Press Release | December 9, 2018
Round 12 of the AZOP Championship series races in Gila Bend, Arizona
This is a race report provided by AZOP/ Story and Photos by Jonathan Barrett
Gila Bend, AZ (November 17-18, 2018) — The Arizona Offroad Promotions Championship season concluded in Gila Bend, Arizona at round 12 of the year-long series. While many of the races were just for fun, there were a few close races in points decided on this one-day race.
In the Peewee Bikes, Ryker Jirsa took a second-place finish and locked the championship over Colson Skersick in a tight points battle in the 65cc C class. Cooper Skersick locked his championship in the 50cc 7-8 Year-Old class. Courtney Curley locked in the 50cc 4-6 Year-Old class points.
The Mini Bikes had Jesse Blevins-Heck take the points win in 65cc A, and Marley Kuhn took the 65cc B class and points win. Tate Van Voorst took the 80-150cc A points win and Brett West took the 80-150cc B race win and finished fourth in points. Travis Boyd took second in the race and second in points, with Gunner Deatherage taking third in the race and first in points. Trevor Supalla took the points win in 80-150cc C, with the race being won by Clay Stringer.
In the Big Bikes, Austin Alexander clinched the 125-250cc A championship after a hard crash in practice left him out of the race, but his lead was great enough to keep his spot. Hunter Guiboa took first in the 125-2250cc B race with Tate Van Voorst right behind, but Van Voort would take the season win in points.
Kaden Bedlion would take the win in the 125-250cc C race and finish the season third in points, with Taylor Wilson finishing second in the race and first in season points. Tyler Snodgrass took third in the race and second for the season.
Gary Peterson took first in the race and in points for Master 50+ A, with Richard Heyer taking the season win in Master 50+ B. Charles Tapp won the Open A race, while Brian Perry, Jr. took the points championship with a third-place finish. Joe Joe Kalous took the Open B win with Greg Vander Voort taking the season win. Jacob Moraga took the Open C win with Weston Atwater taking the season points win. Wyatt Perry had the Pro points lead well earlier in the season, but that didn’t stop him from taking the overall win with Randall Fuller three minutes behind.
Terry Webb took the race and points win in 40+ A, with Jason West taking the race and points win in 40+ B. Nason Benson took the 40+ C championship and Josh Serna took the Vet 30+A season win. Vet 30+ B and C were taken by Duane Hewitt and Tim Finnegan respectively.
The 2018 AZOP season brought racers all over the state from the desert of Wickenburg to the Cinder Mountains of Flagstaff. The 2019 season looks to be the biggest and best in its history with more races and more out of state races. More info at AZOPracing.com