a couple of hard laps and got a good lead and the win. I would like to thank Brenny’s Cycle Clinic, One Industries, Weisco, MSR and DeCal Works.”

            “I’m not going to give it to him,” said second  +25A overall James Abbott of Hanna City, Illinois. “I was hammering on him pretty good in the first moto but he never made a mistake. That is good racing and I guess that is why I keep coming back. But I think I’ll have to get a four stroke and some luck. And starts, I have to get a good start. It is really hard to make up time on a 450 on this track. I haven’t had any luck beating Braet in my career other than just a few times. I’ve got a plan, I’ll just finish the year out and next season I’ll get a 450 and see if I can’t put a wheel in on him. I would like to thank Gary Borelli for doing my suspension, it’s working awesome, Pro Motor Sports in Iowa, Maxima, and White Bros they aren’t all working for me but they are definitely helping me out.”

            James Garrett from Spring Grove, Illinois and 14-24 class overall winner said, “I battled with Jason (Minnaert) the whole first moto and I won it. In this moto, just as things were heating up, Jason hit a hay bale and went down and that took the pressure off and I was able to take it easy and get the win. I would like to thank Scott, SoCal DeCal, M2R, Redi Filters and Renthal.”

            “We were battling the whole way,” said second overall Jason Minnaert from Geneseo, Illinois and after he (Garrett) won the first moto I went after him in moto two and we were running side by side when I clipped a hay bale and went down. Tough way to lose, but it happens. I would like to thank Moose, Fun Mart Cycle Center and Mom and Dad.”

            Eighteen-year-old Chris Brien liked the track and has a third place overall to take home. “It dried up and got a little choppy in the second moto. It’s a sand track but it wasn’t that bad at all. They did a good job maintaining the track. My plan today was just stay on the gas, keep back so you don’t go over the bar on the breaking bumps. I would like to thank my Mom and Dad.”

            Robert Kalina, after blowing up his bike took some time off from racing, but came back ready to win and overall in the Open class. “I had a spectacular crash in the 250A’s and tweaked my right thigh a little. It’s getting a little stiff like a big charley horse. I would like to thank RTR Cycles and Mom and Dad.”

            Adam Berg with a second and first moto place finishes in the schoolboy class picked up his overall trophy. “I got a second place start in the first moto and followed Adam Tarara and I made a couple of mistakes and he took the win. In the second moto I was again following Adam, but he crashed and I got the win. I would like to thank FHK, Thor, Alpine Star and Mom and Dad.”

            Kurtis Mandersheid from Maquoketa, Iowa second overall in the Schoolboy class said, “I got the hole shot in the first moto but then both Adams passed me and I finished third. Adam Tarara went down pretty hard in the second moto and I moved up a place to third. I would like to thank Extreme Sports, RTC, and Mom and Dad. I would also like to wish Jonas the best of luck.”

“I had a bad start in the first moto and really couldn’t make it up,” said Kyle Collati fourth place overall in the Schoolboy class. I would like to thank Pro Graphic, Carpenters Construction, FHK and Mom and Dad

            Whitney Miller from Mendota carded two aces in the women’s class with a 250F Yamaha for her overall in the Women’s class. April (Roper) and I were running real close until she went down in a corner and I took over from there… In the second moto we were battling pretty good but I was able to make an outside move and get around her and then keep her behind me. I would like to thank Borelli’s in Mendota, No Limit Racing, and Mom and Dad.”

             A wild and excited April Roper found out while she was racing the second moto of the women’s class, where she won second overall, that her name was drawn in the raffle for an 85cc Kawasaki. After calming down a bit April said, “The first moto track conditions were good, but it got choppy in the second moto. I’m so happy that I won the raffle. We’re going to Loretta’s next week and this will be a perfect pit bike. This is wonderful. I would like to thank Club 57 and Mom and Dad.”        

“I had a second place hole shot in the first moto but ended up third” said third overall Valere Baloun, “and I also had a third place finish in the second moto. I would like to thank SoCal DeCal, and Mom and Dad.”

Speaking for all those who know Jonas we wish you the best…

 

 

 

 

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