Sunday, Jan 20, 2008
The AMP 2008 Winter Motocross Series begins
 Well, the 2008 AMP Winter Motocross Series is here again, and the rider turnout for the first round was great. The oatfield raceway pits were packed to full capacity, always a good sign. With the long time off for the holidays, everyone was ready to go racing. So lets start with the young folks. We have two new riders racing with us, Tim Olsen, #202, and Jimmy Bonnema, #367. Both riders race the 250 and 450 Novice classes with Eric Zepp. Eric had his best race in the 450 class where he placed 5th in the first moto and top ten in the second. Both Tim and Jimmy rode well but were plagued by mistakes, and ended up racing the second division for moto two. The 250 class was a different story. Tim blasted an awesome holeshop, with Eric tucked in behind him, but Eric got bounced around through the first couple of turns, and ended up in the second half of the pack by the time he got to the start triple. Eric rode well but was unable to make up many positions in the 4 lap race. All three ended up racing Div 2 of the three division class. In the intermediate class, we had Chris Spiers, #818. Chris raced Schoolboy, 250 Int, and 450 Int. Chris rode very well on the day, but was unable to get the starts needed to perform to the level that he is expecting for himself. Chris ended up 2nd in Schoolboy, 5th in the 250 class, and 6th in the 450 class. 2008 is going to be the year we turn our starts around. The ability to start well is the most important skill a serious rider can have. So what about the old guys? Joe Spiers and Jim Zepp showed up a little rusty, but with lots of enthusiasm. It has been some time since Joe has raced, and while he rode well, his lack of riding showed in his conditioning. Joe raced +35 Exp and +40 Exp. The only guy he had to beat for first place in both classes was Rodney Smith. Oh, well, maybe he can win at the next round. Jim Zepp, racing +25 Beginner, also rode well, but was plagued with bad starts. Jim was, though, able to clear the giant step up at Oatfield. Way to go Jim! We would like to thank all the sponsors who support us at the races. Shift Racing, Shoei, Dubach Racing Development, Mada, Acerbis,and Scott USA. We would also like to give special thanks to two sponsors that are always there for us. Al Posey of Posey Racing, and Morgan and Alex at BR1 Suspension. Thanks for all your support through the years.
Sunday, Jun 24, 2007
Mammoth Motocross 2007
 After missing last year's race at Mammoth, zetta|racing, along with a huge group of NorCal racers, showed up for Mammoth Motocross 2007 ready to serve notice. Riders included:
Pro Riders
Alisa Nix #2, Justin Posey #226, Arik Swan #274, Corey Pennington #661, Kevin Rookstool #745, and Topher Ingalls #999.
Intermediate Riders
Beau Wiegand #73, Buck J. Ford #106, TJ Bettenhausen #116, Jonathan Davis #123, Bryar Perry #180, Blake Jump #241, Wil Mcdonough #333, Ricky Rinauro #623, and zetta|racing's Chris Spiers #818.
Junior Riders
Brittany Myers #49, Danny Pacini #154, Tyler Persons #311, Kasie Creson #333, and Brad Lopez #408
Eric Zepp #757 was also slated to race this year, but suffered a broken collarbone the day before he was to leave for Mammoth. Needless to say, Eric was very disappointed.
Day One - Big Bike Practice
The day was spent getting both bikes and riders acclimated to the altitude. All went well for the most part, except for Ricky Rinauro #623. Ricky had a hard get-off after the downhill and ended up breaking his arm and getting pretty badly burned.
Click to see Practice Day pictures.
Day Two - Schoolboy, Open, and Womens Races
Schoolboy
The initial Schoolboy moto qualified 12 riders for the main. There were a total of two divisions with Tyler Persons #311 in Div 1, and Jonathan Davis #123, Blake Jump #241, and Chris Spiers #818 in Div 2. In Div 2, Blake Jump showed up to the starting line without a motor in his his bike after blewing up his motor in practice. He had to "start" the first qualifing race so that he could run the second semi final race, where he qualified for the main. Jonathan Davis and Chris Spiers rode well in their first race and qualified for the main. Tyler Persons was unable to qualify in his first race, but came back strong in the semi to qualify.
