CAMBRIDGE, MN

Open Semi-Pro contender Conner Anderson (11L, above) became the first rider of the season to break the four-race winning streak of GNC National number 68, Josh Koch (behind Anderson), during the AMA District 23 Tourist Trophy Dirt Track race held at the Norsemen MC's clubgrounds in Cambridge, Minnesota.

The Jeff's SOS/Anderson Plumbing/Motorex/General Engineering/Durelle Racing Products-sponsored Koch sped to victory in the 450 Semi-Pro final via an all-important holeshot, ahead of Anderson, who spun the tire at the start and had to work his way through traffic before finishing second.

Anderson, however, came prepared as they lined up for the Open Semi-Pro final and nailed the start perfectly and led the nine-rider pack into the first turn, with Koch hot on his heels. Anderson and Koch then sped away from the rest of the field during the 25-lap endurance race. After the halfway point, Anderson slowly put some distance on Koch and raced on to record his first-ever class victory.

"That's the first time I've ever beat Josh," said the Diesel Minnesota/Larson's Cycle/SuperTrapp/Randy's Toy Repair-sponsored 12th grader from Cambridge-Isanti High School. "We made some changes to the bike after the heats, and it seemed to work better. I wish my brothers [and fellow competitors] Kevin and Cole were here."

Rich Delak finished a respectable albeit lonely third, ahead of an impressive three-rider battle that went the distance among Dan Jacobson, Zachary Zemanovic and Cole Fealy.

"I've been practicing a lot and doing some conditioning," the soft-spoken Anderson added later.

Race director Kurt Boehlke had been asked by one of the riders at the starting line if they could go 15 laps instead of 12.

"The heck with it - we're doing 25 laps!" he replied.

Anderson then suggested, "Next time, let's go 30 laps."

Bemidji, Minnesota's Randy Thistle (44, above) took top honors in the Senior Over 40 and Masters Over 50 classes, both times after battling with longtime dirt tracker Ron Bystrom (8). Thistle's shot at a three-peat was blocked, however, when veteran Verdeen Langland recovered from a first-turn crash and bolted from the back row of the restart and into the lead as the Over 30 main event got under way. Langland went on to take the victory, ahead of Thistle, Kurt Funk and Marc Haldeman.

The 50cc Mini classes all race for free in District 23. A 12-rider pack of 50cc Mini Chain riders carved up the track, with fifth-generation hotshoe Will Larson, of the Larson's Cycle lineage, coming out on top of a tight four-rider battle that included Jackson Lindberg, Josh Fedder and Reece Valland.

Results

50 SHAFT: 1. Amelea Hauer (Yamaha); 2. Preston Langland (Yamaha); 3. Cole Zeug (Yamaha); 4. Ben Minster (Honda); 5. Ross Monson (Yamaha).

50 CHAIN: 1. Will Larson (KTM); 2. Jackson Lindberg (Cob); 3. Joshua Fedder (KTM); 4. Reece Valland (KTM); 5. Mason Grecula (KTM).

65: 1. Reece Valland (KTM); 2. Jayden Meier (Honda); 3. Zack Johnson (Yamaha).

MAD DOG: 1. Lee Ganske (Yamaha); 2. Mark Nelson (Honda); 3. Andy Kiesal (Honda).

BEG: 1. Zack Stromberg (Suzuki); 2. Andy Grecula (Yamaha); 3. Tommy Minster (Yamaha); 4. Andrew Kiesal (Honda).

250 A: 1. Dustin Paul (KTM); 2. Elliot Darsow (Suzuki); 3. Riley Rasmusson (Suzuki).

450 A: 1. Zachary Zemanovic (Honda); 2. Cale Langland (Honda); 3. Tony Hauer (Suzuki); 4. Geoff Thistle (Honda); 5. Kurt Funk (Yamaha).

450 SEMI-PRO: 1. Josh Koch (Honda); 2. Conner Anderson (Honda); 3. Rich Delak (Hus); 4. Cole Fealy (Honda); 5. Craig Dye (Kawasaki).

OPEN A: 1. Zachary Zemanovic (Honda); 2. Geoff Thistle (Honda); 3. Cole Fealy (Honda); 4. Dustin Paul (KTM); 5. Riley Rasmusson (Suzuki).

OPEN B: 1. Elliot Darsow (Suzuki); 2. Matt Ellison (Hus); 3. Mark Nelson (Honda); 4. Andy Grecula (Yamaha); 5. Tommy Minster (Yamaha).

OPEN SEMI-PRO: 1. Conner Anderson (Honda); 2. Josh Koch (Honda); 3. Rich Delak (Hus); 4. Dan Jacobson (Honda); 5. Zachary Zemanovic (Honda).

OPEN TW: 1. Steve Boggs (Yamaha); 2. Ron Leeman (H-D); 3. Joe Blackwell (Yamaha).

VET 30+: 1. Verdeen Langland (Honda); 2. Randy Thistle (Yamaha); 3. Kurt Funk (Yamaha); 4. Marc Haldeman (Suzuki).

SR 40+: 1. Randy Thistle (Yamaha); 2. Ron Bystrom (Honda); 3. Mike Tehro (Hus); 4. Lee Ganske (Yamaha); 5. Tony Hauer (Suzuki).

MSTR 50+: 1. Randy Thistle (Yamaha); 2. Ron Bystrom (Honda); 3. Dave Darsow (Honda); 4. Ron Leeman (H-D); 5. Gaylord Ladwig (Yamaha).

600 VINT: 1. Lee Ganske (Yamaha); 2. David Darsow (Honda).