Press Release | August 24, 2018
Lynx Creek Proves To Be Roughest Race Of Season
2018 AZOP Series, Round 9, Lynx Creek Hare Scramble, August 18-19, 2018
This is a race report provided by AZOP | Written and Photographed By Jonathan Barrett
Prescott Valley, AZ (August 18-19, 2018) — The 2018 Lynx Creek Hare Scramble was a brutal one for all racers participating. Hosted in Prescott Valley and sponsored by Four Seasons Motorsports, the weather was a cool 75 degrees and cloudy for most of the weekend. A heavy monsoon season left the creek flowing steadily, giving many riders a chance to cool off as they crossed the water multiple times each lap. Split between the tight trails of Lynx Creek and the rarely used MX track, this year’s track was something most have never seen before. With one day of racing for all competitors, the track was a foreboding obstacle that many had only one lap to learn before the green flag dropped.
The Peewee Bikes were the first ones to try out the newly laid out MX track this year. In the 65cc C class, it was Colson Skersick out front all race with Bryce Petrie hot on his tail, followed by Ryker Jirsa. Through 18 laps of huge tabletops, a step-up and step-down, and plenty of parents cheering him on, it was Skersick with the win followed closely by Petrie and Jirsa.
The 50cc 4-6 Years Old class had Brayden Almendarez, Liam Gillespie and Jax Bernal competing for the top spot, with all three finishing as listed, respectively. Almendarez was the clear winner, finishing one more lap than Gillespie. The 50cc 7-8 Years Old class had Cooper Skersick dominating the course, winning with one more lap than the second place finisher of Rhylan Benally and third of Wyatt Massey. Ryder Yates rounded out the class with a respectable time.
The Mini Bikes were next, who ran a shortened full course that looped back onto the MX track that the Peewees ran. The 65cc B class showed Marley Kuhn taking his KTM 65cc around the tight course and through the many water crossings. After two laps, he crossed the line with a strong first place finish, two and a half minutes ahead of second place Colton Calmes and third place Chase Boyd of Boyd Brothers Racing. Emilee Carter came to navigate the course representing the Women C class, but the rough course claimed a victim and she fell hard. With the help of the wonderful volunteer sweep riders, she made it back to the pits safely to rest and recover.
Cody Reyes took the 80-150cc A class win as well as the overall win, followed by second place and second overall Keegan Hardy, pushing as hard as he could to catch Reyes. Porter May took his 80-150cc B class by storm, finishing 40 seconds ahead of second place Austin Marini and third place Travis Boyd, the second half of Boyd Brothers Racing. Nathan Fitzgerald put a good lead on Trevor Supalla, taking first by a margin of two minutes. Clay Stringer took the third step of the podium only one minute behind Supalla. Top 10 finishes for mini bikes are as follows: Cody Reyes, Keegan Hardy, Porter May, Nathan Fitzgerald, Austin Marini, Trevor Supalla, Clay Stringer, Travis Boyd, Garrett Ryner and Marley Kuhn.
To round off day one, the Big Bikes came to conquer the single-track beast that was the Lynx Creek course. Off the Pro line was Nick Gabbert with the holeshot, taking an early lead ahead of second place Luis Kortright and third place Wyatt Perry, sponsored by Blud Lubricants/ZR1 Suspension/RBP Racing. The Scootin’ Newton Racing brothers of Jeremy and Deegan Newton got off to slow starts, but quickly regained position in the tight pack. Gabbert had a technical malfunction crossing the first creek, letting Kortright by and causing Perry to run into his rear wheel. Taking the first uphill section the running order was Deegan Newton, Kortright, Gabbert, and Perry, with Jeremy Newton right behind.
At mile 6, Deegan fell behind Perry and Jeremy Newton, with Kortright still leading and Gabbert right behind him. With Perry in third, he found his way to the rear wheel of Gabbert and pushed for a pass, but ended up making a mistake and letting Newton past him. Newton and Perry soon found Gabbert, where some pressure from Newton resulted in a mistake from Gabbert, letting Newton and Perry past him. Coming into the pits from lap one, Perry stalled coming up to the scoring chute, letting Newton and Kortright pull a lead on him.
After getting the bike started again and a quick pit stop, Perry put a charge on and was hot on Newton’s tail. After finding his rhythm and putting a pass on Newton, it was full speed ahead onto the rear wheel of Kortright. Once he caught up to him, a little pressure from Perry pushed Kortright out of his hot lap and Perry made the pass. After making his lead pass, Perry kept on his rhythm and finished with a sizable lead on Kortright. Crossing the line was Perry, Kortright, then Newton, but, after a penalty correction, it was Newton that took the second-place spot. Deegan Newton lost his kickstarter on lap two, and with no other choice hopped on a new bike and took a DNF because of it. Gabbert took a fourth-place finish, six minutes behind Kortright.
In the 125-250cc A class, it was all Austin Alexander representing GoRide Mountain, taking a solid win over Drake Hacker and taking a fourth overall. The 125-250cc B class was taken by Collier Martinez and the 125-250cc C class was taken by Kaden Bedlion. In the Master 50+ A class, Sean Gilbert Sr. took his Husqvarna to the top spot of the podium, followed by Doug Woody. In the Master 50+ B class, Mark Williams and Michelangelo Preston were right behind each other as Williams took the win by inches. Notable finish was Richard Heyer, who was in a top spot for most of the race but stopped to help a downed rider before finishing the race.
Open A was won by Billy Dipley and Open B was won by Brett Gillespie, and Open C was taken by Blake Kuhn. Senior 40+ A had the trio of Leonard Baca, Joe Mcneil and William Bedlion finishing all a few seconds apart. Senior 40+ B had Mark Holden on the top spot, and Senior 40+ C had John Sanford take it all hom. Don Hesketh dominated the Super Senior 60+ class, putting in 4 laps. Vet 30+ A,B, and C were won by Brian Fox, Duane Hewitt and Colin Krabbe, respectively. Last but not least, Catalina Springstroh represented the Women class well, tackling two laps.
Overall Top 10 are as follows: Wyatt Perry, Jeremy Newton, Luis Kortright, Austin Alexander, Leonard Baca, Nick Gabbert, Collier Martinez, Brett Gillespie, Brian Fox and Sean Gilbert Sr.
Next up for AZOP is the 2018 White Mountain UTV Jamboree, scheduled for September 6-10, 2018 in Eagar, Arizona.
For more information about AZOP, please visit www.azopracing.com