Thomas Racing Services opened the District 15 and 17 hill climb seasons on Saturday, April 29, on a beautifully set up 600 foot hill near Nashville, Indiana.  Mike Bender was the top rider of the day, winning the 450cc, Open Stock, King of the Hill classes, and also taking the Fast Time of the Day award.

          Bender’s Fast Time came on his second round ride in the Open Stock class.  His first round time of 17.424 seconds would have won the class, but Mike unleashed an incredible 16.074 second run on his second run on his Honda to also claim the Fast Time award, snatching it from Cody Jenner who carded a 16.833 second time to win the 600cc class.

          Bender’s second win came in the 450cc class, where he carded a very good 16.974 second time on his CRF450 on his first ride, nearly a second better than runner up Shane Green, who topped the hill in on his first ride on his KTM in 17.872 seconds.  Green didn’t get a second ride, as he broke his wrist on a crash on his YZ250 on his second round ride in the 250cc class.  We all wish Shane a speedy recovery and return to action.

          Bender got one more ride – the final one in the one run ‘King of the Hill’ shootout for the top 10 riders of the day.  Riding his fast, stock length Honda, Bender flew over the top in 16.381 seconds to take the trophy contributed by Kaleb Northrup’s ‘Kingofthehill.org’, and $100 provided by Jeff Thomas.  Dustin ‘DJ’ Compton was his closest challenger with a 16.560 second run with Cody Jenner running third in 16.785 seconds.

          Caleb Emory was a double class winner, taking the 85cc Senior Mini and 125cc class wins.  He also set the Youth Fast Time with his 20.902 second winning time in the Senior Mini class.  Jeff Jack was also a double winner, claiming the wins in the 200cc and Senior (+40) classes.

RESULTS:

50CC: 1.Kolt Kinsler (KTM), 2.Steve ‘Bug’ Coon  (Cob).

65CC: 1.Logan Moody (Kaw), 2.Brett Kalaher (Kaw), 3.Chase Amos (Kaw).

85 Jr: 1.Brett Kalaher (Kaw), 2.Matt Kinkin (Suz), 3.Logan Moody (Kaw).

85 Sr: 1.Caleb Emory (Kaw), 2.Jeremy James (Kaw), 3.Jessica Coon (Kaw).

125CC: Caleb Emory (Kaw), 2.Brian Fisher (Hon), 3.Blake Cappello (Kaw), 4.Justin Trent (Hon), 5.Tom Mangan (Suz).

200CC: 1.Jeff Jack (KTM), 2.Kevin ‘Bubba’ Bond (Kaw).

250CC: 1.Adam Doubblestein (Kaw), 2.R.D. Miller III (Kaw), 3.Dustin Compton (Kaw), 4.Shane Green (Yam), 5.Mike Popham (Yam).

450CC: 1.Mike Bender (Yam), 2.Shane Green (KTM), 3.Ken Coon (Yam), 4.Gordon Green (KTM), 5.Andrew Grothe (Yam).

600CC: 1.Cody Jenner (Hon), 2.Tom Brown (Hon), 3.Dustin Compton (Kaw), 4.David Quillen (Hon), 5.Adam Doubblestein (Kaw).

600 4-St: 1 Gordon Green (Yam), 2.Mike Bacon (KTM), 3.Andrew Groth (Yam), 4.Ken Coon (Yam).

750CC: 1.Jamey Wallace (Yam), 2.Paul Hillard (Kaw), 3.Corey Smith (Tri), 4.Bob Senn (Yam), 5.Chris Senn (Yam).

OPN: 1.R.D. Miller III (HD), 2.Adam Doubblestein (HD).

+40: 1.Jeff Jack (Kaw), 2.James Kalaher (Kaw). 3.Scott Petty (Hon), 4.Mike Pulver (Hon), 5.Mike Bacon (KTM).

+50: 1.Bob ‘The Woodsman’ Woods (Tri), 2.Bud Northrup (KTM).

400 St: 1.Dustin Compton (Kaw), 2.Mike Pulver (Hon), 3.Al Petty (Hon), 4.Kyle Galloway (Kaw), 5.Jeff Jack (Kaw).

Opn St: 1.Mike Bender (Hon), 2.R.D. Miller III (KTM), 4.Mike Pulver (Hon), 4.Tom Brown (Hon), 5.Kyle Galloway (Hon).

QUAD 2-St: 1.Ryan Garriott (Yam), 2.David Brown (Hon), 3.Evan Zimmerman (Hon), 4.Joey Chapman (Hon), 5.Andy Hilligoss (Hon).

QUAD 4-St: 1.Jim Mahan (Hon), 2.Joey Chapman (Yam), 3.Tony Kinsler (Yam), 4.Tom Mangan (Pol), 5.Troy Piatt (Hon).

Wmn: 1.Jessica Coon (Yam)

KOTH: 1.Mike Bender (Kaw), 2.Dustin Compton (Kaw), 3.Cody Jenner (Hon), 4.R.D. Miller III (Kaw), 5.Adam Doubblestein (Kaw).

FAST TIME: Mike Bender, 16.074, Honda

YOUTH FAST TIME: Caleb Emory, 20.902, KX85 

3 Class Winner Mike Bender accepts his King of the Hill award from Bud Northrup