GLYNDON, MN

The opening round of the BRRP Motocross season was held on a perfect Minnesota spring day, and there was a large, international turnout of riders and fans. Canada's Josh Penner (245, below) from Letellier, Manitoba, made the long haul to Glyndon, Minnesota, worthwhile by winning all the motos in the 450 A and Open A classes.

The day blasted off with a combined 450 A and 450 B clash with a staggered start, filling the track with the fastest racers of the day. Penner, on his 450 Kawasaki, showed the way around BRRP's dust-free track, with Mike Lemke (274, above), on a TC450 Husqvarna, in second, closely pressured by Winnipeg, Canada's Kim Houde, on a CRF450 Honda. Jesse Frost (274X) from Castlewood, South Dakota, riding the Kawasaki KLX450R, battled with Altona, Manitoba's Renold Sawatsky on a CRF450R Honda.

The 450 B class showed they were just a tick off the speeds of the A class, making a good racetrack fit to the double-class races. Fargo, North Dakota's Trevor Thompson scored a big win on his CRF450 Honda, outlasting hard-charging Kawasaki jockey Gregory Delaney from Bemidji, Minnesota. The last podium position went to Kawasaki pilot Duane Beischer from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Fourth and fifth went to 450 Honda riders Cole Koppang and Grand Forks, North Dakota's Michael Spoor.

In the combined 250 A and B contest, the 250 A rider left the starting gate on fire. Cooperstown, North Dakota's Mitch Dahl rode his CRF250 Honda to the top step of the podium. East Grand Forks, Minnesota's Luke Perreault edged out KTM-mounted Cody Martin from Casselton, North Dakota, for second. Just missing the last step of glory were Austin Lindberg from Bismarck, North Dakota, and Yamaha racer Matt Chandler from Neillsville, Minnesota.

After the launch pad cooled, the 250 B riders went into hot-pursuit mode, with Lake Park, Minnesota's Tyler Riewer looking very strong. In the first moto, a crash in turn one showed how important it is to keep on digging. When the checkered flag waved, the Honda-mounted Riewer finished in the lead and topped the podium. Next came Leeds, North Dakota, Kawasaki racer Michael Tofsrud. Detroit Lakes, Minnesota's Dan Nelson, on a Kawasaki, and Yamaha pilot Ben Osowski rounded out the top four. Dilworth, Minnesota's James Nettleton finished fifth on his Yamaha.

The combined Open A and B contest showed the fans some handlebar-bashing, smooth, fast racing. Penner remained on top, while Frost froze the number-two spot, and 250 A winner Mitch Dahl brought his Honda home third, moving Kim Houde back to fourth. The 450 Husky-mounted Lemke (who'd finished second in the 450 A class) was fifth.

Houde finished in the top spot in the combined Veteran (Over 30) A/B clash, with hard-charging Renold Sawatsky finishing second, making the Maple Leaf fans proud. Brian Perreault was a close third. Hunter, North Dakota's Jason Johnson and Duane Beischer made it three Canadians in the top five.

Kawasaki jockey Kyle Sawatsky (505, right) put on a racing school en route to winning the 85 (12-15) class by more than four seconds. The second through fifth finishers were very close: Suzuki rider Alex Bouton from Hawley, Minnesota, was second, while local riders Ian Blair and Cole Sawatsky placed third and fourth, respectively. Rounding out the top five was Justin Haley from Elbow Lake, Minnesota.

Results

50 (4-6): 1. Chase Hanson (KTM); 2. Tate Olson (KTM); 3. Hunter Gissel (Yamaha); 4. Noah Nathe (Yamaha); 5. Jarred Ehlers.

50 (7-8): 1. Ethan Lemke (Pol); 2. Dylan Goodhart (KTM); 3. Taaun Dodge (KTM).

65 (7-9): 1. Ethan Lemke (Pol); 2. Kourtney Trauten (Kawasaki); 3. Tye Beischer (KTM); 4. Dylan Goodhart (KTM), 5. Morgan York (KTM).

85 (12-15): 1. Kyle Sawatsky (Kawasaki); 2. Alex Bouton (Suzuki); 3. Ian Blair; 4. Cole Sawatsky (KTM); 5. Justin Haley (Kawasaki).

MINI 2 (8-15) 71-90: 1. Brady Jawaski (Pol); 2. Casey Mann (Kawasaki); 3. Quinn Johnson.

250 A: 1. Mitch Dahl (Honda); 2. Luke Perreault (Honda); 3.Cody Martin (KTM); 4. Austin Lindberg (Honda); 5. Matt Chandler (Yamaha).

250 B: 1. Tyler Riewer (Honda); 2. Michael Tofsrud (Kawasaki); 3. Dan Nelson (Kawasaki); 4. Ben Osowski (Yamaha); 5. James Nettleton (Yamaha).

250 C: 1. Austin McCardle (Honda); 2. Josh Wilson (Yamaha); 3. Jon Ruth (Honda); 4. Mike Burgad; 5. Andrew Myogeto (Suzuki).

450 A: 1. Josh Penner (Kawasaki); 2. Mike Lemke (Hus); 3. Kim Houde (Honda); 4. Jesse Frost (Kawasaki); 5. Renold Sawatsky (Honda).

450 B: 1. Trevor Thompson (Honda); 2. Gregory Delaney (Kawasaki); 3. Duane Beischer; 4. Cole Koppang (Honda); 5. Michael Spoor (Honda).

450 C: 1. Garrett Haley (Yamaha); 2. Matt Renner (Honda); 3. Tanner Riewer.

OPEN A/B: 1. Josh Penner (Kawasaki); 2. Jesse Frost (Kawasaki); 3. Mitch Dahl (Honda); 4. Kim Houde (Honda); 5. Mike Lemke (Hus).

OPEN C: 1. Garrett Haley (Yamaha) 2. Jon Ruth (Honda); 3. Josh Wilson (Yamaha).

WMN OPEN: 1. Kourtney Tauten (Kawasaki).

SCHBY (12-15): 1. Kyle Sawatsky (Kawasaki); 2. Reuben Jacobs (Honda); 3. Tyler Lindemann; 4. Cole Sawatsky (KTM); 5. Alex Bouton (Suzuki).

VET 30+ A/B: 1. Kim Houde (Honda); 2. Renold Sawatsky (Honda); 3. Brian Perreault (Honda); 4. Jason Johnson (Suzuki); 5. Duane Beischer.

VET C: 1. Richard Venderwerf (Honda); 2. Gary Wylot (Yamaha).

SR 40+: 1. Renold Sawatsky (Honda); 2. Brian Perreault (Honda); 3. Jon Nettleson (Honda); 4. Richard Venderwerf (Honda); 5. Jon Ruth (Honda).