WINNEMUCCA RANCH ROAD (Nov. 2) – After a two-year absence the desert racers of MRANN returned to the Moon Rocks area. For years it’s been the site of their traditional Halloween weekend event and was always a fun event.
Tucker Larrieu was all but uncatchable as he roared away to score victory in the Purge 100.
Cole Carmichael, sporting a Halloween costume, won the Amateur overall in the Moon Rocks MRANN race.
Jarred Tadman, in his first desert race won the Novice class at Moon Rocks.
Elle Belingheri hoists the overall winner’s trophy Tucker Larrieu won at the MRANN Moon Rocks race.
Veteran Motocross racer Layne Kolbet competed in his first desert race during MRANN’s return to Moon Rocks.
Jon Stringer, in is Pirate’s costume and Laura Townsend, who raced on Saturday, were the winner of both costume contests. Their reward was a new bike stand.
Saturday was a little tough on those racers that don’t compete on Sunday but the rain and snow set up the dirt for the Big Bikes. And that was highlighted by near perfect racing weather.
The day was also time for the young lions to shine as teenaged riders took three out of the top four finishing positions.
Finishing first was Tucker Larrieu, who’s been racing on the desert since he was a youngster. Since he usually competes in other series this young rider has stepped up his conditioning program.
“I’ve been racing Enduro Cross events so I started to go to Crossfit and work out more than I usually do. It really helped in the whoops for sure,” he said. “RMS has helped me out quite a bit and they invited me to this race but I broke my heel so didn’t know how it was going work out.”
Apparently it worked out quite well as he also caught the hare and earned dinner for four at P.J.’s.
Then he thanked his parents, everybody that helps him and sponsors Kline,, Fast Company, Works Connection, RMS, Dirt Trucks and Monster.
After the rider’s meeting everyone lined up in their respective groups. As usual the banner dropped the line up front took off but this time there was no dust to speak of.
Mason Stone got the hole shot and led the pack up the hill and onto the 25-mile long course. Halfway through the first lap Larrieu was on point with veteran Dan Capparelli second followed by Kyle Townsend and Drew Chattin.
Soon Chattin took third with Townsend close behind him while, up front a slight bobble put Capparelli briefly on point.
Stone would slip back as Zane Roberts took over fourth. Larrieu was able to retake the lead and from that point on there would be no catching him.
The battle between Chattin and Townsend was hot through the entire race but late on the last lap Townsend took over third dropping Chattin to fourth.
After chasing the leader virtually the entire race, Capparelli scored a solid second.
“I think Tucker made a mistake and I got by him in one place but of course he got back by me. I tried to stay with him but that little punk just kept pulling away from me,” Capparelli said with a laugh. “Everyone was pretty good about getting out of the way or I was able to get a good line around them.”
Then he thanked his wife and son for their help as well as sponsors Dirt Tricks, Sierra BMW, Fly and FMF.
Further back 3rd place Townsend said, “I got a terrible start and was trying to pass Capparelli but hit a rock and never could make my time back up. But I passed everybody in the first two miles then with Drew and those guys were just dicing.”
Then he thanked his parents, RMS, Axo, Works Connection and the Tank Slappers motorcycle club.
Chattin, who is 16-years old was a close fourth place at the end.
“I led him (Townsend) the whole time until the whoop section over there. He got me and I tried chasing him down again but he just had too much energy,” he said. “I need to work out more and Josh Morros, who takes me on bike rides, is going to start taking me to the gym. The course was solid whoops although there were some canyons with rocks and that was pretty good.”
Then he thanked his family, Reno KTM, RMS and 100%.
After the experts took off the Amateurs were launched. In the group was 15-year-old Cole Carmichael, who charged out ahead of the pack and was the first amateur to finish all three laps. He was credited with 23rd overall.
“This is my first desert race as I normally ride motocross and I got a really bad start so just kind of rode my way up,” he said. “But I ride with a lot of expert riders, desert racers so I kind of used to it.”
Then he thanked his parents and grandfather for letting him race and sponsors, MX Graphics, Skoke, and O’Neal Racing.
Only 10-spots further back, in 33rd was 17-year-old Jarred Tadman, the first Novice to finish all three laps.
Any rider that wanted to be counted as a finisher had to complete only two of the three laps but to score a class win, most would have to complete all three laps.
“The track as good, the whoops were brutal but they put on a good course,” he said. “And I passed a lot of people.”
Then he thanked everyone that’s helped him as well as Buch Heishman with Snow Wind Race Team.
Another special guest racer was Layne Kolbet. A long time veteran motocross racer and president of the local Over The Hill Gang Chapter he was riding in his first ever desert race.
Kolbet did complete two laps and after finishing he said, “This is harder than motocross as there’s no spots to rest, ever, but I loved it as it was awesome and so much fun. Going up the waterfalls was a someabitch but going down them is all right. I’ve never crashed so many times but I’d do it again and I think everybody should do one of these.”
He also had to struggle with one broken foot peg so it was a challenging day for him.
Elle Belingheri presented Larrieu with his winner’s trophy soon after he finished the race. Then both winners of the costume contest, Jon Stringer on Sunday and Laura Townsend on Saturday, received new bike stands for their trophies.
• Despite the weather Saturday’s program was run and young Chase Cannizzaro, who usually races in motocross, topped the Pee Wee field. The next race combined the Mini Bikes, Saturday Women and Bombers.
Taylor Kemp took the first overall, as well as winning the Women’s class while Mikey Hillyer topped the Mini Bikes.
((THE RESULTS POSTED BELOW ARE ALL UNOFFICIAL AS MRANN HAD NOT POSTED ITS OFFICIAL RESULTS WHEN THIS ARTICLE WAS COMPLETED. ONCE THAT HAPPENS THE SECOND PART OF THIS ARTICLE WILL BE POSTED WITH THE RESULTS, INCLUDING CLASSES AND MORE PHOTOS.))
RESULTS
Motorcycle Racing Association of Northern Nevada – Round 7
Moon Rocks Area, Nov. 1-2
Saturday, Nov. 1*
Pee Wees – 1. Chase Cannizzaro, 2. Austin Hough, 3. Tristan Morrice, 4. Jesse Miller, 5. Isaac Frandsen, 6. Brooke Davis, 7. Joradn Maas, 8. Dalton Legenbauer, 9. Seth Rigsby, 10. Ave Delaney
Mini Bike/Saturday Women/Bombers – 1. Taylor Kemp, 2. Chrystal Ponsock, 3. Mikey Hillyer, 4. Channel Honea, 5. Raven Hyatt, 6. Alek Simone, 7. Danny Hillver, 8. Ryan Palmer, 9. Ethan Lewis, 10. Bryce Tremaine
• Sunday, Nov. 2*
Overall Results – 1. Tucker Larrieu, 2. Dan Caparelli, 3. Kyle Townsend, 4. Drew Chattin, 5. Zane Roberts, 6. Willy Heiss, 7. Corey Fletcher, 8. Tanner Tremaine, 9. Ricky Dahlberg, 10. Justin Miller, 11. Justin Miller, 12. Josh Wilson, 13. Joe Gatie, 14. Jake Osborn, 15. Danny Beever, 16. Jack Reader, 17. Tony Weatherman, 18. Titan McKibben, 19. Robert McAdamS, 20. Caleb Frandsen, 23. Cole Carmichael, 33. Jarred Tadman
• – Classes not listed.
