Grand Opening Race

Dairyland MX Park

Story by Roy Jenkins

Pictures by Roy Jenkins

Amite, LA – August 12, 2007

The rumors were swirling in 2005 that a pro-style track was coming to south Louisiana. Then work began, in secret in late 2006. The rumor mill heated up that former National Champ Mark Barnett was associated with the project. Then there were sightings, then peeps confirmed the news that it was under construction. Soon groups of riders reported having ridden the track themselves. An article in Holeshot magazine gave even more credibility to the story. Soon scores of riders were practicing in the summer of 2007. Then on August 12, Louisiana MX history was made when Dairyland had their Grand Opening race and a new track was born. Bill, Jan, Mark and Josh Lidikay’s dream finally became reality.   

This 1.3 mile track has everything: tabletops, multi-level step-ups, doubles, triples, whoops of different sizes, off-cambers, high-banked berms, flat turns, sand, dirt, mud, hard-pack, switch-backs and multi-level straights. There is a series of small jumps called the "10 Commandments," angled switchbacks with high berms that Mark Barnett used to clear the following jump, called "Bomber’s Berms." Then the most exciting section is a series of large tabletops, step-ups, dragon-backs and doubles with turns mixed in called the "Valley of the Kings," because they cast such large shadows in the evenings. 

Racers of all skill levels braved the record-breaking triple-digit heat to christen this new track. Zack Gieger held off the challenges of Taylor Lee, Grant Broussard and Ashton Castjohn as he won the 50 Open and 50 (7-8) classes on his KTM. Scott McElroy bested Blake Lagarde, Barron Bellard and Trey Lawrence in the 65 (6-9) class. Unfortunately he had to combine with the 65 (10-11) class where Stone "Zone" Edler ran roughshod over the track obstacles and competition. McElroy ran a flawless race on his KTM and even held the lead when Edler crashed, but three times Edler got up to work his way back to the front. Once Edler learned the track he was clearing everything, even if it meant bouncing the landings on his Team Green Kawasaki.

Kaci Simon showed she is an emerging star on her D&G Yamaha by easily outpacing the Women in her class. Nate Martin raced his Suzuki 80 for the last time having some unforgettable battles with Stone Edler in the combined 85 classes. He won the 250 Novice in his first race on a big bike, and then was able to defeat homeboy Josh Lidikay in the Schoolboy class.

Blake Kennedy came out of a two-year hiatus to win the Open Money class. Getting married, having a baby and graduating from college seem to have agreed with him. He used his "no-frills, all-business, no wasted motion" smooth style to capture the cash and defeat Champion Cycle Center team mates Shawn Gunderson and Jason Manuel, along with a former track-owner’s son Broc Andre.

All-in-all it was a very good day of racing with speedsters showcasing their skill in all types of challenges. But the real star of the event was – and will be into the future – the track.

For pictures log on to www.2wheelcommunications.com. For more info on the track go to Dairylandmotox.com.

50 OIL: 1. Dayton Shirah (KTM); 2. Trey Lecompte (Cob).

50 OPEN: 1. Zack Gieger (KTM; 2. Taylor Lee (KTM); 3. Grant Broussard (KTM); 4. Ashton Castjohn (Cob).

50 (4-6): Dayton Shirah (KTM).

50 (7-8): 1. Zack Gieger (KTM); 2. Grant Broussard (KTM); 3. Ashton Castjohn (Cob); 4. Taylor Lee (KTM).

65 BEG: 1. Colby Blake (Kaw); 2. Taylor Lee (KTM).

65 (6-9): 1. Scott McElroy (KTM); 2. Blake Lagarde (KTM); 3. Barron Bellard (KTM); 4. Trey Lawrence (KTM).

65 (10-11): 1. Stone Edler (Kaw); 2. Trey Frandria (Kaw).

65 OPEN: 1. Stone Edler (Kaw); 2. Scott McElroy (KTM); 3. Trey Frandria (Kaw); 4. Trey Lawrence (KTM).

85 BEG: 1. Caz Bernhard (Kaw); 2. Brayton Broussard (Hon); 3. Euclid Michael (Kaw); 4. Nicholas Whalen (Suz).

85 (7-11): 1. Stone Edler (Kaw); 2. Forrest Town (Yam); 3. Landon Robinson (Suz).

85 (12-15): 1. Nate Martin (Suz); 2. Hayden Bordelon (KTM); 3. Justin Ridgel (Yam); 4. Jordan Bourg (Suz); 5. DJ Murden (Yam).

85 OPEN: 1. Stone Edler (Kaw); 2. Chad Goutierez (KTM); 3. Justin Ridgel (Yam); 4. Hayden Bordelon (KTM); 5. Brayton Broussard (Hon).

250 D: 1. Dylan Gaspard (Kaw); 2. Drew Blake (Suz); 3. Michael Floyd (Yam); 4. Chase Charrier (Kaw); 5. Megan Serpas (Suz).

250 C: 1. Nate Martin (Hon); 2. Scott Sardella (Hon); 3. Chase Stanford (Hon); 4. Juan Cabrera (Hon); 5. Patrick Fritscher (KTM).

250 B: 1. Brett Bourg (Suz); 2. Ross Dimm (Kaw); 3. Jay Cox (KTM); 4. Jeffrey Harper (Yam); 5. Blake Thompson (Yam).

450 D: 1. Michael Floyd (Yam); 2. Jeremy Shaw (Yam).

450 C: Jeff Montalbano (Yam).

450 B: Michael Haffner (Hon).

WOM OPEN: 1. Kaci Simon (Yam); 2. Megan Serpas (Suz).

SEN +30: Tracy Lecompte (Hon).

SEN +40: Ronnie Coste (Hon); 2. Tim Whalen (Suz); 3. Joe Frandria (Hon).

SCHLBY: 1. Nate Martin (Hon); 2. Josh Lidikay (Hon); 3. Scott Sardella (Hon); 4. D.J. Murden (Yam); 5. Dustin Fooshee (Hon).

OPEN AM: 1. Ross Dimm (Kaw); 2. Blake Thompson (Yam); 3. Jeffrey Harper (Yam); 4. Kevin Schwartzmeyer (KTM); 5. Josh Lidikay (Hon).

OPEN EXP: 1. Blake Kennedy (Suz); 2. Shawn Gunderson (Suz); 3. Broc Andre (Hon); 4. Jason Manuel (Suz).

"Ya'll come back now, hear?" (Mark Lidikay)