Mammoth Big Bike Race Report	PDF | Print | E-mail
	Author: Scott Parkinson
	Location: Mammoth, CA

FRIDAY

Schoolboy
The Schoolboy class was stacked this year for the forty first annual Mammoth Motocross. The class featured Eli Tomac, Jessy Nelson, Chris Plouffe, Lance Vincent, Brad Frace, and Austin Politelli just to name a few. Lance Vincent and Chris Plouffe would come out of their division qualifiers with the win. Class favorites Eli Tomac and Jessy Nelson would have to settle for top three finishes in their division qualifiers.

All the heavy hitters made it out of their qualifiers and pulled to the line for Friday's schoolboy main event. When the gate dropped it was Red Bull Honda's Jessy Nelson grabbing the holeshot. Division winners, Chris Plouffe (pictured left) and Lance Vincent, were not so fortunate. They both came together off the start and found themselves on the ground and unable to finish the main.

Out front, Nelson was followed by Frace and Tomac. Tomac was absolutely on the gas and charging. He soon found his way around Frace and set his eyes on leader, Jessy Nelson. As Tomac charged after Nelson he found himself sliding out in a corner in the back section of the track. Tomac was able to regroup and start another charge only losing one position. Tomac got right back to work and soon re-passed Frace for second. Tomac was setting a blistering pace and was now applying pressure to the rear wheel of Nelson. Once around Nelson Tomac run away and captured his first bear of the week! Following Tomac was Nelson in second, and Frace in third. Here is a look at the Schoolboy top ten:

1 Eli Tomac Cortez
2 Jessy Nelson
3 Brad Frace
4 Brian Sjogren
5 Austin Politelli
6 Chris Spiers 
7 Blake Savage
8 Gannon Audette
9 Dylan Lane
10 Jessie Huntley

450 Intermediate
Taking the division wins in the 450 Intermediate class were Michael Leib & Gannon Audette (pictured right). They both looked solid coming out of their divisions, as did Bryce Vallee, Nick Paluzzi, Johnny Jeldera and Tyler Berman.

When the main came around Gannon Audette was on the move. He jumped out to an early lead and just checked out. Nick Paluzzi was also on the gas. After a mid pack start, he charged his way into second. He was able to chip into Audette's lead, but ran out of time to apply any real pressure. Bryce Vallee rode really solid and grabbed the final podium position in third.

1 Gannon Audette
2 Nick Paluzzi
3 Bryce Vallee
4 Johnny Jelderda
5 Scott Agostini
6 Tyler Bereman
7 Coby Adair
8 Chris Bell
9 Jeagher Lafountaine
10 Adam Enticknap

450 Pro
On Friday the 450 Pro class ran a traditional two moto format. In the end, it would turn out to be all about consistency. Timmy Weigand is turning into a Mammoth Motocross legend and grabbed the holeshot in moto one. Weigand put his JCR Honda in the lead and was on a rail. The thirty year old Weigand was on a terror and checking out until he found himself hitting the ground really hard in a corner. Weigand was in pain, but he remounted and was able to salvage a fourth place moto finish. Travis Baker put in a very solid ride and took the moto win. Honda of Houston's Kyle Regal was also on the charge and on the gas.The young Texan would finish the moto in second; however, a broken foot would end Regal's week. Tommy Weeck also started his week at Mammoth Motocross with an impressive third place finish in moto one of the 450 pro class.

In moto one, Kawasaki's Blake Baggett had a rough start to his week finishing 17th; however, moto two would be a different story. In moto two, Baggett found himself coming down the Mammoth downhill in about eighth place. Baggett was on the move and charged towards the front of the pack. Once in the lead Baggett simply checked out. It was a very impressive ride. His 17-1was only good enough for eighth overall on the day; however, he showed everyone that he was hungry and ready for the rest of the week! In moto two Travis Baker Was putting in a consistent ride sitting in forth. Fourth place would have given Baker the overall on the day; unfortunately, late in the moto, one of the Mammoth ruts would jump up and bite Baker, throwing him to the ground. He was able to remount, but would have to settle for 6th in moto two. His 1-6 moto score would give him 3rd overall. Taking second overall was KTM's Tommy Weeck. After riding to an impressive third place in moto one Weeck fought for a strong fourth place finish in moto two. Here is a rundown on the top ten:

1 Timmy Weigand (4-2)
2 Tommy Weeck (3-4)
3 Travis Baker (1-6)
4 Tyler Sjoberg (7-3)
5 Mike Sleeter (6-5)
6 Colton Udall (10-7)
7 Kevin Rookstool (9-8)
8 Blake Baggett (17-1)
9 Mark Samuels (15-9)
10 Tony Evans (14-10)

SATURDAY

250 Intermediate
Something special happens when Eli Tomac (pictured below) hits the Mammoth Motocross soil; the kid flat out flies here! Tomac had his work cut out for him. The Factory Connection rider found himself in around seventh place off the start. Tomac, however, put his head down and got to work, moving his away into forth behind Jessy Nelson and Bryce Vallee. He soon found his way around both of them and sitting in second place. it looked as though Tomac's charge would have to come to an end, as Paluzzi was able to pull a pretty large lead. As Paluzzi checked off laps, Tomac constantly put in lap times around 2:08, which were the fastest lap times of the day. Tomac chipped into Paluzzi's lead and soon found himself around the Suzuki mounted Paluzzi and in the lead. Tomac's charge was amazing and there is no doubt that he has this Mammoth Motocross track dialed in.

