2007 Honda of Lafayette Winter Series

Round 3 at Gravity Alley Motocross Park

Story by: Roy Jenkins

Breaux Bridge, LA – February 4, 2007

Cool temperatures, a bright sky, a well-prepped, damp track, lots of riders from out of town and a meaningful race for points. No, it isn’t a Honda commercial, but it could be, with the Honda of Lafayette trailer open and lots of fast bikes under the tent for passerby’s to view. Jeremy Domingue, Caleb Bertrand, Mike Hebert, Lance Vincent, Shane Yongue, Josh Mouton were all nearby. Cajun riders who grew up practicing in the cane and rice fields of southwestern Louisiana and tempered their steel against each other at Down South and Gravity Alley Motocross tracks were emerging as legitimate contenders for championships and maybe, if they play their cards right, a pro license. These riders had won valuable points on the away tracks and now sit comfortably atop the leader board as the series comes to their home tracks; and it showed. Just wait until the Loretta qualifier next month. These Honda home boys will give visiting hot shoes fits.

The first race up was a case in point. The 125 Expert class was double-gated with the 125 Intermediate class, scored separately, but both ran the entire eight lap race. Even though the experts got a three straight head start, Caleb Bertrand and Jeremy Domingue eventually caught and passed half the money class. Granted, the LA money class is weak right now, but the Red Riders made their points. Brett Bourg has been on fire the last few weeks and quickly took his Performance Suzuki behind Bertrand’s Honda of Lafayette after the money boys. Out front, Dustin Manuel took a lap to pass Bryce Landry’s Off-road Toyz/Honda of Lafayette, and then tried to sail away. Domingue got untangled from the Intermediate crowd and joined Bertrand and Bourg for a three man breakaway. Soon Domingue had his Honda of Lafayette in the front as they all went looking for stragglers from the money class ahead of them. Domingue began to gap the other two, while John Moeller began to pick up his pace in fourth. Meanwhile, out in front of the money class there was a tussle for the lead as Landry was fending off the Champion Cycle Suzuki’s of Manuel and Shawn Gunderson. After a couple laps Manuel was able to pass Landry for the money class lead, while Kyle Forrester and Corey Romero were the first to fall to the Intermediate Hondas of Domingue and Bertrand. At this point the occasional racers began to tire and lose time to the more committed warriors. Breaking bumps were growing already as the track was to become very rough for later riders. Moeller began to pressure Bourg for the third spot of the Intermediate class. Manuel and Landry picked up their battle at the white flag, but Landry lost traction and time in a couple turns. Seconds later Domingue and Bertrand took the white flag engulfed in a fight for the Intermediate lead. Manuel took his Champion Cycle Suzuki to victory by three seconds over Bryce Landry who suffered from a series of minor mistakes on the last lap. Next came Jeremy Domingue over the finish line jump with a four second win over teammate Caleb Bertrand. Suddenly a yellow bike went flipping down the back straight as Brett Bourg crashed, then sat up to watch helplessly as Monroe, LA’s John Moeller took third in the Intermediate class on his Moeller Yamaha.

Dustin Manuel jumped on top of the class early in the second moto, with Bryce Landry second and Kyle Forrester third. Caleb Bertrand got a fast start on the double-gated Intermediate class with John Moeller, Cameron Lafleur and Jeremy Domingue in tow. It didn’t take long for Bertrand and Domingue to pick off money stragglers starting with Landry, who suffered an unknown mishap early in the race. Soon Domingue and Bertrand were in a heated battle with Domingue making the pass, but Bertrand used the 4 stroke torque advantage to re-pass. At the white flag it was Manuel, Bertrand and Domingue. Manuel was able to hold off the Intermediate riders by two bike lengths at the finish line.

Blayze Berry, from Brandon, MS looked like a miniature Ricky Carmichael on his little #4 Cobra, jumping into the lead and never looking back. He went on to defeat series points leader Ray Mitchell, Jr. in the 50 (4-6) class.

Blazye went down in the second moto, but was able to get back up and re-pass Ray Mitchell in his game of "moto-chase."

The Senior +40 class continues to belong to Hoot Parker, although Stuart McAvoy gave him a little heat early in moto one. Parker took his True Blue Deodorizer/Friendly Honda to victory in both motos, hoarding all the series points for the class. McAvoy went 2/2 on his GN Honda of Hammond, with Lipps 3/3 on his Honda of Lafayette.