In the main, Blake Jump fell hard and blew his shoulder out. Jonathan Davis rode strong for a 6th place finish, while Chris Spiers, with a rear flat, rode to an impressive 8th place finish. Tyler Persons finished it out with a 20th. Way to go guys!
Open
The Open class was broken up by skill levels; Junior, Intermediate, and Pro. All the NorCal riders qualified for their respective mains. In the Pro class, Arik Swan #274 rode to a 15th. In the Intermediate class, Buck Ford #106 was 12th, Beau Wiegand #73 was 13th, and Will Mcdonough #333 was 14th.
Women
What can I say, NorCal girls rock! Alisa Nix #2 took 1st in the Pro class, while Kasie Creson #333 took 1st and Brittany Myers 15th in the Amateur class.
Click to see Schoolboy, Open, and Women race pictures.
Day Three - 125
Junior
Let me just say their were five divisions in the Junior class - 200 riders. This meant that five riders qualified in the first race and three qualified in the semi for each division. Needless to say it was no small task to qualify for the main. Danny Pacini #154 and Brad Lopez #408 showed up to represent NorCal and both qualified for the main. Danny ended up 9th and Brad took 14th.
Intermediate
Beau Wiegand #73, Buck J. Ford #106, TJ Bettenhausen #116, Jonathan Davis #123, Bryar Perry #180, Wil Mcdonough #333, and Chris Spiers #818 came out to represent NorCal in a heavily stacked 125 Int class. Beau, Buck and Bryer qualified in their first race, and Jonathan and Wil qualified in their semi race. Chris and TJ were unable to qualify for the main. In the main Buck rode to a top 10 finish. Jonathan was next with a 13th. Beau took 15th, Will 17th, and Bryer, having problems, took 35th.
Pro
The Pro class was represented by Topher Ingalls #999 and Justin Posey #226. Topher, riding with a blown out knee, took 14th, and Justin, back from an injury, took 16th.
Click to see 125 race pictures. Final Day - 250 Junior
The Junior class was a division smaller today, only 4 divisions - 160 riders. Seven riders qualified in the first race and three qualified in the semi for each division. Danny Pacini #154, again, road very well, taking a 7th overall. Brad Lopez #408 had trouble in this calss, and ended up 26th overall. Intermediate
The 250 Int class was represented by Beau Wiegand #73, Buck J. Ford #106, Jonathan Davis #123, Wil Mcdonough #333, and Chris Spiers #818. All but Beau were able to qualify for the main, Beau suffering from bad starts all day. Chris coming back from a fall and riding with another rear flat qualified in his semi final. In the main, Jonathan and Chris had trouble. Jonathan got caught up in a massive pile up off the start, and while he didn't go down, some how wrapped his shift lever around his footpeg. Jonathan pulled off the track and Alex of BR1 gave the shifter a few swift kicks to get Jonathan going again, where he was able to ride to a top 20 finish. Chris on the other hand, swapped out on the big uphill and hit a tree. Luckily he was uninjured and was able to continue the race, ending up 26th overall. Buck and Wil road well, Buck finished 8th, Yea Buck! And Wil 12th. Pro
The 250 Pro main was the best race of the event. Ryan Hughes #4, Kevin Rookstool #745, Will Hahn #266 and Nicco Izzy #34 ran most of the race no more that 50 feet away from each other. Kevin keep Ryan behind him for several laps before Ryan was able to make the pass. Kevin was able to briefly take back the lead, then Ryan, then Will, until Ryan was able to take back the lead for good. With Ryan in the lead, the race for 2nd went on amongst Kevin, Wil and Nicco. Nicco Fell with about 6 laps to go, and it looked like Will was going to take 2nd. With two laps left to go though, in sweeper before the finish, Rookstool put a beautiful move on Hahn, taking over 2nd, where he finished. Arik Swan #274 was also riding very well, where he held 6th before a flat front tire ended his day. Click to see 250 race pictures.
