Ponca Qualifier

Wildwood Motocross Track

Story by Roy Jenkins

Pictures by Kyle Jenkins

2 Wheel Communications

Kentwood, LA – May 26, 2007

The last of four Ponca Qualifiers for the Dixie region was held on a warm and breezy weekend at Wildwood MX. Track owner Lynn Lejeune and crew had the track cut deep and watered well, to ensure a rutted, rough, challenging, extreme adventure for the riders. He even added a big double/double/single/tabletop in the far corner that changed the outcome of several races.

The talented B class continues to embarrass the A class in our area when they are double gated together. Dustin Manuel was the only A rider to stay in front of the "Triple Threat" of Mitch Gourney, Jake Lowry and Michael Wagner who gobbled up all the other riders in their path. Jake was snorting like a bull early in the first moto of the 250 B class, fresh off his undefeated race at Golden Pine, but this day he had to contend with Mitch Gourney who followed him like a heat-seeking missile right off the gate. It took one lap for Gourney to take his Calmes Motorsports Kawasaki past the North Jackson Honda of Lowry, while sneaking up behind the A class. Trevor Nelson and Jordan Hughes followed, while Michael Wagner mounted a charge after a poor start. At the finish Dustin Manuel won by five seconds over Bryce Landry, with Gourney and Lowry snapping at their heels. Wagner finished six seconds behind them in third.

In the second moto Mitch Gourney came into turn one too hot and had to let off when he ran out of real estate, allowing Jake Lowry the holeshot honors. Michael Wagner quickly found his way to the front and the race was on! Behind them Jordan Hughes held off Trevor Nelson, Brendan Harp, Hunter Stewart, Tim Bergeron and Sam Landry. By the next lap Gourney was trying to take a bite out of the rear fender of Lowry, prompting a look-back over the jump. Dustin Manuel and Bryce Landry still ran strong out front for the A class. By the next lap Wagner surprised Gourney with a pass, prompting Gourney to look down at his bike for some reason. When the checkered flag came out, Dustin Manuel again took his Champion Cycle Suzuki to victory, while Bryce Landry scored a strong second for Honda of Lafayette. Just behind them Lowry came by to score the victory in the Intermediate class. Wagner took his new Kawasaki to second with Gourney a close third.

Skylar Phillips got his Bardwell Yamaha off the gate in front of Brandon Champagne’s D&G Kawasaki early in the 85 (12-15) match-up. But behind them were Jon-murry Barr and Tyler Stewart pushing their factory-assisted Yamahas ahead of the crowd. Aaron Sanchez, Alex Lejeune, Nate Martin and Beaux Martin led the chase. By the third lap Stewart had slipped into second, while Barr was having trouble getting past Champagne. But Champagne bit the dust in turn two allowing Barr, Nate Martin and Beaux Martin to get by. Finally Champagne re-entered the fray, but not before six riders got by. Skylar "Superfly" Phillips won by three bike lengths over Tyler Stewart, with Barr taking third, Lejeune fourth, then an empty straight. Nate Martin, Beaux Martin and Aaron Sanchez filed by before another empty straight.

Tyler Stewart got first in the second moto of the 85 (12-15) closely followed by Skylar Phillips and Jon-murry Barr. Alex Lejeune, Nate Martin, Colby Marchand, Brandy Champagne, Tanner McDaniel and Aaron Sanchez raced for the leftovers. Stewart went on to win the second moto and the overall, while Phillips took second and Barr third. Alex Lejeune and Nate Martin rounded out the top five.

Michael Wagner got the start he was looking for in the 250 Open, while Jake Lowry, Brendan Harp and Jordan Hughes kept pace. Wagner and Lowry checked out on the class by lap two, leaving Harp alone in third. Wagner laid down a pace that Lowry couldn’t match and won the race. Lowry crossed the finish line pointing at his bike like something was wrong. Harp took third in front of Jordan Hughes, Colby Airhart and Wyatt Junot.

