1st Annual Mississippi State Championship

Golden Pine Raceway

Prentiss, MS

September 29-30, 2007

It’s been years since the Magnolia state has held a state championship, but the drought ended in south Mississippi on the day before fall officially began. Track owner Randy Rector dangled the number one plates and the state’s finest track and hooked over 300 entries from as far away as Oregon. National AMA champ, sixteen year old P.J. Larsen wasted little time getting his Extreme Team Kawasaki out in front of the 450 A class, with MS stars Kyle Gills and Nathan Davenport in tow. Former International racer Trampas Parker slammed into a stump, knocking him off his pace and to the back of the pack injuring his hip. But the legendary LA rider reached down deep to stay in the race setting a good example for his student, Nathan Whitlow who was working his Hattiesburg Cycle Honda to the front of the pack. By the fourth lap Larsen had opened a twelve second lead with Whitlow second, Davenport third, Jake Lowry fourth and Gills fifth. Whitlow had cut Larsen’s lead to six seconds late in the race with Gills and Davenport fighting over third eight seconds back.

North Carolina’s P.J. Larsen was the first to the finish line and had this to say, "I feel pretty good, I had a couple mistakes, fell down one time, just got up, regrouped and kept everything together." When asked how he liked the track he said, "It’s really good. It flows really nice, really fast track and… it seems like it’s gonna be pretty rough later in the day and I like it a lot." When asked about his bike he said, "My bikes workin’ awesome. Pro Circuit suspension, it never bounces around or anything, I couldn’t ask for anything any better. I’d like to thank Extreme Team Green, Bobby Hewitt, everybody over there at Kawasaki Extreme Team Green, Pro Circuit motor/suspension, Thor gear, Spy goggles, Dunlop tires and Cometic gaskets."

Oregon’s Nathan Whitlow finished a strong second, and when asked what he was doing so far from home answered, "I’m down here training with Trampas Parker, hanging out with the Hattiesburg Cycles’ team, meeting a lot of new people and having a lot of fun." When the 19 year old was asked what it’s like training with an old pro like Parker he smiled and said, "It’s interesting, you learn of lot of things, you just have to learn to take his advice because he’s been there, done it, made his mistakes, so I might as well learn from his mistakes." When asked about his bike he replied, "Motorsport’s got me goin’ good this year, helped me out a lot, couldn’t ask for anything more. I want to thank Trampas Parker, Hattiesburg Cycles, Motorsport Outlet, Pro Taper, Answer, Smith and everybody else I forgot." Nate now has a website you can check out at www.natewhitlow.com.

Third place finisher Kyle Gills was asked to describe his training regiment, "My brother and I [Dustin], without that guy I wouldn’t be able to do it. I’m the little bike guy and he rides big bikes, so I’ll get out there and we’ll just chase each other and push each other. We train together and we’re together every day and I couldn’t thank him enough. He’s here today, but he got hurt last week, so unfortunately he’s not ridin’." When asked about carrying the "Gills’ flag" while his brother is out, he responded, "It’s hard, with all these people out here, you got Larsen, you got Whitlow, you got Davenport and Lawler, these guys are on their game, so it’s really fun." When asked about his bike he explained, "It’s good, Hattiesburg Cycles has helped me out so much; I wouldn’t be able to do it without them… The bike’s doin’ really good, so we’ll get back in the motor home and get ready for the second moto." When asked how he likes riding pro he said, "It’s a lot different. They’re way more aggressive, it’s a lot more fun. You don’t have just a few fast guys, you’re lined up on the gate and all 40 of em’ are fast. It’s really fun. I’d like to thank all the guys at Hattiesburg Cycles and my Mom and Dad. My Dad stays working, my Mom travels with us. They’ve been a big help; Paul Bryant at Sun Coast Auto Sales, just all the friends and family that are out here today and Fly."

