D37 Big 6 Grand Prix Series

In typical Big Six fashion, the racing started early with the Woman and 60-plus racers on the line first. Starting things off early, and with little remorse, Taft native Nicole Madsen took the holeshot and never looked back. Despite a charge from Mandy Fontein, the race was an easy victory and Madsen racked up her first win of the ever-competitive Woman’s GP class.

In the 40 plus race things were business as usual for Gordon Ward and his John Burr Kawasaki. As he has done in years past, he jumped out to a huge lead, and literally won by minutes. With a two minute gap over Jerry Black and Paul Krause who were second and third respectively, Ward looks to earn back that number one plate by the end of the season.

All eyes were on race number five, dubbed the “Pro-Race” since Big Six doesn’t technically have a pro class, all of the heavy hitters were on site for the main event. Colton Udall was ready for a repeat of Taft 2010 on board the JCR Honda, while the trio of KX450 from Gordon Ward, Jacob Argubright, and new Team Green Rider Bobby Garrison dawned the starting line. Nick Burson and Nathan Collins took to the line in the 250-Four Stroke class, while Andy Vandenberg and Evan Kelly held it down in the 86-200 class.

With a great start, Udall held off Bobby Garrison for the entire duration of the hour long event. A consistent 20 second margin was all but enough to secure a victory in the highly touted heavyweight class. Garrison held on for second followed by Ward and Argubright in fourth. Finishing fifth overall, and first 250-fourstroke, Nathan Collins bested the Zip-Ty Husky riders of Cory Graffunder and Nick Burson who finished 6th and 7th respectively. Even Kelly took top honors in the small bore 2-stroke category finishing 13th overall ahead of both Andy Vandenberg and Ryan Smith who literally finished just seconds behind.

Immediately following the Open race, 44 teams lined up in for the biggest Semi-Pro Team Race to date for the Big Six. With $2500 on the line, everyone was willing and eager to take home their share of the pot. In the end it was all about experience as the WORCS pro combo of Brendan Ritzman and Kyle Summers held on to beat out Gordon Ward and Ryan Reina. The 8 lap race lasted just under two hours, and the duo put on a show each and every lap. For Ritzman, this marked third year in a row that he could take home the Taft Team Race title, and with the win he stated that he was going to be out to the next round at Glen Helen for their team race next month!

Ward and Reina took second in the team race, followed by Kevin Rookstool and Sean Kranyak at third overall. The 44-team number was a milestone for the Big-Six crew, and all ears were open on the big six committee to options for the remaining 6 round this season. “We are really making an effort to give the racers what they want,” explained media relations manager Mike Garvin, “This series is about the racers, not the money or big name sponsors. We are going to continue to evolve to give the racing community the best possible racing experience. “

The final race of Saturday was the adult mini-bike challenge under the lights. Fun times were had by all, and the laughs could be heard all the way north in Bakersfield. Without electronic scoring it was difficult to tell who the actual winner was, but that really wasn’t the point as the estimated 300 plus spectators took turns heckling their friends and family members who could be seen lap after lap competing on the ridiculously small bikes.

Sunday morning marked the opening of the Kearns Nectar Youth Program, and Willy Simons Jr. took the first win of the year in the Super Mini Division. Matthew Duvalian followed in race two taking top honors in the Junior division. In all 64 kids took part in the youth racing program, running on a modified version of the adult course, and not a single racer left the track without a smile, signaling that the Big Six youth program was again a success.

Following the youth racing, Big Six official Kurt Hintz of the Prospectors MC took top honors in the vintage race on board his 1967 Yamaha IT400. Big Six regulars Art Foreman and Mike Garrett took second and third overall respectively while Doug Clagg and David Howard rounded out the top 5 in the Vintage/Classic/Evolution race.

The final race of the weekend invited the 250 2-strokes and the open bikes back out for one last race. In the closest race of the weekend, JCR’s Colton Udall and AXO/FMF’s Ryan Reina went traded lap after lap and left the crowd on their feet the entire hour long race. With reina coming after lap on out front, it was only a matter of seconds befor Udall could be seen cresting the hill into the finishline. One lap later and it was like Dejavu as the two were side by side yet again. On lap four Udall actually made a pass and came into the white flag ahead of Reina, but it would be the final lap that sealed the fate for Udall and his second place finish.

Reina crossed the line if first, leaving Udall with a second on the day. Burson finished third, followed by Ryan’s brother Brandon in fourth. Ty Renshaw finished out the final race in 5th followed by Even Kelly at first 250 in 6th. Big Six racing returns to San Bernardino on March 5th and 6th as the Prairie Dogs host their annual Glen Helen Grand Prix. For updated results and other race information visit www.big6racing.com.