ROOKIE SPOTLIGHT: THUNDER VALLEY
Author: Brent Stallo	Features | Monday, 29 June 2009 14:01

Justin Barcia (9-2-4^th)

Well, it looks as if Barcia’s reported hand problems had a chance to heal up over the off weekend. He wasn’t super impressive in moto one, but did have the grit to get around Max Anstie and Darryn Durham after recovering from a bad start. The three rubbed plastic until about the 20 minute mark when Barcia was able to finally make his move past Durham. What looked to be an extremely aggressive attempt to make the move on Durham early in the moto was later subdued with when he pushed Durham wide in order to make the pass for ninth.

 

His next time out, however, is what has earned him the top spot on our Rookie Report this week. After rounding the first corner in second a new Barcia appeared. One that was a tad more patient in his attack. Instead of slamming his way into the lead he trailed Pro Curcuit Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer until lap three when Weimer washed out in a corner. Though early, it looked as if Barcia was going to finally take an overall moto win. He continued to stretch his lead on the rest of the pack until the seventh lap when Weimer began to once again close ground. The two banged bars until lap nine when Weimer was able to squeak in a pass. Barcia kept him in sight but was unable to match the late moto pace of the veteran. He ended the day fourth overall and one step closer to finding himself on top of the podium.

 

Blake Wharton (4-11-8^th)

Wharton’s eighth overall, while impressive, could have been much better. He hung it out in the first moto and showed the pace to keep the top three of Christophe Pourcel, Jake Weimer and Broc Tickle in the same area code, but hit a stroke of ill fate in moto two. It appeared as if he would match his first moto score when he rounded the first turn in fourth, but an early moto crash kept him from hitting the podium. Wharton would find himself as far back as 18^th at one point in the moto and almost out of points position. A mid moto charge, however, would see Wharton move himself just outside the top ten in the 11^th spot. He sits an impressive fifth in points and is within striking distance of the top three. He’s the highest placed rookie on the stat sheet and will be one to keep your eye on for the title next year.

 

Darryn Durham (10-12-10th)

It might have taken him a few rounds but Darryn Durham has finally found his outdoor pace, and not a moment too soon. While the top five may be out of his reach at the moment, with a field as deep as this, top ten ain’t bad. As stated previously, he had an amazing battle with Max Anstie and Justin Barcia in the first moto and finished 10^th. He backed that up with a hard fought 12^th in moto two despite being as high as sixth at one point. Overall Durham improved on his best overall finish of the season at High Point (11^th) with his new best overall at Lakewood (10^th), might we smell a ninth in Durham’s future? We wouldn’t keep kick him off the fantasy team quite yet.

 

Max Anstie (12-13-11th)

What a day, we mean night, for the season’s youngest rookie, Max Anstie. He’s made marked improvements since the series began in May. It still amazes us that at this time last year Anstie was gearing up to take on the Supermini class at Loretta’s. No, that wasn’t a misprint. This kid was on an 85cc motorcycle last year. The fact that he was able to put in two top fifteen motos for an 11^th overall is almost unthinkable considering his progression over the last year. This might be a learning year for Anstie, but don’t even think about counting him out of a possible title run next year. Oh, and did we mention that his pants were down past his butt for the entire first moto? Pant Saggin Designz needs to jump on this kid fast. He’s practically begging for a sponsorship. Sorry, Max, but we had to!

 

Ben Evans (13-14-15th)

Rookies made up the 10-12 spots on the overall results sheet from Lakewood and Wonder Wharthog/Brown Motorsports Ben Evans was the one bringing up the rear. It’s difficult to write Evans report each week. He’s putting in respectable rides but at the same time continues to find himself in the same position – give or take a spot – each week. He sat in the 14^th spot in overall points after High Point, five points off of Kyle Cunningham in 13^th. He was able to pass Cunningham in points following Lakewood but was passed by Darryn Durham, thus keeping his 14^th place status. Considering that the majority of those running in front of him are donning factory bikes, he’s actually accomplishing quite a lot. We’re not bashing the dude, just saying that it’s difficult to find anything new to say. A top ten would fix that problem for us in a jiffy.

 

Steven Clarke (14-20-17)

Over the last few weeks we’ve been asking ourselves what’s wrong with Steven Clarke. But after a little debate in the hotel room following Lakewood we finally figured out that nothing is wrong. He had one very impressive moto out of the two races he lined up for in 2008 (7^th in moto two at Steel City) and he had a respectable supercross season finishing 11^th overall. However, if you look at his results he’s been at or around the mid-pack mark since his debut, with the exception of a few bright showings, of course. His best supercross was a fifth in round three, which proves he can roll when he’s on, but when you add the west coast riders to the line he’s about right where he should be. He wound up mid-pack out of 20 in supercross and when you add the other 20 riders from the left coast to the equation, there’s really nothing wrong with Clarke at all. But where’s that seventh we saw out of him in moto two at Steel City last year? The series doesn’t head back east – where he is more comfortable – until Unadilla, which is after Loretta’s. In the mean time Clarke is going to have to find a new level of comfort if he wants to break the top ten.