Team Velocity Racing Wins 2nd Consecutive WERA Endurance Race BELDING, Mich. Team Velocity Racing won their second consecutive WERA National Endurance Series race on Saturday during the six-hour event at Michigan’s Grattan Raceway, taking the victory after a thrilling late-race battle for the lead. Team Velocity Racing’s overall win is their second this season, and it marks their fifth Heavyweight Superstock class win this year in only six races. Chuck Ivey, Reuben Frankenfield and Mark Crozier rode the Yamaha YZF-R1 in a race that was largely won by strategy and teamwork. Crozier started the race, swapping for the lead in the opening laps with Vesrah Suzuki, the team that had gone undefeated all season until Team Velocity Racing’s overall victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last month. Crozier eventually settled into second place, where the team remained for most of the race. Ivey took the second stint, followed by Frankenfield. Crozier and Frankenfield shared the riding for the second half of the race. In the final hour, Frankenfield was riding when it began to rain. He had taken over the race lead when Vesrah made a pit stop, but he was forced to stop as well when rain began to fall on the back half of the track. Team Velocity Racing was again in second. “They showed I was in P1 on the board,” said Frankenfield. “The gap was at +25, then it grew to 38. Then it started to rain, and Vesrah caught up quick. Some of our success is luck, as it always is in endurance racing, but everyone on the team did their job. We didn’t make a lot of mistakes on the track and things went well in the pits.” When Frankenfield pitted to hand the Yamaha over to Crozier, the DOT front stayed on, while a rain tire went on the rear. It proved to be the right combination, especially since the track began to dry in the final laps. Crozier was able to get past Vesrah to put Team Velocity Racing back in the lead. “I looked up and everybody’s arms were in the air, then I saw the checkered flag,” said Crozier, who celebrated the win with a wheelie down the front straight. “The team did an awesome job in the pits. I couldn’t believe how well the Pirelli DOT front worked in the wet.” Ivey said that “this win probably means more than the others because we were all out there on the track racing in a fair fight. It made the race a lot more exciting. I’m glad to see the competition so close. It’s nerve-wracking, but fun. Jody, Erik and James really worked hard this weekend as our crew; we wouldn’t be winning if they weren’t at the track every weekend with us.” Team Velocity Racing has now extended their lead in the Heavyweight Superstock points championship, and they narrowed the gap between their second-place standing in the overall championship and the lead. The team’s next chance for victory will be the six-hour WERA National Endurance Series round at Summit Point Raceway, where the team earned their first overall career win in 2004. The race will be held on Saturday, August 6. More, from a press release issued by the CRA: Road racing got heated up in Minnesota with the top racers from across the Midwest battling for the CRA Championship. In the Unlimited expert classes, Robert Jensen put up a fight, but could not stop Shawn Conrad to his three victories. In the Heavyweight expert classes, Jensen and Conrad again fought fierce battles, each taking a victory to one another. Long-time CRA racer, Boyd Whiteoak took the checkered in Middleweight Expert Grand Prix, while Shane Fletcher dominated the Middleweight Expert Supersport and Superbike. After taking a break from racing this