River's Edge Motocross Park
May 20, 2006
River’s Edge Motocross Track
Story by Roy Jenkins
Giesmar, La. – May 20, 2006
Louisiana’s second Ponca Qualifier was held just downriver from Baton Rouge under clear skies and warming temperatures that gave a foreshadowing of the hot summer to come. The Gulf coast racing is also heating up as racers try to peak in time for the grand finales in Ponca and Loretta’s.
Two hot riders are Champion Cycle KTM teammates John-murry Barr and Stone Edler in the younger mini classes. Barr snagged the first of several holeshots in the first moto of the 85 (7-11) class while Edler had to earn his way up through the pack to take second, edging out Blake Mclaurin and Forest Smith.
Barr and Edler were clearing the giant finish line table-top as they broke away from the 65 Open class. The two little guys with the big throttle hands were playing hide-and-seek while gapping the rest of the players. Barr used his experience to keep the lead from the repeated challenges of Edler.
Edler dove past Barr into a preferred rut early in the 85 (7-11) second moto, turning the table on Barr who now became the hunter as the duo fired away from the pack and a first turn pile-up. Blake Mclaurin, Jordan Giambelluca and Forest Smith led the rest of the field. Edler held on to beat Barr for the first time ever, sending a buzz through the crowd.
Four riders went down in turn one while Barr and Edler broke away in the second moto. The two started lapping riders before they finished lap one. Each time Edler got near, Barr pulled away. The two riders held the crowd spellbound to see if Edler could beat Barr again, but it didn’t happen, and the two high-flying KTM pilots sailed over the finish line jump at the checkered flag with Barr squeaking out the win. They eased off the track and exchanged handshakes, having this to say:
Roy: "Stone, how were you able to beat him the first moto?"
Edler: "I got a good start."
Roy: "What were you thinking when he was pulling away?"
Edler: "I don’t know."
Roy: "Who would you like to thank tonight?"
Edler: "Champion Cycles, JM racing… and my Mom and Dad."
Roy: "Congratulations."
Roy to Barr: "How did you get away from him this time?"
Barr: "I don’t know, I just saw him coming and tried getting’ on the gas."
Roy: "When he beat you the other moto, what were you thinkin’ then?"
Barr: "I was mad."
Roy: "Got any secrets that you used?"
Barr: "Not really… uhhh good starts."
Roy: "Are you trying to make a national championship this year?"
Barr: "yes sir, I hope to win Ponca AND Loretta."
Roy: "Good luck to you. Who’s helping you out?"
Barr: "Jesus Christ for keepin’ me safe. My Mom and Dad especially. Racing Innovations for awesome suspension; Troy Lee designs; Thor helmets and chest protectors, Alpinestar boots, Champion Cycle Center, Liquid Performance, and my other sponsors (VFM)."
Roy: "Congratulations, you’ll make a fine champion and we hope you do well at the national championships."
Barr: "Thank You."
The schoolboy, always an exciting class was combined with the Senior +40 rider Mac Edmonston. Mac, who heads up the High School MX program has dedicated his life to leading kids down the right path, led the schoolboy class around the track for a couple laps. Eventually Trenton Suire moved his D&G Yamaha past Mac’s G2G Honda in the whoops. Dane Dumesnil led Brandt Medlin, while Nicholas Fisher was recovering from a poor start. On the next lap Edmonston landed the giant finish line tabletop a little too far inside and clipped a hay bale, and had to step off the swapping 450f. He jumped back up and remounted only to find himself behind the whole schoolboy class. Suire used the open track to settle into a winning pace while Fisher caught up to the leaders on the last lap. Suire won the race for the second week in a row, with Dumesnil and Fisher closing out the top three.
The second moto was a repeat in many ways: Edmonston again led the youngsters around the track early with Suire leading the chase. Fisher again suffered from a poor start and had to work up from last to sixth on lap one. Edmonston crashed again handing the lead to Suire who was holding off Justin Pittman, Medlin, Dumesnil and Steven Wagley. Edmonston again popped back up, but Suire’s lead was sure and held on to win again. This time Pittman finished second, Wagley scored third and Fisher fourth.
