Ness Untouchable at Berm Benders Motocross

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Mora MX, July 11, 2004

The weather may have added an extra challenge, but Brandon Ness was up to it, winning both motos of 125 C by a comfortable margin. He was also the top C rider in the tough Schoolboy class, a class won by the only triple winner of the day, Matt Wodtke.

As has been the case many times this year, rain was again a central factor in this race. Hard thunder storms in the morning drenched the track. Persistent drizzle and gray skies made the race seem very questionable early. After a slight delay for the weather to clear and some minor re-routing of the track, the races began. Eventually the sun came out, everyone got both motos in, and it the show still ended pretty early.

In the first 125cc C moto, Justin Collins lead the first half of the race, but Ness splashed his way into the lead for the win. Collins held on for second over Marcus Little, and Chad Kramer. Ness made his way into the lead a few corners into moto two and was never headed. He was followed overall by Collins (2-5), Kevin Rodel (6-2), Kramer (4-4) , and Tony Selle (7-3).


Chad Kramer (410), Marcus Little (884), Tony Selle (O23), and Kristin Juday (967) hit the first turn in the second moto of 125cc C.

Berm Benders Raceway is located about 80 miles north of the Twin Cities. The surface is fairly unique, as it isn’t quite sand or hard pack. Dig it up and it gets thick and rough, like sand. Pack it down and it gets quite hard packed. The track has a long and storied history. There have been many qualifiers held here over the years and it was also one of the first tracks to have a backwards falling gate.

One set of riders that might remember front falling gates was the combined 30+ class. Being dropped with the B riders added another element to an already interesting 30+ A race. In the first moto, multi-time Ice Racing champion, Mark “ Big” Deal took the lead early and was looking smooth out front. Going through the pack after a poor start was 1986 Lakewood National qualifier, Tony Ulrich. Deal’s seemingly safe lead was now in question as Ulrich closed to within roosting distance. A last lap bonsai charge through the whoops came up a bit short and Deal took the win over Ulrich and a close, Michael Moores.

Ulrich grabbed the holeshot in the second moto only to have a rare stall in the third turn. He tipped over a bit awkwardly, blocking the pack, with only Deal getting through clean. With less than half a lap down, Deal had a big gap, but then he stalled. Moores took the lead no one could hold and hung on for the moto win and the overall. Ulrich worked back up to second, but ran out of time, settling for second overall. Wes Wyman was third and with it, earned second moto bragging rights over the slow to restart Deal.

This was the second race of the year for this track and the second race ever for new owners, Kurt and Kelly Caswell. There are several noticeable changes to the track and to it’s operation. The most visible change was the clearing of the brush on the interior of the track. Whole sections that were previously only visible to the flagmen are now easily seen from the main spectator areas. The other big difference is that the 80s era obstacles that were left on the track have been replaced with step-ups, table tops and a new whoop section. Practice days are now held each Saturday before a race. On display in the pits both days was the Suzuki RM 250F that is to be given away at the end of the year. Each race entry results in a ticket for the drawing.


Mitchell Oldenburg leads Eric Anderson in the first 65cc moto

Some of the younger riders on the track were in the 65cc classes. Many handled themselves in the mud quite well, looking more experienced than their age would suggest. A light drizzle was still falling on a wet track as the gate dropped for moto one. Rhode Rogers looked like he was having fun in the mud, gapping the field. Jake Loberg stayed close for a while, but then dropped back slightly. Mitchell Oldenburg and Eric Anderson came up from the second drop up to third and fourth in the race. A much dryer track, most of it anyway, was in store for the second moto. At the start, Rogers was again out front, but this time Loberg was right on him, making his way by for the win on the last lap for the 10-11 overall win. Meanwhile, Oldenburg and Anderson were banging bars nearly the entire race, with Anderson leading when it counted for the 7-9 overall win.

Wodtke won his usual trifecta of District 23 classes, 125cc B, 250cc B, and Schoolboy. The only other riders to win more than one class were Gavin Kadlec, who won the 85cc 7-11 and 85cc 9-12 classes and Matt Lube, who won 25+ C and 30+C.

Results
50cc Oil Inj. 4-6:
1.Jerry Robin (KTM); 2.Dante Ramacher (KTM); 3.Jacqueline Riess (KTM); 4.Drew Amsler (Yam); 5.Kj Downey (Yam);

50cc Oil Inj. 7-8:
1.David Krey (COB); 2.Noah Anderson (KTM); 3.Chad Peitz (KTM); 4.Cody Emmans (KTM);

50cc Chain 4-6:
1.Logan Monster (KTM); 2.Joshua Campa (KTM); 3.Cody Dorff (KTM); 4.Mckenna Oldenburg (KTM); 5.Justin Evans (KTM);

50cc Chain 7-8:
1.Eric Prachar (KTM); 2.Blake Miller (KTM); 3.Emma Miller (KTM); 4.Thomas Bosek (KTM); 5.Bruno Sanroman (KTM); 6.Adam Godfrey (LEM); 7.Max Royalty (LEM); 8.Mason Lube (KTM);

