BALLANCE MOTO X; OAKLAND, KY — The key talking point about round five of the 2012 ATV MX National Championship was the fact that Ballance Moto X in Oakland, Kentucky, played host to the series’ first-ever night event.
Root River Racing teammates...
Root River Racing teammates Samuel Rowe (38) and Alexander Gillette (88) go wheel-to-wheel into the first turn in Schoolboy action at Ballance Moto X.
However, the lights would be on mainly for the Pro class race program. And while ITP is proud to have a rider like Jeffrey Rastrelli among these ranks — he finished eighth overall and holds that same position in the Pro point standings — Team ITP is made up primarily of the grass-roots racers found in the Amateur classes. These athletes shined in the sun at Ballance Moto X, just as they have all season.
For example, Merrill Crose raced in four classes and never finished lower than second in all eight motos. This privateer rider from Missouri won the Open A, Junior 25+ and Vet 30+ classes, and was second overall in the 450 A class. He holds a top-three position in the point standings in all four classes.
Merrill Crose (12) was a man...
Merrill Crose (12) was a man on a mission at round five.
Hot as always, Haedyn Mickelson blasted to three second-place overall podium appearances, with the help of two moto victories. Schoolboy Sr. (14-17), Schoolboy Jr. (13-15) and Super-Mini (13-15) were this Root River Racing rider’s stage, and he’s in the top six in points in all three classes.
A 3-2 moto score put Cody Janssen on the Pro-Am Unlimited podium once again in second overall. That performance moved the Janssen Motorsports/Roberts Racing Outlaws rider up two notches in the standings, to second for the series.
Maci Devenport had another good weekend, winning the 90 Production (8-15) class to extend her points lead in this co-ed class, and was fourth overall in Girls (12-15) to hold third in the standings there.
Cody Janssen (25) flew to...
Cody Janssen (25) flew to runner-up in the highly competitive Pro Am Unlimited skirmish.
More impressive riding was put in by Chloe Buerster, who was fifth overall against the guys in the 4-Stroke B class. This moved her up to an amazing third overall for the season. This Janssen Motorsports/Roberts Racing Outlaws star was strong in the Women’s class as well, and made a statement by winning the second moto. But a seventh in moto one resulted in fourth overall for the day and for the series after five of ten events on the schedule.
Root River’s Mike Barnhart enjoyed one of his best days of the season, winning the first Open A moto and backing it up with a third in moto two for second overall. He also went 3-3 in the Veteran 30+ battle for third overall. He’s top five in both classes for the year.
Likewise for Dalton Hicks of Root River Racing, who placed third in all four of his motos to score a second overall in Production A and third overall in 450 A. He now holds fourth in points in the latter, and sixth in the former.
During one of his best rides...
During one of his best rides of the year, Mike Barnhart (19) had top threes in two classes, with a moto win.
Alexander Gillette had fun stepping onto the Schoolboy Jr. (13-15) rostrum after his 2-4 third overall achievement. He also stepped up to fifth in the point standings for Root River.
Finally, Samuel Rowe tightened his grasp on two championships by way of second overall in Schoolboy Sr. (14-17) and a 1-1 sweep of the Schoolboy Jr. (13-15) division. This Janssen Motorsports-powered Root River Racing standout is the series leader in points for both classes at the halfway mark of the season.
The series now starts down the home stretch at High Point Raceway in Mount Morris, Pennsylvania, June 16-17.
Fast gal Chloe Buerster (125)...
Fast gal Chloe Buerster (125) continues to impress.
Dalton Hicks (33) made Root...
Dalton Hicks (33) made Root River Racing proud with two podium appearances in Kentucky.
The 90 Production (8-15) class...
The 90 Production (8-15) class victory fell to Maci Devenport (9). Sorry, guys.
In ATV MX for 2012, Team ITP consists of Cody Janssen and Chloe Buerster of Janssen Motorsports/Roberts Racing Outlaws, Merrill Crose, Jeffrey Rastrelli, Brian Johnson, Kyle Fix, Benjamin Brocado, Maci Devenport and the entire Root River Racing team: Jordan Digby, Mike Barnhart, Dalton Hicks, Haedyn Mickelson, Noah Mickelson, Brent Sellers, Sean Taylor, Alexander Gillette, Samuel Rowe and Allyson Westfield.
For more information on ITP’s “MX Bucks” contingency program, download a form for free enrollment by visiting: www.itptires.com/racing.
ITP is proud to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year. Since 1982, ITP has grown into the world's #1 ATV/UTV aftermarket tire and wheel source, and continues to provide a complete line of innovative tires and wheels for virtually all ATVs and UTVs. For a copy of ITP’s full-color product catalog, call toll-free: 1-800-859-4740. For other inquiries or technical advice, contact ITP at 1990 S. Vintage Ave., Ontario, CA 91761; (909) 390-1905. Or visit ITP’s website at www.itptires.com.