Leslie Poche put her Cycle World of Houma Honda out quickly on the women’s open class, but could never shake Jenna Schillage’s H&H Honda. The two broke away from the class, jumping everything on the track, showing why they belong out front. Fierce competitors both, they rode smart races and kept the mistakes to a minimum during their close race. Poche got off first again in the second moto while Katy Jo Canon looped her bike at the gate. Katy got back into the race and Schillage got right on Poche’s tail, revving the throttle like an impatient driver in traffic. The two girls danced the moto away, but the lead never changed and Poche won again. Morgan Parker took third, this time unchallenged from Canon.
T-Don Lerille had his KLRZ/KLEB/KANE radio Suzuki before Cameron Breland and JJ Kepley the entire race of the 50 (7-8) class. He took a convincing win in the second moto as well with Breland and Kepley rounding out the top three.
The 85 (12-15) class was a green and blue show with local aces Brandon Champagne’s VFM Kawasaki and Damon Arceneneaux’s Bardwell/D&G Yamaha pulling a fast break on the pack. Behind them Tanner McDaniel, Aaron Sanchez, Shane Yongue wrestled over the leftovers. While Arceneaux pestered Champagne for first, Yongue leap-frogged into third, but went down in the first turn switch-backs allowing Brett Bourg to jump into third. But no one would approach the leaders as they played their high-speed version of chicken. Although Arceneaux showed Champagne a wheel a few times, Champagne responded with more speed and kept the lead all the way to the high-flying finish line tabletop. Bourg was the first rider to appear behind the duo almost ten seconds back to claim third.
There was a big first turn pile-up in moto two when a rider got cross-rutted near the front of the pack and started the domino effect. Champagne and Arceneaux were able to get out clean and started to check out. Bruce Bender led the pack in chase followed by Lee Slaughter and Jarron Plaisance. Champagne beat Arceneaux to the finish line again and left a 20 second wait for third place.
The "Ship" from Mississippi, Michael Shippey picked up where he left off last week in the Senior +30 class challenged all comers to follow. Bruce Bordelon led the chase with Mac Edmonston in tow. By lap two Edmonston was studying Shippey’s lines and Judice following Bordelon. Brennan Bourque went down in turn one and had to limp out of the ditch. Edmonston passed "Ship" on the back straight on the final lap to secure the first moto win.
Edmonston washed out in turn one while the "Ship" sailed away. Bordelon passed Judice for third while Edmonston was restarting his bike. Michael Shippey was first to arrive at the checkered while Edmonston recovered to take third, followed by Bordelon and Judice.
Bryce Landry slipped away from the big 125 Novice/Intermediate combined class leaving Jardy Ordoyne and Trenton Suire to fight their way through the novice riders. In the second moto Suire got the better start with novice rider Justin Pittman attached to his rear fender. Landry and Ordoyne were kicking their way up through the pack trying to get to the top like a diver swimming up for air. They were putting double moves on the unsuspecting novice riders they encountered, Landry passing on one side while Ordoyne passed on the other. Jared Miller found his way into second to study Suire’s lines until the Landry/Ordoyne duo came up behind him to distract him. Ordoyne was playing offense and defense, fending off Landry’s inside pass attempt while trying to get past Miller. Suddenly Landry found a fast inside line and sailed past them both! Then Ordoyne re-passed on the back straight as the Honda of Lafayette and the Cycle World of Houma Kawasaki were embroiled in crawfish stew. Miller held onto second spot in front of them while Suire tried to get away. Miller finally gave out and went down, his Yamaha landing on the down side of a jump. The Intermediate class finally got the top three spots over novice leader Pittman a good distance back. Suire won the race with Landry second and Ordoyne slipping to third. Pittman was the first novice class rider to cross the finish line, followed by Steven Wagley, Jay Cox and Chris St. Pierre.
The 250 Intermediate gated with the 250 Novice leaving one rider down in the first turn. Ryan Leger had to pick up his Kawasaki after spotting the field a few turns. Michael Haffner had his H&H Honda out in front of a hard-charging Joseph Pizzuto’s Kawasaki, but couldn’t hold on as Pizzuto took the victory on his home track. Klint Forrester made a comeback into the racing scene and won the Novice class finishing ahead of Chris Pursell and Richard Growl.
