Smiths, Mini Moss, Torres, rail Fox Valley Off Road GP Opener.   

5-2-2015  Photos by Freemotopix

A class on the line for the first moto was going to be a pretty solid surprise for quite a few this day.  Mason Schuhler (338) the local hot rod kid who has been showing signs of improvement but lacking patience as most kids his age seemed to throw away a few races lately was on hand to redeem himself.  Ryan Smith who has been rockin this season at the Gran Prix races was not going to go out without a fight. Throw in Blake Ryan (3) and the old man  Woodstock KTM's Ryan Moss(24), along with home field boy Service Honda's Travis Ward(51) things became real interesting.  Making the trip to solidify the ranks of this GP was local pro am mx riders Brady (832) and Nick Neys(4).  Schuhler holeshots on his Borelli Cycles, American Machine RM 125 being chased by a 450's 500's 350's and some 250s' as well.  Schuhler had that Rm singing it's guts out as he cleared the woodchip pile jump, rocked the rockers and hit the well known trails at some amazing speeds. Smith and Ward were dukin it out for 2nd and 3rd with Ward getting squirrely in more then one spot on the course. The ole man Moss and Ryan were having their own battle as they pushed up to Ward.  Halls Cycle's Jarred Hall(150) and the Neys brothers were changing spots like a fast game of checkers.  Hall being a woods expert, would get the advantage in the trees, the minute they headed into the mx stuff Neys boys would take the advantage.  Smith dispenses with Ward, and set his sites on Schuhler, gaining time on the long uphills.  Ryan, Moss converge on the ailing Ward but run out of time as the get to the finish line barrels.   Schuhler wins the moto, with Smith right there to get a good view of his lines for the second motos.

Second A class moto, Ward has a mechanical and doesn't show at the line, the field is set.  Schuhler no longer a rider to be taken fore granted, and second motos today at Fox Valley were "live" engine start.  Thanks to an idea offered by Ron Whipple of WFO fame, he stated last fall, we should do dead engine start first moto, second moto live engine to be more fair to the moto guys. This is just what the doctor order for the fire breathin KX 450 Smith rocketed into the lead. Normally when something like this would happen Schuhler would ride to the point of impending doom trying to catch and pass the leader.  Not this day.  He showed that a little backing off and riding smart pays off at the end of the day.  Ryan not to be left out of this mix pushed up to Schuhler and the two "youngins" in the class battled all moto.  At the end they cleared the log at the finish line with Schuhler hanging on for 2nd. Smith was on rails and rode the wheels off the big bore taking the second moto, winning the overall for one of his first A class wins at Fox Valley.  The brothers Neys were bangin!  That's right they had their own race going an they didn't hold much back! Nick kept the younger sibling in check which is something that hasn't happened in a while.  The two mx riders were missing trees like the best of them this day. 

Next up is the 85-super mini class, which also has Women's class staggered with them.  This was Alex Moss or some call "Mini Moss(315)" proverbial birthday.  Riders Choice Racing's Garrett Ward, Gavin Sienkiewicz, Tyler Rohl, and Jack Walus all park riders who know the place well. "Gman" Ward pulls the hole shot and starts to set the pace with Mini in tow.  Lap 2, Ward is no where to be found.  Rumors are floating around that he is sitting on his machine up in the upper GP field.  Sure enough just like his brothers maintenance program, little Ward doesn't remember to check his gas level.  He sat and waited til the gas man came and sent him on his way 2 laps down.  Mini Moss takes a well deserved win with Gavin and Tyler keeping him honest and all the time waiving an having much fun at Gman's demise.  Mini goes on with a steady 1-2 score to take the overall win, Gavin and Tyler take 2nd and 3rd.

Normally when writing stories it would be how dominate the elder of the Mosses does at these kinds of events, today wasn't that day.  Woodstock KTM's Ryan Moss was solid in the first moto, but made a mistake in the second moto of 30A class letting the other Smith (Jeremy) into the lead.  Going 2-1 J.Smith overall's the 30A class with Moss claiming 2nd.  Fox Valley Off Road, Service Honda's Jesse Keith had his Crf450 hummin and keeping Free Motopix guru Paul Mitzelfelt in the dust for most of both motos. 

Women's class has been seeing a changing of the guard as of lately.  As much like the C class this season some of the new young guns are getting in their practice and it shows. Autumn Torres(435) moving up from her mini bike to a solid YZ 125,  Alli Roland(416) getting her new kx 100 late last winter, both girls are showing huge improvement.  Krysten Mechantz (805)who as recently as a month ago was barely able to climb the GP hills is the "older" version of up and coming talent in the GP women's class. Torres went 1-1 for the win, Roland and Merchantz had some close racing for 2nd and 3rd.  Autumn Franklin still getting used to new to her yz 125 took 4th.

Some notable mentions.  Dj Parks, yes he won a moto!  Sorry but unbelievable would be thought not that long ago, specially with ex-mx star Craig Lee and Doug Propper Sr. bangin around in that same 40B/c class.  Known more for his endurance Parks rode hard for the win in moto one, but succumb to Lee in moto 2.  Propper settled in the last podium position.  C class top 7 riders was a who's who in up and coming riders all which ride at the park and most of the time together.  Gman Ward (231) won with Jacob Mccarrens, Doug Propper Jr., Mini Moss, and Huntr Gramp rounding out the top 5.

Thumper class had it's share of drama this year.  Sure only 4 smack talkers in the class but it was getting deep, Matco Tools Sponsor shows up full on pink kx140,  Service Honda's Mastermind Aj Waggoner with his specially built crf150.  MJ Autowerks Michael Blaydes, Tyler Rohl, and Gavin Sienkiewicz were all there to see who is coming out on top of the heap!  Gavin is the little hot rod in this class, but the old guys weren't having it.  Blaydes is infamous for his holeshot abilities found a machine to hang on to, and today he rode solid for a podium postion.  Second moto got a little scary as the whole day was dry, down hills as everyone knows become slick from the constant braking and "powder" build up on them.  Gavin is leading the moto and on the third down hill starts to swap out.  Now "thumper" class is pretty much stock play bikes, not best suited for extreme instances needing solid race suspension.  Gavin bites it hard, some how getting his hand and arm wedged in the back rim/wheel/shock area.  Lee Orme directly behind him see's him going down and the whole mess.  Orme stops, and  helps ever so carefully to get Gavins arm/hand out of that awkward position.  FVOR crew gets Gavin up and off with his parents to check out the damage.  Thankfully nothing broken but some deep and bruise areas which kept him from racing on Sunday.  He was back racing the next weekend at Megacross.

Mini Moss (915) and Dougie Propper (930) hammerin the Logs in the C class.  (164)Perkinator had a solid day in the 40A class, but his Sunday was plagued by mechanicals.  Ryan Smith coming from MX background is adjusting well to the logs sprinkled in. Ed Howard (1) and Mark Cabalero (7) show distinct variations on crossing the OPTIONAL finish line log at this Saturdays GP. 

Fox Valley Off Road Series next Gran Prix event will be held July 5th.  It will also include a Trials in the morning like last year.  Also like last year Max Akerman will be on hand to capture all the racing action for a nice video of the day.  Next HS is the Fathers day clockwise rotation event.  This is when we have a little more technical event and riders seem to enjoy the changes.  More new things to come stay tuned!!!