ELIZABETH CITY, NC

The first round of the Liquid Performance-sponsored U.S. Eastern Spring Series was combined with day two of the first Loretta Lynn Northeast Area Qualifier of the year, and provided excellent racing in all classes. Despite nearly 500 riders racing the day before, the sun was shining and conditions were awesome for Sunday's racing.

Macclesfield, North Carolina's Edward Walston dominated the younger Vet Pro classes, taking the top spots in the Over 25 and Over 30 classes. Scottie Shipley, returning after a short hiatus, was also a double winner, topping the Over 40 and Over 45 classes. Meanwhile, American Honda/Red Bull/Thor rider Cooper Webb dominated the Mini classes, scoring the Supermini Two and 85cc (12-14) Modified victories. Malcolm Stewart continued his winning ways, capturing the 250 and 450 A Pro Sport wins.

Triangle Cycles-backed Cooper Webb led Matthew Burkeen and KTM rider Austin Simpson into the high-speed first turn in the first Supermini Two moto. Webb piloted his Honda CRF150 to an early lead, and Simpson passed Burkeen for the second spot. Webb took the checkered flag with a huge lead over Simpson. Cole Varty passed Burkeen in the last corner to take third, with Burkeen finishing in the fourth spot.

Moto two saw Simpson abscond with the holeshot, followed by Webb and Burkeen. Webb and Burkeen slipped by Simpson in the high-speed sweeper, and Webb again checked out. The real battle of the race was between the Yamaha rider Burkeen, in second, and Simpson, in third. Simpson was glued to Burkeen's rear wheel for four straight laps. Making a final charge on the final lap, Simpson was unable to avoid a lapper and ran off the track, leaving Burkeen with a well-deserved second-place moto finish. They were followed by Varty in fourth, with Brendan Schulte rounding out the top five.

Chaz Wilson led the field into the first corner in the 450 B Modified contest. Wilson was followed closely by Tyler Coppersmith and Colton Amundson. Wilson and Coppersmith pulled out to an early lead in the first moto, but Amundson kept the two honest in third. With the laps winding down, Amundson made the pass as Coppersmith made a mistake, and at the finish it was Wilson, Amundson and Coppersmith, followed by Adam McCumbee and Daniel Lippman.

Moto two started in similar fashion: with Wilson again leading the first lap, followed by Coppersmith. Mistakes by Coppersmith allowed Lippman into the second spot, and as the moto closed, it was Wilson, Lippman and Coppersmith taking the podium spots. They were followed at a distance by McCumbee and Matthew Vacendack.

Nearly a thousand riders from more than 15 states enjoyed the perfect conditions at Elizabeth City MX. The race, always one of the first qualifiers of the year, lived up to its billing as one of the best races of the year!

Results

65 (7-11) MOD: 1. Colton Eigenmann (KTM); 2. Cole Mattison (KTM); 3. River Hancock (KTM); 4. Cameron Dowell (KTM); 5. Adam Alman (KTM).

85 (9-11) MOD: 1. Tristan Charbonneau (Yamaha); 2. Justin Dunn (Yamaha); 3. Colton Eigenmann (Yamaha); 4. Blake Pickett (Yamaha); 5. Brandon Hartranft (Yamaha),

85 (12-14) MOD: 1. Cooper Webb (Honda); 2. Cole Varty (Kawasaki); 3. Henry Miller (Yamaha); 4. Alexander Frye (Suzuki); 5. Matthew Burkeen (Yamaha).

S/MINI 2 (14-16): 1. Cooper Webb (Honda); 2. Austin Simpson (KTM); 3. Matthew Burkeen (Yamaha); 4. Cole Varty (Kawasaki); 5. Brendan Schulte (KTM).

250A/PRO SPT: 1. Malcolm Stewart (Yamaha); 2. Ryan Zimmer (Honda); 3. Benjamin Ritter (Yamaha); 4. Nicholas Hayes (Kawasaki); 5. Johnny Wasco (Honda).

250 B MOD: 1. Jesse Wentland (Suzuki); 2. Chris Canning (Kawasaki); 3. Michael Shea (Kawasaki); 4. Daniel Lippman (Suzuki); 5. Kameron Page (Yamaha).

