Desert motorcycle racers came together to race in the second event of the new season.
When MRANN set up shop at Blue Water Flat, located northwest of Toulon, the lakebed was dry. Last year it rained so the area was unusable but this time Mother Nature provided almost perfect weather.
After taking the winning the overall race Levi Hutchings said, “The course was awesome, I had a blast. The single track was just fantastic, the washes were good, just enough road to take a break, I felt great. Didn’t have a single problem out there and I’m just going to do MRANN this year.”
Levi Hutchings roared away to claim first overall in MRANN’s second race of the season.
Then he thanked his wife Brittany and his family along with sponsors West World Industries, FRF, Rad Design Graphics and TBT Suspension.
At this race the starting line faced the pits. After the banner is dropped signaling the start, riders kicked their bikes to life and headed for a 180 degree sweeping turn around a small hill. From there they roared across the edge of the lakebed toward the course.
First on point for the experts was Jacob Kinkel, who lead after round in the hill. But soon he was passed by the flying Levi Hutchings.
When the Experts started Jacob Kinkel was first on point when the field rounded a small hill and headed up the lake bed.
When the Amateur line started, after waiting for the dust to blow away Keith Alosi and Wayne Weidemier were dueling for the lead after they rounded the hill and were heading up the lakebed.
Keith Alosi (494) and Wayne Weidemier were at the front when the Amateur line started.
Then it was time for the Novice riders to get their turn and Ian Pri was leaving everyone in his dust after the field rounded the first turn.
Ian Pri leads the Novice ranks when that line started their race.
At the end of the first 55 mile loop Hutchings had an almost three minute lead over second place. He later admitted he had no idea how big his lead was.
Jason Alosi was second but less than a minute behind was Dan Capparelli, who was charging from a not so good start. Behind them Irving Powers, who has returned to racing, was having a strong ride.
Most riders said they really enjoyed the course that had a new 10-mile long section added to it.
Coming into the pits off the lakebed there was a right, left combination riders had to make. However, despite the best efforts of Stephen Tichenor many of the riders blew that turn and sometime even almost got lost when they didn’t turn where the arrows marking the course were.
Dan Capparelli on his way to scoring a second overall at the recent MRANN race.
For Capparelli the race was just long enough as he motor expired right as the got the checkered flag that signaled his second overall finish.
“That was a really, really fun course but I blew my bike up just now. The course was fantastic, every part of it was good, the last dry lake bed I could have done without just because not it’s going to cost me a few bucks but it was fun,” he said.
Asked about the future he added that he’ll go with Hutchings to Oregon to compete in some enduro races and maybe an ISDE event as well as the nationals.
Then he thanked sponsors, Recluse, Flex Handlebars, TBT Suspension, Northwest Mine Supply and O’Neil.
Next across the line was Irving Powers, who is back after taking some time off.
Irving Powers had a successful return to racing when he placed third overall.
“I missed it so it was a good reason to come back,” he said. “It was a good course, well marked, had fun and I’m very shocked at how a lot of people are riding right now as they’ve really stepped up their game. It was sketchy at first, had a really bad start, the dust was tough but once we got up there it was fun for everyone and the top eight dues were ripping.”
Then he explained he’ll race again at the VCGP and thanked his girlfriend, friends that support him as well as McCoy’s Offroad, MX Trophies and the Trail Blazers.
The first Amateur to complete both laps was Brycee Walker but he wasn’t too far ahead of Jake Himphill, the second amateur.
Brycee Walker was the first amateur to complete both laps at the MRANN race.
“I saw him (Himphill) on that last dirt road before the flat, he was coming in but I had the advantage on him in the dust down the dirt road so I was able to pull on him there,”he said. “I was telling Randy Wood all last night that I was going to catch him and I was almost there. The course was great, better than anything last year, way fast and awesome.”
Then he thanked one of his riding partners Randy Wood, who finished four places ahead of him and his girlfriend Sarah.
Close behind was the second amateur Jake Himphill, who said, “He (Walker) was the last yellow plate because when I came into the second check they said I was second in. So as soon as I saw the yellow plate I charged and when we hit the dirt road I just couldn’t see, he was gone on the 4-stroke. Then I ran out of gas on the same spot and there’s a little bit on that side so I had shake it and jump it to get it over there, so I ran out at the exact same spot on both laps.”
Then he thanked MX Trophies for their support and help in getting graphics for his bike.
Further down the line was Brandon Driscoll, the first Novice to complete both laps.
Brendan Driscoll races through the dust on his way to winning the Novice class.
