Southeast Region AMA qualifier for Loretta Lynn

Gravity Alley Motocross Park

Story by Stuart McAvoy & Roy Jenkins

for Photos go to Motoxstudios.com

Breaux Bridge, LA – March 8th & 9^th, 2008

Mike Shay once again hosted a great Loretta Lynn Qualifier at Gravity Alley, in Breaux Bridge, LA. Rain during the week had all nervous, but leveled the playing field for those who traveled from afar and could not make the Friday practice. The playing field was leveled because the Friday practice was cancelled due to mud.

The track shaped up nice for Saturday and Sunday’s motos, with deep ruts and massive braking bumps. Gravity Alley can be one of the rougher tracks in the south, and the conditions were right for just that. The loam is unbelievable, like snow skiing on fresh powder snow.

Riders from as far away as New Jersey, Montana, and even Venezuela filled the lineup. All the local top riders were trying to solidify their qualifying slots for the Regional Championship at either Wortham, TX for the Youth classes, or Lakewood, CO for the Amateur classes. A top eight position was needed here, with the Regional Championships only taking the top six to the National Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN.

Schoolboy 1 (12-16) B/C had a nice gate, with 21 riders on the roster. The smell of premix filled the air with the majority 125cc machine field. John Moeller of Monroe, LA got out to an early lead once the smoke settled. He started to work out to a nice lead until a mistake caused him several positions on lap two, where he dropped out of the top five. For several laps after Moeller’s mistake, it was Cody Gitzen of Lakeland, FL in the lead, followed by Brett Bourg of Houma, LA, Joey Peters of Asbury, NJ, and Jude Patterson of Denham Springs, LA. The action got heated with plenty of positions being traded. At the end, it was Bourg working his way to the front, followed by Peters, a very hard charging Josh Mackenney of Sugar Land, TX, Gitzen, and Patterson rounding out the top five.

Moto two saw Jett Johnson of Tallahassee, FL with a clean holeshot. Patterson made the quick pass to get out in front with Moeller charging through traffic to second place. By lap two when riders started to settle, Patterson still was your leader, followed by Moeller, Mackenney, Johnson, and Bourg rounding out the top five. On the last couple of laps, Moeller took the lead away from Patterson, Johnson crashed, and Bourg disappeared with an apparent mistake or crash. At the checkered flag it was Moeller, Patterson, Mackenney, Peters, and Gitzen.

Motocross A Pro Sport had some hot action. Tyler Begue of Baton Rouge was your early leader until a fall in turn five slowed him a bit, and taught Coy Hobgood of Slaughter, LA to always pick a different line. Your new leader was Jared Hicks of Irvington, AL, followed closely by Michael Royal of League City, TX and Broc André of Port Allen, LA. André fell on lap three with Begue steadily moving through the pack. In the end, it was all Royal, followed by Hicks, a consistent Dillon Van Way of Carencro, LA, Begue, and Hobgood rounding out the top five. As a side note, the 16 year old Van Way is anticipating AMA approval for his AMA Pro License for his true passion, Super Motard.

Moto two saw another Begue holeshot, followed by André, Hicks, Brock Halverson of Bixby, OK, and Hobgood. Royal crossed lap one in sixth, and eventually proved his dominance by picking off riders one by one and coming out on top with a nice margin. Following Royal, the top five were rounded out by Hicks, Begue, Van Way, and Halverson.

The 85cc (9-11) Modified class proved to be one of excitement, and dominance. Moto one holeshot went to Chase Bell of Cairo, GA; younger brother of six moto winner Zachary Bell of the 85cc (12-13) Stock and Modified class and Super Mini. Chase Bell and Hunter Hilton of Youngsville, LA battled for the first part of the race. Hilton proved his dominance as your lap two leader and eventual winner, followed by Bell, Cody Barnhill of Baker, FL, Ashton Knight of Cleveland, MS, and Austin Mire of Prairieville, LA. Mire took over fifth on the last lap from Blake Rothenstine of Alabaster, AL.

Moto two was all Hilton from start to finish, followed by Bell, Barnhill, Knight, and Rothenstine. For more Central Gulf Coast race action go to www.2wheelcommunications.com.

MX LITES A: 1. Michael Royal (Hon); 2. Jared Hicks (Kaw); 3. Billy Wichers (Kaw); 4. Clay Drew (Hon).

MX LITES PROSPORT: 1. Michael Royal (Hon); 2. Clay Drew (Hon); 3. Jared Hicks (Kaw).

MX LITES B STK: 1. Jeremy Domingue (Hon); 2. Caleb Bertrand (Hon); 3. Raimundo Trasolini (Yam); 4. Gerrit Moeller (Yam); 5. Brett Bourg (Suz).

MX LITES B MOD: 1. Jeremy Domingue (Hon); 2. Raimundo Trasolini (Yam); 3. Caleb Bertrand (Hon); 4. Gerrit Moeller (Yam); 5. Harrison Wright (Suz).

MX LITES C STK: 1. Dalton Horton (Suz); 2. Jonathan Steele (Hon); 3. Clay Jackson (KTM); 4. Justin Pittman (Yam); 5. Ty Jones (Hon).

MX LITES C MOD: 1. Clay Jackson (KTM); 2. Jonathan Steele (Hon); 3. Justin Pittman (Yam); 4. Bender Smith (Hon); 5. Willie Hobbs (Hon).

MOTOCROSS A: 1. Michael Royal (Hon); 2. Jared Hicks (Kaw); 3. Billy Wichers (Kaw); 4. Brandon Fahey (Kaw).

