Mike Day and Ma Nature Headline in So. Cal
The Saturday installment of the ABA So. Cal Nationals was one marked by clouds, sun, rain (sometimes all in the same 60-second span), panchos, “whaler hats,” 3750 lbs of kitty litter, nearly a half-mile of plastic sheeting, and contentious racing.
Above, spy the second rack of the AA semi. That’s Steven Cisar starring as Superman, in the middle, and KY somewhat hidden behind Travis Ohrazda. Unfortunately, YVAN LAPRAZ (second from left) would also prove to be a casualty of the tangle up, re-injuring his left wrist. With all the carnage behind them, Mike Day, Joey Bradford and Travis Ohrazda cake-walked to the qualifying spots. And, despite being dug into the dirt, KY got up and claimed the fourth qual slot (with Cisar and LaPraz down for the count for fully five mins). View a larger version of this image.
In the AA Main, it was Barry Nobles who led from gate to the middle of the second straight, when Mike Day’s turbo boost kicked in. It was Day, thereafter, with Nobles and Travis Ohrazda rounding out the podium.
Girl Pro and A Pro were a bit ho-hum, with Dominique Daniels and Nic Long up top, though MASAHIRO SAMPEI from Japan got a few calls from the tower. Vet Pro action upped the ante, but The Jackal stayed above the frey and tapped the stripe first. I always miss Pro Cruiser. I just can’t get used to where it falls in the schedule. Just as I packed up and started heading out of the infield, the call came “PRO CRUISER IN THE GATE!” Well, I watched from afar as Barry Nobles took-and-maintained the lead, with Tyler Brown not far behind.
Sunday’s UCI race appears as though it might be more of the mega-mudfest (though ABA staff and a posse of volunteers tarped the track after the mains.
Get as-they-happen updates throughout the day by following BMXNOW on Twitter
Full photo gallery posted at BMXNOW.COM
ABA So. Cal Nationals
Lake Perris, CA
February 7, 2009
Partial Results (We generally do not post Cruiser and Opens):
Girl Pro: Dominque Daniels, Stephanie Barrigan, Brooke Crain
Vet Pro: John Purse, Dale Holmes, Todd Perry, David Bittner
A Pro: Nic Long, Corey Reid, Kristaps Konrads
AA Pro: Mike Day, Barry Nobles, Travis Ohrazda
Pro Cruiser: Barry Nobles, Tyler Brown, “Smokin” Joe Sowers
5-Under Expert: BO-BO “THE SQUIRREL” WITTEN
6 Expert: WYATT (SHERIFF) BELL
7 Expert: ETHAN “E DOGG” WOLTHERS
8 Expert: KYLE (CRAZY LEGS) STAN
9 Expert: WYATT (THE WILD MAN) HUBBARD
10 Expert: RYAN PETTIGREW
11 Expert: BROCK (THE ROCK) HEFFRON
12 Expert: SEAN GAIAN
13 Expert: RICKIE GRIFFIS
14 Expert: NATHAN (THE BULL) PADILLA
15 Expert: SABASTIAN (SABO) DOTY*
16 Expert: CORBEN SHARRAH
17-18 Expert: JACOB “PUMPKIN HEAD” PEEBLES
19-27 Expert: LEE “THE FLEA” LEWIS
28-35 Expert: NICK TUTTLE
36-40 EXPERT: JERRY PRICER
41-Over Expert: GEORGE GOODALL
*On my Twitter update, I incorrectly reported Austin Loebe won, because that’s what they called from the tower as I was leaving (I was listening to it on the car radio as I was driving back to base). Apologies for any inconvenience.
5-Under Girls: TAYLOR CORNELIUS
6 GIRLS: CAMILLE HARVEY
7 GIRLS: SHELBY “SCREAMER” WREN
8 GIRLS: MADISON MARTINEZ
9 GIRLS: ALEXIS (GIRL POWER) VITALE
10 GIRLS: KELSEY VAN OGLE
11 GIRLS: VERONIKA GULVIN
12 GIRLS: JORDAN “THE WARDEN” NOPENS
13 GIRLS: LAUREN (THE ROCKET GIRL) WHISLER
14 GIRLS: JAZMYNE (BIG BUSINESS) HARVEY
15 GIRLS: TYLER SCHAEFER
16 GIRLS: KAYLAND MAXWELL
17-27 GIRLS: KRISTIN HOKIT