summer, Todd Hoekstra came back on top in the Lightweight expert classes, although he was unable to stop Jeff Japs from taking the checkered in the Grand Prix class. On Sunday, top finishers from all classes (all sizes) battled in the annual Framstad Cup. This event was named in honor of Don Framstad, who was one of the original members of the CRA. The gridding for this event is handicapped to give the smaller bikes an equal playing field, with the large classes providing a close and exciting finish. Coming from the last row, Robert Jensen finished second to Jeff Japs. In the novice ranks, Brad Johannes, Nick Olsen, and Matthew Losen finished on top. In addition to the races, the CRA hosted a benefit on Saturday night filled with food, fun, pitbike and 3-wheeler races, all to benefit the American Cancer Society. In the pitbike race, “Team Jenspeed” raised the most of any team at $500, but could not take the win from “Team Old Fat Farts.” Last of the festivities, a comical race of the CRA Board of Directors and Stewards aboard children’s 3-wheelers. Jessica Zalusky showed her stamina and aggressiveness, but could not stop fellow board member, Karl Rehphol to his victory. In all, the CRA raised $2036 to benefit the American Cancer Society. Join the CRA for the fifth round of racing at Brainerd Intl Raceway, August 19-21. On August 21, the CRA will debut with their first ever “Formula 40.” CRA licensed racers, who are at least 40 years of age, will battle for bragging rights on the racetrack. CRA would also like to thank our volunteers, who were able to provide a safe racing environment, despite the extreme heat. If you would like more information about becoming a CRA licensed racer, a New Rider, a volunteer, or a member, visit www.cra-mn.com. Overall Points for Experts as of July 18, 2005 1. Eric Haugo 2. Shawn Conrad 3. Jay Bryant 4. Anthony Gallagher 5. Boyd Whiteoak 6. Willie Broten 7. Larry Denning 8. Chad Bakkene 9. Corey Schweich 10. Jessica Zalusky Overall Points for Novices as of July 18, 2005 1. Matthew Losen 2. Nick Olsen 3. Jesse Smasal 4. Steve Reuscher 5. Brad Johannes 6. Jason Lanigan 7. Tony Day 8. Jason Thorson 9. Anthony Mahto 10. James Phillips Official Results from July 15-17, 2005 – Brainerd Intl Raceway Framstad Cup 1 Jeff Japs (YAM TZ 250) 2 Robert Jensen (SUZ GSXR 750) 3 Shane Fletcher (YAM R6) 4 Mark Nelson (SUZ GSXR 600) 5 Glen Paggett (YAM R6) 6 Chuck Dahlheimer (SUZ SV 650) Unlimited Gran Prix 1 Shawn Conrad (SUZ GSXR 1000) 2 Robert Jensen (SUZ GSXR 750) 3 Wesley Good (SUZ GSXR 750) 4 Brian Boyd (SUZ GSXR 1000) 5 Willie Broten (SUZ GSXR1000) 6 Jessica Zalusky (KAW ZX10R ) Unlimited Superbike 1 Shawn Conrad (SUZ GSXR 1000) 2 Wesley Good (YAM R 1) 3 Mark Vandal (HON CBR 1000RR) 4 Brian Boyd (SUZ GSXR 1000) 5 Boyd Whiteoak (YAM R6) 6 Paul Heinen (YAM R1) Unlimited Supersport 1 Shawn Conrad (SUZ GSXR 1000) 2 Robert Jensen (SUZ GSXR 750) 3 Mark Vandal (HON CBR 1000RR) 4 Wesley Good (SUZ GSXR 750) 5 Corey Schweich (SUZ GSXR 750) 6 Jessica Zalusky (KAW ZX10R ) Heavyweight Gran Prix Expert 1 Corey Schweich (SUZ GSXR 750) 2 Kevin Gordon (SUX GSXR 750) 3 Boyd Whiteoak (YAM R6) 4 Michael Sundstrom (YAM R6) 5 Igor Frolov (YAM R6) 6 Jessica Zalusky (KAW ZX-6RR) Heavyweight Gran Prix Novice 1 Matthew Losen (HON CBR 600) 2 Steve Reuscher (HON CBR600RR) 3 Bryan Kihne (SUZ GSXR 600) 4 Tony Day (HON CBR 600RR) 5 James Visser (SUZ GSXR 600) 6 Joseph Sauro (SUZ GSXR 750) Heavyweight Superbike Expert 1 Shawn Conrad (SUZ GSXR 750) 2 Wesley Good (SUZ GSXR 750) 3 Corey Schweich (SUZ GSXR 750) 4 Kevin Gordon (SUX GSXR 750) 5 Boyd Whiteoak (YAM R6) 6 Michael Sundstrom (YAM