Kyle Gills went down in the second moto erasing his chance to keep the championship in his home state, while out front it was the dynamic duo of P. J. Larsen and Nathan Whitlow who checked out early on Parker, Davenport and the class. Larsen got a damaged radiator and had to pull out, leaving Whitlow all alone out front. Davenport got tired of Parker’s roost and tried to pass on the sweeper before the finish line tabletop and washed out, allowing Parker and Whitlow to enjoy the front together. Whitlow won by a straight and a half over Parker and a strong third for Davenport who remounted quickly after his slip.

I caught up with P. J. Larsen and asked him what happened in the second moto, "We had a radiator bust on us. Nothing major, I’m not really sure what happened, it just came apart. It was on the other side from the radiator cap, it looks like one of the forged weldings came apart, we’re not really sure yet." When asked about his future plans he said, "I’m going to be doing all the major amateur nationals next year and hopefully become pro in 2009."

Madison, MS rider Johnny Moore dominated the 450 B class on his Got Gear Kawasaki, with Jeremy Domingue a strong second on his Honda of Lafayette. Domingue did not start the second moto, leaving the pickings easy for Johnny Moore in the second moto. When Johnny came off he had this to say, "I’m feelin’ great out there. It’s really fun and the track is gettin’ pretty rough." When asked about his training he said, "I train three days a week, go to the gym and do some light reps with the weights and run two miles a day." When asked who he’d like to thank he began, "I can’t thank the Lord enough for keeping me safe, my Mom and Dad, Scott Hume at Got Gear Motorsports, Mason Hume for riding with me every day, True Blue Deodorizer, EVS, Fly Racing, Scott USA and Shay Racca at Raceworks."

One of the best races of the day was Glen Myatt, co-owner of Hattiesburg Cycles against Walter Bartram, owner of MS competitor Pro Flo on their Kawasaki’s. They went back and forth out in front of the Vet +30 class with Bartram narrowly winning both motos for the overall. LA rider Patrick Meche held a consistent third place in both motos in front of David Husband, Bret Beauchamp and Scott Brazzell.

Trampas Parker stood tall in his age group class, the Vet +40 class in front of Wendell Simmons - until he went down in the whoop section, ending his charge to the front to battle his old competitor. This allowed Scotty Hubbard to get by for good. Wendell managed to get back in the race before David Husband and his brother Wayne Simmons could slip by. Parker won the first moto, although Hubbard had slipped up to only a couple seconds behind him at the checkered flag. Parker went on to win the second moto easily and had this to say in his post-race interview. "I feel great, I can’t complain. I got lucky, because Wendell pulled the holeshot and slid out in the first corner, so that just made my job a lot easier." When asked if his career was in resurgence he explained, "O, let’s just say I’m officially retired just out here having fun with everybody else. I’d like to thank everybody over at Hattiesburg Cycles, Mr. Larry, Ms. Faye, Mike, Glen, Elizabeth, you know, the whole crew over there. I’d also like to thank another friend of mine who’s helped sponsor a lot of people and that’s Heavy D with True Blue [Deodorizer]. It’s great to be on a blue bike for Hattiesburg, but also a blue bike for True Blue. Anybody that helps our sport I’m happy for them and I’d like to thank all those people, everybody that’s out here helping the riders, the people who put up the contingencies, Randy and them for such a good job. It’s just great being out here watching the kids have fun." When asked about the kid behind him that he had been helping he smiled and responded, "He [Whitlow] is comin’ along too good, because I could beat him a few months ago and now I just enjoy watchin’ him. Today he did really, really well. He was up on his ball game, but we’re workin’ on it, and we know where we gotta go work some more. There were a few places where P. J. was just a little bit faster and we’ll keep workin’ on that this week and we’ll be ready for Branson. I think people will be seeing a lot more of Nathan Whitlow and hopefully he’ll be on the Hattiesburg team shortly."

Twenty two hungry young riders launched on an expedition to win the Youth (12-16) class, but one rider was just too quick to even be challenged. LA rider Jeremy Domingue took his 250f Honda of Lafayette to victory in front of LA riders Brett Bourg, Nate Martin, John Moeller and Jude Patterson; with MS riders Kuper McAlpin, Brandon Lightsey and Cody Cornell mixed in the pursuit. But Bourg went down hard at the end of the whoop section, breaking a collarbone, which just added to their misery since their race trailer had caught on fire on the way up and burned up including most of their gear. Walker Kelly also went down in the same spot as Bourg, ending his chances at a respectable finish. Not only did Domingue win both motos of the Youth class, but tripled up by winning both motos of the 250f Open and the 250f B classes.

