MRANN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DAY

NIGHTINGALE (Nov. 23) – MRANN ended its season here east of Fernley on the south side of I-80. For the desert racers it was their Championship Day as titles were clinched or secured.

 

This time the Tankslappers Motorcycle Club staged “The Return of the Jackass,” in the rolling hills. While it was windy on Saturday the weather was almost perfect on Sunday.

After racing at Winnemucca the previous week the rider count was down as only 58 racers showed up to compete in the big bike event. But it was a day when veterans and young lions ruled although up front the Desert Fox, Dennis Belingheri won the overall, topped the Over 40 Expert division and claimed his fifth points championship.

“I didn’t have the best starting line as I knew people would be going for it and I caught Dan Capparelli about another half mile after the short loop before we went up the hill,” he said. “It was kind of cool as Capparelli is over 40 and Tichenor is almost over 40, Berenbak is over 40 and me were all in the lead. It was a good course, a lot of stuff we’ve run before but a good way to end the season.”

Then he thanked Reno Motor Sprts, his pit crew Mike Hamel, Rimbenders Motorcycle Club as well as wife Susan and kids, Ezra, Brynn and Elle.

This time. Before the start, riders had to straddle their front wheels before the banner was dropped. Once that happened they quickly mounted their bikes, kicked them to life and tore off across a field to a wash there everyone made a sharp right turn.

Leading expert charge was Ryan Hamel, who Dan Capparelli with Belingheri close behind.

Behind those two Steve Tichenor and Zane Roberts were giving chase.

The course made a short four-mile loop that brought the riders close to the pits. Then it veered off and connected with the 45-mile long loop.

Once he took the point Belingheri began to extend his lead and was over two minutes ahead of Capparelli at the end of the first lap. Close behind was the trio of Zane Roberts, a motocross convert, Tichenor and Dakota Jamison.

Behind them came Sparks rider Drew Chattin, who was intent on clinching the 250 Expert title. It would be a challenging day for the 16-year-old as he broke his shifter during the first lap.

Up front there was no doubt as who was going to win as Belingheri used his experience and finished with an over three minute cushion at the end.

“I learned when I was getting old that if you don’t crash then you go faster,” he said after taking the checkered flag. “So I slowed down a little bit and actually started going faster.”

Roberts, who was racing a motocross bike with a small tank also had some challenges but finished second overall for the day and won the Open Expert class.

After taking the checkered he said, “I passed Capparelli just a couple miles out of the pits. And I passed him three times during the race due to alternate gas. It was a lot of fun, pretty fast but on a motocross bike that was kind of hard. I didn’t get a great start so I slowly worked my way through the field and rode smart so I could stay up.”

Then he thanked Atlas Neck Braces, Dunlop tires, Keith Serpa at CMS and his parents for their support.

Last year’s overall points champion Steve Tichenor had a good race an ended up third.

Asked about the race he said, “It was a lot of fun, well marked, a lot of different terrain out there and the Tankslappers always put on a fun race. I got a really good start, was second overall, Dan was first then Dennis got by me and the other guy on a Kawaiski passed me so us four were pretty much there the whole time.

“Toward the end of the second loop I caught up to Capparelli, passed him, he passed me back then I passed him again so we had a really fun race for the last 10 to 15-miles.”

Then he thanked his wife, Rimbenders MC, Mike Hamel, Reno Motor Sports, Number Technology and DHI.

Early leader Capparelli ended up fourth after a very challenging second lap.

“As soon as I left the pits after the first lap I didn’t get more than two or three miles and my rear tire flattened on me. I tried to hold Steve off the best I could but he just kept on coming. He passed me in the sand, I was able to get back by him as the flat tire didn’t make a difference in the sand but when we got in the rocky fast stuff it was very squirrelly.

Then he thanked his wife Shannon, Sierra BMW, Klim Gear, Sidi Boots, FMF, Dirt Tricks and RMS.

Dakota Jamison won the 250 Expert class but not far behind him was Drew Chattin, who was trying to nail down the class championship. And it wasn’t easy.

“The race was fun but I lost my shifter at the end of the first lap,” he said. “We probably wasted five to10-minutes trying to put a new one on. Then I was pushing as hard as I could to catch back up.”

After finished the first lap sixth, then having to do the emergency repairs, Chattin still had managed to be sixth overall and clinched the title he was chasing.