R6) Heavyweight Superbike Novice 1 Matthew Losen (HON CBR 600) 2 Steve Reuscher (HON CBR600RR) 3 Bryan Kihne (SUZ GSXR 600) 4 Anthony Mahto (YAM R6) 5 James Visser (SUZ GSXR 600) 6 Eric Josephsen (YAM R6) Heavyweight Supersport Expert 1 Robert Jensen (SUZ GSXR 750) 2 Shawn Conrad (SUZ GSXR 750) 3 Wesley Good (SUZ GSXR 750) 4 Corey Schweich (SUZ GSXR 750) 5 Boyd Whiteoak (YAM R6) 6 Kurt Schuschke (HON RC 51) Heavyweight Supersport Novice 1 Matthew Losen (HON CBR 600) 2 Tristan Johnson (YAM R6) 3 Bryan Kihne (SUZ GSXR 600) 4 Jesse Smasal (HON CBR 600RR) 5 Tony Day (HON CBR 600RR) 6 James Visser (SUZ GSXR 600) Middleweight Gran Prix Expert 1 Boyd Whiteoak (YAM R6) 2 Michael Sundstrom (YAM R6) 3 Mark Nelson (SUZ GSXR 600) 4 Jessica Zalusky (KAW ZX-6RR) 5 Chad Bakkene (YAM R6) 6 Brian Hebeisen (YAM R6) Middleweight Gran Prix Novice 1 Steve Reuscher (HON CBR600RR) 2 Matthew Losen (HON CBR 600) 3 Anthony Mahto (YAM R6) 4 Tony Day (HON CBR 600RR) 5 Bryan Kihne (SUZ GSXR 600) 6 James Visser (SUZ GSXR 600) Middleweight Superbike Expert 1 Shane Fletcher (YAM R6) 2 Boyd Whiteoak (YAM R6) 3 Mark Nelson (SUZ GSXR 600) 4 Igor Frolov (YAM R6) 5 Jessica Zalusky (KAW ZX-6RR) 6 Chad Bakkene (YAM R6) Middleweight Superbike Novice 1 Matthew Losen (HON CBR 600) 2 Steve Reuscher (HON CBR600RR) 3 Anthony Mahto (YAM R6) 4 Jesse Smasal (HON CBR 600RR) 5 Bryan Kihne (SUZ GSXR 600) 6 Andrew Fabbrini (HON CBR 600RR) Middleweight Supersport Expert 1 Shane Fletcher (YAM R6) 2 Boyd Whiteoak (YAM R6) 3 Mark Nelson (SUZ GSXR 600) 4 Michael Sundstrom (YAM R6) 5 Igor Frolov (YAM R6) 6 Chad Bakkene (YAM R6) Middleweight Supersport Novice 1 Matthew Losen (HON CBR 600) 2 Steve Reuscher (HON CBR600RR) 3 Bryan Kihne (SUZ GSXR 600) 4 Tony Day (HON CBR 600RR) 5 Anthony Mahto (YAM R6) 6 James Visser (SUZ GSXR 600) Lightweight Gran Prix Expert 1 Jeff Japs (YAM TZ 250) 2 Todd Hoekstra (SUZ SV 650) 3 Jace Porter (SUZ SV 650) 4 Kurt Proctor (SUZ SV 650) 5 Brent Juusola (SUZ SV 650) 6 Tate Guckin (SUZ SV 650) Lightweight Gran Prix Novice 1 Brad Johannes (SUZ SV 650) 2 Pat Udenberg (SUZ SV 650) 3 Ted Fieldseth (SUZ SV 650) 4 Dan Bowden (SUZ SV650) 5 Jacob Jonnes (SUZ SV 650) 6 Jason Lanigan (KAW EX 500) Lightweight Superbike Expert 1 Todd Hoekstra (SUZ SV 650) 2 Jace Porter (SUZ SV 650) 3 Kurt Proctor (SUZ SV 650) 4 Brent Juusola (SUZ SV 650) 5 Brian Hebeisen (YAM FZR 400) 6 Mark Holden (SUZ SV 650) Lightweight Superbike Novice 1 Brad Johannes (SUZ SV 650) 2 Jesse Smasal (SUZ SV 650) 3 Louis Yender (SUZ SV 650) 4 Dan Bowden (SUZ SV650) 5 Jacob Jonnes (SUZ SV 650) 6 Ted Fieldseth (SUZ SV 650) Lightweight Supersport Expert 1 Todd Hoekstra (SUZ SV 650) 2 Matthew Lex (SUZ SV 650) 3 Jace Porter (SUZ SV 650) 4 Brent Juusola (SUZ SV 650) 5 Brian Hebeisen (YAM FZR 400) 6 David Johnson (SUZ SV 650) Lightweight Supersport Novice 1 Brad Johannes (SUZ SV 650) 2 Chuck Dahlheimer (SUZ SV 650) 3 Robert Miller (SUZ SV650) 4 Ted Fieldseth (SUZ SV 650) 5 Louis Yender (SUZ SV 650) 6 Jesse Smasal (SUZ SV 650) Sportsman Lightweight Expert 1 Brian Hebeisen (YAM FZR 400) 2 Joshua Pangier (YAM FZR 560) 3 Shane Larson (HON RS 125) 4 Jennelle LeBlanc (HON RS 125) Sportsman Lightweight Novice 1 Shawn Alexander (YAM FZR 400) 2 Bradley LeBlanc (HON RS 125) 3 Brett Kuttner (YAM FZR 400) Sportsman Ultralight Expert 1 Karl Rehpohl (SUZ GS 500) Sportsman Ultralight Novice 1 Nick Olsen (SUZ GS 500) 2 James Phillipps (SUZ GS 500) 3 Pat Udenberg (HON XR650R) 4 Thomas Manley (DUC MON 620) 5 Daniel Peters (SUZ GS 500) 6 Steve Scherping (HON CRF450R) Super Twins Expert 1 Kurt Schuschke (HON RC 51) 2 Todd Hoekstra (SUZ SV 650) 3 Jace Porter (SUZ SV 650) 4 Kurt Proctor (SUZ SV 650) 5 Brent Juusola (SUZ SV 650) 6 Mark Miller (SUZ SV 650) Super Twins Novice 1 Allen Hoover (HON RC51) 2 Jesse Smasal (SUZ SV 650) 3 Robert Miller (SUZ SV650) 4 Brad Johannes (SUZ SV 650) 5 Louis Yender (SUZ SV 650) 6 Dan Bowden (SUZ SV650) Ultralight Gran Prix Expert 1 Shane Larson (HON RS 125) 2 Jay Bryant (HON RS 125) 3 Jennelle LeBlanc (HON RS 125) Ultralight Gran Prix Novice 1 Nick Olsen (SUZ GS 500) 2 Jason Lanigan (KAW EX 500) 3 James Phillipps (SUZ GS 500) 4 Pat Udenberg (HON XR650R) 5 Steve Scherping (HON CRF450R) 6 Christopher Rhoades (DUC MON 620) Ultralight Superbike Novice 1 James Phillipps (SUZ GS 500) 2 Nick Olsen (SUZ GS 500) 3 Jason Lanigan (KAW EX 500) 4 Thomas Manley (DUC MON 620) 5 Pat Udenberg (HON XR650R) 6 Daniel Peters (SUZ GS 500) Ultralight Supersport Novice 1 Nick Olsen (SUZ GS 500) 2 Daniel Peters (SUZ GS 500) 3 Christopher Rhoades (DUC MON 620) 4 John Gateley (SUZ GS500) 5 Thomas Manley (DUC MON 620) 6 David Engler (SUZ GS 500) Trophy Dash 3 Expert (Overall) HWSSE 1 Robert Jensen (SUZ GSXR 750) UNLGP 2 Mark Vandal (HON CBR 1000RR) UNLGP 3 Paul Heinen (YAM R1) UNLGP 4 Jessica Zalusky (KAW ZX10R ) UNLGP 5 Willie Broten (SUZ GSXR1000) HWGPE 6 Kurt Schuschke (HON RC 51) Trophy Dash 3 Novice (Overall) HWGPN 1 Anthony Mahto (YAM R6) HWGPN 2 Jason Davenport (HON 600RR) HWGPN 3 Cary Tankson (SUZ GSXR 750) HWSSN 4 Allen Hoover (SUZ GSXR 750) HWGPN 5 Chris Lewis (HON F4) Trophy Dash 2 Expert (Overall) MWSSE 1 Shane Fletcher (YAM R6) MWSSE 2 Chad Bakkene (YAM R6) MWSSE 3 Igor Frolov (YAM R6) MWSSE 4 Paul Ellman (SUZ GSXR 600) MWSSE 5 Karl Rehpohl (HON CBR600RR) MWSSE 6 Patrick Gill (YAM R 6) Trophy Dash 2 Novice (Overall) MWSSN 1 Matthew Losen (HON CBR 600) MWSSN 2 Jesse Smasal (HON CBR 600RR) MWGPN 3 Tony Day (HON CBR 600RR) MWSSN 4 Eric Josephsen (YAM R6) MWSSN 5 John Heinen (YAM R6 ) MWGPN 6 Christian Schmidt (YAM R6) Trophy Dash 1 Expert (Overall) LWSSE 1 Kurt Proctor (SUZ SV 650) LWSSE 2 Jace Porter (SUZ SV 650) LWSSE 3 Anthony Gallagher (SUZ SV 650) LWSSE 4 Brian Hebeisen (YAM FZR 400) LWSSE 5 Mark Holden (SUZ SV 650) LWSSE 6 Matthew Lex (SUZ SV 650) Trophy Dash 1 Novice (Overall) LWSSN 1 Chuck Dahlheimer (SUZ SV 650) LWSSN 2 Brad Johannes (SUZ SV 650) LWSSN 3 Louis Yender (SUZ SV 650) LWSSN 4 Jacob Jonnes (SUZ SV 650) LWSSN 5 Dennis Zajac (SUZ SV 650) LWSSN 6 Jeff Touhey (SUZ SV 650) 125 Gran Prix 1 Shane Larson (HON RS 125) 2 Jay Bryant (HON RS 125) 3 Bradley LeBlanc (HON RS 125) 4 Jennelle LeBlanc (HON RS 125) 250 Gran Prix 1 Jeff Japs (YAM TZ 250) 2 Jay Bryant (HON RS 125) More, from a press release issued by Team Morse Racing: Team Morse Racing wins at La Junta Raceway! With temperatures reaching 105 degrees, last weekend’s MRA round held at La Junta Raceway in La Junta Colorado once again strained man and machine. Even with the tough conditions, Team Morse Racing riders came home with two class wins, four podium finishes, and five hard fought top-ten finishes. Saturday afternoon’s temperatures were over 100 degrees by the time Dave Gallant and Mike Applehans took their starting positions for the Lightweight Endurance race. La Junta raceway sports the fastest turn one in Colorado, and from the very first lap the Team Morse Racing riders put it to good use to extend a lead lap after lap over the rest of the field. Dave and Mike spent much of the first half of the race trading places at the front using the draft on their Suzuki SV650s to pass each other into the fast turn one. With 10 laps to go, Mike Applehan’s SV650 started showing signs vapor lock due to the high temperatures and forced him to short-shift to cool the motor. With