WHEELWRIGHT'S RIGHT ON AT MANKATO |
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riders converged on the Kato Cycle club near Mankato, Illinois to challenge
their 250 foot 3 stage hill.
Eric Wheelwright emerged as the fastest rider of the day, exhibiting his
national championship skills.
Wheelwright was the national champion in 1999 and 2000 in the 250cc class
riding a Jackson Performance Yamaha, but in 2001 he claimed the extremely
competitive title in the 600cc class on his CR500 sponsored by Jackson
Performance, Wiseco Pistons, Carbon Tech Reeds, Sprocket Specialists and AXO.
He had to come from behind for his win, however, as his 6.1189 second
time on his first rum left him well back in the 34 rider class, especially Eric
Donaldson and his 5.3424 second run on his KX500.
In the second round, however, the National Champ showed his stuff by
delivering a straight and fast run up the left side of the hill, stopping the
clock in a sizzling 5.2287 seconds to take the class lead and set a new fast
time. Arnold
Jelinek was
nearly as fast on his KTM550, as he topped the hill in 5.2817 seconds for second
place. Donaldson
also improved his time, but his 5.2984 second run would leave him in third place
with Todd Cipala and Kurt Koester filling out the top five.
An intense battle in the 750cc class has been waged all year by the three
leaders, Todd Cipala, Eric O’Conner and Kaleb Northrup, each with one win each
in the previous three district climbs.
Cipala came in to this event with a very slim point lead over his two
challengers and a win for him might just clinch the point champioship.
It didn’t play out that way, however, as O’Conner sailed his Kaw
triple over the top in 6.1902. seconds to take the first round lead with Cipala
in third with a 6.8873 second run and Northrup well back in the pack due to a
wild nearly out of control ride.
In the second round, however, Northrup delivered a straight and fast
6.1164 second time to slip under O’Conner, who failed to improve on his first
ride. With
all attention focused on the three triple riders, most watchers failed to notice
that Brad Cain
ambushed all the leaders as he roared over the top in 5.9510 seconds on a
Triumph to take the win.
Northrup finished second, O’Connor third, Stacey Ulmer fourth and
Cipala had to settle for fifth.
These results put the top three riders in a virtual tie going in to the
last ride the next day at New Ulm – with whoever did best there claiming the
season title. Check
the New Ulm story in this edition to see how that came out.
Chad Koopsma, national champion in the 400cc class upheld that title with
a convincing 5.4833 second winning run on his KTM380.
His closest competitor was his good buddy Paul Hackbarth who delivered a
5.7140 second run on his KTM360 with yet another good friend, Eric Wheelwright
running third on his KTM300.
Tony Marble slipped under national champ Ryan Peterson in the 250cc
class, posting a 5.8834 second time on his first round that held up all day in
the 40 rider class.
Peterson was incredibly close, however, his 5.8841 second ride in the
second round leaving him only 7/10,000’s of a second off
the leader.Eric Wheelwright picked up his second third place trophy to go with
his 600cc win and fast time with a 5.8972 second run and he was less than
14/1,000’s behind Marble.
That’s tight racing, folks!
Veteran rider Chuck Neinfeldt showed he still was one of the guys to beat
as he crashed hard on his first ride, but let his big Harley loose all the same
on his second ride for a high flying 5.7706 second winning run in the Open
Class. Harold Waddell, Todd Cipala, Justin Odergaard and Stacey Ulmer filled out
the top five places.
In youth class action, Jackson Exher took the 50cc class win, John
Sternitzke was the 65cc class winner, Harry Exner claimed the win in the 85cc
Junior Mini class and Sam Heiderscheidt was the fastest of the Senior minis.
In other amateur class action, Scott Braun won the 125cc class, Dan Prebe
grabbed the 200cc class win and Scott Junklin won the Senior (+40) class.
Dennis Jelinek finished second in the senior class but came back to win
the Super Senior (+50) competition. Myron Engle was the best of the 250cc ATV
riders while Albers Scott was the fastest in the Open ATV class.
RESULTS:
50CC:
1.Jackson Exher (Cob), 2.Corissa Fosberg (KTM), 3.Casey Wood (KTM), 4.Logan
Cipala (KTM), 5.Alex Gerdes (Cob).
65CC:
1.John Sternitzke (Kaw), 2.Henry Kelly (Kaw), 3.Jacob Prebe (KTM), 4.Jaclyn
Geross (Kaw), 5.Casey Onsyl (KTM).
85CC
JR: 1.Harry Exner (Hon), 2.Josh Mueller (Kaw), 3.Jason Sternitzke (Kaw),
4.Taylor Winscot (Kaw), 5.Jacob Prebe (Hon).
85CC
SR: 1.Sam Heiderscheidt (Kaw), 2.Brandon Reemer (Kaw), 3.Brad Berkner (Kaw),
4.Jay Sallstrom (Kaw), 5.Nate Redmann (Hon).
125CC:
1.Scott Braun (Hon), 2.Colby Marble (Yam), 3.Kevin Braun (Hon), 4.Adam Sybilrud
(Yam), 5.Jessica Prebe (Yam).
200CC:
1.Dan Prebe (KTM), 2.Dan Mears (KTM), 3.Ryan Steverner (KTM), 4.Tina Enevold
(KTM), 5.John Curtis (Kaw).
250CC:
1.Tony Marble (Kaw), 2.Ryan Peterson (Hon), 3.Eric Wheelwright (Yam), 4.Dannie
Dvorak (Hon), 5.Harold Waddell (Hon).
400CC:
1.Chad Koopsma (KTM), 2.Paul Hackbarth (KTM), 3.Eric Wheelwright (KTM), 4.Darren
DeGross (KTM), 5.Tuffy Gibson (KTM).
600CC:
1.Eric Wheelwright (Hon), 2.Arnold Jelinek (KTM), 3.Eric Donaldson (Kaw), 4.JJ
Tilson (Hon), 5.Kurt Koester (Kaw).
750CC:
1.Brad Cain (Tri), 2.Kaleb Northrup (Kaw), 3.Eric O’Connor (Kaw), 4.Stacy
Ulmer (Tri), 5.Todd Cipala (Kaw).
OPN:
1.Chuck Neinfeldt (HD), 2.Harold Waddell (Kaw), 3.Todd Cipala (HD), 4.Justin
Odergaard (Bue), 5.Stacey Ulmer (HD).
SNR:
1.Scott Junklin (Hon), 2.Dennis Jelinek (Hon), 3.Gary Waddell (Hon), 4Tim Cain
(Yam), 5.Ashley Eiken (HD).
SSNR:
1.Dennis Jelinek (Hon), 2.Rolland Engle (Kaw), 3.Will Olson (HD), 4.Henry Kelley
(Kaw), 5.Greg Schmidt (Yam).
250
ATV: 1.Myron Engle (Suz), 2.Eric Fielder (Hon), 3.Jason Braun (Hon),
4.Tod Hinz (Hon), 5.Rolland Engle (Suz).
OPN
ATV: 1.Albers Scott (Yam), 2.Brian Child (Suz), 3.Eric Fielder (Yam),
4.Alex Wells (Yam), 5.Rick Prebe (Yam).