The first round of the Illinois/Indiana King Of The Hill Championship Series, sponsored by www.KingOfTheHill.org, was run at the Variety Riders hillclimb on June 1. The ten fastest riders of the day were invited to a one run ‘King of the Hill’ shootout for a nice trophy, and a $100 cash prize the club provided from outside sponsors. Matt Peters, From Neoga, Il, was the winner of the first round. Each club in Illinois will run such a class one time, and the overall season winner will get a fine year end award in addition to those won at the individual climbs.

National Champion (450cc class) Brent Stewart was the favorite to win the ‘King’ competition, as he had delivered an incredible 2.685 second run on hiss KTM380 to take the win in the 450cc class, with Peters taking second. And Stewart did deliver a good time, a 3.168 second run, in the King competition. But Peters turned the tables on him, flying his KTM over in 3.113 seconds to take the title. Jake Tackitt was third with a good 3.168 second run on his RM465 with Don Heridan Jr and Butch Fetters running fourth and fifth. Peters also took the win in the 250cc class and a second in the 400 Stock class for a very good day.

Jason Northrup enjoyed his first double win day of the season. Riding his Jeff Thomas built Yamaha ‘YZ1220F’, he roared over the top in 3.075 seconds for the win in the Open Class. Mike Kessel, riding his 1327cc ‘Iron Coffin’ Kawasaki topped the hill in 3.341 seconds, followed by Harley riders Jacob Baily and Josh Carrier.

Northrup’s second win came in the 400cc Stock class, where he flew his KTM380 over the 120 foot hill in 3.094 seconds for the win, overtaking Matt Peters who had set the time to beat on his YZ400F at 3.270 seconds. Don Lewis, Logan Carr and R.J. Watson filled out the top five in the class.

In Youth action, Logan Moody took over the 50cc Automatic point lead with a win on his Polini, Drew Daniels took the 65cc class win, Blake Cappello was the fastest of the 85cc Junior Minis, and Mike Popham moved into the point lead with the win in the 85cc Senior Mini class.

Mark Peters (Matt’s brother), also had a good day as he picked up a win in the Senior class with a good 3.218 second run on his KTM550, and also a second on the same bike with 3.294 second run in the 600cc class. ‘Crazy Jake’ Tackitt was a convincing winner in that 600cc class with a 3.064 second time on his RM465.

Other amateur class winners were Billy Hanes in the 125cc class, Kelly Senn in the 200cc Class and National Champion Butch Fetters in the 600cc 4-Stroke. Josh Carrier was uncontested in the 750cc class, William Meyers took the Super Senior win, Jacob Bailey was the best of the Pushrod Class riders, and Casey Rick took the win in the Open Stock Class.

RESULTS:

50CC Auto: 1.Logan Moody (Pol), 2.Dakota Watson (Yam).

65CC: 1.Drew Daniels (KTM), 2.Ernie Bruss (Kaw).

85CC Jr: 1.Blake Cappello (Kaw), 2.Drew Daniels (KTM), 3.Justin James (Kaw), 4.Chris Peters Yam), 5.Ernie Bruss (Yam).

85CC Sr: 1.Mike Popham (Yam), 2.Kevin Bond (Kaw), 3.T.J. Russell (Suz).

125CC: 1.Billy Hanes (Hon), 2.Brent Bowman (Hon), 3.Joshua Mingee (Hon), 4.Dan Myers (Yam), 5.Logan Carr (Yam).

200CC: 1.Kelly Senn (KTM), 2.Jacob Tackitt (Kaw), 3.Mike Peters (Kaw).

250CC: 1.Matt Peters (Hon), 2.Brent Stewart (Kaw), 3.Billy Hanes (Hon), 4.Art Donavan (Hon), 5.Butch Fetters (Hon).

450CC: 1.Brent Stewart (KTM), 2.Matt Peters (KTM), 3.Jason Northrup (KTM), 4.Mike Peters ( Suz), 5.Ernie Bruss (Yam).

600CC: 1.Jake Tackitt (Suz), 2.Mark Peters (KTM), 3.Butch Fetters (Kaw), 4.Don Sheridan Jr (Hon), 5.Kevin Bond (Hon).

600CC 4-Stk: 1.Butch Fetters (KTM), 2.Curt Randall (Yam), 3.Bud Northrup (Yam).

750CC: 1.Josh Carrier (Tri).

OPEN: 1.Jason Northrup (Yam), 2.Mike Kessel (Kaw), 3.Jacob Bailey (HD), 4.Josh Carrier (HD).

SENR: 1.Mark Peters (KTM), 2.Don Sheridan Sr (Hon), 3.Terry Baily (HD), 4.Mike Bacon (Mai).

SSNR: 1.William Meyers (HD), 2.Bud Northrup (KTM).

PROD: 1.Jacob Bailey (HD), 2.Josh Carrier (Tri), 3.William Meyers (HD).

400 STK: 1.Jason Northrup (KTM), 2.Matt Peters (Yam), 3.Don Lewis (Yam), 4.Logan Carr (Yam), 5.R.J. Watson (Kaw).

OPN STK: 1.Casey Rick (Hon), 2.Don Sheridan Jr (Hon), 3.Mike Bacon (Mai), 4.Bud Northrup (ATK).

King Of The Hill: 1.Matt Peters (KTM), 2.Brent Stewart (KTM), 3.Jake Tackitt (Suz), 4.Don Sheridan Jr (Hon), 5.Butch Fetters (Kaw).

FAST TIME: BRENT STEWART, 2.685; KTM380