SOUTH EDMESTON, NY

The only thunder that could be heard at Thunder Ridge Sports this weekend was the thundering starts echoing off the wooded hills as the gates dropped. Close to 400 entries rotated into staging, to wait for their class to be called to the gate, and they didn't have to worry about any weather-related challenges this time around.

To find an emerging dominant rider, one only has to look to the 65cc Mini (7-11) class, and you will find Fort Plain, New York's Spencer Mang (47) relentlessly pushing himself and his KTM to the edge. Mang is a true student of motocross, as he watches the successful older riders and applies the winning strategies to his game. Mang easily took first in the morning race, ahead of fellow KTM pilot Braedon Beadle (211) in second place and Kawasaki jockey Brad Williams (306) in third place.

The afternoon session proved a little more challenging for Mang, as he began the race in second place, behind Beadle, who took the holeshot. At about the three-quarter mark of the first lap, however, Mang made his move, taking over first from Beadle, and he then began putting some distance between himself and Beadle. Mang again took the checkers before Beadle. Cody Laughlin (106) finished third.

Mang even goes as far as running his 65 KTM against the more powerful 85cc Junior Minis for that extra challenge, and for being underpowered in this class, he finished out the day a respectable eighth in a field of 14 riders.

The Over 40 Experts provided some interesting battles. The morning edition had Dennis Baldwin piloting his Honda to a decisive first-place finish, but the real battle was for the runner-up slot between Suzuki rider Todd Cleveland and Honda jockey Eric Hameister (7, left). Hameister held off Cleveland's advances and maneuvers for three laps, before Cleveland finally overtook Hameister on the fourth lap to finish second, leaving Hameister with third.

Baldwin took the holeshot in the second stanza, followed by Cleveland. Before one lap was in the books, Cleveland had gained on and pinned his Suzuki past Baldwin to take over first. Gene M. Nighman navigated his way through several riders to take third. Schoharie, New York's Cleveland took first overall.

The hottest two riders in District 3 were just as hot again on the Bruce Stratton Jr.-designed course at Thunder Ridge Sports. Mitch Dougherty of Whitesboro, New York, effortlessly went two for two in the 250 Expert class and two for two again in the Open Expert class. Andrew Bristol from Central Square, New York, topped both the Schoolboy races and both 250 Amateur races and went a perfect six for six by taking both the morning and evening editions of the 125cc Two-Stroke-class races.

Results

50 OIL-INJ (4-8): 1. Dominick Morse (Yam); 2. Garrett Lum (Yam); 3. Carter Van Houton (Yam); 4. Thomas Mealey (Yam); 5. Nashton Altier (Hon).

50 JR STK (4-6): 1. Jeremy Edwards (Cob); 2. Blaine Rifanburg (Cob); 3. Andrew Hemingway (KTM); 4. Tyrick Wheeler (KTM); 5. Trevor Knight (KTM).

50 SR STK (7-8): 1. Mark Molesky (KTM); 2. Bradley Williams (Cob); 3. Luke Ough (KTM); 4. Levi Rifanburg (Cob); 5. Parker Robinson (KTM).

65 (7-11): 1. Spencer Mang (KTM); 2. Braedon Beadle (KTM); 3. Cody Laughlin (KTM); 4. Bradley Williams (Kaw); 5. Mark Molesky (KTM).

85 JR (9-11): 1. Derek Bracht (KTM); 2. Derek Leinbach (KTM); 3. Sean O'Connor (Kaw); 4. Luke Kochon (Kaw); 5. Mason Wheelock (Kaw).

85 (12-15): 1. R.J. Spinella (Yam); 2. Nick Hopkins (Yam); 3. Blake Matuszczak (Hon); 4. Riley Synenki (Suz); 5. Greg Phelan (Yam).

OPEN MINI (10-16): 1. James Peters (KTM); 2. R.J. Spinella (Yam); 3. Jeremy Gwiozdowsiq (Kaw); 4. Zachary Rice (Hon); 5. John Bower (Hon).