this small advantage, Dave was able to gap Mike slightly and take home the class win. “The heat out here makes things really tough, but the bikes worked well and the Pirelli tires didn’t once grease up on me. The track surface is well over 150 degrees by now, and if this track can’t make a tire grease up, nothing will. I have to thank the team for this weekend as well. It is 109 degrees under the canopy right now, but without their help getting everything ready there is no way Mike and I could do as well as we have already done this weekend” commented Dave Gallant about the endurance race. Twenty minutes after the Lightweight Endurance race, Mike Applehans mounted his RacerSupply.com GSXR750 to race the Heavyweight Endurance race. In typical form, Mike stormed his way to the front of the pack to finish in a strong second place overall. “Riding the GSXR out here is a lot different than the SV, and after the lightweight race I told myself I would take things easy and not work myself to hard in this heat. When the race started however, I felt really comfortable and settled into a fast pace right away which allowed me to move up through the grid. I put in a new set of EBC pads before this race as well, and I think the added stopping power for turn three made it easier for me to get by other heavyweight bikes” said Mike Applehans of Team Morse Racing. Sunday came complete with higher temperatures, but Mike Applehans was ready for the first race of the day, Lightweight Grand Prix. Dave and Mike streaked through turn one nose-to-tail, but by turn two Mike had taken the lead. The two riders worked together to distance themselves from fast TZ250s on their supersport-legal Suzuki SV650s, and when the checkered flag flew it was Mike Applehans with the class win. “Turn one really makes or breaks your entire lap time out here. Even though we are down on horsepower compared to some of the other bikes in this class, if we can nail turn one lap after lap we can inch away a little bit every lap. The bike worked flawlessly today, and I can’t believe how well the tires are working even in these hot temperatures” stateed Mike about his class win. Next up for Dave Gallant was Middleweight Supersport. As in most clubs around the country, Middleweight Supersport tends to have the stiffest competition and this weekend was no exception. With a bad start Dave made his job that much harder, and he ended up dicing through turn one way down in 12th position. Although clearly down on top-end-speed as compared to some of the other competitor’s machinery, Dave used his lightweight bike experience to pass multiple bikes going into turn one by using the draft. One by one Dave worked his way up through the grid, almost passing for 4th place at the finish line. “That was the hardest 5th place I have ever earned, but it feels good to be able to real the lead pack back in like that. The leader had checked out on most of us, but I could see second place for the entire race and was matching his times as best I could. I know I am down quite a few MPH against these bikes, but Joe from The Racer Supply helped me figure out the 600 a little bit better this weekend. A few little changes translated into me being able to draft pass into turn one at will. Overall, I am happy with this performance – now it is just time to get up to challenge for the win where we should be. Another big help this weekend was the addition of a new Dynojet Quickshifter to the GSXR 600. Dynojet really bent over backwards to get me a replacement part in time for this weekend’s race, and I can’t thank them enough for their commitment to roadracing