“It was great, a fun course,” he said. “This like my first year doing these sections so I don’t know what the news section was. The start and finish are fun as you’re running like 90 miles an hour for a couple of miles. In the second lap a lot of those parts got really beat up and there was a lot of side hill for a while but it was fun.”
Then he thanked his father Jim and both roommates for coming out to support him.
Beth Legenbauer may have been the only Woman Amateur and if not she was the first to finish both laps. In a MRANN race to be classed as a finisher one must complete only one lap but to win a class a rider usually has to finish both laps of the course.
“It was good, it was long, it was a lot of chop this race but a lot of fast stuff so good, good,” she said. “The 10-miles of new was really fun, it was real choppy because it’s not broken in real well yet but it was awesome.”
She added the two kind of waterfall canyons were he favorite parts. Then she thanked her husband Justin as well as supporters RMS, CMS and the Tank Slappers.
There was racing on Saturday. Due to the lack of names available the results are spotty at best but once the official results are posted they’ll be in an article along with the video from the event. We apologize for this so until then all results are unofficial and subject to review.
OTHER RACING NEWS
- On Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race Las Vegas native Kurt Busch started on the pole and finished fourth. His younger brother Kyle came from 39th, had a shot at the win but wound up third.
In Saturday’s Xfinity event Kyle Busch started on pole and won the race.
• As a head’s up to motocross racers, Livfast Exit 28 will not be holding practice sessions this weekend. The crew is prepping the track for the first race in the Northern Nevada MX season.
• Saturday event 8-year-old LaLa Turner raced in Atlanta during the KTM Junior Racer event. She got the hole shot and was running second until the bike got away from her.
Still she was able to get up and finish fourth in the event. Here is a short photo gallery from her big night.
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RESULTS*:
Blue Water Flat – MRANN Round 2
- Sunday, Feb. 28
+ Overall Big Bikes: 1. Levi Hutchings, 2. Dan Capparelli, 3. Irving Powers, 4. Pat Miller, 5. Jason Alosi, 6. Ross Walter, 7. Max Parker, 8. Mike Berenbak, 9. Sean Jones, 10. Ricky Dalberg, 11.Mason Parker, 12. Randy Adam, 13. Ed Sellers, 14. Donavyn Morris, 15. Chris Maas, 16. Jacob Kinsket, 17. Josh Wilson, 18. Austin Wilson,19. Titan McKibben, 20. Randy Wood, 21 Stephen Helms, 22. Sean Rhodas, 23. Jesse Ricahrson, 24. Brycee Walker (1st Ama.), 25. Jake Himphill (2nd Ama.), 26. Christopher Miller, 27. Don Rankid, 28. Alan Cameron, 29. Jake Osborn, 30. John Levie, 31. Chuck Faul, 32.Tyson McGary 33. Jeff Miller, 34 Chris Martin, 35. Blaine Wimsatt, 36. Dane Johnson, 37. Devin Walker, 38. Tim Lam, 39. Ryan Manha, 40. Jesse Connally, 41. Biako Taylor, 42.Kurtis Gray, 43. Dave Rennie, 44.Phil Fell, 45. Keith Alosi, 46. Tyler Seehuette, 47. Wayne Weidmier, 48. Thomas Duncan, 49. Matt Manha, 50. Brendan Driscoll (1st Novice), 51. Jarred Johnson, 52. Sam McCain,53 Lisgan McInther, 54. Jeff Shepard, 55. Nathan Owen, 56. Beth Legenbauer (Wom Am), 57. Colton Scudder, 58. Mike Cullen, 59. Justin Amos, 60. Nicholas Lapin, 61. Kenny Coururier, 62. Albert McElroy, 63. Joel Coldenas, 64. Jim Furia , 65. Ian Pri 66. Dan Clinger, 67. Kevin Peloso, 68. Robert Boyd.
• Saturday, Feb. 27
Mini Bikes: 1. Mikey Majors, 2. Riley Wood, 3. Cody Schcefstien, 4. Carley Legenbauer, 5. Unlisted
Sat Women: 1. Unlisted, 2. Unlisted, 3. Annette Castillo, 4. Kohlette Curbay, 5. Unlisted.
Bomber: 1. Unlisted, 2. Scott Martin, 3. Unlisted, 4. Kendrick Martin, 5. Joseph Canales, 6. Al Ponsock
Team Overall: Will be published when official results are.
Pee Wees:
Overall: 1. Lucas Dean, 2. Unlisted, 3. Zane Wells, 4. Draven Cleveland, 5. Unlisted
* – All results are unofficial and subject to review. Won’t have all the names until the official results are published so in Saturday’s results only listed the top five overall if I have the names.