MOTOCROSS A PROSPORT: 1. Michael Royal (Hon); 2. Jared Hicks (Kaw); 3. Coy Hobgood (Suz); 4. Steven Cummings (Kaw); 5. Brandon Fahey (Kaw).

MOTOCROSS B STK: 1. Jeremy Domingue (Hon); 2. Caleb Bertrand (Hon); 3. Harrison Wright (Suz); 4. Wyatt Junot (Kaw); 5. Cameron Lafleur (Yam).

MOTOCROSS B MOD: 1. Jeremy Domingue (Hon); 2. Caleb Bertrand (Hon); 3. Gerrit Moeller (Yam); 4. Tyler Schorajsa (Yam); 5. Kamin Zerangue (Hon).

MOTOCROSS C: 1. Justin Pittman (Yam); 2. Travis Jerrigan (Kaw); 3. Willie Hobbs (Hon); 4. Chris Pursell (Hon); 5. Dalton Horton (Suz).

4 SRTK: 1. Jeremy Domingue (Hon); 2. Harrison Wright (Suz); 3. Cameron Lafleur (Yam); 4. Grant Bourgeois (KTM); 5. Justin Pittman (Yam).

JUN 25+: 1. Coy Hobgood (Suz); 2. Steven Cummings (Kaw); 3. Duel Judice (Hon); 4. Eric Dupree (Suz); 5. James Chism (Hon).

VET B/C 30+: 1. Patrick Meche (KTM); 2. Duel Judice (Hon); 3 Eric Dupree (Suz); 4. Ryan Gonzales (Yam); 5. David Sanchez (Hon).

VET 35+: Patrick Meche (KTM).

SEN 40+: 1. Stuart McAvoy (Hon); 2. John Gomila (Yam).

SEN 45+: 1. Stuart McAvoy (Hon); 2. John Gomila (Yam).

51 (4-6) STK SHAFT: 1. Cullin Park (Yam); 2. Hunter Smith (Yam); 3. Brice Quick (Yam); 4. Palmer Neely (Yam); 5. Jacob Freeman (Yam).

51 (4-6) AMA 1 STK: 1. Cullin Park (Cob); 2. Blayze Berry (Cob); 3. Palmer Neely (Cob); 4. Hunter Smith (Cob); 5. Brice Quick (Yam).

51 (7-8) AMA 2 STK: 1. Jordan Bailey (Cob); 2. Kyler Godwin (Cob); 3. Dave Myatt (Cob); 4. Conner Morris (Cob); 5. Zachary Gieger (KTM).

65 (7-9) STK: 1. Tyler Pantley (KTM); 2. Jason Kepley (KTM); 3. Josiah Natzke (KTM); 4. Jordan Bailey (Cob); 5. Hank Van (KTM).

65 (10-11) STK: 1. Hunter Hilton (KTM); 2. Blake Rothenstine (KTM); 3. Chase Bell (Kaw); 4. Cody Barnhill (KTM); 5. Ashton Knight (KTM).

65 (7-11) MOD: 1. Chase Bell (Kaw); 2. Tyler Pantley (KTM); 3. Ashton Knight (Suz); 4. Hunter Hilton (KTM); 5. Blake Rothenstine (KTM).

85 (9-11) STK: 1. Chase Bell (Kaw); 2. Cody Barnhill (Suz); 3. Hunter Hilton (KTM); 4. Ashton Knight (Suz); 5. Austin Mire (Suz).

85 (9-11) MOD: 1. Hunter Hilton (KTM); 2. Chase Bell (Kaw); 3. Cody Barnhill (Suz); 4. Ashton Knight (Suz); 5. Blake Rothenstine (Suz).

85 (12-13) STK: 1. Zachary Bell (Kaw); 2. Adam Cedillo (KTM); 3. Jett Johnson (Yam); 4. Jordan Giambelluca (Suz); 5. Mitchell Suire (Suz).

85 (12-13) MOD: 1. Zachary Bell (Kaw); 2. Colton Ford (Hon); 3. Dillon Dufrene (KTM); 4. Adam Cedillo (KTM); 5. Jett Johnson (Yam).

SUPER MINI 1 (12-15): 1. Zachary Bell (Kaw); 2. Aaron Sanches (Suz); 3. Brandon Champagne (Hon); 4. Jett Johnson (Yam); 5. Colton Ford (Hon).

SUPER MINI 2 (14-15); 1. Brandon Champagne (Hon); 2. Aaron Sanches (Suz); 3. Kasey Jones (KTM); 4. Beaux Martin (Kaw); 5. Ty Jones (Hon).

SCHLBOY 1 (12-16) B/C: 1. Josh Mackenney (Yam); 2. Jude Patterson (Hon); 3. John Moeller (Yam); 4. Cody Gitzen (Hon); 5. Brett Bourg (Suz).

SCHLBOY: 2 (14-16) B/C: 1. Raimundo Trasolini (Yam); 2. John Moeller (Yam); 3. Grant Bourgeois (KTM); 4. Josh Mackenney (Yam); 5. Blake Hamilton (Hon).

GIRLS (9-13): 1. Kelsey Morris (Hon); 2. Hanna Escoyne (Yam); 3. Jordan Stewart (Suz); 4. Karlee Huff (Suz); 5. Jessica Hanford (Hon).

WOMEN 12+: 1. Kelsey Morris (Hon); 2. Kaitlyn Dalecky (Yam); 3. Taylor Watts (Suz); 4. Megan Serpas (Kaw); 5. Tiffany Ellis (Kaw).