Nick Metcalf without a doubt was in a zone this weekend! Nick dominated three of the four mains in Oakland, California! Metcalf also did a great job of soaking up some extra points for the series too. He's looking to better his current fourth place placement. Nick made money, but the "Dash for Cash" unfortunately is where Metcalf fell short of owning the entire weekend! Jim Neese struggled from time to time throughout the weekend. Since the mains didn't seem to pay for Neese, he decided to put a little twist on the weekend. Neese made a little trade-off taking $1435 of the Fans contributions to the "Dash for Cash" instead! He did however manage to close the show Saturday night with the 250 main win, actually breaking through a soft spot in Metcalf's Zone.
Nathan Tierney took home the number five plate from last season, but did not get a chance to compete in all races this season due to an injury sustained practicing and training in the off season. Nathan showed up for only his second Arenacross race this season, his first appearance was in Sacramento a week prior. Nathan showed a strong presence in Oakland. With very little track time this season, you wouldn't have expected him to do as well as he did! Nathan finished in the top three in all of his races, excluding the "Jump Contest." It's good to have him back on the road. Watch for him to take a few more wins in Albuquerque, NM and Tacoma, WA before this season is done - best of luck! He is obviously fresh and strong!
Friday 125 Pro Main I wish there were a lot of things to tell you, but with Metcalf dominating all weekend may be a bit of redundancy in the next few paragraphs. Nick Metcalf jumped out early on with a host of talented riders hot on his tail! Nathan Tiearney was just one of those riders with him. Jim Chester, the 2001-2002 Regional Champsion, with point's leader Jim Neese and Nevada's Mike Mason all in tow, kept things moving. The racing was exciting and equally impressive especially the riding done by Metcalf. Lapped traffic as it will do in Arenacross eventually came into play and it made for some dicey passing for the leaders. Metcalf picked his way through possible trouble while keeping Tiearney and Chester at bay. In the meantime Neese was working his way up from a bad start with Mike Mason not far behind him. When all was said and done, Metcalf unknowingly had started his domination on the weekend with by winning Fridays 125 Main. The running order stayed intact with Tiearney following Metcalf to the flag for second. Chester, Neese and Mason rounded out the top five.
Friday 250 Pro Main The 250 Main was a Nick Metcalf show once again. Nick seemed to be a bit more focused this weekend! Whatever it was, it worked! Metcalf seems to have stirred up his own coals of desire! Nick pretty much had a grasp on the lead for each race as soon as the gate dropped. He kept upright and moving forward, the keys to any win. And he did it for the second main event in a row!
Jim Neese, still having trouble from a little earlier in the 125's, got off to a difficult start and got trapped in traffic. Jim knows what to do though. He goes right to work passing riders on his way up to the front. Mike Katin, Nathan Tiearney and Scotty Trimble all raced together for a few laps keeping Neese in check. Neese refused to be denied positions and cruised through lapped traffic eventually nailing down second. Nathan Tiearney continued a very strong, mature and well-controlled pace. After the long layoff, he seems to exhibit that "you know you got it" feeling again. Tiearney rode smooth and in control for a solid, well-deserved third!
Katin looked good on the track as always. At some events, he just shines a little more regardless of the position. It's a pleasure to watch Mike Katin perform. Katin would keep his eyes set on Tiearney and pushed hard to hit the podium, but unfortunately came up just short and settled for fourth. Scotty Trimble was kind of a surprise this weekend taking fifth in the 250 main. He's got talent and rides well. It was nice to see the Portland, OR, 125 winner push the 250 just as hard.
A little note of Info!
Want to know what a great motivator is? Provide a group of riders an opportunity to win of a lot of money in the shortest period of time possible. In this case, it's four laps and the winner takes all! The "Dash for Cash" solicitation of contributions is a lot of fun and the donations are greatly appreciated! People get a chance to talk on the microphone and have fun with calling out to friends and then getting their picture taken with Miss Arenacross. To others, it's a smart business promotion to use the microphone to read off their business card or tell about their website with the same people who share interests they do.
As we're doing the fun stuff, the riders are down at the starting gate listening very closely to how much money we're raising! As we auction off the "Official Arenacross Jersey" signed by the riders and Miss Arenacross, the excitement level increases! That's when the fun begins! Friday night's total purse was $435.00.
250 "DASH FOR CASH" The 250 Heat Winners were called back out to the racetrack for the winner take all four-lap race! Jim Neese, recognizing the amount of money that was up for grabs, wasted little time deciding his role in this race. Neese took the win in style and accepted the fan's gratuities as he genuinely thanked them all for it! Mike Mason took home second followed by Nathan Tiearney and Nick Metcalf finishing up in fourth.
Friday "EXTREME JUMP OFF CONTEST" Missing from action this week was Billy Jurevich. Billy is on the mend from a crash in Portland. Billy's been competing in Arenacross around the country and has made a few extra bucks winning the jump contest from city to city. Not this weekend though. Heal up and hurry back! In the absence of greatness, Mike Mason stepped up and took the win followed by Jadd Knox (a.k.a. Saran Wrap) in second and Mason Watson was voted third. All of the riders did awesome, crowd-pleasing big air jumps!
SATURDAY 125 Pro Main Nick Metcalf was at it again! Sometimes when things go your way, they just keep going your way. At least that was the case for Nick Metcalf again on Saturday night! Metcalf grabbed another win in the 125's. A few routine position changes occurred as they usually do. Metcalf spanked them all! Mike Mason was pumped and ready to go and hooked it up for second. Nathan Tiearney continued his trophy run and took no less than three podium finishes out of four available, continuing his hot comeback streak. Jim Neese, still struggling, looked a little as if it would be fourth place or nothing for this weekend! Scotty Trimble reached the checkered flag in a familiar fifth.
SATURDAY 250 Pro Main Finally, Jim Neese accomplished what he came to California to do, win! With all the difficulty he had dealt with all weekend, it was good to see him take home the win, even if it was only one main. What better way to take a curtain call than on the final event of the show! He's blazing fast on the 250 and that's where Jim Neese really shines. Jimmy continues to add points to his quest for the number one plate! Nick Metcalf came close to a sweep on the mains this weekend but came up just a tad short. It looked like second was going to be acceptable this time out as he started getting physically ill just past the midway point. As the race came to a close, MIKE Katin would take third followed by Jim Chester in fourth and Ryan Dudek rounded out the top five.
Saturday "250 DASH FOR CASH" Jim Neese seems to have had the odd luck this weekend. If he wasn't trying to recover from a difficult start, he was mired in traffic. None of that mattered though after Neese scored the win again on Saturday nights "Dash for Cash" race. Tonight the fans donated $800 and with our CCE $100, Jim Neese took home $900 for the Saturday night "Dash for Cash" win! Metcalf took second, Katin came across in third place and Dudek would settle in for the fourth and final position in the field.
Saturday "EXTREME JUMP OFF CONTEST" Jadd Knox, Mike Mason and Mason Watson is the order the fans voted them for their finish positions in the "Jump Contest". Watson came out swinging with some hot tricks tonight. Things were looking pretty good for Watson until Mason came out and filled the air with even hotter action. To top it all off, Jadd Knox seemed to be invigorated and filled with spontaneity! His tricks have now earned him the nickname of "Saran Wrap". Saran Wrap took the win and vows to return to the City by the Bay soon!