Then he thanked his parents, RMS, Leatt Neck Brace, 100 Percent, Dunlop and his new sponsor Moose Racing.

Off the line first, when the Amateurs began their race was Over 50 Ray Sbriglia, but once in the wash Jeffrey Tabrizi swept past him. After hard racing Tabrizi ended up 14th overall and won the Open Amateur class.

“That was my best race I’ve had and I have a cold so maybe I just need to get sick more,” Tabrizi said later. One guy was ahead of me but when we got into the turn I pinned it right past him. The course was great, by far the best race of the year.

Then he thanked Reno Motor Sports and his boss Dennis Belingheri.

Several places in back of him was Austin Wilson and his 23rd overall finish clinched the 200 Amateur championship for him.

The Novice start began a race long battle between two riders to see which could win the class that day. Leading for much of the time was Chuck Faul, an Over 40 Novice, while close behind him was Devin Walker, a younger rider in the 250 novice class.

And it wasn’t decided until both riders arrived at the scoring chute with Walker just getting there first.

“He (Faul) let me pass him after the pits and I stayed ahead all the way until alternate gas. I was almost done and he caught me so we battled right to the finish where I barely beat him,” Walker said.

Then he thanked his parents and buddy Travis Nix, who got him into desert racing and helps him.

At the end everyone seemed happy and now points will be added so all the champions will be known in time for the awards banquet in early January.

Before that however some of the riders are considering racing in the final Best in the Desert event on December 5-7, the Henderson 250.

•Saturday was for the youngest riders as well as the Mini Bikes and Women. While the weather wasn’t the best everyone got their race in.

Dallas Serpa won the Mini Bike/Saturday Woman event with Taylor Kemp taking second and winning the Women’s class. In the younger set Austin Hough, an over 7 Pee Wee racer won his race while Brook Davis, a 65cc novice, was second.

RESULTS

Motorcycle Racing Association of Northern Nevada

Nightingale – Round 9

• Sunday, Nov. 23

Big Bike Overall – 1. Dennis Belingheri, 2. Zane Roberts, 3. Steven Tichenor, 4. Dan Capparelli, 5. Dakota Jamison, 6. Drew Chattin, 7. Corey Fletcher, 8. Michael Berenbak, 9. Willy Heiss, 10. Josh Wilson, 11. Tony Weatherman, 12. Jason Holloway, 13. Tim Fitzpatrick, 14. Jeffrey Tabrizi (1st  Amateur), 15. Jack Reader Sr., 16. Chris Maas, 17. Ryan Hamel, 18. Alan Cameron, 19. Paul Ziegler, 20. Josh Tomaselli, 21. Joe Gatie, 22. Mason Stone, 23. Austin Wilson, 24. Dave Rennie, 25. Phil Fell, 26. Donavyn Morris, 27. Devin Walker (1st Novice), 28. Chuck Faul, 29. Ray Sbriglia, 30. Chris Sunderland, 31. Kyle Banta, 32. Tyler Bogan, 33. Thomas Duncan, 34. Tim Lambert, 35. Ronnie Scorsonelli, 36. Jeff Shepard, 37. Clint Vanlinsowe, 38. Joey Loehner, 39. Steven Morgan, 40. Robert Kramer, 41. Austin Serpa, 42. Scott Gray, 43. Charlie Brown, 44. Derek Davis, 45. Brian Ferrara, 46. Nathan Owen, 47. Jimmy Graham, 48. Dave Zotter, 49. Michael Gauvreau, 50. Ted Elswick, 51. Mike Torres, 52. Brian Cameron, 53. Cody Vanlinsowe, 54. John Taggart

Over 60 Exp. – John Taggart

Over 50:

Nov. – 1. Steven Morgan, 2. Dave Zotter, 3. Ted Elswick

Ama. – 1. Ray Sbriglia, 2. Chris Sunderland, 3. Robert Kramer, 4. Michael  Gauvreau, 5. Mike Torres

Over 40:

Nov. – 1. Chuck Faul, 2. Tim Lambert, 3. Brian Cameron

Ama. – 1. Ronnie Scorsonelli, 2. Jeff Shepard

Exp. – 1. Dennis Beliingheri, 2. Tim Fitzpatrick, 3. Jack  Reader Sr., 4. Alan Cameron, 5. Josh Tomaselli, 6. Brian Ferrara