Kamin Zerangue led early in the second moto of 250 Int/Nov class, with Pizzuto creeping up behind him. Pizzuto out-braked him into the back turn to take over while Haffner and Ordoyne cruised behind them. Ordoyne eventually moved into second, but could not close the gap as Pizzuto put another one away. Zerangue went on to win the novice class in the third spot followed by Haffner, Forrester and Pursell.
All eyes were on the 85 Open class as the top riders of the 65 and 85 classes all stepped into the ring. Shane Yongue slung his Honda of Lafayette onto the track first in front of Brandon Champagne, Brett Bourg, Damon Arceneaux and Josh Lidikay. As they worked their way to the back sections of the track it looked as if Bourg was charging hardest into the turns, but he failed to get enough traction and lost time in wheel spin, almost going off the track. Jon-murry Barr was working his way through the pack from 13th place, while Yongue kept his slim lead after one lap. Soon Arceneaux and Bourg took advantage of the leader’s mistake and advanced to the front. Champagne took his spot in line behind Yongue, while Josh Lidikay held off Jarron Plaisance for 5th. On the last lap Champagne moved into third, then second but watched helplessly as Arceneaux took his victory leap. Bourg captured third, ahead of Yongue, Lidikay, Plaisance, Sanchez and Barr.
Champagne staked his claim as fastest mini-rider on the night, gating first in the second moto, but Barr, Arceneaux, Sanchez and Yongue went after him. Soon Arceneaux took second to chase the leader while the others exchanged dirt behind them. At the checkered flag it was Champagne and Arceneaux, then Barr, followed by Sanchez.
The 125 Open was a large, fast class requiring a good start for success. Michael Haffner was quickest to the first turn with Joseph Pizzuto in tow. Kamin Zerangue finished the first lap in third with Jardy Ordoyne and Jared Miller charging up from mediocre starts. Haffner tired, Pizzuto passed, Ordoyne pressed, Zerangue dropped and Miller hung. Pizzuto was in full control by the last lap with Ordoyne second, Haffner third and a fast closing Miller fourth. Pizzuto won on his Ascension Ready Mix Kaw, with Ordoyne’s Cycle World of Houma Kaw second, Haffner third and Miller fourth.
Haffner lead the second moto in front of Zerangue, Landry, Pittman, with Ordoyne and Pizzuto rebounding into the top five. By the second lap Landry had the lead with Ordoyne and Pizzuto almost bumping in the air over the big tabletop fearlessly setting up for the sweeper into turn one, chasing Haffner in the second spot. Pizzuto made the pass on Ordoyne on the back jump, but Ordoyne out-dove him into the far turn. Landry held on to win the moto, with Ordoyne passing Haffner into second a couple turns before the finish line.
For pix of this race go to http://photos.2wheelcommunications.com or www.tsrmxracing.com or www.mxrevelation.com.
Race Sponsors: Ascension Ready Mix, D&G Cycles, Great River Honda, Champion Cycle Center, Southern Trailer Works, TSRMXRACING.com, Racing Innovations.com, Performance Suzuki, Hammerheadmods.com, mxrevelation.com.
June 10th will be another Top Dog Shootout. This race features a throwback format to less classes, 3 motos, a final shootout and lots of seat time. It will be held at River’s Edge. For more info go to mollymotorsports.com.
Results:
50 OIL: 1. Zach Geiger (Yam); 2. Ray Mitchell (Cob); 3. Kelbie Brown (Yam); 4. Lindy Lerille (Yam); 5. Cade Lebeouf (Yam).
50 (4-6): 1. Ashton Castjohn (KTM); 2. Ray Mitchell (Cob).
50 (7-8): 1. T-don Lerille (Pol); 2. Cameron Breland (Cob); 3. JJ Kepley (KTM); 4. Trevor Dunn (KTM); 5. Daniel Guilbeau (Pol).
50 OPEN: 1. T-don Lerille (Pol); 2. Cameron Breland (Cob); 3. Trevor Dunn (KTM); 4. Cannon Shirah (KTM).
65 BEG: 1. Justin Braud (Kaw); 2. Tanner Leger (Kaw); 3. Daniel Guilbeau (KTM); 4. Josie Brown (Kaw); 5. Andrew Leboeuf (Kaw).
