Mudfest taking it's toll on the Veteran...

Finally got my wish for a wet race. You know what they say, be careful what you wish.

Up to friday, Hollister had received a grand total of 0.00″ rain. That all changed saturday morning with a downpour of over an inch of rain. Sunday I woke up to clear and cold in San Jose. Got to the track in Hollister @ 6:45 for an 8:30 start(which ended up being about 9:30). The start line was anywhere between 3 and 8 inches of slop. I was right in the middle with Rob Chavez to my right and Nick Thom to my left. Mike Sage had already stolen my spot to the far left. When the gun went off, I got a great jump and entered the first turn in the top 5. I got out of shape just before leaving the track and Kurt Ashley passed me. At that point it was Kevin Yarnell, Mike Sage, Nick Thom, Kurt Ashley, Me and Mike Brumit for about one quarter of the first lap. About then, I was passed by Brumit. Soon after that, we overshot a turn allowing most of the class by us. The rest of the lap was a comedy of errors which included 3 crashes and a stall. Near the end of the lap, I caught Rob Chavez. I made a move on the MX track which was the end of the 10 mile lap, 9th place.

Lap 2. Caught up to Brumit . Noticed he was shaking his hands do to numbness. I knew I needed to make a move. Dove in hard on a 180 degree turn swapped a little paint and squeezed by. Shortly there after I stalled it again when I got brake checked by a guy I was trying to pass. There goes Brumit again. We went back and forth a few times and passed a few guys along the way. On the MX track, I passed Dan Marshall and Mike Brumit, 6th place.

Lap 3. About halfway through lap 2, I hit a sharp rock and popped my rear tire. It sucked coming down the steep sections, but was still ridable. I started riding really good on lap 3. I passed Alex Lear and Aaron Mattson and Nick Thom and got into 3rd. No more than a mile after I had passed several A and B sportsmen and FINALLY gotten open track ahead of me, some young A rider t-boned me and put me down hard. I was trapped under my bike unable to get out. Mattson, Marshall, Lear and Brumit all went back by as i lay there helpless. For what it’s worth, the kid did come ask how I was and lifted the bike off of me. Back in 7th and now beat up and PISSED!!!! Got my wind and rythm back at the end of the lap. Brumit had gone off the track and was nice enough to let his bike land on him. Back into 6th at the finish line.

Lap 4. By this time I was delerious from anger and pain. I ditched my goggles after a couple miles. I heard a four stroke coming and knew it was the overall race leader coming. It was Brian Garrahan. He caught me in a good spot on a fast road and I picked up my pace hoping he would pull me closer to the next rider. It worked. I caught up to Aaron Mattson and made a pass when he made a mistake. He then proceded to hound me for the rest of the race. I pushed super hard to keep him behind. We eventually caught up to Alex Lear. I followed him for a long time, as he was faster than me going down the steep stuff. Everywhere else I would make up a little ground. Without goggles though I couldn’t get close without getting dirt in my eyes. With about a couple miles to go I decided to put some pressure on Alex, as Aaron was all over me. Finally, on a tight left hander, Alex got into the sloppy line and I wormed by with a little contact. I didn’t see if Aaron also passed Alex or not. I entered the MX track and could hear a 2 stroke all over me. In desperation, I road over my head to hold him off. After almost taking both of us out with a pathetic display of riding, he blew by me. To my relief, it was Pat Garrahan lapping me. I relaxed, but soon realized that Aaron was right there too. I dug down one last time to hold him off by 3 seconds. 4th place finish.

As all members of the CKR Team jockeyed for position throughout the season in their respective classes, but it was Robert Brumit who kept a cool head and rode to numerous top 3 finishes in the Senior “A” class, holding a commanding lead going into the summer break.  Robert was able to keep his composure through the fall season and took the Senior “A” championship.

Steve Bonita showed his speed and style all year by putting his Husaberg up front and on the podium several times.  Steve suffered an injury at the Nevada “Toulon Two Step” but as Steve does, he fought through the pain and held onto to win the Vet “A” championship.     

Michael Brumit JR dominated the Spring 250 4 Stroke class and the Fall 250 2 stroke class wrapping up both Championships and earning his yellow plates.

Jakob Mc Coid rode his last year in the youth class and took the championship on the “AA” youth division.

Brandon Roberts took the championship in the “A-85” class and finished 2^nd overall in the series.  Brandon also traveled to Tennessee and rode the GNCC race at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch.  Brandon put in 2 solid rides and won both his classes and finished in the top 20 overall in both races.

During the summer break Kurt Ashley traveled to Glen Helen Raceway and competed in the 2011 Western States Police and Fire Games.  Kurt scored a Gold medal in the MX class and a silver medal in the Cross Country event.     

The fall season saw two CKR riders win their first race in the “A” class. 

Paul Van Horsen won the Prime Time at Metcalf Cycle Park and Kurt Ashley won the Deer Creek GP @ Frank Raines Cycle Park.  

The courses challenged all of us throughout the year and throughout hard crashes, mechanical failures and injuries, the CKR team was able to pull off 7 class championships, 3 second’s, 2 third’s, 1 fourth, 2 fifth’s and a ninth place class finishes.  To top this off 5 of the top 20 red plates go to CKR riders. 

