Sunset Ridge Qualifier Walnut, Illinois - May 26 By Josh Rud More photos at www.ShiftOnePhoto.com
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aturday the 26th of May was the first day of the two part Loretta Lynn Qualifier at Sunset Ridge MX in Walnut, Illinois. This was the last of fifty qualifiers that took place in thirty-two states. Once again this weekend sees near record high temperatures making for some intense racing. The track at Sunset Ridge has gone through some over-hauls, adding new sections and smoothing out other areas. Despite the heat, the racing and track conditions flowed smoothly all day without missing a beat. Watering and grooming while the riders were at different points of the track kept the races going all day without a pause. Riders were here from all over the country to qualify, lots of new faces out there, and some familiar top finishers like Travis Sewell and Chase Sexton. The gates were packed in most of the races, with riders showing up to get their chance at making regionals. The A classes not being any different had twenty-four riders in 450 and twenty-six for 250. In 450A, Travis Sewell coming off running the Supercross series, came through with the win with Jesse Pierce out of New Jersey taking second, and Dakota Robins third. In the second moto Sewell flew out of the gates, taking the holeshot, with Ted Pauli right next to him and Greg Durivage in third. Robins
was able to get by Durivage to take over third charging up on Pauli with Sewell starting to create a pretty big gap right away. Pierce almost out of nowhere made his way around several riders, including Robins to take over third. Then on the tight turn Pauli bobbled and Pierce and Robbins dropped him to fourth. Pauli fought back hard and did take over third for a lap, but Robins got back around him making the final order the same as the first moto. 250A brought back some of the same riders. The first moto started with Scott Zont flying around the outside to grab the holeshot, Pierce in second and Brent Miller third. Halfway through Miller fell allowing Justin Kelly to move into third with Durivage right behind him. Pierce trying inside and outside lines found a way around Zont taking over the lead while Kelly and
Indiana’s Sean Miller won SuperMini 1 with 2-1 moto finishes.
Durivage are passing back and forth. The flag waved with Pierce in first, Zont second and Durivage third. In the second moto Pierce took the
Mini Sr Stock winner #486 Chase Sexton, and #91 Anthony Wallace jump out front at the start. CYCLE USA, June 2012
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