Hofmaster, Malatia, McLeese on Top

Story B Neil Dornik

                Saturday, May 12^th marked the 2^nd round of the 20^th series here at Megacross in 2012.  Riders, Spectators, and staff anxiously awaited the 2 O’clock update, with rain showers likely in the forecast.  Luckily, the showers held off and a little watering led to perfect track conditions throughout the night.  Deep ruts on the insides, and loose tacky soil resulted in superb traction throughout the track forcing the riders to push their limits all night.            

In the Open A Class Main Event, Maxx Malatia (39) nailed the holeshot and battled with Tommy Hofmaster (110) at the front of the pack the entire Moto.  On Lap 3 Kevin Markwardt (352) went down, dropping him out of 3^rd position.  On that same lap, Kyle White (29) made a pass on Justin Kelly (904) for the 4^th place spot.  With the race winding down, Hofmaster closed up on Malatia with the white flag waving.  It was an intense battle, with Tommy less than a bike-length away in every corner.  At the checkers it was Maxx on top, followed closely by Hofmaster, Sam Long (382), Kyle White, and Justin Kelly on his Honda Rounded out the top 5.

            Before The “A” guys battled, the 14*24 and 35+ classes started of the night with their main events.  Logan Skaggs (997) took the win after finishing 2^nd in his heat race.  A pair of Kawasakis rounded off the podium with Matt Dissell (90) taking 2^nd and Mark Marincic (263) finishing in 3^rd.  Matt Dissell also took a win in the Open B class and Marincic another podium in his other class (250 B) locking in 2^nd place, one place better than in his heat race.  Burton “Turbo” Lavens (763) took the heat race win in the 35+ class, but it was Joe Buskirk (330) who landed the top spot and edged out Lavens in the Main Event.  Lavens ended up 2^nd, and Evans (323) took the last podium spot.

The 125cc Two-Stroke class is always a joy to watch and listen to!  Robbie Hyson (4) ripped the holeshot on his KTM.  Nate McLeese (483), and Cory Catalani (305), were tearing it up, battling up toward the front in the beginning laps.  On lap 3, Hyson went off the track following the double, double, step-up straight after a pass from McLeese.  Catalani would move into 2^nd place and Robbie dropped back to 3^rd.  The checkers would fall for the 125cc class the top 3 runners in that same order. McLeese (483),Catalani (305), and Hyson (4).

            The +40 Riders dropped with the 125cc class and it was the #254 Machine of Alex Rossetto that took the holeshot and led all 5 laps in the Main Event.  Williams (311) was holding on the 2^nd place spot until he stalled the engine, #63 David Hayes capitalized and moved into the second place spot, where he would finish at the checkers.  Ed William would hold on to 3^rd.

            Big names in the 25+ class made for some fine racing action.  Kelly, Hofmaster, White, Johnson, to name a few.  #763 of Burton Lavens was the first rider to corner #1, only to have Tommy Hofmaster (110) take the lead on his Yamaha in corner #3.  Justin Kelly (904) would get around Lavens and Hofmaster before the end of lap one, but Hofmaster was not giving up.  Hofmaster would pass Kelly back for the lead and open up what seemed to be a comfortable lead until the last lap.  Justin knocked the lead down from 4 seconds to 1 on the last lap of the 25+ class.  Hofmaster hung on and took the win.  Brian White (61) would finish 3^rd aboard his Honda.

            Good turnout in all the “future of our sport” classes for the 2^nd round of Megacross! 50s, 65s, and 85s. A lot of great racing action between the Beginner, Jr, and Sr classes! Moms and Dads were on and off the track cheering and rooting them on. “Go, Go, Go!” Gotta give it up to the little guys and girls. 

              The 250A riders are lined up, bikes, revving, as the 65 riders are pulling off.  Markwardt rocketed his Honda off to a holeshot with Hofmaster in 2^nd.  At the halfway point, Kyle White (29) put on an excellent ride in 3rd, and Malatia began up through the pack.  With the white flag waving, Hofmaster and Markwardt battled back and forth, until Markwardt made a small mistake.  Hofmaster is able to breath a little and this allows White to make the pass on Markwardt for the 2^nd place spot.  Malatia battled his way to 4^th position, and the #681 KTM Machine of Vaughn Mays rounded out the top 5 in the A class. 

            A pair of Hondas were the top 2 out front in the Womens class.  The # 41 of Alyssa Haling landed on the top step of the podium in both the heat and the Main Saturday night.  Taylor Venning (47) on her Honda was awarded 2^nd , and Kim Chandler (20) 3^rd , both the same as their heat races.

            The Quad A, B, and C classes all dropped once with the Yamaha #74 of Billy Garrey leading the pack most of the way through lap one.  A Rider Adam Koehler (88) got around Garrey (74) and took the win in the A class.  Garrey would go on to win the B class and Tyler Stenzel took the win for the Quad C class on his Suzuki. 

            Megacross had an amazing turn out for the plus classes as well this Saturday.  Full gates and stacked classed lead to high-quality racing!  Hofmaster proved this in every class he rode.  Tommy took the holeshot in the 30+A class followed by a couple green machines, Jason Kloptowsky (410), and Lavens (763).  All riders put it solid, consistent laps and ended as they started.  Hofmaster took another win, leading all laps untouched. 

            Great Battles in the 30+B/C classes as it all got started with Zeno Molteni (473) taking the lead and avoiding a big pile up in the first corner.  Another big pile up after the double, double, step-up straight added some chaos to the race, but Ryan George (240) steers clear of it and get by the #311 of Brandon Boggio for 2^nd.  Zeno would gain a comfortable lead and take the checkers for the win.  George (240) and Boggio (311) were neck and neck at the end, but would finish in that order for the last two spots on the podium.

            Nate McLeese (6) jolted off the line in the 250B class, his second class of the night, to take the holeshot.  Marincic (263) and Stephen Stocklen (98) did some battling around lap 3, as the end of the race grew nearer.  Marincic makes the pass happen in the turn before the triple and locked in the 2^nd place position in the Main.  McLeese cruised his way to victory and Stocklen finished 3^rd.

            Open B rider Matt Dissell (90) took the heat race win and did the same in the Main Event Saturday night.  He rode a smooth race from start to finish, although some battling went on behind him.  The #1 of Nate Hornung and the #160 Ricki Williams battled for the second place spot.  Ricki slightly edged out Nate in the end the 2^nd place in the Main.             

We had Split classes in both Open C and 250 C! What a great turn out for the C classes for Round 2.  60+ riders between the two. 

            Ryan Loy (133) took the win in the 250C1 class aboard his Kawasaki, while the 250C2 top spot went to Tyler Kincaid (143).  OpenC1 Winner Trevor Hayes (163) took both the heat and Main Event win, and #529 Dustin Lindley was on the top step in Open C2.   After lining up with a full gate of riders and battled all the way to the end, these were the 4 that ended up on top!

            As it always is, Saturday was a spectacular night of racing.  Hope riders and fans and a great time and hope you make it back. Next event is Saturday 5/26/2012 with Yamaha Honda Suzuki Contingency. Also, mark your calendars for the Pro Am Fair date (6/16/12).