2011 Class champions

Open Expert – John Sicley

Vet Expert – Steve Bonita

Senior Expert – Robert Brumit

250 C 4 stroke – Michael Brumit Jr (Spring Series)

250 C 2 stroke – Michael Brumit Jr (Fall Series) Advanced to “B” Class

Jakob Mc Coid – AA Youth

Brandon Roberts 1^st – A 85

2011 Runner up’s

Nick Thom – 2^nd Vet Expert

Brett Murdaugh – 3^rd Vet Expert

Paul Van Horsen – 2^nd Senior Expert

Mike Brumit – 3^rd Senior Expert

Kurt Ashley – 4^th Senior Expert

Tyler Brumit – 5th 250 A

Cliff Sloma – 9^th C Vet plus (spring season)

Kaylee Silverberg – 2^nd A girls

Tyler Toline 5^th C 85 (7-11)

First time “A” race winners

Paul Van Horsen first win at Metcalf – Prime Time

Kurt Ashley – First win at Frank Raines

Red Plates

John Sicley – # 9

Tyler Brumit – # 14

Robert Brumit – # 16

Mike Brumit – # 17

Paul Van Horsen – # 19

Youth Overall

1^st- Jakob Mc Coid

2^nd – Brandon Roberts

Special Thanks to Pit Specialist Marc Hiles for the continued support and always being there in the pits ready to go. (especially when Sicley’s pit crew abandons him)  

Lastly,  James T Perreira has prepared a Ballot for you to vote on for 2011.

Vote for one in each catagory please: (cast your vote in the comments section below by putting in catagory and name selected)
 
Rider of the Year:
Robert Brumit
Cody Webb
John Sicely
Steve Bonita
Justin Bonita
 
Youth Rider of the Year:
Brandon Roberts
Jakob McCoid
Kalee Silverberg
Tyler Toline
 
Most Improved:
Paul Van Horsen
Michael Brumit
Brad Rosbach
Brandon Roberts
 
Fountain of Youth Award: (You Guys are Old, Start acting your age!)
John Sicely
Mike Brumit
Nick Simon
Nick Thom
 
Next Champion Award:
Paul Van Horsen
Brian Toline
Kurt Ashley
Justin Bonita

1st Place in Class at Loretta Lynns 2011 GNCC

Brandon rode the C250 class, on Friday 11/4 was his first race which started at 10:00 am, the course was 10 ½ miles long and there were 242 riders in that race.  Brandon started off mid pack, there were 2 river crossings, road crossings, forest full of trees and of course the Loretta Lynn’s Motocross track.  After the first lap, Brandon was in the lead by 18 seconds.  Lap 2, still in the lead and getting a bigger lead over 2^nd, Brandon ended up doing 5 laps and was ahead of 2^nd by 4mins.  He finished 11^th O/A.

On Sunday the course was 12 ½ miles long, deeper river crossings and more challenging course since the quads had tore it up the day before.  He lined up again at 10:00 am and in this race there were 268 riders, Brandon got the hole shot in this race and never looked backed.  On the 3^rd lap he had a pretty good get off after he hit a tree, but he still won his class and finished O/A 13^th!

Two First Place Trophy's For for Brandon!

Brandon loved racing back there, true cross country racing and he loved the motocross track.  He can’t wait to go back!  When he got off the bike Brian Garrahan asked him “Are you tired?” his reply “No, I am ready to go again!”

Brandon with his Coach Brian Garrahan

It was definitely a great experience for him and I hoping he will be able go back again.

Congratulations Brandon!  

Sean and Debbie Roberts have been so terriffic in helping you with your XC racing quest.    They know how hard you’ve been working for these kinds of results.     There is no doubt how proud they must be.  I am sure this is the first of many wins to come for you…

Kane

Congratulations to Paul Van Horsen for Winning the Senior Expert class.  Paul’s Moto and XC skills shined as he won the class with 47 seconds to spare as he crossed the line ahead of Mike Sage.  Everything lined up for a great race for Paul who’s “Fog Training” really paid off! 

Through the Fog #27 was right up front! Battling with Sage and Silverberg for the lead...

Van Horsen with his typical great Start! He is top Left # 27, Silverberg 2k & Sage 121 on Van Horsens Flank...

 In the Pro Class Travis Coy and Justin Bonita battled hard for the OA Trav ending up 2nd by only 19 seconds and Justin 4th by again only 34 seconds.    That is close for a ~2.5 hour race…  Nice work Boys!

The Open Expert Class was dominated yet again by Mr. John Sicley who took the Checker with 4:12 to spare.  (What an Animal!) In the Vet Expert Class Brian “ Too Big” Toline pulled off one of his ”off the couch” wins on his new KTM 300xc.  Brain was being chased down by “Pretty Boy” Steve Bonita on his “Chrome Pony” as he finished a close 2nd. 

Again Congratulations to Paul and Brian for having a fantastic Race and bringing home the #1 plates.   Next Up- Frank Raines, Deer Creek XC. Round 10 of the MSR/D36 Western Regional XC series.  Best of luck to all our CKR racers.  To learn more about our CKR riders click on Team on our home page.

