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Snow, rain, sleet and lots of four-stroke thunder in the bluegrass state.

It's clearly the year of the four-stroke and the Bluegrass Nationals in London, KY more than proved that in this year's pro class results at the Daniel Boone motocross complex. For the first time in GNC history - the top three overall pro class riders were four-stroke mounted. Doug Gust made further GNC history by winning the overall on his TC/Hinson Racing Suzuki - the first Suzuki powered thumper to win a pro GNC event. Gust added another sidebar to the ATV racing history books as his new Suzuki became the first electric start ATV to cross the finish line first.

Moto 1

TC/Hinson Racing's Doug Gust proudly talks of his new Suzuki and the overall win.

Moto one got underway with the Baldwin Motorsports' Yamaha YZ 440 leading the way with 3-time national champion Tim Farr, pointing the rip-roaring monster thumper in the right direction. "Digger" Doug Gust looked to be off to a good start as he tucked in behind Farr on his TC 440cc four-stroke Suzuki powered entry. Gust later found his way into some momentum stealing mud and fell back to the nine-spot. All the while, the number 53 Bills' Pipes/ Wide Open Motorsports Yamaha YZ 426 of Kory Ellis held consistent ground in the top three positions. As moto one progressed, Gust was nowhere near the ninth place position he was once in. Gust gained lap times by leaping over the monsterous "canyon double" (one of very few riders choosing to jump it). The veteran quad racer locked into his usual steady hard charging pace, picked off riders one after another and found his way to the rear fenders of Farr. Farr and Gust diced it out in an all too familiar sprint to the checkers. Crowds rose to their feet and stretched over fences to not dare miss a turn or jump as the two carved through the winding Daniel Boone MX track on the final lap. The cold windy afternoon seamed to warm up a bit while the two approached the final turns with their thunderous four-stroke motors barking effortlessly through the hillside valley. Meanwhile, Kory Ellis smartly and smoothly rode in their wake holding down the three-spot from Joe "Big" Byrd (East Coast ATV) and Shane "Daddy" Hitt (Sparks). Gust carefully studied Farr's every move in hopes to find a mistake to make the pass. Farr crossed the finish line narrowly edging out Gust for the moto one win. Following the leaders was Ellis, Byrd, Hitt. Ben Jackson (Duncan) and Jeremiah Jones (JPMX/Sparks) passed their way from 15th and 16th position to finish in the six and seven position respectively.

Moto 2
Gust makes Suzuki history

"Digger" Doug Gust leads the way in moto two action.

In deja-vu like fashion, Tim Farr rode to the starting line with a broken throttle hand. Those that follow the ATV racing scene will remember that Farr started last season with many injuries acquired from practicing for the nationals including a broken hand. The song remains the same for the 2001 season, as Farr re-broke the very same bone in his throttle hand while practicing a week prior to round 2. "I'm surprised he was able to hold on and take the win in the first moto. He can barely put his glove on", explained Farr's girlfriend Julie LeMay. "I don't know if he'll be able to do that again. It has been hurting him pretty bad, hopefully he'll get a top five position anyway", added LeMay.

Tim Farr held off a persistent Jeremiah Jones for an entire moto to take the runner up overall position.

Farr's broken hand injury and Gust's impressive charge to the front in moto one - clearly showed Gust as the favorite to win the final. With a push of his start button, Gust fired up his Suzuki and concentrated on the drop of the gate. In a repeat of moto one, Farr forgot about the aching pain of his broken hand and pulled the holeshot again. This time Gust didn't get pushed into the mud and tucked into the runnerup spot with Kory Ellis in tow. Bowling Green's Jeremiah Jones, who won this event last year, didn't take long to pass Ellis and begin to pressure the leaders for the number one position. Travis "Doc" Spader (PSI/K&K/Lonestar) followed with Nac's riders - Dana Creech and John Natalie only inches behind. Spader would later DNF, as he did in moto one, with motor problems. Joe Bryd moved up to the six-spot as laps progressed.

Kory Ellis made it a 1-2-3 four-stroke mounted podium placement - a first in GNC pro racing. Ellis looked fast and smooth, just as he did at round one.

