Hofmaster, Poulter rock Megacross!

June 21^st, 2008

Mendota, IL

Written By: Ashley Wilkinson

Megacross Shootout Series had a great night of racing at the Tri-County Fairgrounds, with over 275 racers, a good turn out.  This weekend we had great weather, could have used some rain on the track, but the track workers kept up the watering. After the heats we took a mini intermission to lay some more water on the track for the mains. First up on the line Quad A, all ready to kick up some more dust. Down the straightaway and around the first corner, Richard Olson(#25) with the Holeshot, which was a lot better for him from his heat race. Richard Olson being followed closely by Charlie Snow(#822), the two of them had a really good battle going on the first two laps, but Richard pulled away from Charlie, while Justin Medine(#129) tried to get around Charlie, what a very stressful race, one wrong move and the person behind them was going to pass them, or ran into the back of them. That’s just want happened to Brian Perteete(#223) as he jumped the double before the finish line jump, and he jumped right into the back of the racer in front of him. Causing Brian to just about flip his quad while he was off of it. While all of that was going on Richard Olson stayed in first, with Charlie Snow finishing close behind, and Justin Medine coming in third almost passing Charlie on the triple before the finish line.

Mike Chrisos(#498) on a pit bike led the big guys on little bikes in the pit bike class around the first turn and he held a strong lead throughout the whole race! While Eric Foltynewicz(#198) and Brandon Boggio(#311) had a good chase to the finish the whole race, each of them testing the limits of there bikes. Skee Hartmann(#147) tagging along, trying to push his bike to go over the limits to push through a place or two. While all of this excitement was going on we had Thumper class which is also big guys on little bikes, but these bikes are a little different, they are CRF150F’s trail bikes. But some of the guys get a little to into the class and spend mega bucks on there little bikes. Thumper class is a very intense class, after the gate dropped, John Conley(#160) had pulled the Holeshot against ten other men on their little bikes. He had a good first place but, had to pull off not even half way through the race, because he was in pain after a recent crash. After pulling off the track David Hayes(#71) took the win for thumper class, while Jeremy Petoskey was at least a bike length behind. Followed by Darrel Carr(#23) and William Tracy(#12) came in racing for the finish just passing up the Broll brothers while they took each other out the turn before the finish line jump. Prior to this crash Nicholas Broll(#950) was ahead of his older brother Dylan Broll(#947). Nicholas made a mistake and his brother Dylan got around him, then the next lap around, Nicholas crashed but got up in record time to catch up to his brother. It was a crowd pleasing race, that’s for sure.

Ryan Poulter(#27) took the Holeshot against 10 other 250A riders and, pro rider Tom Hofmaster(#110). Ryan lead the race for just under three laps, until Tom Hofmaster slipped past him in a corner, and took the win, while Ryan took second. While Poulter was holding off Hofmaster, Derek Whitney(#795) and Kevin Markwardt(#352) were jumping over side by side. Justin Kelly(#904) took a close fifth place, while trying to get around Whitney and Markwardt.

Kyle Lindahl(#85) and Jody Walker(#162) had a tight race going on in the 14*24 class. Jeremy Newell(#17) was just seconds from the two of them, the first lap Walker and Newell were bumping bars around the corners. But then walker finally got away from him and went after Lindahl. By the last lap Kyle Lindahl had a strong lead from the other six racers. While the top three guys were pushing themselves to the checkered, Burton (turbo) Lavens(#763) was pushing his way through the pack of 14*24, while trying to keep his competition behind him in the 35+ class. David Hayes(#63) coming up really close behind Burton with a 14*24 guy right between the two of them. Also Steve Perkins(#310) kept Scott Holmes(#26) behind him, while Holmes was trying to squeak past Perkins. Perkins gave it his all and beat Holmes, with Perkins taking fourth place and Holmes taking fifth.

Austin Das(#911) bolting out of the gate like he was on fire in the 85Jr class, leaving the other eleven riders in the dust, while they are trying to get around him. Chad West(#41) giving it all that he has trying to catch up to Austin Das, towards the end it was really close, but Austin still had a clean first place and he took the win, with Chad West just seconds behind him! Trevor Simpkins(#427) and Colton Beard(#49) had a little race of there own on the track with a really good battle going on, there was some good bar banging in that race. But Trevor took a clean third place against Chad in the end. Damon Quest(#48) got around Mitchell Ternes(#107) while going down the straightaway, and held him off for the last two laps. Cody Hopf(#619) had a good race going, until he stalled his bike in the grass corner allowing three racers to pass him pulling him in tenth place.

Which lady was going to be the first lady to take the checkered flag? Well the women’s race was quite exciting Amber Logeland(#23) took the Holeshot, with eleven other women pining it around the corner after her. After getting around the corner Elisa Lunde(#193) was starting the battle up with Amber it was very exciting until Elisa made a clean pass around Amber. Forcing Amber to push it to try to get back around her, pushing it past her limits, causing her to crash on her last lap three turns before the finish putting her in seventh place. The women’s race was quite intense up until the end.

Tom Hofmaster(#110) got hung up with Derrick Whitney on the start and was off the line dead last. Ryan Poulter took the holeshot in Open A class with Markwardt and Zont on his heels. Hofmaster known for his zero to hero moves, was passing riders 2 at a time, as the race wore on Tommy past Anthony Westerguard going into the back whoops. Starting into the whoops was Scott Zont who was having a great night of racing come to an abrupt stop as he folded his front end over on the first whoop. Tommy being right there ready to pass was gathered up in the downed rider with Westerguard slamming them both. Three track workers tugging and pulling finally unhooked the machines. Zont was a little dazed but ok, and out for the rest of the race. Tommy and Anthony shook it off and back in pursuit with no where near enough time to catch up again.  Ryan Poulter not to be forgotten took the win with style, not faultering a second. Markwardt pulls a well deserved second with Greg Hochmuth promising to change his number layouts, takes the last podium spot.

The biggest class of the night the 250C, with twenty-one racers. All the racers out of the gate, well not all of the racers, Zachary Dearing(#323) got stuck in the gate, he was a little to excited to race. Cody Gehant(#352) with the Holeshot, while Lucas Hayes trying to pass a few racers to get around him, but crashing the second turn into the race. Right before Gehant went down the straightaway, Jody Walker(#162) got around him. Daniel Stockton(#921) and Dalton Abbott(#707) were battling for third place, and Cole Johns(#158) was right behind the both of them. Three laps into the race David Marshall(#217) crashed a hard crash in the rhythm section causing him not to finish his race.