Lowry took authority early in the second moto of the 250 Open, with Chip Connell, Jared Broussard, Brendan Harp, Wyatt Juno and Cory Lacoste. Wagner had trouble on the start. By the time the scores were settled the overall went to Lowry, followed by Harp, Wagner, Juno and Broussard.

The two Team Green factory-assisted riders squirted loose from the 85 (7-11) class, Thomas Covington and Stone Edler. Jordan Giambelluca held off Dylan Probst for third, while Austin Doucet kept his Kawasaki in front of Mitchell Suire’s Suzuki. Soon Edler by Covington; but it was not to be as Edler made a mistake, handing the race back to Covington and allowing Probst into second. Covington cruised his Kawasaki to victory, while Edler slipped underneath Probst right at the finish line to steal second back. Giambelluca, Doucet and Suire scored fourth, fifth and sixth while Mire squeezed out seventh from a fast-closing Forrest Town.

Jordan Giambelluca slammed his Suzuki between the two Team Green Kawasaki’s of Covington and Edler early in the second moto. Edler didn’t get past Giambelluca until the third lap and by then it was too late as Thomas Covington got to the finish line first to win the overall. Edler settled for second, Giambelluca third. Dillon Probst and Mitchell Suire rounded out the top five in final points.

The 450 Open class was loaded with old and new talent, but it was the young-guns who race every week like: Jake Lowry, Michael Wagner and Josh Eure who held the fast pace the longest. Former rockets Jay Burton, Glenn Hebert, Jay Shandy and Roger Thayer kept it interesting until their arms locked up. It was former mini-star Jay Shandy making his first race in years who held the attention of the front-runners the first lap, pulling old tricks out of his bag to stay close. Eure, Burton and Thayer held close to the front, watching Lowry and Wagner hold off Shandy. After two laps the younger, more conditioned athletes began to move up, including Josh Eure, Zachary Lott, Mike Hebert and Broc Andre. Burton started dropping back first, followed by Shandy, but the tenacious Thayer was able to finish in fourth behind Lowry, Wagner and Eure.

Lowry, Wagner and Andre were the first three into turn two in the second moto. Eure, St. Pierre, Burton, Cummings and Lott were in pursuit. Lowry went on to win both motos for the overall. Wagner, Eure, Andre and Zachary Lott rounded out the top five.

Hunter Hilton and Stone Edler got tangled up in a close one in the 65 (9-11). Both nationally recognized and experienced riders got a good start and didn’t look back. If they did they would have seen Ashton Knight, Scott McElroy, Landry Lyle and Gage Hutchinson following in their tracks. Edler was able to maintain his "zone" for the win for Kawasaki, while Hilton finished a respectable second on his Hattiesburg Cycles KTM.

Hilton led Edler by a bike length as the two 65 competitors sailed the ski jump early in moto two. A whole string of KTMs’ followed, with a couple Kawasaki’s mixed in. Edler slipped into his zone again and took the lead before the end of lap one and the two checked out from the class. J.J. Kepley led the (7-9) class again, mixed in with the older riders.

The 450 B and C classes raced together behind the double-gated A class. Dustin Manuel went off the track early, allowing Chad Kennedy by, but gathered his Champion Cycle Center Suzuki and re-captured the lead en route to another solid victory. The B class was where the action was as Josh Eure surprised Jake Lowry and Michael Wagner with a hectic pace out front. Mitch Gourney was fighting back from an early mistake, playing catch-up. The crowd sensed the drama and was drawn to the track to watch the Eure/Lowry/Wagner story as they battled inches apart in the turns. This fast trio caught all the money riders except Manuel, but their attention was on each other all the way to the exciting finish. It was… ohhhh noo I ran out of ink…. I mean…… The electricity went off…. I mean, I can’t tell you because…… well,,,,, where was I???

I gotta take a break. We’ll return after these messages from our sponsors…

Ok, ok. I’m over it. Well I thought it was funny J

Eure edged out Lowry at the checkers, while Wagner watched a bike length bike in third. Gourney caught all the way up to fourth in front of Trevor Nelson, Zachary Lott, Mike Hebert and Jay Shandy.