I would like to put out a special thanks to all the folks that make Mammoth Motocross happen. Far and away the best run race in which we have ever participated. We would like to thank all our sponsors who support us at the races. Fringe Gear, Mada,and Scott USA. We would also like to give special thanks to two sponsors that are always there for us. Al Posey of Posey Racing, and Alex at BR1 Suspension. Thanks for all your support through the years.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Chris Spiers takes the 2007 AMP Spring Motocross Series championship in Schoolboy
 Not to be denied by a substancial crash Saturday at the Mada Ride Day at E-Street MX in Marysville, Chris Spiers, #818, did what he needed to do at the final round of the AMP Spring Motocross Series, finishing top ten on the day in Schoolboy and clinching the Championship. Chris also ended up 2nd overall in the series in the newly renamed 250 Int class, even after not riding the final round. Way to go Chris.Eric Zepp, #757, had his own issues he was having to deal with. After blowing his motor in his 125 prior to the Amateur Days of the Hangtown Nationl, Eric was forced to finish out the AMP series riding his dad's YZ250F, missing the remainder of the 125 only races. Eric was still able to retain 2nd overall in the series. Nice cup, Eric! Daniel Zepp, #736, came back to the sport this series after about a year away, and continues to show progress. I look forward to seeing him on the podium in the fall. And last but not least, Jim Zepp clinched 4th overall in the +30 Beg class. Go Jim! We would like to thank all the sponsors who support us at the races. Fringe Gear, Mada,and Scott USA. We would also like to give special thanks to two sponsors that are always there for us. Al Posey of Posey Racing, and Morgan and Alex at BR1 Suspension. Thanks for all your support through the years.
Sunday, Mar 18, 2007
Long time, no posts. But there has been lots of racing, and lots of news!
 Well, times, they are a changin. New season, new bikes, new classes. Where to begin?Lets start with new classes. AMP has now officially changed the names of the classes, to match the change in the bike sizes, now that the four-strokes have taken over. There is a 125 class, a 250 class, and a 450 class. The 125 class is now just that, 125s only. The 250 class is now open to 125s, 250Fs, and 250 two strokes. And the 450 class open to everything except 125s. Eric Zepp moved up to the 125 class last series, riding a YZ 125. The bigger news though is that Eric, after dominating his first series in the beginner class, has moved up to the Novice class for the AMP 2007 Spring Series.Congratulations Eric, you have come a long way. Eric raced 125 Nov and 250 Nov, with the standing challenge that he was going to holeshot Chris Spiers on their first gate together. Well, that opportunity did not present itself, as they were in assigned two different gates. The 250 class was a bit of an eye openner for Eric. A lot more speed in the Novice class than the beginner class. His first moto finish put him in the second division for the second moto, where he ultimately finished mid-pack. Eric faired much better in the 125 Nov class. A 5th place in the first moto, followed by a 3rd in the second moto for a 3rd overall. Not bad. Chris Spiers, #818, has also been steadily progressing through the last series, and really hit his stride in the last few races. Well, Chris destroy the novice competition in the first round of the AMP 2007 Spring Series. Four holeshots, four moto wins. Enough said. Next week he will be racing as an intermediate. School boy went almost as well. One holeshot, a 4th in the first moto and a 2nd in the second moto earned him a 2nd overall. Needless to say, Chris was pretty proud of himself, and was the buzz of the pits. Congratulations to you, too, Chris. You have worked very hard to arrive at this point. So what is next? Only time will tell. Join us next week as we race at The Oatfield Raceway for round 2 of the AMP 2007 Spring Series. We would like to thank all the sponsors who support us at the races. Fringe Gear, BR1 Suspension, Scott USA and last, but curtainly not least, Posey Racing. Thanks Al for offering your support, and sharing your wisdom.
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