65cc 7-9:
1.Eric Anderson (KTM); 2.Mitchell Oldenburg (KTM); 3.Blake Miller (KTM); 4.Christopher Sundsvold (Suz); 5.Travis Stewart (Suz); 6.Max Royalty (Kaw); 7.Shawn Reynolds (Kaw); 8.Cody Moores (Kaw);

65cc 10-11:
1.Jake Loberg (KTM); 2.Shane Rhode (KTM); 3.Cassie Holcomb (Kaw); 4.Brady Wallskog (Kaw); 5.Jeremy Juliot (Kaw);

85cc 7-11:
1.Gavin Kadlec (Suz); 2.Mitchell Oldenburg (KTM); 3.Mccoy Oldenburg (Yam); 4.Logan Bemis (Suz); 5.Dustin Fore (Suz); 6.Jake Loberg (Hon); 7.Shane Rhode (KTM); 8.Nate Stier (Hon);

85cc 9-12:
1.Gavin Kadlec (Suz); 2.Dustin Armbrust (KTM); 3.Mccoy Oldenburg (Yam); 4.Dustin Fore (Suz); 5.Nate Stier (Hon); 6.Cody Belanger (Yam); 7.Matthew Schueller (Hon); 8.Jake Loberg (Hon);

85cc 12-15:
1.Justin Craft (Suz); 2.Charley Perkins (Yam); 3.Zach Stewart (Suz); 4.Clay Schmitt (Suz); 5.Matthew Schueller (Hon); 6.Matthew Ellison (Yam); 7.Kenny Laplante (Hon);

Super-Mini 12-15:
1.Dustin Armbrust (KTM); 2.Charley Perkins (Yam); 3.Justin Craft (Suz); 4.Kenny Laplante (Hon); 5.Zach Stewart (Suz); 6.Jessica Hadler (Kaw);

Schoolboy 12-15:
1.Matt Wodtke (Suz); 2.Spencer Kadlec (Suz); 3.Branden Ness (Hon); 4.Camden Schrupp (Yam); 5.Justin Collins (Kaw);

125 A:
1.Rory Beckman (Hon); 2.Dustin Fratzke (Suz);

125 B:
1.Matt Wodtke (Suz); 2.Spencer Kadlec (Suz); 3.Brennan Lauseng (Yam); 4.Camden Schrupp (Yam); 5.Andy Stier (Suz); 6.Brandon Lang (Suz); 7.Dylon Turner (Yam);

125 C:
1.Branden Ness (Hon); 2.Justin Collins (Kaw); 3.Kevin Rodel (Kaw); 4.Chad Kramer (Yam); 5.Tony Selle (Hon); 6.Marcus Little (Yam); 7.Trevor Hamstad (Hon); 8.Jake Duehn (Yam);

250/Open B:
1.Matt Wodtke (KTM); 2.Matthew Boe (Yam); 3.Andy Odencrans (Yam); 4.Jared Dux (Yam); 5.Matt Gamble (Yam);

250/Open C:
1.Michael Odencrans (Suz); 2.Cody Gamble (Kaw); 3.Tony Sellner (Yam); 4.Charles Perry (Yam); 5.Lawrence Hart (Yam);

16/24 A:
1.Daniel Homes (KTM); 2.Rory Beckman (Hon);

16/24 B:
1.Brennan Lauseng (Yam); 2.Matthew Boe (Yam); 3.Matt Gamble (Yam); 4.Dylon Turner (Yam); 5.Brandon Lang (Suz); 6.Andy Stier (Suz);

16/24 C:
1.Kevin Rodel (Kaw); 2.Chad Kramer (Yam); 3.Lawrence Hart (Yam); 4.Trevor Hamstad (Hon); 5.Dustin Olson (Kaw); 6.Charles Perry (Yam); 7.Jake Duehn (Yam);

25+ A:
1.Michael Little (Hon); 2.Jed Oconnor (Hon); 3.Michael Moores (Yam); 4.Tony Ulrich (Yam); 5.Bob Chase (Yam);

25+ B:
1.John Courneya (Kaw); 2.Jamie Koch (Yam);

25+ C:
1.Matt Lube (Hon); 2.Dennis Bohnen (Suz); 3.Kevin Dennison (Hon); 4.Robert Wallskog (Hon); 5.Derick Cavallin (Hon);

30+ A:
1.Michael Moores (Yam); 2.Tony Ulrich (Yam); 3.Mark Deal (Hon); 4.Wes Wyman (Hon);

30+ B:
1.Troy Ramacher (Yam); 2.Jerome Blondel (Hon); 3.John Courneya (Kaw);

30+ C:
1.Matt Lube (Hon); 2.Robert Wallskog (Hon); 3.Bryan Beckman (Hon); 4.Dennis Bohnen (Suz); 5.Justin Miska (Yam); 6.Mike Christy (KTM);

40+ A:
1.Mark Deal (Hon); 2.Terry Westlin (Hon); 3.Bob Chase (Yam);

40+ C:
1.Kyle Dux (Yam); 2.Scott Borden (Hon); 3.Timothy Boe (Yam);

45+ A:
1.Terry Westlin (Hon);

Women:
1.Jessica Hadler (Kaw); 2.Jenna Fore (Kaw); 3.Amber Johnson (Kaw);

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