Swedish rider Fredrik Noren has been racing the AMA Motocross Nationals this year (and scoring points), but at REM he ran into a buzz saw named Bryce Vallee (814). Vallee was untouchable in the 450 Pro class.
In what has been a sad couple weeks for Glen Helen Raceway, with the death of Nick Varner and the passing of Glen Helen owner Bud Feldkamp’s mother Betty (who lived at the track for over 13 years), REM not only held a memorial service, but also hosted a tribute lap in the memory of motocrosser Jim Henn, who died a couple years ago.
Nick Paluzzi came to REM to stay sharp for the Nationals, but things didn't go his way. A bad start, tough competition and an eventual 10th in moto one with engine troubles sent him home early.
Amid all of the sadness, the REM racers
put on a brave face and threw caution to the win. Bryce Vallee was the
star of the 450 Pro class. In moto one he dispatched MXA test rider
Dennis Stapleton to open up a big lead, which he repeated in moto two in
front of Fredrik Noren. The riders chasing had lots of troubles, but it
is unlikely that they could have matched Vallee’s speed.
MXA test rider Dennis Stapleton led the 450 Pro race for two laps before a rock got wedged in his brake pedal. He soldiered on to take third in moto one, but got stuck in the gate in moto two. Dennis was fifth overall.
Stapleton got a rock stuck in his brake pedal while leading the first
moto and got stuck in the gate in moto two; Chris See started the first
lap of moto one about 30 seconds behind the field field; Rockstar
Suzuki’s Nick Paluzzi couldn’t make a dent in the front of the pack and
seemed to suffer from engine problems late in the first moto; Brett
Hottel fell or stalled three times in the second 450 moto.
But, it didn’t matter to Vallee, who was able to rip off perfect laps
for a 1-1 day. Swedish rider Fredrick Noren, taking a break from the AMA
Nationals, went 2-2 with the aged but still fast Tony Amaradio getting
third.
Chris See went 9-5 in the 450 Pro class, but the ninth was caused by troubles on lap one that left him way back at the start of moto one. His 9-5 was good enough for sixth.
OTHER PRO & EXPERT ACTION
Damion Tackett won the 250 Pro class in front of Billy Musgrave, while
dad Willy Musgrave won the Over-40 Pro class in front of Baja hero
Johnny Campbell (whose son Preston Campbell won the 150 class).
Greg Pierce won the Over-40 Expert class in front of another Baja and
ISDT hero, Paul Krause. Joe "Meltdown" Melton tried to race a YZ125 for the second week in a row against the 450's in the Over-40 Experts. He was sixth. Doug Goodman took the Over-50 Expert
victory...and for the first time in a year the Over-50 Expert class was
not the biggest class of the day. Goodman and LightSpeed’s Wilie
Amaradio (2-2) engaged in a tight battle in front of chasers Fred
Nicholls (3-3) and Dennis Boulware (5-4). A third Baja hero, Bob Rutten, went 7-6 in the Over-50 Experts.
Justin Jones, son of four-time 250 Champion Gary Jones, can rail berms with a wicked lean angles. Justin went 1-1 in the 450 Intermediates.
The Over-60 Expert class had some extra firepower today in the form of
three-time Over-60 World Champion Bill Maxim, who elected to show up on a
KX500 two-stroke. Maxim won both motos in front of T.V. Holmes, Ray
Pisarski (4-3), Tom White (of White Brothers fame), MXA’s Jody Weisel
and AMA Hall of Famer Feets Minert.
Glen Helen's REM track is actually the old Arroyo Cycle Park—where the first-ever 125 National Championship was held back in 1973.
WHAT ABOUT THE BEGINNERS?
Tyler Nichols swept the 250 Beginner class with Brandon Sussman and Lee
Pattison trading 2-3 and 3-2 scores (with Sussman getting the runner-up
spot). Sinjin Lloyd was fourth. Chris Arellano took the 450 Beginner trophy, while Nate Bailey used a
1-1 to defeat Chris Aseltine for the Vet Beginner bragging rights. Jack Ward (150 Beginner), Kyler Waymire (85 Beginner) and Mathew Bailey (65 Beginner) rounded out the winners.
Willy Musgrave used MXA's 2012 KTM 250SX two-stroke to win the Over-40 Pro class. Baja Champion Johnny Campbell got second overall.
The Over-40 Novice class was won by Dirk Davidow (1-1) in front of Scott
Noseworthy, Scott Delameter, Steve See, William Oberg, Pasha Afshar,
Dave Starkey and Mike Gonzalez.
Kirk Waymire swept the Over-50 Novice class by big margins. Waymire’s
runaway wins may be good for the ego, but they put him squarely in the
eyes of the promoter’s advancement list. Mitch Evans was second overall
with Steve Johnston, Steve Sussman, Michael Mosca, Jim Roth, Brian
Martin, Brian Underdahl, John Tookey and Lee Amarardio rounding out the
top ten.
In what was the smallest Over-50 Expert race of the year, Arizona's Doug Goodman (329) went 1-1 to take the win over a top ten of Willie Amaradio (2-2), Fred Nichols (3-3), Dennis Boulware (5-4), Greg Groom (4-8), Ron Lawson (8-5), Bob Rutten (7-6), Randy Skinner (6-9), Greg Nelson (0-7) and George Kohler (10-10).
Dustin Williams won the 450 Novice class when first moto winner Daniel
D’Agostino got a third in moto two. The 250 Novice class fell to Gunnar
Johnston’s 1-1 in front of Anthony Perez (2-2), Josh Gridley (3-3), Nick
Serrano (4-4)...well, you get the point the rest of the way through the
class.
Three-time Over-60 World Champion decided to race his old Kawasaki KX500 in the Over-60 Experts. He won.
REM does not race next weekend because of the Lucas Oil Offroad
Championship being held on the truck track. REM will return to action on
Saturday, August 13. For more info go to www.remsatmx.com.
Photos by Dan Alamangos
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