In the second moto of the 450 combined classes, Dustin Manuel again got away with the head-started A class, while Wagner and Lowry casually took the lead again. But at turn two Jay Shandy used an old trick and railed the outside on a surprise attack that netted him the lead. Andre, Gourney, Eure, Stewart and Nelson followed. By the next lap Wagner and Lowry both fired past a tiring Shandy. Soon Gourney dispatched Shandy and the "trio" was together again for their final face-off. Eure, Lott, Hebert and Nelson were moving up through the pack. By the last lap the Wagner/Lowry/Gourney trio had passed each money rider but one – Dustin Manuel who went on to win again. All eyes were on the "trio" as they charged past the lappers to the finish line. Wagner made it there first, but "Magic Mitch" pulled a trick out of his hat to sneak past Lowry right at the finish line, surprising everyone! But the overall points looked a little different: Wagner, Lowry, Eure, Gourney and Nelson.

Mitch Gourney holeshotted the always exciting Schoolboy class with Sam Landry in close pursuit. But Landry went way wide in turn two for some unknown reason, allowing a few riders to get by. Jordan Hughes got his Honda into second, while Trevor Nelson’s Kawasaki held third, Brett Bourg’s Suzuki in fourth and Landry’s Honda in fifth. Jude Patterson, Brendan Harp, Dane Dumesnil, Hunter Stewart, John Moeller, Brandon Lightsey and Cody Cornell held the top half of the class, but there were more fast riders below them in this loaded race. By the second lap "Magic" Mitch had started his disappearing act. Nelson, Hughes and Bourg had to just race for second. Gourney took his Calmes Motorsports Suzuki to victory by 25 seconds over Nelson, Hughes, Bourg and Landry.

In the second moto of the Schoolboy Gourney led Nelson into turn two. Hunter Stewart held third, with Landry sliding his Honda around looking for traction in fourth. Brandon Lightsey, Hughes, Bourg, Harp and Moeller followed. By the end of lap one Gourney was already enjoying a seven second lead. By last lap Gourney had extended his lead while the order was changing behind him. At the checkers it was Gourney, unchallenged for the win. Coming across a little later were: Nelson, Stewart, Landry and Bourg.

Twenty Nine riders left the gate in race 19 - the 85 Open. Tyler Stewart, Jordan Giambelluca and Jude Patterson lead the charge into turn two. Skylar Phillips got tangled up in a first turn pile-up and had to start again from last place. Patterson went down hard in the left-handed approach to the western corner allowing Stewart, Giambelluca, Bourg, Barr, Lejeune, Covington and Champagne to score the first lap. Bourg, Barr and Lejeune got past Giambelluca on the next lap while Phillips was cutting a swath through the pack just wide enough for his Bardwell Yamaha and was already in eighth place! At the finish line it was Yamaha teammates Tyler Stewart and Jon-murry Barr one and two. A little ways behind them Alex Lejeune took third, Brett Bourg fourth and Brandon Champagne fifth. Guess who rode up into sixth? That’s right – "Superfly" Skylar Phillips.

Thomas Covington netted the holeshot in the second moto of the 85 Open, while Jon-murry Barr, Tyler Stewart, Brandon Champagne, Brett Bourg, Alex Lejeune and Nate Martin jockeyed for positions. Skylar Phillips had the difficult job of coming from behind on the last moto of the day when the track was breaking down and getting dusty. Covington, Stewart, Barr, Champagne, Bourg, Lejeune and Nate Martin raced as hard as they could through the rough track. A few riders went down, including Barr, changing the order again late in the race. At the finish line the survivors came across: Covington, Stewart, Champagne, Bourg and Lejeune. The overall was slightly different: Stewart, Champagne, Bourg, Lejeune, and Covington.

For more info and pix go to www.2wheelcommunications.com.

Roy: "Tell us, what is the High School Motocross" program?

