River's Edge Mudfest July 2, 2006

River’s Edge Motocross Track

July 1 race

By: Roy Jenkins

Giesmar, La. – July 1, 2006

South Louisiana has been in need of rain this year. It came – on race day. Trackmaster Ivan Mancuso, Dale Arceneaux and Jarron Tullier had just disked and watered the track several times in preparation for the July 1^st race. Then the rain caught everyone by surprise, soaking the track down to the bone. Saturday’s race was postponed until Sunday to give the crew time to bring in loads of sand and the sun a chance to dry things out. After several dozen loads were spread, the rain came again on Sunday’s practice adding insult to injury. Many riders packed up; but for the ones who stayed, the race conditions went from ugly to tolerable throughout the race day. Before the race was over almost every rider went down at least once!

Two of the fastest riders on the day matched up early in the 125 Open/Schoolboy class, Joseph Pizzuto and Jason Scanlan. Both local riders, both teenagers and both faced the sloppy conditions with careful aggression. Pizzuto took the lead off the gate with Scanlan leading the chase. Jacob Heintze held third in front of Schoolboy class leaders Carey Smith and Skylar Phillips. Pizzuto carved his own lines through the muck on his Ascension Ready Mix Kawasaki as Scanlon developed a strategy while following on his D&G/Racing Innovations/Alford’s Sports Kawasaki. Skylar Phillips, the only rider on a two-stroke began to get his speed on his mini-bike at the back of the pack. Pizzuto was the first of many riders to go down in the mud allowing Scanlan to take the lead. Pizzuto remounted and went after him, even jumping the big finish line tabletop. By this time Phillips lead the Schoolboy class as almost every other rider went down at one time during the moto. Pizzuto closed the gap on Scanlan and was within a few seconds at the white flag, but Scanlan defended Pizzuto’s charge at the checkered with only one bike length to spare. Skylar Phillips won the Schoolboy on his All Pro Cycle/Mike Gerald Trailer/Bardwell Yamaha.

The second moto of the 125 Open had more action as the track began to get faster. This time Scanlan and Heintze went off and hid from the rest of the class as Pizzuto crashed and was unable to re-start his bike. Phillips won the Schoolboy class. 

Damon Arceneaux, fresh off his Top Dog victory last month, carried his momentum into the 85 (12-15) class first moto. Nate Martin led Houston Gammons, Brandon Pickell and Andrew Rigby. Arceneaux opened a two straight-a-way lead on the first lap and went on to take a clear win on his D&G/JM/Bardwell Yamaha. Heavy D, the finish line flagger summed up the effort with this comment to the scorekeepers, "Damon almost lapped himself!" 

Scanlan and Pizzuto renewed their mud-rivalry in the 250 Intermediate class with Scanlan gating first. Both riders got away from the double-gated money riders who struggled in the mud, one being Zack Bennett from California. Scanlan earned the sweep for the overall when Pizzuto went down one too many times.

Forest Town won the 85 (7-11) class over Gordon Waguespack, Bronson Turner and Joseph Vanderpool. Bronson Turner won a hard-fought race with fellow Kawasaki riders James Waldrop and Nick Rideout in the 65 (10-11) class.

Skylar "Superfly" Phillips got in line in front of Damon Arceneaux early in the 85 Open first moto. The two Yamaha riders fish-tailed through the mud until Phillips went down, leaving Arceneaux a clear, but muddy track. All he had to do is stay up, which he did, and won another moto. Phillips remounted to keep second place, while Andrew Rigby and Nate Martin rode their KTMs into third and fourth.  

Moto Two of the 85 (12-15) class was a replay of the Arceneaux/Phillips show early, until Phillips went down. Then it became all Arceneaux, all the way to the end. Nate Martin kept second to himself in front of Brandon Pickell and Andrew Rigby.

The 125 Beginner class was closely contested. Only five riders stayed to compete in the second moto and they all stayed together around the track with no stragglers. Jake Roberts held the lead for a couple laps with the other four snapping at his heels. When Roberts went down, Jared Harvey took over, while Blake Burchfield, Wesley Qualls and Steven Day swapped positions. Day crashed out of third place, but recovered in time to avoid last place which was now covered by early leader Roberts. Harvey held his Kawasaki steady to win with a seven second gap over Qaull’s Honda, Burchfield’s Kawasaki, Day’s Yamaha and Roberts’ Kawasaki.

Results:

50 OIL: 1. Eston Duhe (Hon); 2. Justin Bolotte (Kaw); 3. Cade Lebeouf (Yam); 4. Steven Morales (Yam).

50 (7-8): 1. Jake Dunn (KTM).

50 OPEN: 1. Garrett Wells (KTM).

65 BEG: 1. Landon Robinson (Kaw); 2. Eston Duhe (Hon); 3. Stephen Gonzales (Kaw).

65 (10-11): 1. Bronson Turner (Kaw); 2. James Waldrop (Kaw); 3. Nick Rideout (Kaw).

65 OPEN: 1. Bronson Turner (Kaw); 2. Landon Robinson (Hon).

85 BEG: 1. Aaron Henry (Yam); 2. Jamey Rivet (Kaw); 3. Taylor Besson (Kaw); 4. Austin Buxton (Suz); 5. Justin Braud (Kaw).

85 (7-11): 1. Forest Town (KTM); 2. Gordon Waguespack (Kaw); 3. Bronson Turner (Kaw); 4. Joseph Vanderpool (Kaw).

85 (12-15): 1. Damon Arceneaux (Yam); 2. Nathaniel Martin (KTM); 3. Brandon Pickell (Yam); 4. Andrew Rigby (KTM); 5. Houston Gammons (Kaw).

85 OPEN: 1. Damon Arceneaux (Yam); 2. Nathaniel Martin (KTM); 3. Andrew Rigby (KTM); 4. Gordon Waguespack (Kaw); 5. Forrest Town (Suz).

SCLBY: 1. Skylar Phillips (Yam); 2. Andy Allen (Yam); 3. Carey Smith (Hon).

WOMEN: 1. Morgan Parker (Yam); 2. Haley Warm (Yam).

HOBBY: 1. Jimmy Dunn (KTM); 2. Lenny Johnson (Kaw); 3. Donnie Torres (Kaw).

PIT BK (-12): 1. James Waldrop (Kaw); 2. Austin Mire (Kaw).

PIT BK (+12): Houston Gammons (Kaw).

SEN+30: Zack Bennett (Yam).

SEN+40: Bob Duhe (Kaw).

125 BEG: 1. Jared Harvey (Kaw); 2. Wesley Qualls (Hon); 3. Steven Day (Yam); 4. Blake Burchfield (Kaw); 5. Jamie Bertrand (Hon).

125 NOV: 1. Jacob Heintze (Yam); 2. Kevin Mancuso (Kaw); 3. Zach Rideout (Yam).

125 INT: 1. Jason Scanlan (Kaw).

125 UP OPEN: 1. Jason Scanlan (Kaw); 2. Jacob Heintze (Yam); 3. Wesley Qualls (Hon); 4. Blake Burchfield (Kaw); 5. Jared Harvey (Kaw).

250 BEG: 1. Casey Weigand (Hon); 2. Derek Richard (Hon).

250 INT: 1. Jason Scanlon (Kaw); 2. Joseph Pizzuto (Kaw).

OPEN MONEY: 1. Nick Phillips (Yam); 2. Zack Bennett (Yam).