“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN MOTOCROSS:” BILLY LANINOVICH BLOWS BACK INTO THE LIMELIGHT

How hard was the wind blowing? These normally scenic palm tress were bowing under the 45 mph gusts.

PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI

With only two “Saturday at the Glen” races remaining on the 25-race 2023 schedule, all the regulars were anxious to race at the penultimate round. The “Saturday” races had been bumped for the 24 Hours of Glen Helen Endurance race, the Dubya World Vet Championship, Day in the Dirt and for the Yamaha BluCru races. Finally, after a month off, the old gang was going to get back together again. A lot of people were obviously happy to be back, as 195 riders signed up to race on the National track. It could have been great. Did we say, “Could have been?”

The three fastest guys were Billy Laninovich (132), R.J Warda (972) and Jack Carrigg (563). The sandy berms left plenty of room for carving your own lines.

Yes, we did, not that the track wasn’t well prepped and everything in order. The organization wasn’t to blame for what happened. So, what did happen? The wind blew. Not a gentle breeze. Not the typical wind coming down from the high desert. Nope, it was full-on gale force winds, blowing straight down the canyon at a speed that tries to knock you down.  The track had been well watered, but the winds picked up dust from the infield of the track and the parking lots to create dust clouds that probably didn’t settle until the Mexican border. The most impressive thing is that the racers soldiered on into the wind. A few riders decided to pack it in after feeling the cold air coming down from the north, but most stayed to race. and when they weren’t racing, they hid behind their Sprinters or donned hoodies and goggles to save their eyeballs from flying grit.

You may remember Billy Laninovich from the distant past. He won the 125 West class at the San Francisco Supercross in 2005. Billy made the top ten in 125/250 West Supercross series five times before retiring after the 2012 season. He has come back to the sport at the age of 40 and plans to race the 2024 AMA 250 West for Team Faith. He came to “Saturday at the Glen” to get some seat time.

To Glen Helen’s credit, largely because Glen Helen is prone to wind storms this time of year, they moved the schedule along quickly, in hopes of getting through the race before the predicted stronger winds came later in the day. Glen Helen packed the starting grids and did two-wave starts—in this way the program was cut down to only eight races. In fact, Glen Helen  was so efficient that they got the whole program done before 2:00 p.m. And winds did come, and the late afternoon and evening gusts were clocked at 61 mph.

R.J. Warda (972) went 1-2 in the 450 Pro class, but lost the overall to Billy Laninovich’s 2-1.

Once on the track, the riders had to cool it over the cross-wind jumps, like the Triple Step Up , the Hip Jump and most of the corners on the top of ridges. And most learned quickly that when you raced down any straight that had a tail wind, they had  better be ready to use their brakes hard because the wind had pushed their top speed up.

The winners on the day were Billy Laninovich (450 Pro), Cody Brownfield (250 Pro), Josh Fout (Vet Pro), Mark Tilley (40 Expert), John Griffin (50 Expert ), Robert Reisinger (60 Expert), Bob Rutten (65 Expert), Mic Rodgers (70 Expert), Nick Mairose (125 Expert), Chase Gray (85cc class), Jacob Tilley (Supermini), Emily Cloud (Women), Christian Granados (65cc class) and Jaxson Boyd (PW50).

The biggest danger of racing in high winds comes on cross-wind jumps and since Glen Helen’s National track runs up and down the hills, there are a few spots where discretion plays a bigger role than bravery. Most Glen Helen racers know where the winds can blow your bike out from under you from previous experience.

Josh Fout (32) won the Over-30 Expert class on MXA’s 2024 Husqvarna FC250. Not great on the start against a class full of 450s, but much easier to handle in the gusty winds.

Jon Ortner decided to take a walk around the infield to look at lines. That was a big mistake. Photo: Mark Riker

Mark Tilley (95) leads Shawn Bushnell (804) and Eddy Jay (118) in the Over-40 class.

Shawn Bushnell (804) owns a gym and runs a training program just up the hill from Glen Helen. Shawn went 2-2 behind Tilley’s 1-1 in the Over-40 Expert class.

Mark Tilley (95) blasts out of a Glen Helen corner. Mark dominates the Over-40 Experts on a weekly basis and finished fourth in the Over-40 Pro class at the 2023 World Vet Championships. Shawn Bushnell was 7th in the Over-40 Pro World Championship.

