The full PDF reports can be viewed at ACES-races.com.
The race report is also featured on the Off Road Champions website, Today’s Cycle Coverage, Trail Rider (pages 22-24) and the AMA website.
Lost in Lodi Enduro
Lodi Motorcycle Club
ACES Round 2
Shade, Ohio
April 7, 2013
By Heather Wilson
The Lost in Lodi Enduro, hosted by the Lodi Motorcycle Club, was not only a race, but a community event that benefits the local Richland Area Volunteer Fire Department.
The race is also a memorial to Sox Brookhart, an Albany, Ohio resident who was a member of the Athens Motorcycle Club and an inductee in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
The weather conditions in Shade, Ohio couldn’t have been more ideal, with temperatures in the high 60s and a slight wind.
The enduro consisted of 75 miles of riding through mostly fast, open trail.
Smith’s Powersports’ Johnny Barber (HSB) captured the Overall win, only dropping two points for the day. He is the ACES reigning champion. Barber was a first-year ACES competitor last year and won the series. Barber said, “I want to defend my overall championship.”
There was a seven-way tie for second place based on points. Emergency check points had to be calculated to produce the final placings.
It was Wheelsports’ team that took the next three positions. Zach Klamfoth (KTM) walked away with the second place position, with 28 e-check seconds, followed by Josh Gaitten (KTM) (45 e-check seconds) and Trevor Kline (KTM) (70 e-check seconds) for the fourth place position.
Robbie Jenks (KTM), Rodney Judson (BET), Michael Jolly (HSB) and Ricki McAtee (KAW) were the remaining four competitors in the seven-way tie for second place.
Of those competitors, it was Jolly that took the Overall A spot for the second race in a row, dropping four points. He finished seventh overall.
Ricki McAtee (KAW), a Vet A rider, finished a point behind Jolly.
Aaron Cooney (KTM) secured the Overall B position for the second time this season. He dropped nine points. The second-year ACES competitor and Open B rider said it is critical to “just have fun” during the race and “not over think it.”
In a close chase for Overall B were Thomas Wildenauer II (KTM) and Jordan Collins (KTM). Wildenauer and Collins tied dropping only 10 points, but Wildenauer beat Collins when emergency check points were calculated.
The next race, the Grass Man Enduro, will take place on May 5 in Norwich, Ohio. It is hosted by the Ohio Woods Riders.
Additional photos are available here.
The Appalachian Championship Enduro Series (ACES) is a traditional time-keeping enduro series.
We would like to thank the following sponsors for contributing to the growth of our series and supporting our riders: CATON’S CYCLE CENTER, CLINTON COUNTY MOTORSPORTS, CYCRA, ENDURO ENGINEERING, FLY RACING, HUSQVARNA, JM CYCLE, KENDA, KRW CYCLES, KTM, LEATT, MOOSE RACING, OHIO MOTORCYCLE, OSBURN ASSOCIATES, POINT VIEW CYCLES, REMHERT’S KTM / KAWASAKI, SMITH’S POWER SPORTS, SPORT CYCLES, WESTERN POWER SPORTS and WHEELSPORTS.
Bench Racing Report
Overall: Johnny Barber
Kevin Brown (left), ACES race volunteer, presents Johnny Barber (right) with the Overall trophy that is a memorial to Sox Brookhart.
Johnny Barber (HSB) captured the Overall win. He got his start riding in 2000 by competing in the CRA Hare Scrambles and GNCCs. Then in 2003, Rich Smith talked him into trying an enduro. Barber said, “I’ve been hooked ever since.”
He prefers enduros as opposed to other forms of racing. “Enduros have the best trails by far, and you get breaks periodically,” said Barber. “I’ve struggled with arm pump since 2003, so the enduros suit me better I guess.”
Barber said training for the races isn’t a crucial part of his lifestyle. “Honestly, I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve practiced or trail rode in the last two years,” said Barber. “I do go to the gym every now and then.”
Barber commented that he does have a pre-race ritual though. “I put my knee braces on a specific way every time. Also, I eat a snickers bar right before the start,” he said.
He said for this race it was especially important to pay close attention to time because of the fast trail. “It was easy to get ahead of your minute and burn a check,” said Barber.
Barber had a high speed crash in the last section that cost him a point. He said, “I guess I wish I just slowed down a bit in the last section to avoid the crash.”
“After the first race went south with a burn, and getting stuck in a bottleneck on a hill, I’m happy to get back on top of the of the points lead,” said Barber.
He said his Smith’s Powersports Husaberg TE250 worked perfectly. “It’s great to have a bike that I can just mount bark busters and a spark arrestor and go out and win races on.”
He would like to thank Rich Smith from Smith’s Powersports, Husaberg Parts and Wear, RidePG and Aires.
Overall A: Michael Jolly
Michael Jolly took the Overall A placing at the enduro.
Michael Jolly (HSB) won the Overall A for the second time this season.
Enduros captured Jolly’s interest because he likes the fact that “…sometimes you have to think and use your head at the same time as riding fast,” said Jolly. “It is different than just racing laps at a hare scramble. I also enjoy the variety of new trail. You never know what to expect next.”
In order to train for races, he said he tries to run as often as he can and lift during the week.
He said there was no room for mistakes, “Because the trails were so fast, the scores were extremely close, which meant no room for mistakes. I was in a seven-way tie for second overall, with seven riders off three points. I ended up on the lower end of the tie, finishing seventh overall, with only 10 seconds separating fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place,” said Jolly. “It was close.”
Jolly said he enjoyed the whole race and his bike ran flawlessly. “Sadly, I bent my rear rim pretty good in the last section, but I don’t how I did it!” commented Jolly.
“I had a new rear tire in my garage I wish I would have put on,” said Jolly. “Even though it was a perfect day, the trails were slicker than I anticipated.”
He would like to thank everyone who helped put on the race, Moose Racing, Smith’s Powersports, FMF, TwinAir, Dunlop and ODI.
Overall B: Aaron Cooney
Aaron Cooney captured the Overall B title at the enduro.
Aaron Cooney, (KTM) a second year ACES rider, secured the Overall B position for the second time this year.
Not only does he love to ride enduros, but he enjoys the social aspect. “I love the atmosphere, the people, and of course the awesome trails,” commented Cooney.
For Cooney, training for the races consists of getting as much ride time as he can.
Many racers are superstitious and have their pre-race rituals. He said his pre-race ritual is to eat and stretch out in the morning. “…then freak out over every detail on my bike before the race,” commented Cooney.
He said his bike worked great, allowing him to focus on riding.
He said the race was easier than expected, “…because It was fast and flowing, so you didn’t use up as much energy.”
His favorite section of the day was the second to last section. “It was tighter trail and just had a good flow to it,” said Cooney.
He would like to thank his wife for coming to the race and helping out and also KRW Cycles for supporting him.