Bryce Vallee (pictured below) is working hard and is hungry for wins! He came up just a little short and off the leaders pace in the 250 Intermediate class.Bryce is looking strong and settled for third on the day. The kid is working hard and will be looking for big things come Loretta's!

Jessy Nelson (pictured below) led a few laps of the 250 Intermediate class after pulling the holeshot. However, he looked a little off the normal Jessy Nelson pace and finished the day in fourth.

Michael Leib looked a little off his game in the 250Intermediate class. However, the Honda mounted Leib road to a respectable fifth place finish. Leib will be looking to regroup and grab a podium finish in Sunday's Open Intermediate class.

1 Eli Tomac
2 Nick Paluzzi
3 Bryce Vallee
4 Jessy Nelson
5 Michael Leib
6 Gannon Audette
7 Brad Frace
8 Gared Steinke
9 Johnny Jelderda
10 Chris Plouffe

250 Pro
Moto one of the 250 Pro class was one of the best battles Mammoth Motocross has ever seen. Timmy Weigand grabbed one of his staple holeshots and lead early. Blake Baggett (pictured left) battled his way into third and soon found his way around his Kawasaki teammate, Tyler Sjoberg. Baggett soon pulled to the rear tire of Weigand and the battle was on. The two riders electrified the crowd as they went back and forth. The racing was close the entire moto,but in the end the crafty veteran was able to hold off the young gun. Moto one would go to Weigand with Baggett taking second.

In moto two, Baggett mounted another charge. He was able to move around Weigand early and set his eyes on Jason Anderson who had the lead. Baggett put pressure on the KTM mounted Anderson and eventually took the lead. Once in the lead, Baggett never looked back. Baggett road solid; his 2-1 moto finish gave him the overall!

Behind Baggett and Weigand, it was all Tommy Weeck (pictured below). Weeck was on the gas and hungry all week. In the 250 Pro class, Weeck would find himself on the podium for the second time this week with a 3-3 moto score.

Travis Baker (pictured below) was pretty banged up after his get off on Friday. He was noticeably favoring his shoulder; however, he toughed it out and pulled to the line. In moto one and two, Baker found himself finishing fourth for fourth place overall.

1 Blake Baggett
2 Timmy Weigand
3 Tommy Weeck
4 Travis Baker
5 Tyler Sjoberg
6 Matt Boni
7 Topher Ingalls
8 Jason Anderson
9 Tye Hames
10 Ian Trettel

SUNDAY

Open Intermediate
The Open Intermediate class saw three divisions on Sunday.The division winners were Michael Leib, Eli Tomac, and Gannon Audette. All the division winners were looking strong going into the main as was Bryce Vallee,Johnny Jelderda, Dustin Pipes and Tyler Bereman.

In the main, Gannon Audette road very consistently and walked away with the win. Michael Leib (pictured left) also put in a strong ride and placed second. Eli Tomac competed aboard his 250f and had his work cut out for him after a mid pack start. Tomac was on the gas and soon found himself on the rear tire of Bryce Vallee and Johnny Jelderda. Vallee was able to make a move around Jelderda to move into third; however, Tomac was in tow and soon found his way around the Suzuki mounted Jelderda. Tomac applied pressure to Vallee and soon found his way around to move into third. When the checker flag waved it was Audette with the win, Leib taking second, Tomac in third, Vallee in fourth, and Jelderda rounding out the top five. Here is a look at the top ten:

1 Gannon Audette
2 Michael Leib
3 Eli Tomac
4 Bryce Vallee
5 Johnny Jelderda
6 Dustin Pipes
7 Tyler Bereman
8 Blake Jump
9 Blake Savage
10 Adam Enticknap

Open Pro
Here is a look at how they finished in the Open Pro class.

1 Tyler Sjoberg
2 Timmy Weigand
3 Travis Baker
4 Jake Canada
5 Blake Baggett
6 Matt Boni
7 Nathan Tiearney
8 Austin Howell
9 Jonathan Davis
10 Justin Soule

All in all, it was a great week of racing. God also moved in some big ways off the track. Make sure you stay tuned for the Mammoth ministry report!

Above: Michael Sleeter looked strong in Mammoth finishing 5th in the 450 Pro class.

Above: It was good to see Mark Samuels back in action and riding strong. Samuels was able to get inside the top ten in the 450 Pro class on Friday!

Above: Believe it or not Timmy Weigand won his first Mammoth Motocross Golden Bear last week during vet week. Weigand was hungry to win one this week and show the young guns he isn't ready to hang up his boots just yet!

Above: Zach Jacossen had a hard week in the Jr classes, but put in some impressive rides.

Above: Nick Paluzzi road good all week; however, we might not been able to see his true speed out there on the track as a tore rotator cuff kept him out of the main on Sunday.

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