PALMDALE, CA

Honda-mounted Dalton Zahrt (494, right) finished off another year of racing with the California Racing Club by pulling off the win in the 250 Novice class during the Merry Christmas Gran Prix, held at Los Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale.

When starter Anthony Barbacovi got the 45-minute race under way, it was Eric Blankenship putting his Honda out front on the opening circuit, ahead of Zahrt, Jeremy Lasater, Brenden Murray and Garrett West. Blankenship led a little over a lap before a miscue dropped him back to sixth place, while Zahrt and Murray took over at the front of the field, arguing over the top spot. Murray hounded Zahrt for the next 15 minutes until Zahrt upped his pace and started to inch away.

Once clear of Murray, Zahrt eventually pulled out to a 15-second advantage by the time the checkers waved. Murray came under fire from both Lasater and Blankenship as the trio fought over the runner-up position, with Lasater ultimately prevailing in the end. Blankenship slipped past Murray for third with time running out, with West rounding out the top five finishers.

Damion Tackett made his CRC debut as an Intermediate rider a successful one, as he went wire to wire on his KX250F for the 250 Intermediate victory. Taylor Lamson held down the second spot for the first third of the race but couldn't keep Joey Webb at bay and had to settle for third at the finish.

Tom Burgess absconded with the holeshot in the Old-Timers Master A class but soon came under fire from both Kenny Alexander and Kevin Barda. Alexander was around Burgess after a lap, with Barda running a close third. Barda definitely had his work cut out for him, being on a YZ125 against the 450cc machines of Alexander and Burgess on the very fast course. Barda's perseverance paid off, as he finally found a way around Burgess near the 30-minute mark, but there was no catching Alexander.

Cory Conner (222X, left) was pretty impressive in the 450 Intermediate ranks, in which he established an opening-lap lead and never looked back. Chris See went down in the first turn but then rode like a man possessed, making it all the way back up into second place at the checkers. Jay Shabaan rounded out the top three, ahead of Derrick Hernandez.

Results

65 BEG: 1. Zachary Mason (KTM).

65 (4-8): 1. Joshua Schultze (Kawasaki).

65 (9-11): 1. Casey Langosh (KTM).

65 OPEN: 1. Cole Tompkins (KTM).

85 BEG: 1. Justin Covarrubias (Yamaha).

85 (7-11): 1. Casey Langosh (KTM); 2. Jake Hogan (Yamaha); 3. Conner Holyak (Suzuki).

85 (12-13): 1. Nicholas Mercier (Suzuki); 2. Cody Miller (Honda); 3. Tanner Brooks (Suzuki); 4. Ryan Pekarek (Kawasaki); 5. Robert Humphrey (Honda).

85 OPEN: 1. Nicholas Mercier (Suzuki); 2. Cody Miller (Honda).

250 BEG: 1. Jason Spriggs (Honda); 2. Robert Humphrey (Yamaha).

250 NOV: 1. Dalton Zahrt (Honda); 2. Jeremy Lasaster (Yamaha); 3. Eric Blankenship (Honda); 4. Brenden Murray (Honda); 5. Garrett West (Kawasaki).

250 INT: 1. Damion Tackett (Kawasaki); 2. Joey Webb (Yamaha); 3. Taylor Lamson (Suzuki).

450 BEG: 1. Cody Pike (Honda).

450 NOV: 1. Michael Krieg (Honda); 2. Tyler Smith (Honda); 3. Eric Hanson (Honda).

450 INT: 1. Cory Conner (Honda); 2. Chris See (Suzuki); 3. Jay Shabaan (Honda); 4. Derrick Hernandez (Yamaha).

450 PRO: 1. Justin Kolacinski (Yamaha).

450 4-STRK: 1. Pasha Afshar (Yamaha).

WMN: 1. Shelby Ward (Kawasaki); 2. Hannah Minderhout (Yamaha).

SCHBY: 1. Damion Tackett (Kawasaki); 2. Brenden Murray (Honda).

JR VET BEG: 1. Jason Wickenkamp (Yamaha).

JR VET INT: 1. Jacob Williams (Yamaha); 2. Brian Bolding (Yamaha); 3. Eric Sheeman (Honda).

JR VET EX: 1. Brendan Lutes (Yamaha).

VET BEG: 1. Bud Donatoni (KTM).

VET INT: 1. Cameron Doll (Honda); 2. Brian Bolding (Yamaha); 3. Robbie Dunham (Yamaha).

VET EX/PRO: 1. Jon Zahrt (Kawasaki); 2. Pascal Barth (Yamaha).

SR NOV: 1. Kyle Puerner (Honda); 2. Ernie Barba (Suzuki); 3. Jim Masters (Honda); 4. Steve Emter (Honda); 5. Dan Osborne (Honda).

SR AM: 1. Donn Maeda (Yamaha); 2. Mark Fiore (Honda); 3. Reggie Lamson (Suzuki); 4. Stewart Wilkin (Honda); 5. Robert Ives Jr. (Kawasaki).

SR EX: 1. Jon Zahrt (Kawasaki); 2. Mark Harwell (Yamaha); 3. Michael Penta (Yamaha).

S/SR NOV: 1. Art Dart (Honda); 2. Steve Seeger (Honda).

S/SR AM: 1. Kevin Evans (Honda); 2. Denny Ryan (Yamaha); 3. Steve See (Honda); 4. Greg Robertson (Honda); 5. Terry Whytal (Honda).

S/SR EX: 1. Tom Burgess (Honda); 2. Garry Conner (Honda).

O/T 40+ AM: 1. Gary Guerrero (Honda).

O/T 40+ EX: 1. Steve Durschlag (Yamaha); 2. Tim Marshall (Suzuki).

O/T 50+ NOV: 1. Dan Willenborg (Honda); 2. Steve Surber (KTM).

O/T 50+ AM: 1. Art Dart (Honda).

O/T 50+ EX: 1. Bob Burns (Kawasaki); 2. Brian Farner (Honda); 3. Kevin Ridgeman (Honda); 4. Jeff Minderhout (Yamaha); 5. Chris Cumbo (Yamaha).

O/T 50+ MSTR: 1. Garry Conner (Honda); 2. Pete Vetrano (Suzuki).

O/T 60+ AM: 1. Gary Doll (Yamaha).

O/T 60+ EX: 1. Dennis Tooman (Yamaha).

O/T MSTR B: 1. Michelle Horton (Yamaha).

O/T MSTR A: 1. Kenny Alexander (Honda); 2. Kevin Barda (Yamaha); 3. Tom Burgess (Honda).

Team Race

BEG/NOV: 1. Jeremy Lasater/Brenden Murray; 2. Garrett West/Ricky West; 3. Jon Pike/Cody Pike; 4. Shelby Ward/Hannah Minderhout; 5. Kevin Lane/Spencer Lane.

INT/EX: 1. Kevin Barda/Pascal Barth; 2. Damion Tackett/David Zahrt; 3. Jay Shaban/Tommy Spalliero; 4. Dalton Zahrt/Bryon Ward.

Ironman

O/A: 1. Joey Webb; 2. Justin Kolacinski; 3. Derrick Hernandez; 4. Ryan Alexy; 5. Joe Pena.