Mark Kariya | April 26, 2021
2021 Lake Havasu NGPC Rnd 5 Results: Chalk up another one for Dante Oliveira—and for Mateo Oliveira, as well.
Dante Oliveira Tops Lake Havasu NGPC
Dante Oliveira got off to a fast start and ran off with the NGPC round win at Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Photos: Mark Kariya
After taking somewhat of a battering at round four, both bounced back to win their respective classes (with Dante taking the overall and Mateo the Pro II contest) at the Vikings Motorcycle Club’s Jim Geddes Memorial Grand Prix, round five of the FMF AMA National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) Series. (Coincidentally, the Oliveiras got the same results at the NGPC finale here last year.)
Round-four winner Cole Martinez hounded the eventual victor, but the Slam Life Racing (SLR) Honda racer had to settle for second with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Off-Road Team’s Austin Walton taking third.
“I was definitely looking for revenge,” reigning series champ Dante (FMF KTM Factory Off-road Racing Team) said. “I wanted to win at [the previous round at] 29 Palms, but I had a big get-off.
“But I came out with the holeshot today, put my head down and just rode smooth—outside to inside. The track was rough, it was hot, but my [Red Bull/Motorex/Thor-backed 450 XC-F] worked awesome. You can’t go too hard out here because the heat is so gnarly and the wind’s drying you out [the whole time].”
The Vikings changed things up a bit and modified the “normal” course, with the start a longer shot into a downhill left, plus running the lagoon jump section backward with a shorter leap used only for the Pro and AA races. Purvines Racing Yamaha’s Justin Seeds actually helped with both the layout and actual tractor work, and the result was a tighter-than-usual course that retained its normal mix of sand and rocks to become extremely rough. Combined with constant wind that dried the course despite running water trucks most of the night and between many races, it added up to a supreme test of one’s fitness.
Indeed, Martinez kept his Monster Energy/Lava Propane/Fly Racing CRF450RX a few seconds behind Oliveira for the first hour, but in the final 30 minutes, he found himself unable to stay with the eventual winner.
“I made a pretty hard push to get right on him at the beginning and then I kind of mellowed out a little bit and tried to flow,” Martinez said. “I knew it was going to be a hot one, but I think the heat came in a little hotter; in the ravines, the wind was not there [to give any cooling breeze]!”
Oliveira pitted a lap after Martinez—the gap between them just four seconds—but Oliveira managed to extend that in the run to the finish and he ended up a minute and 19 seconds in front at the checkered flag.
Oliveira now leads Martinez in the points standings, 136-114, going into the summer break.
Mateo Oliveira won the Pro 250cc class.
Second off the start, Walton slid out on the opening lap which let Martinez by him, and Walton spent the rest of the race unable to reel him back in, yet comfortably ahead of fourth place. The FMF/Dunlop/Fly Racing FX 450 racer said, “The track was brutal this time. It was really technical and had more of a slow pace. You expect it to be slow [here], but it was slower than slow at times so adapting to it and finding those [good] lines, it was brutal.”
Walton remains third in points at 99.
After chasing SLR Honda’s Tallon LaFountaine for nearly the entire race, FMF/Maxxis/RPM Racing KTM’s Mateo Oliveira saw his chance and passed with two laps to go.
“Tallon got off to an early lead and I trailed him the first 30 minutes super-close then gave him a little room,” Direct Connection/AEO Powersports/Klim 250 XC-F rider Mateo said. “He really put on a charge, so I waited and let the race come to me and ended up getting him with two laps to go.
“I’m super-stoked. I put myself in a hole at the beginning of the year [after winning round one] and I’m ready to start pulling myself out of it and fight for this championship.”
Despite the Pro II row starting after the Pros, Oliveira finished fourth overall followed by LaFountaine and FMF/Maxxis/RPM Racing KTM teammate Angus Riordan.
Skechers/Pro Circuit/Alpinestars CRF250RX-mounted LaFountaine remains the Pro II points leader with 140 now followed by Colton Aeck (93), Riordan (91) and Mason Ottersberg and Oliveira who are tied at 90.
Seventh overall and fourth Pro went to Fast House/Team Green’s Trevor Stewart followed by Purvines Racing Yamaha’s Tyler Lynn, 3 Bros./Hatch Racing GasGas rider Giacomo Redondi and Purvines Racing Yamaha Pro II rider Ottersberg.
AMA FMF National Grand Prix Championship
Round 5
Vikings Motorcycle Club’s Jim Geddes Memorial Grand Prix
Crazy Horse Campground
Lake Havasu City, Arizona
RESULTS (April 23-24)
OVERALL PRO (Top 10)
| 1. |
Dante |
Oliveira |
(KTM) |
|
|
| 2. |
Cole |
Martinez |
(Hon) |
|
|
| 3. |
Austin |
Walton |
(Hus) |
|
|
| 4. |
Mateo |
Oliveira |
(KTM) |
Pro |
II |
| 5. |
Tallon |
LaFountaine |
(Hon) |
Pro |
II |
| 6. |
Angus |
Riordan |
(KTM) |
Pro |
II |
| 7. |
Trevor |
Stewart |
(Kaw) |
|
|
| 8. |
Tyler |
Lynn |
(Yam) |
|
|
| 9. |
Giacomo |
Redondi |
(GG) |
|
|
| 10. |
Mason |
Ottersberg |
(Yam) |
Pro |
II |
Click here for complete Lake Havasu NGPC results.