Gust passed Farr for the lead on the down hill ski jump. From then on Gust distanced himself from the Farr/Jones battle and rode on to the moto two andoverall victory. "There were a few times I thought about jumping the big double-double (table of two) on top of the hill to get around Tim, but I'm glad I patiently waited for the pass and never did it. I hit it a bit strong on one of the laps and the wind got hold of me pretty good", said Gust about the big jump and the wind factor. "It pivoted me sideways in mid air. I held on extra tight for that landing - that's for sure, and didn't dare try it again", continued Gust about the very same wind related crash spot that Farr and Jackson went down on in year's past. In closing laps Farr defended the two-spot from Jones all the way to the bank, while Ellis battled off pressure from Creech and Byrd. "I tried to hold the inside line and not let Byrd by since he finished in front of me in the first moto. If we keep pulling thirds like this I can be right there for the championship. We're off to a great start", said Ellis speaking of his and his sponsors Dad, Bill's Pipes, PEP and Wide Open Moto.com after the race.

Walsh Racecraft's Mike Walsh

Pro Results:
1. Doug Gust (TC/Hinson) (2-1)
2. Tim Farr (Baldwin/DG/Ferrell) (1-2)
3. Kory Ellis (Wide Open/Bill's Pipes) (3-4)
4. Jeremiah Jones (Sparks/JPMX) (7-3)
5. Joe Byrd (East Cost ATV) (4-6)
6. Ben Jackson (Duncan/Roll/Golden West) (7-6)
7. Shane Hitt (Sparks/Kame's) Jason Luburgh (TC) (5-8)
8. Dana Creech (Nac's/LRD/Lonestar) (9-5)
9. Jimmy Elza (Nac's/LRD/Lonestar) (8-9)
10.Jasmin Plante (TC) (10-12)

Complete Results:

+25
1 E.PAGLIUGHI
2 M.BURNS
3 S.BUTLER
4 K.BUTTER
5 K.DESANTIS

250 A
1 J.BARTOSEK
2 M.BARTOSEK
3 K.CLENDENNING
4 C.ELLISON
5 N.LEVERENZ

250 B
1 T.WHITE
2 J.PUGH
3 J.RICH
4 J.SHEAFFER
5 B.KINTER

250 C
1 M.LOBDELL
2 T.DYN
3 J.BISHOP
4 P.CLEMMONS
5 D.BELL

250 PRO-AM
1 M.BARTOSEK
2 T.CAIN
3 T.LECOMPTE
4 S.WEPPLER
5 M.HAAS

+30
1 J.THOMPSON
2 R.HURST
3 K.POCRNICH
4 R.RICHTSMEIER
5 F.COILE

4 STROKE AIR COOLED
1 B.ROSS
2 J.PANGALLO
3 L.MUELLER
4 J.ANDRING
5 B.LEVINGS

+40
1 A.LUBURGH
2 J.STEELE
3 G.DOHERTY
4 R.KYER
5 C.SOBENES

70 YOUTH
1 J.ROSS
2 K.BULL HANKS
3 K.KELLEY JR
4 J.BRITTAIN
5 B.KELSEY II

90 YOUTH
1 C.PETTY
2 P.THOMPSON
3 B.EAKIN
4 J.RAGON
5 C.THOMPSON

4 STROKE A
1 D.LAMBORN
2 E.PAGLIUGHI
3 T.HAYWOOD
4 E.POWERS
5 J.MARCH

4 STROKE B
1 B.JIVIDEN
2 M.MICELI
3 B.AMSTUTZ
4 A.SLINGLUFF
5 D.KRAMER

4 STROKE C
1 J.HANCOCK
2 B.MILLER
3 W.HEATHERLY
4 D.KOOPMAN
5 D.BEVERLY

OPEN A
1 G.PARKER
2 W.MARSH
3 K.BUTTER
4 J.STRUM
5 D.SHULER

OPEN B
1 D.WIMMER
2 J.SHEAFFER
3 J.BRES
4 G.HERTTER III
5 C.SLOVICK

OPEN C
1 P.TEAGUE
2 W.DRAPER
3 R.CHARLES
4 C.SOBENES
5 R.GERESHENSKI

OPEN PRO-AM
1 K.BUTTER
2 M.BURNS
3 C.LOHR
4 S.BUTLER
5 J.ANGEL

OUTLAW CLASS
1 N.NELSON
2 J.HOLLERAN
3 D.ADAMS
4 J.ELLIOTT
5 J.COOPRIDER

PRO-AM 4 STROKE
1 J.LUBURGH
2 J.BARTOSEK
3 D.LAMBORN
4 B.WARNER
5 E.POWERS

WOMEN
1 A.MOORE
2 H.ROSE
3 S.SOLOMON
4 L.KAUFFMAN
5 H.SHARTZER

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