Barnes Blasts Megacross (M7)

Story by Kenzie  Photos by 451 Photography 

7-8-2023 M 7

Results

Rain over night on Friday didn't detour the riders this event as they know how well Megacross handles wet conditions.  This race proved it once again as practice was a little damp which turned into a solid good racing track that actually had to be watered at intermission.  As the night unfolded there was many classes that had to be split up do to turn out being larger but racing was intense and some classes that we always write about the front runners this time we focused a little more on the top 5 who race just as hard as the leaders!

As the girls took off to start their race, Harper Hasting (279) and Addison Smith (27) started an instant battle. As these two go around on their first lap , they keep switching places back and forth, as the two would go into the corners, Hastings would take the insides to put herself ahead by a little bit but Smith would get right back with her and pass her again every time. Finally, as they went into their second lap, Smith had gotten around Hastings for good and pulled away. Smith made sure to stay ahead the rest of the race and finished with a fourth while Hastings finished in fifth.

The Schoolboy class had a couple different intense battles go on throughout the race, within the first lap Jacob Young (60), Dominik Youngren (99), Landon Lee (964), and Nick Brookman (414) all were racing practically tire to tire with one another. As each of them were trying to get around one another, towards the end of their second lap, as they were all coming out of the corner before the tower jump Lee made a pass around Brookman! Lee was headed for Youngren next and within the third lap he got him and switched their places right around. As soon as he made his way around these two he was right on Young’s tail, hoping he can make another pass. While Lee was trying to find a way around Young, Young was block passing every chance he could, making it pretty difficult on Lee. As Young, Lee, and Youngren all stayed tight close together, they started to pull little by little away from Brookman. Headed into the last lap and they decided to completely change things around, Lee was finally able to get around Young and as he did, so did Youngren. Lee was able to finish in seventh with Youngren right behind him in eighth and Young in ninth. As this group was having their battle we also watched as the front of the pack was having their own battle as well. Reid Day (123) had taken the lead with Cody Hardesty (185) in second, Cutter Riebe (322) in third and Grant Robinson (426) in fourth. This group was flying around the track running pretty close to one another, especially Riebe and Robinson. As these guys were going around the track, Robinson was right on Riebe’s tail, waiting to see if he could find a spot to make a pass. On their third lap, Robinson got around Riebe and put himself in third now. Could Robinson get around Hardesty too? By this point in the race we watch as Dane Miller (152) brings himself into the battle! As they only have a lap or two left, these five are basically just in a cluster trying to fight for their positions, feeling the pressure. Final lap and Riebe makes it around Hardesty. Day kept the lead the whole time and pulled a first while Riebe finished in second, Hardesty in third, with Robinson in fourth, and Miller in fifth!

Cole Stalker (33) and Kenny Grace (711) had a good race in the 65 Sr class, these two battled quite a bit. The first two laps of their race, Grace was holding off Stalker, just barely, the two kept making little passes against one another, going back and forth. Closer to the ending of their third lap around, the two were headed over the tower jump, they went up and jumped right next to each other and as they landed headed for the next corner. Stalker made a clean pass that put him ahead! By the next lap Stalker had managed to put some distance on Grace. Stalker made no mistakes the rest of the race and held fourth to the finish line leaving Grace with a fifth.

As 50 Sr took off the line Kayden Moore (95) had taken the lead while Zeyden Lawson (514) was right behind in second and Karson Connolly (14) in third. Moore was able to keep the lead for the first lap but as soon as they got into the second lap, Lawson came up and stole the lead with Connolly following right behind him, pushing Moore down to third. As Lawson was trying to keep the lead he was keeping the inside lines and of course Connolly followed directly behind. Each time these guys went into a corner they were practically tire to tire with one another. The race was coming to an end, if Connolly was going to pass he was going to have to do it soon. Checkered flag was out, Lawson held off Connolly and won the race leaving Connolly with a close second. Moore didn’t let anybody else pass him out there so he finished with a third.

Jacob Young (60) and Amos Vincent (358) battled quite a bit in the 250 C race. For the first couple laps we watch as Young and Vincent get real close and even make quite a few slight passes against one another fighting for the fifth place spot. After the two battled for a bit, Young was keeping in front of Vincent but Vincent was staying right on his tail. As the race was coming to an end, it seemed like Vincent was ready to try and get around him for good but Young was block passing any chance he could and blocking every line Vincent wanted to take to get around. While Young did everything he could to stay in front of Vincent, it seemed to work as he finished with a fifth and Vincent in sixth.

Cody Barnes (99) made it out to race this weekend and put on an amazing race in both classes with Kyle White (19). Both classes White was able to get the lead, these two had everyone watching them waiting to see if and when Barnes was going to make a pass. Both classes Barnes was able to make the pass in the corner before the whoops and as he did, he made it look smooth and very quick. After that he started pulling away little by little. Garrett ward (31) was actually keeping within distance with them as well.

Brandon Hastings (79), Wyatt Hall (710), and Ryan Knott (225) had a good battle going on in the 30+ B/C race. Hastings started off in the lead with Hall following close behind and Knott on Hall’s tail. Shortly into the race Knott made a pass on Hall and instantly got right up on Hastings while Brent Johnson (70) also brings himself in the battle. As Knott was trying to find a way around Hastings, Hastings was taking the insides to do some block passings but Knott was still taking outsides hoping it would be enough to switch their places. Going into the third lap Hastings killed his bike which led Hall, Johnson, and Knott to get around him. Knott was able to take the lead for about half a lap until he fell over in the whoops section which then led for Hall to take the lead! Johnson was now in second and Hastings got going quick enough to where he got back in third. Knott was right on Hastings’ tail for about another lap till he was able to pass him and switch their spots around! Coming down to the end, Hall finished in first, Johnson in second, Knott in third, and Hastings finishing with a fourth!

Don't forget coming in a month will be M8 or Megacross round 8 on August 5th.  There will likely be some minor changes to the track and some improvements overall to the facility as many things are starting to show their age!  But the guys always find a way to get the track ready and keep it fun as well!  See ya there!