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Stock Ranch: Tucker Takes Stock, Serves Notice!
Rocky Mountain Trials Association
Round 1: Stock Ranch
By George Pennington
Canon City, CO | March 27, 2005
Bright and brisk conditions greeted the 77 riders who turned out for the first event of the '05 Rocky Mountain Trials Association's Championship Series held at the Stock Ranch in Canon City. Home of the Colorado round of the National Championship, brothers Keith and Kevin Busch put in many hours of labor and planning, utilizing a little used area of the ranch to create new and challenging sections for the upcoming event. Upper class riders were charged with breaking in the "National" loop today, a mostly tight and challenging trail with enough obstacles to cause fatigue to be a factor. With many riders changing class, a few returning from layoff, and a few new faces, 05 is off to an exciting and promising start.
Nobody is off to a more promising start than 14 year old Bailey Tucker. The young rider proved that technique trumps machinery, as he piloted his Gas Gas 200 to the technically challenging Advanced class win today. AWOL most of last season, Tucker rode with a fluidity and style that belie his tender age. Finishing 21 points ahead of his friend and rival, Marty Kulick, Tucker has served notice that he's the man to beat this season. Kulick, enjoying his first ride aboard his new Sherco, struggled a bit adjusting to the change of machinery, but none the less held off the wily veteran Greg Howie. Howie kept it close, finishing three points behind Kulick, but will have his hands full competing with these guys this season.
On an extremely challenging loop that saw very few cleans on the day, Sherco mounted Mike Young, utilizing a technique and style honed by years of Championship level competition dominated the class yet again today by finishing 18 points clear of runner-up Rob Weiher. With the demanding loop taking its toll, Young was the only rider to post his lowest score in the final loop, most of the other riders posting their highest. Young up and comer Brian Koerwitz, also Sherco mounted, rounded out the podium, finishing another six points behind Weiher.
Russ Todd started off the season much like he finished last year, with a victory in the Sr. Intermediate class. Aboard an '05 Beta and barely broken in, Todd struggled through the first loop, proclaiming "I can't get anything going right today". His troubles were abated though as he blazed the second loop to a class low one point score. Back to struggling in the third loop with a 15 point score, Todd nonetheless was able to hang on to the win by virtue of his second loop performance. Mike Stokes made his first outing with the new four-stroke Montesa a successful one. Finishing just a point behind Todd, the future looks bright for the new technology. Rick Loucks finished up third on the day, another three points behind, aboard another Montesa, although this time of the two-stroke variety.
Results:
Championship: 1.Keith Wineland; 2. Steve Darrow; 3. Dustin Hedwall
Expert: Mike Young; 2. Rob Weiher; 3. Brian Koerwitz; 4. John Sinks; 5. James Sinks
Veteran: 1. Mike Buchholz; 2. Steve Darrow; 3. Gary Picek
Sr.
Advanced: 1. Tom Thompson; 2. Tom Hedwall; 3. Tracy Zents; 4. Alan Duke; 5. Ron Gardner
Advanced: 1. Baily Tucker; 2. Marty Kulick; 3. Greg Howie; 4.Adam Letue; 5. Dion Plsek
Sr.
Intermediate 1. Russ Todd; 2. Mike Stokes; 3. Rick Loucks; 4. J. Sheets; 5. Walter Popp
Sr. Intermediate: 1. George Pennington; 2. Tim Willbanks; 3. Jarrod Tilton; 4. Mark Jacobson; 5. Sarah Duke
Amateur: 1. Bill Haskell; 2. Brad Mize; 3. Mark Dujmovic; 4. David Koerwitz; 5. Tracy Mohler
Novice: 1. Aaron Ozborne; 2. Noah Ozborne; 3. Andrew Sinks; 4. Chad Lewis; 5. David Scharich;
Women: 1. Maggie Kunz; 2. Kjelen Jacobson
Jr. A: 1. Alex Tucker; 2. Ian Popp
Jr. B: 1. Oliver Smith; 2. Marcos Olivas
*As seen in Cycle News