T-Don Lerille continued his domination of the 65 Open class on his Polini. Scott McElroy quickly took the second spot on his KTM, with two more MS KTM riders Tyler Kirby and Landry Lyle close behind. The three MS riders continued to hunt the South LA rider all through the moto with another MS rider, Eston Duhe’ moving into the top three. Soon two LA riders came to Lerille’s aid: Sagan Guillory, Cannon Shirah and Jay Michon, but they only got as high as fourth, fifth and sixth by the checkered flag, while Lerille beat McElroy and Lyle to the finish.

In the 65 (7-9) it was Lerille again, followed by Alabama rider Patrick Lods, McElroy, Jordan Mixon and JJ Kepley.

Cable Bertrand and Patrick Owen led a small, but fast 250 Open contingent around the track. They were going so fast they didn’t even need their hands to take tear-off’s, they just turned their heads a little. By the end of the race TX rider Owen, and MS rider Glen Myatt found themselves between three Honda of Lafayette teammates, Bertrand first, Mike Hebert third and Josh Mouton fifth.

In the second moto, Bertrand led early off the gate with Patrick Owen, Josh Mouton, Mike Hebert and Glen Myatt. Bertrand went on to sweep the class, followed by Owen, Hebert and Mouton.

The Supermini class, like the Novice class had to be broken into two divisions to accommodate all the riders. In the first division, Brandon Champagne held off Shane Yongue for most of the first moto on his D&G Kawasaki. The two riders raced inches apart, engaging the fans and spectators attention all the way to the finish. By the last lap Yongue had the lead and looked over his shoulder for Champagne on the tabletop. Yongue took his Honda of Lafayette to victory, followed by Champagne, Aaron Sanchez and Adam Cedillo.

The second division of the Supermini first moto had the fastest riders including series points leader Lance Vincent. Skylar Phillips vaulted into the lead on his Bardwell Yamaha with Brett Bourg, Sam Landry and Damon Arceneaux coming hard. Soon Bourg pushed his Performance Suzuki into the lead, while behind him Landry and Arceneaux were inches apart way up high over a table-top jump. Phillips made a mistake back by the highway straight-a-way and three riders slipped by in the blink of an eye. Before you could blink your other eye, Vincent whipped his Honda of Lafayette into the lead. The next lap Landry passed two riders at once, but Bourg quickly snatched his spot back. Finally Vincent began to pull away with some smoother line choices while Bourg, Phillips, Landry and Arceneaux were busy with each other. Late in the race Phillips began to tire and lose positions, while Vincent iced the victory. Bourg finished next six seconds back, with Arceneaux edging out Phillips for third, followed by Landry and Kirby Dodd. Read the interview with Lance Vincent.

The top 15 from both divisions were on the gate for the all important second moto of the Supermini class. Vincent bolted to the turn first with Landry and Champagne leading the pack of wild, noisy, hungry young dogs. Shane Yongue moved up into the top three on the second lap, with Phillips and Dodd moving into the spotlight. "Superfly" Skylar Phillips moved in behind "Sir Lancelot" as Landry, Yongue and Champagne and Dodd converged around the third spot. By the last lap "Sir Lancelot" had two straight-a-ways on second place Phillips, who led by a straight to Landry, Champagne and Yongue. Phillips and Yongue both went down on the last lap making the final order: Vincent, Champagne, Landry and Dodd.

JJ Kepley put on a show of speed in the 50 Open class to win over Jordan Mixon, Wesley Banks and Christon Nelson.

Randy Wales continues to display the most speed in the Senior +30 class over the older Hoot Parker who had to work up from last to second in the first moto.

Caleb Bertrand got the holeshot in the first moto of the 125 Open class, with John Moeller, Cameron Lafleur, Jeremy Hebert, Colby Airhart and Jared Broussard lining up behind him. By the second lap Jeremy Domingue came roaring up from mid-pack to third, then the next lap he had second. Domingue had his CR125 right with Bertrand’s CRF250 down the straights as the Honda of Lafayette teammates lapped riders all the way to the white flag. But when the checkered flag appeared it was Bertrand first, with no Domingue, followed by Moeller, Lafleur, Airhart and finally a dejected Domingue who had suffered from an unknown problem.

In the second moto Bertrand and Domingue filed past the 125 Open class and proceeded to check out. John Moeller, Jared Broussard, Colby Airhart and Cameron Lafleur tried to catch them. Domingue took over the lead after a few turns and never looked back all the way to the checkers. Bertrand scored second, with Moeller a distant third.

