GOLD CUP ROUND 4
Author: Christina Stickel	Features | Tuesday, 06 October 2009 15:52
Location: Clearwater, FL

Sunshine Motocross in beautiful Clearwater, Florida was host to the fourth round of the Gold Cup this past weekend. We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend as the sun beat down on the technical track and the sky shined blue.

The pro classes this weekend didn’t exactly have a dominator, but if we had to name one it would have been Ricky Renner. Renner couldn’t get off to a great start, but the 532 machine sure proved his ability to work through the pack. The first Open moto, Ricky started near the back of the pack. However, within a few laps he had caught the leader, Dalton Yingling, and after a few laps of battling with Dalton he was able to get around him in the turn before the finish. We saw Ricky in the same situation in almost every moto, but he always seemed to come through. He went home with the overall in the Open A class and the Open class. Yingling had consistent runs all weekend with some second and third place moto finishes. Once the fat lady sang he took home third overall in the 250 Pro, Open, and Open A classes.

 

Derek Hall was able to put it together in the 250 Pro class, as well, as he clinched the overall on the day. Auston Albers, Michael Clark, and Joey Rossi, who made the long journey from California, were all guys to keep your eye on. Each had a few top three finishes.

 

Local Floridian, Zach Freeberg, blessed us with his presence this weekend. Freeberg is from Clearwater and has had plenty of seat time on the sunshine track. It definitely showed this weekend as he was very dominant in just about every class he raced. Zach took home the overall in the 250 B and Schoolboy (14-16) classes. In Open B he slipped up in the first turn and made his way back up to fourth in the first moto and he followed up the second moto with a win, giving him second overall.

 

Wilfredo Guzman has definitely stepped up his game and is looking very fast going into Mini Os. Guzman pulls some of the most massive holeshots in the buisiness and never looks back. He was the only rider at the track all weekend tripling in and tripling out of the rhythm section in the back. Guzman took the overall in the Open B and Four Stroke class.

 

We can’t forget about Cody Gitzen, either. Gitzen took the overall in Youth (12-16) and the 250 Open class.

 

Jordan Bailey’s transition to the KX 65 seems to be going smooth and I have a feeling by Mini Os he will be a top contender in his age group. He reminds me of a little Cianciarulo, not only because he’s on kawis now and wears Alpinestars, but because of his sheer speed and determination to win. Jordan left with the overall in the 65 (7-9) class and is leading the points chase in the 65 Open class by twelve points over Colton Eigenmann. Colton took second behind Bailey in the (7-9) class this weekend and all he needs is a little slip up from Bailey to take over the lead in the points chase.

 

The 65 (10-11) class looked as if it was going to go to Hunter Chandler, from Winter Haven, Florida, as he finished solid on top of the box in the first moto. However, for an unknown reason Chandler didn’t start the second moto and Tyler Pantley took full advantage. Tyler’s second in moto one was good enough for the overall when he took the win in moto two. Ty Casey grabbed the last spot on the box for third overall on the day.

Out, but not completely out, Hunter Chandler showed back up to the line and put it all together in the 85 (9-11) class and clinched the overall with a perfect score of 1-1.

 

Andrew Winslow and Kevin Steele had an epic battle in the first moto of the Jr. Mini (9-13) class. From the time the gate dropped they were fighting for the lead position. Winslow led most of the race, with Steele all over his back tire. Steele got around him a few times, but never could make it stick. They were given the white flag and Steele knew it was now or never and as it looked like he was setting Winslow up to pass him in a left hander a lapper crossed into his line and Winslow got away with the win. The second moto Steele got out to a great start and as for Winslow he was stuck in the back of the pack making his way forward. Kevin held on for the win and Andrew was able to grab second, but the overall went to Kevin Steele. Steele also took the overall in the 85(12-13) class.

 

Both the Chisholm brothers were on hand this weekend. While he’s on the sidelines recovering from knee surgery, Kyle Chisholm came out to do a track walk with the kids and support his brother, Cody Chisholm. At the same time, Cody’s been racking up the wins in the Gold Cup series and he doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon. He left with the overall in both Supermini classes and is looking great for Mini Os next month. Carl Douglas and Austin Collins had a few good battles for the second and third spots. In the Supermini 1 class Douglas took second overall and Collins took it home in the Supermini 2 class.

The plus class superstars this weekend were Vince Devane, Jared Ballard, and Kenny Yoho. Devane took the overall in two out of the four classes he raced. He was just beat out by Jarred Ballard in the Plus 25 class as they swapped positions in each moto. Ballard went 2-1 as Devane went 1-2. The plus 30 class saw Kenny Yoho go 1-1 with no problem.

Local girl Leah Cantrell made her come back onto the scene at Loretta’s this year and is getting faster every race. She showed all the Women how to take an overall home this weekend with nearly two flawless motos. Marisa Hampshire and Brianna Mahon swapped motos and went second and third respectively.

Devon Stodart rips it up on his Cobra. He had a huge lead on the rest of the field in both motos of the 50 (7-8) class. He had no problem taking the overall with a 1-1 moto score. The 50 (4-6) class went to the 46 machine of Gage Gangas. Cullin Park clinched the overall in the 50 Open class.

That’s all from Sunshine MX. The series heads to Reddick this weekend and with only one round left after this weekend the racing should be next to none.