Another season begins with the Desert Fox schooling his younger competitors

NIGHTINGALE (Feb. 14.) – As is traditional, MRANN (Motorcycle Racing Association of Northern Nevada) began its season on President’s Day weekend. And a large field of big bike riders showed up for Sunday’s race.

This time not only was there speed but some passions were fired up during the event that consisted of one 43-mile loop followed by a 53-mile loop. Any rider wanting to be considered a finisher had to complete one loop.

For one veteran it was a day of triumph and some redemption as well as anger towards a fellow competitor.

Dennis Belingheri, The Desert Fox, scored his seventh victory at the season opening race.

“Let me tell you this, I’m 46-years-old, I’ve won this race seven times, I’m out there doing my own race,” Dennis Belingheri said after taking the checkered flag. “I’m not racing kids, I’m racing myself and this jackass from Idaho, I let him by three times, waved him by. Then he blows the corner and I get back ahead.

“Then he decides to take me out, going 60 miles an hour, sideswipes me, over the bars, tumbles and doesn’t even stop. I stopped because he’s wadded up there and I told him, ‘why are you so serious, how much money are you going to win from this race taking someone out?’ So I’m glad I won this race.”

Then after taking a deep breath he added thanks to his wife, his pit crew, Rimbenders Motorcycle Club and Reno Motorsports.

Being a Hare and Hound event the first rider, the Hare, roared away from the starting area first then after an interval, the experts took off and gave chase.

When it was clear the Amateurs then the Novice riders were let go. This time they charged across an open area, did a right turn to go over a hill then into a wash that took them right behind where they started from.

Although Joseph Wasson got the hole shot he was soon overtaken by Levi Hutchings (501) as they headed up the first hill.

First on point after the Hare was Joseph Wasson but he was soon passed by Levi Hutchings as they gave chase. By the time they reached the first check-point Belingheri, “The Desert Fox,” was in second.

At the end of the first loop Belingheri was leading with Wasson only about 20 seconds behind as they headed for the pits. Hutchings was third followed by Steven Tichenor.

Dennis Belingheri leads as he finishes the first loop in MRANN’s season opener.

In the last loop Belingheri and Wasson swapped the lead and with 10 miles to go to the finish Wasson was on point with Belingheri close behind.

In the final mile or so Wasson went down, and was on the receiving end of Belingheri’s displeasure. Then the Desert Fox took off and claimed the victory.

About four minutes later Wasson rolled past the checkered, second overall not far ahead of Dan Carrarelli.

Running of vapors Joseph Wasson just takes second ahead of Dan Capparelli (2).

Asked if he had fun Wasson said, “Yea until I ran out of gas right there, I was leading it. I thought he was being me and I know we bumped into each other but I thought he was still up because I thought I heard somebody behind me.”

He commented, as did a lot of riders that the course was awesome. Wasson didn’t think it was too technical then he thanked Cycle City Yamaha, Fly Racing, Western Power Sports, and his family.

Wasson added that at 22 this is his first year desert racing and he might be back if there is a break in a couple of series he intends to compete in.

Coming in third was Dan Capparelli, which was quite a few considering his start.

“I got horrible, horrible start, got into the back end of somebody, just about went down and had to hang it out a long ways to try and catch up,” he said. “Rode a little tense on the first lap. You know once I saw Levin, we’ve been friends for several years and he keeps on beating me so I hung it way, way out, I passed him and the fun factor went way, way up.”

The pass was made going up hill and Capparelli said, “I don’t care if I wreck I want to at least pass him once.”

Then he thanked Recluse, Flex Handlebars, NMS and TBD Suspension and his wife for her support.

Chris Loer won the 60+ plus class at the Nightingale race.

At the top of the age bracket Chris Loer ripped off a 22nd overall and won the 60+ class. Only three places behind him came Chuck Faul, the first amateur to cross the line in 23rd while the next amateur Tyler Thompson was 24th.

Faul and Thompson had the closest finish of all as they were side-by-side charging down the hill toward the checkered flag.

Chuck Faul was the first Amateur finisher after he beat Tyler Thompson to the line by a scant six inches.