Lumberton, MS ace Zach Lawler put his Pro-flo Kawasaki in front of the 250 Expert class which was double-gated in front of the 250 Intermediate class. Shawn Gunderson launched his Champion Cycle Suzuki into the second spot with teammate Dustin Manuel in third. By the next lap Manuel was in second, but no one had an answer for Lawler who went virtually unchallenged all the way to victory. Patrick Owen had his KTM in front of the Intermediate class, with Caleb Bertrand and Mike Hebert’s Honda of Lafayette’s giving chase. By the next lap Bertrand had passed Owen, but not Hebert. As the race wore on, Manuel tired yielding second place to Gunderson and at the finish it was Lawler, Gunderson and Manuel. Bertrand was the first Intermediate rider to the finish line ahead of Owen, Hebert and Mouton.

In the second moto it was Lawler, Landry and Manuel leading the Expert class. When the Intermediates left the gate it was Owen, Bertrand and Mouton in front. Bertrand tried everything to get around Owen, almost jumping on him out of turn two, but Owen held his KTM steady. This was Owen’s first time on this track and the Texas rider was learning it by now. Lawler kept the lead in the Expert class, while Gunderson snuck up on Manuel to challenge for the second spot, with Landry in fourth. By mid-race Bertrand passed Owen and the two found themselves in the middle of the Expert riders. Late in the race Gunderson passed a tiring Manuel over a table-top looking at his prey as if to say: "Get in shape, then you can do this, too." When Dustin landed he looked over his shoulder at the quickly closing Intermediate duo of Bertrand and Owen. This is what Zach Lawler had to say after the race. Read the interview with Shawn Gunderson.

The Schoolboy class was laden with riders and talent. Jeremy Domingue went to the front first, followed by Derrick Ronsonet, Sam Landry (on a CR250f), Julian Broussard, Brett Bourg, Damon Arceneaux, Lee Slaughter and Kirby Dodd. Bourg split two riders, taking their spots on the next lap on his Performance/JM Racing Suzuki with Arceneaux shadowing on his D&G/Bardwell Yamaha; while the two Honda of Lafayette riders continued to lead. By the third lap Domingue began to gap the field, Landry moved into second and Bourg disappeared from the radar. Lafayette native Domingue won the race with room to spare; Landry scooted across in second, followed by Ronsonet, Arceneaux, Dodd, Broussard and Leslie Poche.

Jeremy Domingue got off early in the second moto of the Schoolboy class. Derrick Ronsonet, Sam Landry, Lee Slaughter, John Moeller and Kirby Dodd went with him. By the second lap Domingue was leading Ronsonet, Moeller, Dodd, Slaughter and Leslie Poche. Sam Landry had mysteriously dropped back to 10^th. On lap three Moeller was stalking Ronsonet and beat him to the throttle out of a turn to take over second. A turn later Ronsonet brought Moeller up to the top of the berm, throwing off his timing. But a critical mistake on the last lap gave Moeller back the second spot, while Domingue had already checked in to the "Goodbye Hotel" two laps earlier. At the finish it was Domingue by two straight-a-ways over Moeller, Ronsonet and Dodd, with Landry going down again and injuring his arm.

Special recognition to Trent Menard, the 12 year old Honda rider who won the 85 Beginner class on his very first attempt at racing, and he won the second moto on a flat tire! Trent is from Erath, LA.

Honda of Lafayette stepped up to the place in this series paying contingencies that can be redeemed in their store, and supported all Honda racers with parts and accessories. Cody Fruge’ and Mike Blanchard. Click here to read the interview with Honda of Lafayette owner Mike Roberts.

Final Results:

50 OIL: 1. Ray Mitchell, Jr. (Cob); 2. Steven Morales (Yam); 3. Dayton Shirah (KTM); 4. Gage Schexnider (Hon); 5. Trey Lecompte (Yam).

50 (4-6): 1. Blayze Berry (Cob); 2. Ray Mitchell, Jr. (Cob); 3. Jake Cooper (KTM); 4. Hunter Stutes (KTM); 5. Ashton Castjohn (KTM).

50 (7-8): 1. Jason Kepley, Jr. (Cob); 2. Trevor Dunn (KTM); 3. Jordan Mixon (KTM); 4. Wesley Banks (KTM); 5. Zachary Mixon (Cob).

50 OPEN: 1. Jason Kepley, Jr. (Cob); 2. Jordan Mixon (Cob); 3. Wesley Banks (KTM); 4. Christon Nelson (Cob); 5. Zachary Mixon (Cob).

65 BEG: 1. Tanner Kelly (Kaw); 2. Eston Duhe (Kaw); 3. Austin McCarty (Suz); 4. Chase Desselle (Kaw); 5. Cole Arceneaux (Suz).

65 (7-9): 1. T-don Lerille (Pol); 2. Jason Kepley, Jr. (KTM); 3. Jordan Mixon (Cob); 4. Landry Lyle (KTM); 5. Scott McElroy (KTM).

