mx775

Fallon, Nevada; August 10-11, 2007 

With 15 racers and a $10,000 purse on the line for two nights of racing, the Pro classes were anybody’s game. Or at least they would have been, had Tiger Lacey (221) not been so against losing anything all weekend. Lacey won every heat and main event he rode to claim a $3,000 cut of the purse--the largest amount possible for a single rider.

Lacey mastered the compact Fallon layout early in the weekend and then used steadily good starts to put himself in front during nearly every lap of his motos. His style was decidedly smooth and methodical, and no other pro was able to match his consistently fast and mistake-free laps.

Behind him, other notables on the weekend’s podiums included veteran pro Greg Schnell (second in Friday’s 250F main and third in Saturday’s,) Team Green rider Tye Hames (third in Friday’s 250F and 450 features and second in Saturday’s 250F event,) Hollister, California’s Billy Jurevich (second in both 450 races,) and, the sole local pro to score a podium, Nathan Tiearney (third in Saturday’s 450 main.)

Speaking of Tiearney, the local favorite found bad luck coming at him at all angles. After suffering mechanical failures with both his CRF250 on Friday and with a borrowed Honda on Saturday, Saturday’s 450 main was Tiearney’s last chance to shine, and he did so via an aggressive pass on Hames to take the third spot late in the race.

In the Intermediate classes, it looked like Friday’s 450 victory would belong to Taylor Bittner--until a yellow flag came out just as he rocketed up the face of one of the circuit’s more menacing doubles. Trying to slow down but still half-committed, Bittner’s YZF launched tentatively skyward, just far enough to dig its cases violently into the face of the second jump. Rolling to an ominous stop, Bittner dropped his bike and fell to the ground, both wrists badly broken.

After a confusing situation with an on-again/off-again red flag, Chico, California’s Colin Clay scored the victory, and then backed it up on Saturday with another win. In both cases, Wayne Appleton claimed second, and then went on to claim each night’s 250F victory.

The mini action featured Dylan Galliett and Kole Ackerson swapping each evenings 65cc Beginner wins, with Galliett topping Friday’s event and Ackerson earning the victory on Saturday. In the process, Galliett also sealed the Triple Crown 65cc Beginner title, as Saturday’s racing marked the close of the five-race series. Ackerson earned the second spot for the series.

The weekend also featured some solid freestyle action courtesy of X Games medalist Matt Buyten and local heroes Kenny Bell and Greg Garrison. After all three riders worked up the crowd with countless variations, Buyten ended the night on a high note for the fans with some very smooth backflips.

Or so I heard--I was too banged up after crashing out both nights to drag my camera out to see it.

Here are more images from the weekend:

Ryan Ferris was one of the local Pros to ride strongly amid the carpetbaggers (and occasional puff of dust.) He earned sixth in both 250F mains. 

MC Adam Portue chats up Schnell after Friday's 250F main.

Bittner's cases left a nasty mark on the face of this jump.

Galliett spots his landing in Saturday's 65cc Beginner main. 

Sure, I missed Buyten's backflips, but I did catch this extended nac-nac by Garrison.

30+ Intermediate Steve Borjeson floats in front of the lights.

The fan got to meet the pros up close at the post-race autograph signings.

The 450 Intermediates dice for position.

Kenny Bell had his tricks dialed.

Jesse Leeper ran out front in the Junior classes.

Derek Woolford shoots through darkness.

Buyten had plenty of conventional tricks to complement his backflips.

At the end of every main, Lacey was all alone at the top. 

For full race results, visit silverpeakmx.com.