Jeff: "It’s a group of about 24 kids that get together. Some race, some just ride. With Motocross being an individual sport, we’re trying to put the teamwork into motocross. We get these kids together in the same area of the same state. They all attend high school, and we train them. That’s all we do. If we can make one kid better and keep them out of jail and keep them off the streets on a Friday or Saturday night, we’ve accomplished something. This year Mac [Edmonston] and I have stepped it up a little bit and we’re gonna take a group of about nine or ten to Ponca. We’ll get em’ all qualified today. We’ve had some rough weekends, we’ve been with them every weekend through this qualifying process; it’s been really tough. We’ve got broken bikes; we’ve got two hurt kids. Now we’re just powerin’ through it."

Roy: "So they’re learning how to deal with life’s disappointments at the motocross track that will help them later in life, huh?"

Jeff: "Most definitely. Motocross is not just about gettin’ out and winning a moto. We’re trying to teach them how to be ethical at the track, we’re trying to teach them how to deal with a points series, how to be good sports, how to maintain their bikes, little things like that."

Roy: "And taking care of their bodies."

Jeff: "Right and their bodies – eat right, stay healthy, train. Ponca City is not just about how fast you go, but being able to handle that 105 degree heat and twenty minute motos."

Roy: "Aren’t yall’ training again on Saturday?"

Jeff: "No. We’re gonna take this next weekend off to get everybody healed up, give them a break. We’ve been going real strong for about eight weeks now, so we’ll take a break. It’ll be two weeks we’ll be back on again. If you pay attention to motosouth.com we periodically have announcements on there. We’d love to have ya’ll come see what we’re doin’, as long as you are in Junior High or High School and have a love for motocross, or even just riding."

Roy: "You’re about to hold a fund-raiser to help these guys get to Ponca?"

Jeff: "We’re gonna do it on July 14^th and 15^th. We’re gonna hold a motocross race on Saturday and a hare scramble on Sunday, with all proceeds from that going to paying for these kids to go to Ponca, which is a very expensive trip, especially with 3$ a gallon gas. What a neat thing, though. All the kids will be working. You’ve got a motocross race put on by motocrossers."

Roy: "That’s a good idea, give them a sense of responsibility, and see where money comes from."

Jeff: "Most definitely. They can learn the business end of motocross races as well. It’s not just show up, pay your 20 bucks and race. A lot goes on to putting on a motocross race. We can teach the kids the business part of it as well."

Roy: "There was a bunch of them that spent the night in the trailer last night, huh?"

Jeff: "We had nine of them in there. There were sleeping on the floor, bunks, everywhere."

Roy: "There must have been a lot of kids, cause’ you got a lot of bunks in that trailer over there."

Jeff: "We can comfortably seat 12."

Roy: "So the big HSMX trailer is open right now for folks to come over and look?"

Jeff: "Mac’s over there sitting in front of the fan right now. He raced with the kids in the Open class. We had to make a statement to the kids that even us old guys can keep up with them. So come out and say hi to Mac. We’ve had a lot of inquiries this weekend. We’re tryin’ to keep these kids off the street."

Roy: "Thank you Jeff. You guys are doin’ a great work. Have a good race in Ponca."

Jeff: "Thank you. We’ll see ya before then."

50 OIL: 1. Colby Mayes (Yam); 2. Blake Montpelier (Cob); 3. Hunter Smith (Yam); 4. Dayton Shirah (KTM); 5. Cole Gonzalez (Yam).

50 (4-6): 1. Colby Mayes (Cob); 2. Chase Rock (Cob); 3. Blake Montpelier (Cob); 4. Beau Bates (Cob); 5. Hunter Smith (Cob).

50 (7-8): 1. J.J. Kepley (Cob); 2. John Murphy (KTM); 3. Christon Nelson (Cob); 4. Ryan Martin (LEM); 5. Steven Vanderlei (Cob).

50 OPEN: 1. John Murphy (KTM); 2. Brennan Freeman (Cob); 3. Peyton Whately (Cob); 4. Dylan Rodgers (Cob); 5. Hunter Soileau (KTM).

65 (6-8): 1. Zeb Hubb (KTM); 2. J.J. Kepley (KTM); 3. Chandler Abney (KTM); 4. Christon Nelson (Cob); 5. John Murphy (KTM).

