Sunday Pro Main Event

The green flash that is the #4 of Robbie Mitchell grabbed the $100 holeshot. We asked him after the race if that surprised him, and he admitted, no, not really. "I did it last year here. I was really hoping for the mud again!" We're happy for you too Robbie, but even happier we did NOT need mud for you to do it!

As they came back into the infield for the first time, it was Mitchell, Brandon Brown and #5 John Shafe of Temecula Motorsports.

Where were the points leaders? It was reported that Josh Frederick broke somewhere out in Bear Canyon, and Dustin Terry gave him a tow in. (Other riders are allowed to help on-course, but not crew or spectators. If you can find a racer willing to risk their own finish. Terry only completed two laps himself, so Josh's tow was a last effort. Thanks Dustin. Race Karma, baby.

Frederick got it fixed and got it motoring around again, now without any front plastic. He would end his day in 15th, total of four laps. That's enough for points, but will it be enough to hold the lead?

Terry's race can probably be chalked up to a lap one incident in the high-speed open field section. Keith Taylor was racing across, and someone came alongside to make a pass, clipped him and sent him cartwheeling. The course was so dusty that the next Pro through, Dustin Terry, hit Keith's quad; then the pile collected at least one other rider and quad. Taylor was able to get back and keep going, but would finish 14th, with five laps.

On the second lap, Robbie Mitchell suffered a flat and had to relinquish the lead to John Shafe.

As all this excitement went on, where was last year's champion Doug Eichner? In an unusual turn, he broke early. The Polaris/Duncan Racing team scrambled to get welders ready, so we can only guess it was something on the frame. Remarkably, he lost only one lap, but that was only good enough for 13th. Again, he'll get points, and actually a few more than Frederick, but not enough to take over the lead for the year.

Mid-race #11 Tim Shelman caught a tree on the top of the nasty in-field rock ledge drop, and barrel-rolled down. Insult to injury, not a photograher around to catch the action. His only souvenir was a pretty nasty scrape and gouge in his thigh. He would take at least one other good crash, and still end up a respectable 7th place.

There were numerous pileups in the brush and trees - as much of the track was too dusty to see. Bull Hollow gave the riders extremely long lap times - averaging about 15 minutes. This is undoubtedly the longest lap times of any track this year. Partly due to the 7 1/2 mile length, but also certainly because much of it was just so rough. Off-road racing, baby!

As the 90 minutes wore on, Shafe held the lead and Temecula Teammate Levi Marana came up to run 2nd with him, while Brandon Brown and Robbie Mitchell swapped 3rd several times. Then Mitchell made a Hot Pit infraction - a crew member assisted him outside his allowed pit space - and he incurred a two-minute penalty. It was enough - when it was over, Brandon Brown would stand third on the podium.

In the ProAm final , Dillon Zimmerman and Drew Lattimar fought for the holeshot - it looks to us like Lattimar was to the line first but got hung up in some deep rutted mud and Zimmerman came out of the corner first. In fact, Lattimar lost a couple precious spots right there.

This gave Zimmerman clean air the whole race - something you probably don't want to do if you want to have any hope of catching or passing him. That is, he had clean air except for when he passed a dozen or so Pros on his way to the checkered flag

Just after the holeshot turn, the second corner was wet and slippery, and Mike Kelley spun out. Justin Waters dodged him but lost a couple positions; Kelley caught a couple other ProAm riders by surprise, collecting them as well. It was going to be a wild one!

For most of the race, there wasn't a lot of lead or major position changes in the top ranks. It was Zimmerman, Dax Snow, Bronson Bundy and Waters. Early on, Waters was chasing Bundy and they got to the rock ledge bumper-to-bumper. Bundy went right, Waters left. When they got to the bottom of the drop, it was Waters in front. Waters would lose the position a lap later in the pit, but then catch and pass him in nearly identical fashion a lap later.

As time wore down, Zimmerman held his lead, and Waters closed in on second place Kawasaki of Dax Snow. As they crossed under the announcer stand for the last time, Waters was nearly pushing Snow. As Snow came out of the brush and through the hot pit, he stalled on a log. He looked back, certain that that was all Waters would need to grab second. No Justin. In the dust of the brush, Waters had clipped a tree and had to spend precious seconds pulling his Yamaha off.

It was enough for Snow to claim his second place, as the crowd went wild watching the turn of events.

In fact, Pro Mike Cafro had been running in 5th for his own class, tried to get around Waters and got stuck himself. When Waters was back under power, Cafro had to watch other riders follow him through, dropping 8th with only moments left in his race.

All in all, it was one of the most action-packed and unexpected Pro and ProAm finals we have seen this season. We certainly could not has scripted the outcome.

Heading into Oceano Dunes next month, only that and Taft left to go, there are still championships up in the air. There are bonus points on the line for riders that compete at every round, there are throw outs to consider.

Stay tuned!

And get your reservations in with Luv2Camp now, to rent your trailer on the beach for Pismo!

-ptw