SAN BERNARDINO, CA

Gary Hicks won all his races to take home the Western States Championship, presented by Bully Dog, at Inland Motorsport Speedway in San Bernardino, California.

Hicks made the best start in the final, with Tommy Hedden and Jimmy Fishback snapping at his heels. Hedden tried the outside line to get around the leader while Fishback was using the inside. Both riders tried valiantly to get past the leader. Hicks never succumbed to the constant pressure, though, and he was first to the checkered flag. Hedden finished second, Fishback was third, and Josh Larsen finished fourth.

Fishback kicked off the heats with a win over Mike "Spider-Man" Bloom. John Marquez defeated Hedden in the next heat. Hicks collected his first win in event three. Buck Blair beat Robbie Sauer in the next heat. Larsen had to pass a fast-starting Brad Sauer to win the final heat of round one.

Hedden began round two with his first win. Mike Faria beat Brad Sauer in the next heat. Marquez beat Neil Facchini for his second straight win. Hicks defeated Fishback in event 15 for his second win. Larsen beat Blair to end the second round.

Shawn McConnell beat Faria after an epic four-lap, side-by-side battle to start the third round. Devin Defreece beat Bloom to win event 24. Hedden beat Josh Abbott for his second straight win. Fishback held off Larsen in the next event for his second victory. Hicks remained the only perfect rider by ending round three with a victory.

McConnell began the final round by beating Marquez. Bobby "Boogaloo" Schwartz had to pass Brad Pappalardo on the outside before winning event 31. Hicks kept his perfect score intact by holding off Larsen in the next event. Hedden won the penultimate heat to earn a spot in the final. Fishback beat Faria in the last heat to join Hicks and Hedden in the final.

Faria got into the tapes in the last-chance race and was sent to the penalty line. When the tapes finally went up, Larsen and McConnell came together in turn one and brought out the red flag. The third time the riders came to the tapes, Larsen made the best start and thwarted all of McConnell's challenges and booked the last spot in the final.

Two semifinals pared the Last Of The Mohicans Last Man Out Challenge Championship down to Hicks, Blair, Fishback and McConnell. The first start ended violently in turn four when McConnell got into the back of Blair, causing the Colorado native's machine to lift and go through the turn-four fence at a high rate of speed. Blair was down for several minutes, but he was able to get up. McConnell was excluded, and Blair withdrew from the rest of the meeting with soreness in this knee and wrist. That left Hicks and Fishback for the final challenge, and Hicks, keeping with his theme of perfection for the evening, led the entire way for the victory.

Results

P/W: 1. Nicky Reimer (KTM); 2. Victoria Matthews (KTM); 3. Nick Varner (Hon); 4. William Ballasteros (Kaw).

YTH: 1. Nicky Reimer (SDR); 2. Gabe Price (Hon); 3. William Ballasteros (Shu).

D-3: 1. Mike Wiley (Jaw); 2. Rod Requejo (Jaw); 3. Steve Brown (Jaw); 4. John Pavia (Wes); 5. Kevin Johnson (Wes).

D-2: 1. Joey Holt (Jaw); 2. Rick Farron (Jaw); 3. Damon Barry (Jaw); 4. Rick Valdez (GM); 5. Tyson Talkington (Jaw).

LAST OF THE MOHICANS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: 1. Gary Hicks (Jaw); 2. Jimmy Fishback (Jaw); 3. Buck Blair (Jaw); 4. Shawn McConnell (Jaw).

WESTERN STATES LCQ: 1. Josh Larsen (GM); 2. Shawn McConnell (Jaw); 3. Bobby Schwartz (GM); 4. Mike Faria (GM); 5. John Marquez (GM).

WESTERN STATES C'SHIP FINAL: 1. Gary Hicks (Jaw); 2. Tommy Hedden (GM); 3. Jimmy Fishback (Jaw); 4. Josh Larsen (GM).