“I was holding third or fourth most of the course then I dropped back to fourth, a couple of guys went down, came through the last check and they said I was second but didn’t think I was,” Faul said. “He (Thompson) passed me earlier and I started seeing him again so I laid it all out had to get him.”

Then he thanked his family for coming out and supporting him, especially his wife as it was Valentine’s Day. And he added his winning margin was about six inches.

“He was coming quick as his bike is so much faster than mine,” Thompson said after the finish. “He came up that sand wash quick and we just got into it and at the end we were just battling it out.”

Then he thanked his girl friend Kalie for her support, Team Honea, his friends and the Trailblazers for putting on the event.

Jeremy Croft from NVDS was the first Novice across the line, 47th overall.

The Novice winner was Jeremy Croft.

Asked about his race he said, “It was fun, pretty wild, a lot of sand and crashed a couple of times. People were crashing a lot of times but it was a lot of fun. It was a battle all the way to the end for the last 15-miles.”

Further down the standings in 58th was the first woman Beth Legenbauer.

“The race was so great today, the dirt was really good and it was a lot of fun,” she said. “It was a really fun course. I had some great battles, one of my club members I had a great battle with and it was fun.”

Then she thanked her husband, RMS and CMS and Tank Slappers.

It was a good turn out for Sunday with 37 experts, 49 amateurs and 49 novice racers.

Saturday is for the short course folks where the youngest riders get their turn first.

Sam Roby, who is in the 65 Novice class, won the year’s first Pee Wee event followed by Landen Williams and Zane Wells.

Next up was a combination race consisting of the 65 Amateurs, Mini Bikes, V Women and Bombers.

A.J. Bumit, riding a bomber, took 1st overall while Ezra Belingheri came home second. Chrystal Ponsock was third overall and the first woman to reach the finish line.

New this season are the Team Races and that event finished the day. Dennis Belingheri and Steve Tichenor paired up and won first overall in a competitive field. Dan Capparelli and Levi Hutchings were second ahead of the team of Jake Osborne and Reece Honea.

Now every one gets two weeks to prepare for the next race, which is northwest of Toulon. And the flyer has directions for those hauling trailers out there as well as the usual route over Ragged Top.

OTHER RACING NEWS

• Several motocross racers headed into California this weekend.

Hadleigh Kahabka qualified to compete at a Loretta Lynn Regional after placing third at Marysville this weekend.

There was a Loretta Lynn qualifier at Marysville this weekend and young Hadleigh Kahabka finished third in the PW50 class, which means she’s has qualified for an upcoming Loretta Lynn regional race.

Over at Marysville Lux Turner won his class at the recent round of the Bishop Winter series.

Lux Turner won his class at a motocross in Bishop, California this weekend.

• Daytona Speed Weeks are here and on Saturday Denny Hamlin won the Sprint Cup Unlimited race. Then on Sunday Chase Elliott won the poll position and became the youngest driver to do so.

Only the front row is set and on Thursday Fox Sports 1 broadcasts both Can Am Duel races that set the remainder of the field. In race number two, Kyle Busch starts second while older brother Kurt is fifth.

For short track fans www.fanschoice.tv will stream live races starting today through Saturday at 4:30 p.m. each day.

RESULTS*

• Sunday, Feb. 14

Big Bike Overall**: 1. Dennis Belingheri, 2. Joesph Wasson, 3. Dan  Capparelli, 4. Levii Hutchings, 5. Steve Tichenor, 6. Wyatt Brittan, 7. Pat Miller, 8. Jacdo Kinkel, 9. Michael Bernback, 10. Jeffrey Tchorizi, 11. Ed Sellers, 12. Jack Reader, 13. Paul Ziegler, 14. Randy Adams, 15. Chris Noos, 16. Rhett Lewis, 17. Jake Osborn, 18. Nolan Rudd, 19. Donavyn Morris, 20. Bobby Kramer, 21. Randy Wood, 22. Chris Loer, 23. Chuck Faul, 24. Tyler Thompson, 25.      Jeff Miller, 26. Chad Bogan, 27. Devin Walker, 28.  Mattew McKimmy, 29. Ryan Pedersen, 30. Tim Lambert