and racers in general” commented Dave Gallant of Team Morse Racing. Both Mike and Dave continued to ride hard through the heat of the day to bring home more podium positions and make sure the race announcers were always announcing their names and sponsors. Scott Morse, owner of Morse Racing Products/GP Composites Bodywork had this to say regarding the weekend’s events: “I really don’t know how Dave and Mike ride as hard as they do in these temperatures, but their determination is contagious and keeps the whole team moving forward. Unfortunately for some racer’s this weekend, the heat proved too much and we had long delays due to red flags. From a product standpoint however, those things I see at the track and the R&D the team does for me is invaluable. The next generation products are being developed to solve these real-race-world problems, and after race weekends like this I literally can’t wait to get back to the shop and develop the ideas further” Team Morse Racing will compete next in round six of the MRA series at Pueblo Motorsports Park on August 13th & 14th. More, from a press release issued by WERA: Denning and Batey Dominate WERA National Series at Grattan BELDING, Mich. Larry Denning and Tray Batey were the riders to beat during the Michelin National Challenge Series sprint races at Grattan Raceway this past weekend, while Team Velocity Racing won the Dunlop National Endurance race in the series’ closest finish of the season. Round six of the WERA National Series started on Saturday, July 16 with the six-hour endurance race. Vesrah Suzuki and Team Velocity Racing traded for the lead throughout the race. In the final hour, rain on the back portion of the track made strategy a key factor as teams gambled on what tire combination to use. At the finish line, Team Velocity was only half a minute ahead of Vesrah, taking the overall and Heavyweight Superstock win with Chuck Ivey, Reuben Frankenfield and Mark Crozier at the helm. Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey and John Jacobi finished second overall, winning the Heavyweight Superbike class. Red Star finished fourth overall, taking the Mediumweight Superbike victory with Ben Thompson, William Lindsay and Brett Champagne. The Mediumweight Superstock win went to Brian Dalke, Josh Smith-Moore and Keith Marshall of Dalke Motor Sports. The Notorious P.I.G. won the Lightweight Superbike class with riders Melissa Berkoff, Bruce Stanford and Derek Keyes. Sunday’s racing featured ten-lap National Challenge Series sprint races. Local hot shoe Larry Denning and series veteran Tray Batey took the most wins in the expert division with three each. Denning was victorious in 600 Superbike, 600 Superstock and Open Superstock. Batey was dominant as usual in 750 Superstock, Formula 1 and Heavyweight Twins Superstock. Keith Marshall took his first 750 Superbike win of the year, Chris Parrish won Lightweight Twins Superstock and Kendrick Morrison won Formula 2. In the novice division, Brian Moore led the way with wins in 600 Superstock, 750 Superstock and Open Superstock. Local rider Brian VanDerBrouck won 600 and 750 Superbike, the only other novice to score multiple wins. David Johnson won Heavyweight Twins Superstock, while the Lightweight Twins Superstock win went to Allan Burley. Richard Harris won Formula 2. Round seven of the WERA National Series will be held August 6-7 at West Virginia’s Summit Point Raceway. More information can be found online at www.WERA.com. More, from a press release issued by the Can-Am Challenge Series: CAN-AM CHALLENGE SERIES SPONSORED BY INFINITY GP RACING RACE REPORT MOSPORT, ROUND 