Jon-murry Barr took his Hattiesburg Cycles KTM to two class championships as well in the 85 (12-15) and Supermini classes. Although LA rider Tyler Stewart won the first moto of the (12-15) class, he crashed out while chasing Barr in the second moto, allowing Barr a well-deserved victory. Aaron Sanchez took second overall with Alex Broadus third. Barr was asked about his work out strategies during his victory interview, "I try to run two to three miles a day at school for cross-country. That gets me in really good shape." When asked who he’d like to thank for helping him secure the state championship he answered this way, "Jesus Christ just for everything, keepin’ me safe, and when I crashed earlier for keepin’ me safe there, my Mom and Dad and Hattiesburg Cycles, Stealthworks for the greatest suspension ever, TAG, EVS and everybody else I forgot, thank you."

Nathan Whitlow and P. J. Larsen came out playing chicken in almost every turn in the first lap of the 250f A class. Eventually Larsen began to earn a little breathing room from Whitlow, while Kyle Gills stayed well out of the way of the Trampas Parker/Nathan Davenport duel for fourth which lasted the full eight laps. Larsen punctuated his victory with a nac-nac at the finish line, with Whitlow scoring second, followed by Gills, Parker and Davenport. Whitlow went down in the second moto, allowing Larsen to get away virtually unchallenged. Davenport pulled out with an unknown problem. Parker kept second from Jake Lowry and Billy Wichers. Whitlow would ride hard enough to go from last to third to gain second overall.

Congratulations are in order for all the new state champions, especially to multiple class champs Stone Edler and Jeremy Domingue, for winning a championships in three classes; JJ Kepley, Jon-murry Barr and Johnny Moore for winning in two. Thanks to sponsors Got Gear in Jackson, MS, North Jackson Honda, Hattiesburg Cycles, Fly Racing and the Country Fisherman. Thanks to Randy Rector, family and staff and also Bobby Weaver for helping me with the announcing. For more info on the track go to www.GoldenPineMX.com; and for pictures go to www.2wheelcommunications.com.

Results:

50 OIL: 1. Max Currie (Yam); 2. Isaac Dotson (KTM); 3. Ash Bozeman (Hon); 4. Brayden Brantley (KTM); 5. Hunter Smith (Yam).

50 (4-6): 1. Drew Drennan (Cob); 2. Blaze Berry (Cob); 3. Gabe Clark (Cob); 4. Max Currie (Cob); 5. Hunter Smith (Yam).

50 (7-8): 1. J.J. Kepley (Cob); 2. Scott Shaffer (KTM); 3. Hank Van (Cob); 4. Luke Brumfield (Cob); 5. Ridge Penn (Cob).

50 OPEN: 1. J.J. Kepley (Cob); 2. Luke Brumfield (Cob); 3. Trevor Atkins (Cob); 4. Dave Myatt (Cob); 5. Scott Shaffer (KTM).

65 BEG: 1. Aaron Bozeman (Kaw); 2. Jarrett Horton (Cob); 3. Jonathan Lynn (KTM); 4. Dave Myatt (KTM); 5. Cooper Currie (Kaw).

65 (6-9): 1. Landry Lyle (KTM); 2. Chandler Abney (KTM); 3. Colby Penn (KTM); 4. Hunter Sparnecht (Kaw); 5. Eric Woolard (KTM).

65 (10-11): 1. Stone Edler (Kaw); 2. Sagan Guillory (KTM); 3. Tyler Kirby (KTM); 4. Devante Martin (KTM); 5. Joseph Satcher (Kaw).

65 OPEN: 1. Stone Edler (Kaw); 2. Landry Lyle (KTM); 3. J.J. Kepley (Cob); 4. Devante Martin (KTM); 5. Eric Woolard (KTM).

