Articles - Race Reports

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It all started with the scenic drive west for me out RT 322/22 to the PVR facility. Even though a bit long, I do love the drive out for me to the track.  It has some of the most beautiful mountains to roll threw as any place in PA. And you can count on two things when going to PVR. A very nice well run track and stiff competition no matter what class you are in. And this week was no different. The Pro-Am race surely added to the depth in the A classes. But with all but 450 entries, no class was without fast guys and girls in them. The race had some big names, and some racers from all over the country. To just name a few, Justin Pips from Madera CA., Ty Tyrrell from Winslow IL., Matt Turner Atlanta GA., Cameron Rodigous Las Vegas NV., and son of a former Arena cross champion Jason Langford from Palestine TX. Jason took a wicked crash that ended his day by leaving him knocked out for a short period of time as well. After being checked out at the local hospital he did return and was planning on staying in PA. for the Steel City national this weekend coming. Tough kid!

The weather was stellar to say the least on Sunday. I do know storms rolled threw the area later Saturday afternoon and made things a bit of a mess. But it just fine come Sunday's races. So lets get to the MDRA race action from PVR.

Is that Ryan Dungy's factory #10 RMZ250? Nope, but it might as well have been for the 250 and Open C class guys. Mathew Toth #10 just laid down a beating in both C classes with 1-1-1 across the board. Mathew also went 1-2-2 in the Schoolboy 4 stroke class as well. Some pretty stout riding from this #10 RMZ rider. I saw Mathew last year, I think at Happy Ramblers. And while pretty quick and still on small bikes, by no means did he have the speed he has on the bigger bikes now. Very nice rides by Mathew all day long. And he has adapted well to the bigger bikes so far.

This is the #621 of Rily Ellinger who is from Almogorodo NM. Wow, that's a hike and a half to say the least. But Rily's day full of high's and low's. Moto one she was running second to Taylor Levic's #424. And about half way threw the moto  Rily's #621 came up the hill in first. Taylor either stalled the bike, crashed or maybe both. Either way Rily took moto one's win on her RMZ. The low part was, she was up here with TX. rider Jason Langford who was taken to the local hospital after a wicked get off to be checked out. And like all friends would do, she missed moto two to tend to the down ride of Langford. Her 1-DNS left her fifth on the day.

The #887 of Thomas Coluzzi rode hard for a 2-2-2 in the schoolboy 2 stroke class on his RM super mini. It is very tough to take on a 125 bike if the riders any good at all. And the Coluzzi family was a victim of a home robbery earlier this year were thieves made off with I think 3 of Thomas' bikes. One was a new KTM125!! Thomas is a tough, good rider and has stuck it out threw the tough year, as did the entire family. Something no one wants to ever have happen to anyone! Keep your head up Thomas, nice ride!

Photographer Ashley Boyen was on hand to support her bf Dustin, and bro, Tyler. For the MDRA/Pro-Am event. Ashley always shoots great work so be sure to check it out Ashleyboyen.com. I also saw Jim Bull on hand from JimBullPhotos.com Both are two of the best we have in the area and you can check out the work on either of the sites they run.

The #56 of Steven Gretchen not only looked good, but he rode good as well. Holding off the very tough Ryan Clites #14 for the Junior Mini overall. The #56 machine got good starts and when he didn't, he made the passes he had too. Very nice ride for the RockStar #56 RM85 of Steven.

Here is the #36 KXF450 of Bob Hess is leading the AMS #117 rider of Darren Taughinbaugh in the Open B class. Both guys were at the front of the pack and swapped back and forth a few times before Bob finally settled into a 2-3-2 and Darren's #117 went 3-5-4. Both great rides by MDRA regulars.

This is the 50cc classes oil injected if I am not mistaken. Both 4-6 and the 7-8 classes get ready to get off the gate for moto one on the day. For these guys, this concrete start is the greatest. Clean, smooth and flat! And the PW's have the most trouble getting around. But even if rough, deep rutted lines they all did a great job and made it threw just fine. The 4-6 class would end up Cameron Davis 1st, Chase Yentzer 2nd and Gauge Keith 3rd. The top three of the 7-8 class was James Shockey, Caleb Keck and Jason Neidigh in that order. Great job by all the kids!

Here is an all but dominated class by KTM's for sure now days. Mark Hushon's Jr. #29 and Brock Papi's #144 show you proof of that. The KTM riders swapped motos on this day with Hushon coming out on top of Papi for the overall. Them second motos will get you once in a while for sure, but that is motorcross. Both kids are very quick and real close in speed. A good race to watch for fans. Great ride kids.

Here's former LL's champ Ray Nieble #40, who had a top 5 ride in the 35+A class and won the 45+A class. And though Ray put in a good day it was not without incident. I saw ray swap right before the bridge twice in a row. And I swear( along with others standing with me )  he was going down hard!! Yet somehow the 45+ rider held on to the big KXF450. The swaps were back to back in the exact same place. Needless to say Ray didn't want to see if 3 is really the charm?!. And later on I saw him grab some head shake, that made even Ray shake his head. Maybe some fine tuning is needed on the Cernic's/Pro Action backed KXF 450?. Be cause Ray's shorts surely were soiled on this day, a few times.

The concession area at the PVR facility is one of the best at any track. With great friendly help, and good food. What more can you ask for? A photo and names? Well I got some of that. This here is the lovely Faith given a big old hug to co-helper "backhoe"?. That's all I got from the wily Cernic's hat waring veteran? You no how nicknames can go, or maybe he was part of the witness protection program? Either way he sure loved the hug!! Thanks to both Faith and backhoe, however you got the name my friend.

This Team Green #27 ride had me do a double take when I saw it be cause it reminded me of just last year when P.J. Larson sported both the ride and the number! Though this is surely not Larson's, if Lowell fallows the same path as P.J. I am sure he'd be happy. I think P.J. just scored his first top 10. And I am sure Lowell would love to do that too. Real soon!! And I for one, think Lowell can do it as well. Good luck #27!!

That is it for the first update on the PVR MDRA race. I want to thank the PVR staff and crew and most of all Jeff Cernic. The MDRA, Jeff and Rod Yenzter for all the hard work to make this series happen. It gets better and better each and every year. With some of the best track in the area inside the MDRA. The event was great, with a bunch of great racing in many classes all day long. I saw very few injures and when I did see them, they were attended too quickly. Very well run race and a great job by all the kids and guys and girls competing. Sleepy Hollow will the next MDRA event. Next Monday, labor day weekend! Many of you will be going to Miles Mtn. Saturday and Sunday fro the final Ultimate Series round. And then beat tail south to Sleepy Hollow MX on Monday. That is the GMXR.net plan as well. Be safe and hope to see you all there.