Nick Thom wrote in with a great re-cap of the event.  In his own words…

thank you, Thank you very much

I’m back and it feels good.  Okay, the knees and back are sore but I mean mentally it feels good.  At the last race (in April), I didn’t like the KTM plus I had a flat front tire and I just wasn’t feeling the love.  Since then I’ve ditched the orange bike, bought a Yamaha, and had a little work done to my left knee.

At 4000 feet above sea level it was 80 degrees and the sun was intense.  Like stay out of the sun intense, unfortunately the track was 95% in the sun, it was watered but rough.  I lined up on the left side and it was go time.  I actually thought I was late off the line as I kind of bogged it and had to re-clutch but everyone else was sleeping and I went into the first right turn in second.  The leading bike drifted wide and I came out in first.  Over two table tops and then through a rhythm section, double, double, double, I nailed it but was a little sloppy into the right turn at the end and that same bike went back by, then just totally checked out and left the rest of us to fight over second place. Several turns on the sand course and an RMZ demoted me to third.  We hit a monster uphill but the soil was either loose or wet and I had to downshift to 3rd, a four stroke was giving me pressure.  Down the backside, the two leaders were gone, we hit a few turns and went over a dusty rock pile to run down a creek bed.  The dust from the traffic made it treacherous by hiding the rocks, but I cleaned it and hit some rough and rocky jeep roads then climbed a hill to get back on the mx track.  Picked a good line on the downhill, cleared a few doubles, made it over the rock pile and down into the southern creek bed then gassed it hard in the big turns down in the flat to come around in 3rd still under pressure from the four stroke. 

The creek beds and rock pile were killing me, the uphill was fun but sapped hella energy.  First time up my right arm cramped up, it got easier as the dirt either packed in or dried out and I was able to hold 5th over the jump once, but mostly doing it in 4th.  The rhythm section was tough, I geeked it twice and had to single everything and twice they watered the turn at the entrance and I had to slow down and single everything.  Once I doubled twice but hit a hole and almost lost it on the landing and had to single out.  Let’s just say every lap I simply hoped for the best in that section, it was unpredictable.  I was great on the rough straights, the Yamaha suspension soaked up the whoops and holes pretty well, but my corner speed was dismal and I made a few small mistakes; like twice I screwed up on the rock pile by the southern creek bed.

The four stroke that chased me on the first lap fell behind to be replaced by Brett Murdagh (on another four stoke) who gave me pressure for laps 2 and 3.  On the second lap the RMZ in second place stalled and had trouble getting started again, moving me into second.  I pushed as hard as I could for four laps, not even taking time to get a drink, and then physically I hit the wall.  Lap 5 was murder, I started drinking but it wasn’t working and I was actually planning on pulling into the pit and resting when I dropped the bike in a right hander and got passed by Brett.  Brett had beaten me in a team race back in June and had edged me out for second in the Oasis race back in the fall and I really didn’t want to lose to him again so I picked it up and chased him for half a lap until we got to the uphill.  I had a smoother line out of the corner and passed him on the hill but coming down the backside we caught a slower rider and Brett made a pass back.  I followed him down the creek bed and into the jeep road section where I railed the outside of a right hander to take the inside line on the following left hander and shut him out.  I held the gas on and pulled a gap on him but I was beat.  At the end of the lap I was praying that the race was almost over; but when I came through the clock said one hour left.  We were only halfway done? Oh man, I had to do six more laps; this was going to be tough.

The entire second half of the race I was on the lookout for Brett.  I took it easy in the creek bed and drank a lot of water and when someone wanted to pass me I let them by easy, but only after I checked to make sure it wasn’t Brett.  I don’t know that I could have fought him off even if I tried but thankfully he never caught me again and I was able to come home in second.  Brett took third and the RMZ with the restart problem took fourth.  Off road ace, and series points leader Steve Bonita must have wrecked or something.  At the end of lap 8 he was 37 seconds behind me and he was putting in lap times 10-20 seconds faster than mine which gave him plenty of time to catch me but on lap 9 he dropped back several minutes and he never recovered. I made up some points on him, and when you consider the throw away races we’re pretty much tied for first now.

I parked next to Dan Marshal who was doing his first A race and was entered into the senior class.  I used to race that class and I thought I was all experienced and told him how tough that class was and how this group of guys continually kill it in that class.  So don’t you know it? Dan goes out and takes 2^nd and beats Paul, Kurt, and Robert who typically put me to shame and are the reason I don’t race that class.  Way to make me look like an idiot guys, thanks.

Longtime friend and travel companion to this race Matt Reinhart had pretty much the worst start possible to his race in the B class.  I think he gave everyone else about a 15 second head start and then worked his way through traffic with some incredibly consistent lap times to pass half the guys in his class and finish 7^th.  He said he didn’t feel it for this one and it looked to me like his flow was off.  Even with no flow, a good start would have netted him 5^th and if he was feeling it he could have done even better.  Before the race we were looking at the rhythm section and I was urging him to double everything but after my trials through there I think he was pretty smart to ignore me on this one.

Next race:  San Jose 10/9