65 (7-9): 1. Patrick Lods (KTM); 2. T-don Lerille (KTM); 3. Cameron Breland (Cob); 4. JJ Kepley (KTM); 5. Sagan Guillory (KTM).
65 (10-11): 1. Jon-murry Barr (KTM); 2. James Waldrop (Kaw); 3. Cody Lods (Kaw); 4. Tyler Escoyne (KTM); 5. Rusty Guilbeau (KTM).
65 OPEN: 1. Jon-murry Barr (KTM): 2. Stone Edler (KTM); 3. James Waldrop (Kaw); 4. T-don Lerille (KTM); 5. Sagan Guillory (KTM).
85 BEG: 1. Dylan Fontenot (Kaw); 2. Ryan Arcemont (KTM); 3. Blake Roberts (Yam); 4. Austin Buxton (Yam); 5. Taylor Besson (Kaw).
85 (7-11): 1. Stone Edler (KTM); 2. Jon-murry Barr (KTM); 3. Blake Mclaurin (Kaw); 4. Forest Smith (Yam); 5. Jordan Giambelluca (Suz).
85 (12-15): 1. Brandon Champagne (Kaw); 2. Damon Arceneaux (Yam); 3. Aaron Sanchez (Suz); 4. Lee Slaughter (Hon); Bruce Bender (Yam).
85 OPEN: 1. Brandon Champagne (Kaw); 2. Damon Arceneaux (Yam); 3. Jon-murry Barr (KTM); 4; Aaron Sanchez (Suz); 5. Josh Lidikay (Hon).
SCLBY: 1. Trenton Suire (Yam); 2. Justin Pittman (Yam); 3. Nicholas Fisher (Hon); 4. Dane Dumesnil (Hon); 5. Steven Wagley (Kaw).
125 BEG: 1. Grant Bourgeois (Hon); 2. Alex Singley (Hon); 3. Julian Broussard (Kaw); 4. Jonathan Clark (Kaw); 5. Steven Berniard (Hon).
125 NOV: 1. Justin Pittman (Yam); 2. Jay Cox (KTM); 3. Stephen Wagley (Kaw); 4. Jeremy Brasseaux (KTM); 5. Wyatt Junot (KTM).
125 INT: 1. Trenton Suire (Yam); 2. Bryce Landry (Hon); 3. Jardy Ordoyne (Kaw).
125&UP OPEN: 1. Jardy Ordoyne (Kaw); 2. Joseph Pizzuto (Kaw); 3. Michael Haffner (Hon); 4. Bryce Landry (Hon); 5. Kamin Zerangue (Hon).
250 BEG: Casey Weigand (Hon).
250 NOV: 1. Klint Forrester (Hon); 2. Chris Pursell (Hon); 3. Kamin Zerangue (Hon); 4. Richard Growl (Yam); 5. Ryan Leger (Kaw).
250 INT: 1. Joseph Pizzuto (Kaw); 2. Jardy Ordoyne (Kaw); 3. Michael Haffner (Hon); 4. Steven Cummings (Suz).
OPEN EX: 1. Chase Romero (Yam); 2. Dustin Manuel (Suz); 3. Jason Manuel (Suz); 4. Jay Burton (Yam); 5. Mac Edmonston (Hon).
Hobby 30+: Bob Calhoun (Hon).
WOM OPEN: 1. Leslie Poche (Hon); 2. Jenna Schillage (Hon); 3. Katy Jo Cannon (KTM); 4. Morgan Parker (Yam); 5. Nyree Simmonds (Kaw).
SEN +30: 1. Michael Shippey (Hon); 2. Mac Edmonston (Hon); 3. Bruce Bordelon (KTM); 4. Duel Judice (Hon); 5. Sean Humphrey (Kaw).
SEN +40: Mac Edmonston (Hon).
PIT BK: 1. Zach Tullier (Yam); 2. Jordan Giambelluca (Suz); 3. Brandon Champagne (Kaw); 4. Jaren Tullier (KTM); 5. Drew Landry (Kaw).