Over 30:

Ama. – 1. Dave Rennie, 2. Phil Fell

Exp. – 1. Michael Berenbak, 2. Willy Heiss, 3. Josh Wilson, 4. Adam Thissen  (DNF)

200:

Nov. – 1. Kyle Banta, 2. Jonas Thissen (DNF)

Ama. – 1. Austin Wilson, 2. Nathan Owen

Exp. – 1. Chris Maas, 2. Paul Ziegler, 3. Austin Serpa

250:

Nov. – 1. Devin Walker, 2. Tyler Bogan

Ama. – 1. Charlie Brown, 2. Derek Davis, 3. Jimmy Graham

Exp. – 1. Dakota Jamison, 2. Drew Chattin, 3. Corey Fletcher, 3. Ryan  Hamel, 4. Mason Stone

4-Stroke:

Nov. – 1. Bryce Walker

Ama. – 1. Donavyn Morris, 2. Thomas Duncan

Exp. – 1. Tony Weatherman, 2. Joe Gatie

Open:

Nov. 1. Clint Vanlinsowe, 2. Joey Loehner, 3. Cody Vanlisowe

Ama. – 1. Jeffrey Tabrizi, 2. Wyatt Brittner (DNF)

Exp. – 1. Zane Roberts, 2. Steven Tichenor, 3. Dan Capparelli, 4. Jason Holloway, 5. Scott Gray

• Saturday, Nov. 22

Pee Wee Overall – 1. Austin Hough (7 & Older), 2. Brook Davis (65 Nov.), 3. Anthony Braun, 4. Tristan Morrice, 5. Seth Rigsby (6 & Younger), 6. Jordan Maas, 7. Landen Williams, 8. Andrew Anderson, 9. Jacob Engelke, 10. Destry Rigby, 11. Isaac Frandsen, 12. Jesse Miller, 13. Brynn  Belingheri, 14. Wyatt Rankin, 15. Colten Leavitt, 16. Tyler Davenport (4-Stroke), 17. SheaZastawniak, 18. Christa Ponsock, 19. Peyton Maas

6 & Younger – 1. Seth Rigsby, 2. Jordan Maas, 3. Landen Williams, 4. Jacob Engelke, 5. Destry Rigby, 6. Jesse Miller, 7. Wyatt Rankin, 8. Colten Leavitt, 9. Shea Zastawniak, 10. Peyton Maas

7 & Older – 1. Austin Hough, 2. Isaac Frandsen, 3. Brynn Belingheri, 4. Crista Ponsock

4-Stroke – 1. Tyler Davenport

65 Nov. – 1. Brook Davis, 2. Anthony Braun, 3. Tristan Morrice, 4. Andrew Anderson

Mini Bikes/Women Overall – 1. Dallas Serpa (100 Exp.), 2. Taylor Kemp (Women),  3. Jonas Thissen, 4. Alek Simone  (100 Ama.), 5. Ezra Belingheri (100 Nov), 6. Jesse White, 7. Sean Dingley, 8. Henry Anderson, 9. Angi Figg (Women Ama.), 10. Zach Geddry, 11. Tina Bodden, 12. Doreen Rigsby, 13. Anthony Edberg, 14. Elijah Frandsen, 15. Ryder Schwartz, 16. Jojo Stone,  17. Kayla Faul, 18. Isaiah Frandsen, 19. Camie Ingram, 20. Lawson Williams,  21. Elliette Kennedy, 22. Sheah Ferrara, 23. Jessica Ruiz

65cc:

Ama. – 1. Anthony Edberg, 2. Ryder Schwartz, 3. Issiah Frandsen, 4. Camie      Ingram, 5. Lawson Williams

Mini Bike 100cc:

Nov. – 1. Ezra Belingheri, 2. Jesse White, 3. Zach Geddry,      4. Elijah      Frandsen, 5. Elliette Kennedy

Ama – 1. Alek Simone,2. Sean Dingley, 3. Henry Anderson

Exp. – 1. Dallas Serpa, 2. Jonas Thissen

Sat. Women:

Nov. – 1. Tina Bodden, 2 Jojo Stone, 3. Kyla Faul, 4. Sheah Ferrara, 5.      Jessica Ruiz

Ama. – 1. Angie Figg, 2. Doreen Rigsby

Exp. – Taylor Kemp