250 C MOD: 1. Alexander Wagers (Honda); 2. Cole Robbins (Kawasaki); 3. Christian Pinto (Yamaha); 4. Ricky Miller (Honda); 5. Blake Thompson (Kawasaki).

450 A/PRO SPT: 1. Malcolm Stewart (Yamaha); 2. Ryan Zimmer (Honda); 3. Nicholas Hayes (Kawasaki); 4. Benjamin Ritter (Yamaha); 5. Johnny Wasco (Honda).

450 B MOD: 1. Chaz Wilson (Yamaha); 2. J. Tyler Coppersmith (Kawasaki); 3. Daniel Lippman (Suzuki); 4. Adam McCumbee (Yamaha); 5. Colton Amundson (Honda).

450 C: 1. Ryan Perkins (Yamaha); 2. Codey Kosut (Honda); 3. Adam Scicchitano (Suzuki); 4. Cole Robbins (Kawasaki); 5. Cameron Clark (Yamaha).

SCHBY 2 (14-16) B/C: 1. Joshua Hall (Honda); 2. Conner Elliott (Yamaha); 3. Ricky Hampshire (Kawasaki); 4. Daniel Lippman (Suzuki); 5. Jeremy Wendelken (Yamaha).

CLGBY (17-24) B/C: 1. Colton Amundson (Honda); 2. Adam McCumbee (Yamaha); 3. Kiel Fermil (Honda); 4. Jonathan Elliott (Honda); 5. Joshua Willin (Kawasaki).

JR 25+: 1. Edward Walston (Yamaha); 2. Eddie Braxton (Honda); 3. Ryan Patterson (KTM); 4. Stephen Plank (Honda).

VET 30+ B/C: 1. Thomas Locklear (Yamaha); 2. Tommy Keech (Kawasaki); 3. Christopher Webb (Yamaha); 4. Wesley Turner (Kawasaki); 5. Christian Robinson (Yamaha).

VET 35+: 1. Edward Walston (Yamaha); 2. Michael Martin (Yamaha); 3. Scottie Shipley (Honda); 4. Wesley Turner (Kawasaki); 5. Daniel Whitten (Honda).

SR 40+: 1. Scottie Shipley (Honda); 2. Thomas Locklear (Yamaha); 3. Brad Crouch (Yamaha); 4. Stephen Thraxton (KTM); 5. John Morrissey (Kawasaki).

SR 45+: 1. Scottie Shipley (Honda); 2. Stephen Thraxton (KTM); 3. Robert Fauteux (Honda); 4. Brad Crouch (Yamaha); 5. Kenneth Hicks (Honda).

MSTR 50+: 1. David Brown (KTM); 2. James Stiscia (Yamaha).

D-13 65 (7-9): 1. Devin Kusmider (KTM); 2. Ryley Nield (KTM); 3. Jamie Astudillo (KTM); 4. Hunter Turner (Kawasaki); 5. Christian McCauley (KTM).

D-13 65 (10-11): 1. J.D. Wilson (KTM).

D-13 85 (9-13): 1. Tommy Maxey (Suzuki); 2. Alexander Frye (Suzuki); 3. Makiyah Gorman (Kawasaki); 4. Justin Dunn (Yamaha); 5. Bennett Mantooth (Yamaha).

D-13 SCHBY 1: 1. Tanner Earhart (KTM); 2. Colin Richards (Honda); 3. Taylor Melton (Yamaha); 4. Trey Burkholder (Yamaha); 5. Marcus Mize (Suzuki).

D-13 450/OPEN D: 1. Philip Brewer (Yamaha); 2. Mike Thomas (KTM); 3. Marshall Johnson (Yamaha); 4. Patrick Baum (Yamaha); 5. Doug Duffy (Kawasaki).

D-13 25+ AM: 1. Eddie Braxton (Honda); 2. William Helgren (KTM); 3. Tommy Keech (Kawasaki); 4. Christopher Webb (Yamaha).

D-13 40+ AM: 1. Ben Bierman (Yamaha); 2. Robert Franzen (Yamaha); 3. Deward Smith (Yamaha); 4. Robert Keyes (Yamaha).

D-13 U/L B/C/D: 1. Eddie Braxton (Honda); 2. Christian Kelly (Honda); 3. William Helgren (KTM); 4. Victoria Pearce (Yamaha); 5. Marcus Mize (Suzuki).