I-94’s Portage Supercross a winner! Portage, Wisconsin - July 24
P
ast Arenacross Champion Tom Hofmaster made the trip north to central Wisconsin for the annual Portage supercross a successful one. The once a year event is part of the Columbus County fair, running on a Wednesday night. Fans fill the bleachers as the fair runs in the background, and riders put on a show as they race for event and series awards... you can’t ask for a much better setting. Hofmaster was the hands on favorite in any class he entered, but it is still a race, and he was all business at the start of each class he entered. In the first event of the evening, after the heat races were all finished, Hofmaster jumped into the early lead in +30, and never looked back. It took Brad Johnson a couple laps to shake Robert Manke and secure second. They ran in that order to the end, with Eddie Smulders picking up the pace late in the race to push Manke at the end. The 65cc class put on a good show for all the fans. Out front, Aidan McCormick was getting the crowd out of their seats as he jumped the big spectator double
(stadium jump over a plateau) each lap. Behind him the show was between Trevor Allen and Justin Oehlhof. The two were bumping and testing each other every lap in a fight over second. They both had their fast spots on the track, and the fans loved seeing the little guys give it their all. Late in the moto Oehlhof found a way to get it done, and finished second while Erik Mikelson and Dylan Knoch filled the top five, all riding KTM’s. McCormick was excited after the win, “It was a lot of fun out there. I like the stadium jumps. It was awesome hearing everyone when I jumped the big jump.” Asked if it made him feel like going faster, and it was a very excited “yes”. The 85cc class was exciting as well, as the top three were essentially fender to fender all the way to the end. SE Sales/ Mom & Dad backed Noah Laedtke after wining the class. “I got the holeshot, and kept hitting the big jump and then keeping him (Eugene Wolff) behind me. We went into a turn as I tried to pass a lapped rider and he got by me. I didn’t know if I could, but I got him back right away in the whoops and then won.”
Eugene Wolff after the close moto, and getting hounded by Aidan McCormick the entire way. “We were really close together out there. We all went side by side a couple times and I was trying to pass for the lead, but had another guy (McCormick) trying to pass me so it
made it hard. I got by once but then he passed me back. The track was really fun, and you learn a lot out there.” McCormick finished third as Tommy Gerlach and James Schmeling were fourth and fifth. Jackson Oehlhof won the 50cc class on his KTM with Ayden
Lucas Padrutt ran out front in 14-29, and pulled plenty of moves over the big spectator jump for the crowd.
A great part of the show was put on by a group of friendly vintage riders that hit the track in an exibition.
The I-94 Supercross Series is about fun, and for these kids, there’s isn’t a better way to spend a Wednesday night. CYCLE USA, September 2013
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