2 JULY 16-17, 2005 125 GP The second round of the Can-Am Challenge Series saw the 125s battle it out for valuable championship points at Mosport International Speedway this past weekend. Registration would prove to result in a smaller than expected grid, with a total of 13 riders, but it has been said that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog! Friday’s practice day had the 125s taking to the track at 12:45pm, allowing the riders to take their time in the morning to prepare their bikes. John Dempsey, the current points leader, and Matt Cooper, third in points, had taken advantage of three Mosport track days earlier in the week to hone their skills on the 3.9 km track; Cooper set the pace by topping that practice with a 1:35.007, followed by John Hjelm of Colorado with a 1:35.256, and Dempsey rounding out the top three with a 1:36.040. Alex Welsh, who was second in points before this weekend, would post a top time of 1:38.664 with the TZ for that session. The afternoon practice session took place at the end of the day, and would have Hjelm clocking the fastest time with a 1:35.070, followed by Dempsey with 1:35.534, and Cooper with a 1:35.553. Mark White and Joe Melchionda would finish out the top 5 for that session. Saturday: Saturday’s morning practice saw Dempsey, Cooper and Hjelm once again set the pace; Cooper lead the session by dropping a second off his fast time from the previous day, turning a 1:34.320. Dempsey suffered a cracked exhaust pipe and pulled off in corner three, yet still managed to stay put in second with a 1:35.142. Hjelm posted a 1:35.592. John-Ross MacRae of Calgary went from a 1:42.007 on Friday, to 1:39.802 on Saturday morning. Saturday would see the much anticipated arrival to the Can-Am Challenge series of the 250F powered four stroke of Jean Francois Trudel; his labour of love would have Mark Rabo as its pilot, a rider making his return to racing after a 2 year absence. Rabo would post a time of 1:42.756 in an effort to get the 4 stroke dialed in. Angela Hiba, still suffering from a broken collarbone sustained in the first round, mounted her 125 this weekend only to face more disaster by losing control of her Honda as she was entering the track to practice with another class; she reportedly got tangled with the bike, and her foot was caught between the swing arm and wheel, causing serious damage to her ankle and foot. The Can-Am sends their best wishes to Angela, and hopes for a speedy recovery. Saturday qualifying would have 12 bikes out on the track; the top riders would drop yet another second off their times with Cooper grabbing the pole position with a 1:33.123. Hjelm, Dempsey and Welsh joined him on the front row with 1:33.838, 1:33.841 and 1:35.420 respectively. Row 2: Mark White 1:36.754, Joe Melchionda 1:36.897, John-Ross MacRae 1:39.690. Row 3: Mark Rabo 1:42.099, Dane Walther 1:43.869, Don Murfin 1:45.310, Jim Bergey 1:46.498. Row 4: Craig Johnston 1:48.182. Sunday: Sunday morning had the riders looking to the skies, the possibility of getting the rain tires out increasing as the practice session neared its time. A dry front straight misled everyone into thinking the rest of the track was in the same condition, but in true Mosport fashion, this was not to be the case. Within two laps, there were reports from officials that corners four, five and six were indeed starting to get drizzled on. With all riders on slicks, the organizer’s made the decision to red flag the session to avoid the loss of any riders from the final grid. All riders would have liked to have gotten their laps in, but most likely none so much as