Mark Corsetti pulled off a desperation pass some 20 feet before the finish line to score a brilliant win in the Open Pro class when round four of Gene Romero’s e-moola.com West Coast Flat Track Series took place at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, California, on June 17.
Corsetti piloted his family-backed Wood-Rotax single-shocker to the win after taking the lead away from reigning series champion Ronnie Brown just before starter Scott Zimmerman showed the field the halfway flags in the 15-lap feature. Then the race was red-flagged when Northern California rider Danny Casey slid out in turn one on the glassy smooth and fast half-mile Perris track. Brown retook the lead one lap into the restart as the field jockeyed for what was to be a three-lap dash to the checkered flag, but Corsetti’s perfect drive off the final corner set up the winning move, and he beat Brown by less than a wheel length. Don Hart finished third aboard a Ron Wood Racing house bike that was tuned at the track by Ron Wood himself.
Former AMA Grand National veteran Rick Hocking took advantage of a ride on a Dodge Brothers Harley-Davidson XR, and also on the fact that he was the only rider to remain on the front row after the rest jumped the start, to win the Open Vintage class. Hocking was never contested for the lead, while current class champ Jeff Johnson legged a stock 650 Triumph to second place after coming from the penalty line. Rick Reed, also Triumph-mounted, was third.
Ron Hinton made it a family affair at Perris, as he handily won the 250cc Novice Modified Production class, passing Scott Rousseau early in the six-lap feature and then building up a lead all the way to the checkered flag. Hinton is a step-brother to none other than Ronnie Brown. Brad Bannister finished third in his first e-moola.com West Coast Flat Track Series appearance, making for a Yamaha sweep of the class podium.
The event was held in conjunction with a Freeride MX jump contest.
