Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Aaron Yates, riding a Suzuki DR-Z125, came from the back of the grid and ripped through the field to take the win in the Deep South Classic XR100 Invitational Trophy Dash Saturday in Cullman, Alabama.

Due to sloppy track conditions caused by recent poor weather (including rain through Friday night), Deep South officials decided to run the Trophy Dash on Saturday and postpone the XR100 National until Sunday, in hopes of better conditions.

The event has three main rules, which include stock exhaust with stock baffle, 125cc maximum displacement, and no knobby tires.

Three heat races determined which of the 21 riders entered would make the Trophy Dash Main, with the top three in each heat gaining a transfer.

Heat One was won by Josh Hayes, with Michael Hannas right behind.

Heat Two was won by Aaron Yates, with Brian Parriott close behind.

Heat Three was won by Jason Pope, a friend of Yates, with Calvin Brown in second. After the heat, Deep South officials noticed that Brown was running an illegal exhaust on his bike, and he was forced to ride “The Pile” penalty bike in the Trophy Dash.

When the Trophy Dash Main started, Jeff Griffin rocketed off the line in the lead, followed by Lee Pope and James Siddall, with Parriott close behind in fourth.

With the heat-race winners starting from the last row of the inverted grid, Yates and Hayes were coming from the back. Jason Pope and Hannas were also working their way through the field from the back.

Yates took the lead from Griffin when Griffin had a moment in the fast sweeper. Griffin made another mistake in the next corner, which allowed both Pope brothers, Parriott, and Hannas by.

Hannas was able to work his way around Parriott, but couldn’t get by the Pope brothers and ended up fourth, with Jason Pope and Lee Pope second and third, respectively.

Yates was not distracted by the gorgeous flag girl and took the checkered for the win, and the Deep South Classic Trophy Dash Piston Wreath.

The main event will run Sunday, with Superpole, the Deep South Classic Invitational XR100 National, and the Deep South Classic Invitational Consolation Race on the schedule.

Heat Race 1
1. Josh Hayes, Yamaha TTR125
2. Michael Hannas, Honda XR100
3. Jeff Griffin, Honda XR100

Heat Race 2
1. Aaron Yates, Suzuki DR-Z125
2. Brian Parriott, Honda XR100
3. Lee Pope, Honda XR100

Heat Race 3
1. Jason Pope, Honda XR100
2. Calvin “Cheater” Brown, Honda XR100
3. James Siddall, Honda XR100

Deep South Classic XR100 Trophy Dash
1. Aaron Yates, Suzuki DR-Z125
2. Jason Pope, Honda XR100
3. Lee Pope, Honda XR100
4. Michael Hannas, Honda XR100
5. Brian Parriott, Honda XR100
6. Josh Hayes, Yamaha TTR125
7. Jeff Griffin, Honda XR100
8. Calvin Brown, Honda XR100
9. James Siddall, Honda XR100