** – Full results will be posted when they are released.

•Saturday, Feb. 13

Pee Wee:

Overall: 1. Sam Roby, 65 Nov, 2. Landen Williams 7+, 3. Zane Wells, 4. Daven Cleveland, 5. Lucas Dean, 6. Kaden Morton, 7. Payton Maas, 8. Dalton Legenbauer, 9. Jesse Miller, 10. Matthew McPherson, 11. Tucker Whitworth, 12. Genevieve Miller, 13. Ava Delaney, 14. Brynn Belingheri, 15. Bradley Silva, 16. Kyra Tichenor, 17. Jacie Levie, 18. Nathan Candia, 19. Devan Tichenor

DNS: Mikele Levie, Christa Ponsock

6 & Under: 1. Peyton Maas, 2. Jesse Miller, 3. Tucker  Whitworth, 4. Nathen Candia, 5. Devan Tichenor

DNS: Mikele Levie, Christa Ponsock

7 & Older: 1. Landen Williams, 2. Krya Tichenor, 3. Jacie Levie

DNF: Christa Ponsock

4-Stroke Pee Wee: 1. Ava Delaney, 2. Bradley Silva

65 Novice: 1. Sam Roby, 2. Zane Wells, 3. Draven Cleveland, 4. Lukas Dean, 5. Kaden Morton, 6. Dalton Legenbauer, 7. Matthew McPherson, 8. Genevieve Miller, 9. Brynn Belingheri

Mini Bikes/V Women/Bombers:

Overall: 1. A.J. Bumit, Bombers, 2. Ezra Belingheri, 100 Exp, 3. Chrystal  Ponsock, Wom Exp, 4. Mikey Majors, 100 Ama, 5. Henry Anderson, 6. Annette Castillo, 7. Jolene Harsch, Wom. Ama., 8. Christina Courtney, 9. Jesse White, 10. Kendrick Martin, 11. Scott Martin, 12. Riley Wood, 100 Nov, 13. Gary Moore, 14. Carley Lengenbauer, 15. Cody Schcefstien, 16. Angie Figg, 17. Carson Calder, 18. Curtis Calder, 19. Tina Bodden, 20. Cassie Searle, 21. Camie Ingram, 22. Kohlette Curbay, 23. Lawson Williams, 24. Mackinze Dingley, 25. Joseph Canales, 26. Johanna Stone, 27. Arie Furlong, 28. Brittany Hutchings, 29. Michael Furlong, 30. Teri Thomsen, 31. Anthony Brayn, 32. Danielle Hornemann, 33. Taylor Serrano, 34. Sazane Anderson, 35. Al Ponsock, 36. Kelly Miller, 38. Jordan Maas, 39. Katie Cullen, 40. Logan Dixon, 41. Sheah Ferrara

DNF: Sean Dingley, Garret Dean, Miles Silva, Chase Furia, Denise Schwartz, Jennifer Tichenor

Team Race:

Overall: 1. Dennis Belingheri & Steve Tichenor, 2. Dan Capparelli & Levi  Hutchings, 3. Jake Osborne &  Reece Honea, 4. Phil Fell & Ricky Dahlberg,  5. Donovyn Morris & Ed Sellers, Jr., 6. Chris Maas &  Joe Gatie, 7. Mackinze Dingley & Cole Carmichael, 8. Jarred Johnson & Mikey Majors, 9. Jack Driggers & Jay Burns, 10. Kenny Miller & Kelly Miller, 11. Karl Riedlyer & Keegan Sanders, 12. Brad Moore & Corey Hansen, 13. Sean Dingley & Christina Courtney, 14. Rico Hammack & Jeremy Croft, 15. Denise Schwartz & Bill Price, 16. Paul Picotte & Robert Boyd, 17. Brian Ferrara & Josh Craine

* – Results are unofficial, subject to change until the club posts the official results. At that time there will be a full posting of the overall results  and class finishes as well as a photo gallery and video on this site.

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