85 BEG: 1. Jared Lee (Suz); 2. Dalton Strawn (Kaw); 3. Jacob Hamilton (Yam); 4. Peyton Little (Kaw); 5. Aubrey Bozeman (Yam).

85 (7-11): 1. Stone Edler (Kaw); 2. James Waldrop (Kaw); 3. Dylan Propst (Kaw); 4. Tyler Holifield (Kaw); 5. Eric Woolard (Hon).

85 (12-15): 1. Jon-murry Barr (KTM); 2. Aaron Sanchez (Suz); 3. Alex Broadus (Suz); 4. Gatlin Hubbard (Kaw); 5. Adam Lynch (Kaw).

85 SUPRMINI: 1. Jon-murry Barr (KTM); 2. Jude Patterson (Hon); 3. Tyler Stewart (Yam); 4. Aaron Sanchez (Suz); 5. Dylan Probst (Kaw).

WOM 85+: 1. Cheyenne Atkins (Hon); 2. Shelby Wood (Hon); 3. Jordan Stewart (Kaw); 4. Meghan Resinger (Suz); 5. Kerri Palmer (Hon).

Youth (12-16): 1. Jeremy Domingue (Hon); 2. John Moeller (Yam); 3. Jude Patterson (Hon); 4. Kuper Mcalpin (Yam); 5. Hunter Stewart (Kaw).

125 D: 1. Duff Ray (Kaw); 2. Brandon Crawford (Yam); 3. Ryan Gonzalez (Yam); 4. Martin Kelly (Yam); 5. Clint Lamb (Kaw).

125 C: 1. Kuper Mcalpin (Yam); 2. Mason Hume (Yam); 3. Grant Bourgeois (Hon); 4. Lane Putt (Yam); 5. Cody Cornell (Yam).

125 B: 1. Jeremy Domingue (Hon); 2. John Moeller (Yam); 3. Cameron Lafleur (Suz); 4. Glen Myatt (Kaw); 5. Jared Miller (Hon).

125 OPEN: 1. Jeremy Domingue (Hon); 2. John Moeller (Yam); 3. Cameron Lafleur (Suz); 4. Nate Martin (Hon); 5. J.C. Weaver (Kaw).

125 A: 1. P.J. Larsen (Kaw); 2. Nathan Whitlow (Hon); 3. Trampas Parker (Yam); 4. Billy Wichers (Kaw); 5. Jake Lowry (Hon).

250 D: 1. Eric Dupree (Suz); 2. Warren Terrell (Kaw); 3. Zac Schlutter (Kaw); 4. Kevin Palmer (Hon); 5. Jeremy Shaw (Yam).

250 C: 1. Mason Hume (Yam); 2. Justin Robinson (Yam); 3. Vance Accardo (Hon); 4. Michael Canjemi (Hon); 5. Grant Bourgeois (Hon).

250 B: 1. Johnny Moore (Kaw); 2. Jared Miller (Hon); 3. Josh Eure (Yam); 4. Zack Lott (Yam); 5. Sean Thomas (Kaw).

250 OPEN: 1. Johnny Moore (Kaw); 2. Josh Eure (Yam); 3. Justin Robinson (Yam); 4. Zack Lott (Yam); 5. Sean Thomas (Kaw).

250 A: 1. Nathan Whitlow (Hon); 2. Nathan Davenport (Suz); 3. Zach Lawler (Suz); 4. Jake Lowry (Hon); 5. Justin Kopcak (Kaw).

VET +30: 1. Walter Bartram (Kaw); 2. Glen Myatt (Kaw); 3. Patrick Meche (KTM); 4. David Husband (Yam); 5. Bret Beauchamp (Hon).

VET +40: 1. Trampas Parker (Yam); 2. James Buffington (Yam); 3. David Husband (Yam); 4. Wayne Simmons (Suz); 5. Randy Fairburn (KTM).

VET +50: 1. Potts Thomas (Yam); 2. William Childs (Yam).