65 (10-11): 1. Branson Pansing (KTM); 2. Tyler Kirby (KTM); 3. Sagan Guillory (KTM); 4. Cooper Wilson (KTM); 5. Ryan Boudreaux (Kaw).

65 OPEN: 1. T-don Lerille (Pol); 2. Scott McElroy (KTM); 3. Landry Lyle (KTM); 4. Sagan Guillory (KTM); 5. Jay Michon (KTM).

85 BEG: 1. Trent Menard (Hon); 2. Austin Buxton (Suz); 3. Tanner Kelley (Yam); 4. Dylan McCarty (Kaw); 5. Koy Spiker (KTM).

85 (7-11): 1. T-don Lerille (Suz); 2. Stephen Bumpers (Suz); 3. James Waldrop (Yam); 4. Austin Doucet (Kaw); 5. Patrick Lods (KTM).

85 (12-15): 1. Lance Vincent (Hon); 2. Skylar Phillips (Yam); 3. Brandon Champagne (Kaw); 4. Aaron Sanches (Suz); 5. Josh Renfro (KTM).

85 OPEN: 1. Lance Vincent (Hon); 2. Brandon Champagne (Kaw); 3. Sam Landry (Suz); 4. Skylar Phillips (Yam); 5. Kirby Dodd (KTM).

125 SCHLBY: 1. Jeremy Domingue (Hon); 2. Derrick Ronsonet (Hon); 3. Kirby Dodd (KTM); 4. Grant Bourgeois (Hon); 5. Lee Slaughter (Hon).

125 BEG: 1. Quincy Schaubert (Hon); 2. Derek Lopez (Hon); 3. Travis Slaughter (Hon); 4. Michael Kelly (Yam); 5. Hunter Bertrand (Hon).

125 NOV: 1. Kamin Zerangue (Hon); 2. Shane Yongue (Hon); 3. Colby Airhart (Yam); 4. Jared Broussard (Hon); 5. Matt Bellon (Hon).

125 INT: 1. Caleb Bertrand (Hon); 2. Jeremy Domingue (Hon); 3. John Moeller (Yam); 4. Cameron Lafleur (Hon); 5. Roger Use’ (Suz).

125 OPEN: 1. Caleb Bertrand (Hon); 2. John Moeller (Yam); 3. Jeremy Domingue (Hon); 4. Cameron Lafleur (Hon); 5. Colby Airhart (Yam).

125 EX: 1. Dustin Manuel (Suz); 2. Bryce Landry (Hon); 3. Kyle Forrester (Kaw); 4. Corey Romero (Kaw); 5. Shawn Gunderson (Suz).

250 BEG: 1. Kenneth Miller (KTM); 2. Chase Pino (Hon); 3. Justin Dantin (Yam); 4. Richy Lowson (Hon); 5. Dean Gould (KTM).

250 NOV: 1. Jacob Steele (Hon); 2. Kamin Zerangue (Hon); 3. Terry Stutes (Hon); 4. Bruce Bender (Suz); 5. Garrett Airhart (Hon).

250 INT: 1. Caleb Bertrand (Hon); 2. Patrick Owen (KTM); 3. Josh Mouton (Hon); 4. Mike Hebert (Hon); 5. Bryan Hodnett (Kaw).

250 OPEN: 1. Caleb Bertrand (Hon); 2. Patrick Owen (KTM); 3. Mike Hebert (Hon); 4. Josh Mouton (Hon); 5. Glen Myatt (KTM).

250 EX: 1. Zack Lawler (Kaw); 2. Shawn Gunderson (Suz); 3. Dustin Manuel (Suz); 4. Kyle Forrester (Hon); 5. Bryce Landry (Hon).

WOM OPEN: 1. Leslie Poche (Hon); 2. Kaitlyn Hayes (Hon); 3. Lindsay Escoyne (Yam); 4. Taylor Watts (Suz); 5. Josie Brown (Kaw).

SEN+30: 1. Randy Wales (Hon); 2. Hoot Parker (Hon); 3. Glen Myatt (KTM); 4. Tracey Lecompte (Hon); 5. Dan Marino (Kaw).

SEN+40: 1. Hoot Parker (Hon); 2. Stuart McAvoy (Hon); 3. Gene Lipps (Hon); 4. Sam Hazlip (Hon); 5. Tim Alexander (Hon).

SSR: 1. Bobby Billiot (Kaw); 2. Troy Dupuy (Hon); 3. Michael Alf (Yam); 4. Joey Faulk (Hon); 5. Bobby Carter (KTM).