John Griffin (56) won the Over-50 Expert class with a 1-1 on his new Husqvarna FC450  against a class filled with former winners, including Ron Shuler, Jeremy Mairose, Chris Heinrich, Pasha Afshar, Paul Krause, Shawn Heit and Arek Kruk.

This track worker is trying to water this uphill, but all the water is headed to Carlsbad Raceway 75 miles away.

Pasha Afshar has a bevy of full-race KTM 150SX two-strokes, and although this is Pasha on L7, it’s not surprising that the bike chasing him is also L7 because Pasha sponsors a lot of riders . We think that it is Chris Heinrich, who finished 4th in the Over-50 Experts with the red L7, while Pasha finished 5th with the blue L7.

In the Over-60 Expert class, Robert Reisinger (96) got two great starts to go on to a 1-1 victory. That is Jon Ortner (N1R), still testing out his leg from a broken femur and hip suffered at the World Two-Stroke Championship back in April.

Who do you think won? Jon Ortner (left) and Ray Poltack (right) were this close at the checkers. Remember the race is not scored at the flag, but rather by the transponder wire buried in the face of the finish line jump.  In the end, Poltack’s 3-2  beat out Ortner’s 2-3 in the Over-60 Expert class for second overall.

Mark Crosby, the “Dentist of the Stars,” points out to Luc De Ley that Robot Rodgers forgot to remove the price tag from his new Gaerne boots. Of course, they also made fun of Robot’s Hall of Fame Skier Glen Plake-style hairdo caused by the wind.

Bob Rutten (83) took the win in the Over-65 Expert class with a 1-1 in a very close battle with Val Tamietti.

This is how close the Rutten/Tamietti battle was on the last lap of the second moto. Val passed Bob at the flag, but, as you know, the race was scored by the transponder wire. 

The fastest rider in the Over-65 Expert class was MXA test rider Randel Fout on MXA’s 2024 Kawasaki KX450. Randel won the Over-65 Expert class at the World Vet Championship a month ago and although he ran away from the Over-65 pack this Saturday, he chose not to be scored.

Bruce Ashmore (111) leads Jim Hanson (83) in the Over-65 Intermediate class. Hanson would end up taking the win.

Steve Piattoni (262) went 1-1 to beat out Lonnie Paschal (51), Eddie Jaramillo, Bob Pocius, Mark Sandzimier and Bill Reimer in the Over-60 Intermediate class.

Richard Hurtado (100) finished fifth in the Over-50 Novice class and wore the appropriate jersey for the day. You can see more of Richard’s RHMX jerseys by Clicking Here.

Chris Mankowski (926) and Lamont Dusseau (217) tied for 3rd in the Over-40 Novice class, but Mankowski got the win because his 4-3 beat out Dusseau’s 3-4.

Alison Bushnell (28) lays down a trail of roost on MXA’s 2024 Husqvarna FC350. Alison raced both the Over-40 Intermediate class and the Women’s class.

Elias Rael went 9-7 for 8th overall in the Open Novice class. It was the biggest class of the day.

Dylan Hyde (522) took his Honda CRF250 to a 7-8 day in the 250 Novice class.

Greek racer Dimitris Keramidas (84) has raced in 49 countries. He rented a bike from Dennis Stapleton to cross Glen Helen off of his list..

Konner Wolfe (68) was third in the 85cc class.

Chris Granados won the 65cc class and came back to win the 85cc Beginner class.

Cannon Bogh (916) won both motos of the 4-to-6 year old Pre-Wee class.

Caylee Costa (406) went 5-3 for fifth in the PW/XR class.

If you are looking for a racing organization that offers long motos, low cost and very consistent race schedule—this is it. “Saturday at the Glen” motocross almost through the 25-race 2023 season—with only three races left in 2023. Pre-entry is only $30 ($25 for minis). Post entry on the day of the race is $40 ($30 for minis). The Gate fee is only $10 (per person). You can sign up on the internet for the next “Saturday at the Glen” motocross as late as the Friday before the race and save money (or just show up in person on race day).  “Saturday at the Glen will race again next Saturday, December 16, 2023. This will be the last race of the 2023 season, but the 2024 schedule will be announced soon. For more info go to www.glenhelen.com.