Welsh, who had finally gotten hold of an Infinity Honda RS125, but had to concede to the red flag and hope that the bike would be tuned and ready for the final. Heavy rain continued to plague the day and looked as if it might continue through to the end of the 125 final, scheduled as the last race of the day. However, the precipitation did move out of the vicinity of the track, and slowly but surely, the track dried out despite the heavy humidity. Infinity GP Racing graciously sponsored the filming of this Round Two event, so as the cameras took position, so did the 125s onto their grid positions, however, much later in the day then expected. Cooper, sitting in pole position, had problems getting his RS125 off the line, and was shuffled back into the pack going into corner one. Dempsey, Hjelm and Welsh all launched cleanly, and the rest of the field followed suit. Cooper made quick work of getting back up front by the time the front of the field got to Moss’s Corner; the first lap had Hjelm, Dempsey and Cooper crossing the line in first, second and third respectively. Dempsey would lead though laps two to five, but this is not to say that it was easy work; in true 125 action Dempsey, Hjelm and Cooper were glued together throughout those laps, creating a commentating frenzy between announcers Pat Gonsalves, Frank Woods and Eric Tryko. Hjelm and Cooper fought tooth and nail for second place through laps 2 and 5, with both riders finally getting by Dempsey through corners two and three. Lap 6 had Hjelm up in front, Cooper charging hard right behind him, Dempsey bringing up the rear of this freight train of furious two strokes gunning for first place. In the third lap, Welsh had ridden off the race track to discover a broken chain. Melchionda held steady in fourth, followed by a group of riders not far behind: White, MacRae, Rabo, Bergey, Walther and Murfin; Craig Johnston rounded out the field. Lap 7 had Cooper, make a pass on the veteran rider Hjelm and make it stick for first place. The commentating was probably the most excited and animated for any race ran that weekend, the speakers practically buzzing right off their poles. Hjelm would return the favour to Cooper by passing him on the back straight, giving Dempsey, still very much in a position to jump into the fray between the two riders in front of him, a show to watch. Not only was the race amazing to watch with this group of three, but Cooper, in attempting to lead Hjelm on lap 8, lost his front end going into Moss’s 5a corner, burying himself and his bike into the hay bales. Reports have it that the fans in Moss’s were on their feet, at the fence, yelling their appreciation for a race well run. Hjelm finished off the remaining two laps in front with Dempsey in a safe second place behind him,; Melchionda remained steadfast in his newly acquired third place. Dempsey and Cooper will be looking to race together this weekend July 22-23 at Shannonville Motorsport Park for rounds 3 and 4 of the Can-Am Challenge Series with Cooper looking to take a bite out of Dempsey’s lead. Results 1. 130 John Hjelm 10 laps 2. 63 John Dempsey 10 laps 3. 330 Joe Melchionda 10 laps 4. 60 Mark White 10 laps 5. 27 John-Ross MacRae 10 laps 6. 71 Mark Rabo 10 laps 7. 20 Jim Bergey 9 laps 8. 342 Dane Walther 9 laps 9. 59 Don Murfin 9 laps 10. 179 Craig Johnston 9 laps DNF 96 Matt Cooper 8 laps DNF 801 Alex Welsh 2 laps DNS 31 Angela Hiba Current Points after round 2 of 6 rounds Dempsey 94, Melchionda 64, White 55, MacRae 54, Hjelm 53, Walther 44, Welsh 43, Cooper 41, Johnston 38, Harrington 32, Bulmann 29, Rabo 27, Bergey 25, Murfin 21, MacPhail 17.