65 (9-11): 1. Stone Edler (Kaw); 2. Hunter Hilton (KTM); 3. Ashton Knight (KTM); 4. Landry Lyle (KTM); 5. Scott McElroy (KTM).

65 OPEN: 1. Stone Edler (Kaw); 2. Scott McElroy (KTM); 3. Ashton Knight (KTM); 4. Landry Lyle (KTM); 5. Hunter Hilton (KTM).

85 (7-11): 1. Thomas Covington (Kaw); 2. Stone Edler (Kaw); 3. Jordan Giambellucca (Suz); 4. Dylan Propst (Kaw); 5. Mitchell Suire (Suz).

85 (12-15): 1. Tyler Stewart (Yam): 2. Skylar Phillips (Yam); 3. Jon-murry Barr (Yam); 4. Alex Lejeune (Suz); 5. Nate Martin (Suz).

85 OPEN: 1. Tyler Stewart (Yam); 2. Brandon Champagne (Kaw); 3. Brett Bourg (Suz); 4. Alex Lejeune (Suz); 5. Thomas Covington (Kaw).

250 D: 1. Michael Congemi (Hon); 2. Dillon Ardoin (Yam); 3. Josh Hussey (Suz); 4. Jared Harvey (KTM); 5. Andy Allen (Yam).

250 C: 1. Colby Airhart (Yam); 2. Brandon Lightsey (Kaw); 3. Dane Dumesnil (Hon); 4. Scott Sardella (Hon); 5. Cory Lacoste (Kaw).

250 B: 1. Jake Lowry (Hon); 2. Mitch Gourney (Kaw); 3. Michael Wagner (Kaw); 4. Trevor Nelson (Kaw); 5. Jordan Hughes (Hon).

250 A: 1. Dustin Manuel (Suz); 2. Bryce Landry (Hon); 3. Jason Manuel (Suz); 4. Chad Kennedy (Yam).

250 OPEN: 1. Jake Lowry (Hon); 2. Brendan Harp (KTM); 3. Michael Wagner (Kaw); 4. Wyatt Junot (KTM); 5. Jared Broussard (Hon).

450 D: 1. Sean Slack (Kaw); 2. Jimmy Palmer (Kaw); 3. Chris Barto (Yam); 4. Patrick Tadlock (Yam); 5. Kevin Palmer (Hon).

450 C: 1. Joel White (Suz); 2. Jordan Heathcock (Kaw); 3. Garrett Airhart (Yam); 4. Drew Goolsby (Hon); 5. Scott Marks (Suz).

450 B: 1. Michael Wagner (Kaw); 2. Jake Lowry (Hon); 3. Josh Eure (Hon); 4. Mitch Gourney (Kaw); 5. Trevor Nelson (Kaw).

450 A: 1. Dustin Manuel (Suz); 2. Bradley Stokes (Yam); 3. Chad Kennedy (Yam).

450 OPEN: 1. Jake Lowry (Hon); 2. Michael Wagner (Kaw); 3. Josh Eure (Yam); 4. Zachary Lott (Yam); 5. Broc Andre (Yam).

Schlby: 1. Mitch Gourney (Kaw); 2. Trevor Nelson (Kaw); 3. Sam Landry (Hon); 4. Brett Bourg (Suz); 5. Hunter Stewart (Kaw).

WOMEN: 1. Leslie Poche (Hon); 2. Taylor Watts (Suz); 3. Josie Brown (Kaw); 4. Morgan Parker (Hon); 5. Alex Cerise (Yam).

SEN +30: 1. Randy Wales (Hon); 2. Craig Connelly (Suz); 3. Nicholas Burgess (KTM). 4. Steven Cummings (Suz); 5. Glenn Tatum (KTM).

SEN +40: 1. Wendell Simmons (Suz); 2. Craig Connelly (Suz); 3. Hoot Parker (Hon); 4. Mac Edmonston (Hon); 5. Randy Fairburn (Kaw).