125 2-STRK: 1. Andrew Bristol (Hon); 2. Kenneth Crouse III (Hus); 3. Timmy Wiestner (Hon); 4. Donald Janovsky (Hon); 5. Greg Kennard (Kaw).

122-250 NOV: 1. Austin Toomey (Hon); 2. James Peters (Hus); 3. Derek Biroli (Hon); 4. Mike Vergari (Kaw); 5. Greg Cleveland (Yam).

122-250 AM: 1. Andrew Bristol (Hon); 2. Kenneth Crouse III (Yam); 3. Brandon Kenyon (Suz); 4Joey Happle (Kaw); 5. Drew Cleveland (Kaw).

122-250 EX: 1. Mitch Dougherty (Hon); 2. Sam Jones (Kaw); 3. Justin Murray (KTM); 4. Andy King (Kaw); 5. Geoff Wager (Suz).

122-OPEN NOV: 1. Austin Toomey (Hon); 2. Bryan Schaffer (Hon); 3. Derek Biroli (Hon); 4. Caleb Tuttle (KTM); 5. Mike Vergari (Kaw).

122-OPEN AM: 1. Jake Stout (Kaw); 2. Eric Chandler (Hon); 3. Dan Bloomfield (Yam); 4. Joey Happle (Kaw); 5. Aaron Bell (Hon).

122-OPEN EX: 1. Mitch Dougherty (Hon); 2. Sam Jones (Kaw); 3. Andy King (Suz); 4. Geoff Wager (Kaw); 5. Jon Dockray (Yam).

WMN 85-250: 1. Victoria Dettmer (Kaw); 2. Amber Newton (Yam); 3. Jessica Wiestner (Yam); 4. Jennifer Poulin (Kaw); 5. Andrea Newton (Kaw).

SCHBY (12-16): 1. Andrew Bristol (Hon); 2. Donald Janovsky (Hon); 3. Brooks Harmon (Hon); 4. Zachary Rice (Hon); 5. Brandon Kenyon (Suz).

CLGBY (14-24): 1. Karim Madmoune (Hon); 2. Austin Toomey (Hon); 3. John Bubach (KTM); 4. Eric Chandler (Hon); 5. Mark Geier Jr. (Suz).

25+ AM/NOV: 1. Scott Lindholm (Hon); 2. Chris Knight (Yam); 3. Tom Miller (Suz); 4. Ryan James (Suz); 5. Shawn Pokorny (Suz).

25+ EX: 1. Justin Murray (KTM); 2. Jim Joy (KTM); 3. Scott Phelps (KTM); 4. Bo Canaguier (Yam); 5. Jon Dockray (Yam).

30+ NOV: 1. Howard McCulloch (Yam); 2. Gary Hameister (Kaw); 3. Gary Lyons (Hon); 4. Alex Short (Hon); 5. Jason Ough (Hon).

30+ AM: 1. Joe Fama (Suz); 2. Greg Maurer (Kaw); 3. Shawn Pokorny (Suz); 4. Chris Knight (Yam); 5. Mike Davidson (Hon).

30+ EX: 1. Scott Phelps (KTM); 2. Bo Canaguier (Yam); 3. Todd Cleveland (Suz); 4. Dennis Baldwin (Hon); 5. Gene M. Nighman (Kaw).

40+ AM/NOV: 1. Chris Mealey (Yam); 2. Brian Harrison (Kaw); 3. Dominick Cittadino (Hon); 4. Darrin Avery (Yam); 5. Jeffrey Briscoe (Hon).

40+ EX: 1. Todd Cleveland (Suz); 2. Dennis Baldwin (Hon); 3. Gene M. Nighman (Kaw); 4. Eric Hameister (Hon); 5. Mike Murray (KTM).

45+: 1. Mike Murray (KTM); 2. Joe Dibella (Hon); 3. Brett Sherman (Hon); 4. Brian Stickles (KTM); 5. Tom Coote Jr. (KTM).