Elsinore GP, Lake Elsinore, CA 2003
- Updated: November 8, 2003
Report and photos by: Kory Ellis
When the weather in Southern California starts to cool, you know it’s time for the annual Lake Elsinore Grand Prix. There was three blocks full of venders, product displays and spectators awaiting the start. As the racers started to line up on Main Street, which is smack-dab in the middle of the town, you could feel the anticipation in the cool air. This race has become an important fixture for the town as well as Grand Prix racing as a whole.
This year’s track was not much different then past years’. A wide open straight-away down Main Street with a winding whooped-out fire road that went around two mountains in the middle of town with a large table top and some open fields.
The starting line looked more like a festival. Riders and their crews gathered for some last minute tweaking and shared friendly advise.
When the green flag flew Phillip White on his Duncan backed 250R jetted to the front and entered the first corner leading the way. Fellow Duncan teammate, Doug Eichner was hot on his heals. It was a Duncan Racing drag race down Main Street. Eichner’s KFX had a little more oomph and slowly moved past White for the lead.
When they came around for the first lap it was all Eichner. William Yokley (Nac’s) followed with Jeff Anderson, Wayne Matlock and Jeremy Schell in tow. The street was lined with people rooting them on as the sped by. They could only catch a slight glimpse of the racers as they rocketed down Main St. at 70+ mph! Those spectators not satisfied at seeing a blur pass them by along the road camped out at the big table top where they got to see the quads fly 30 feet through the air.
By the time they had made two laps, Eichner and Yokley had settled into a comfortable pace up front. They would later lock up the one two final positions.
The battle for the number three spot wasn’t so easily settled. It looked as though Jeff Anderson had it on his Triumph backed, Martin tuned 250R, but third place wasn’t in his cards. Wayne Matlock was determined to not let Anderson make off with his podium spot. Matlock and his Alba Action Sports.com Z400 made up some ground but neither of them would make off with the final podium position. Instead it was Jeremy “The So Cal Hick” Schell. Schell charged through the pack from his back row starting position. He used the entire race to pass riders one by one. As the race came to a close he was able to shove his Trinity Kawasaki KFX past Anderson and Matlock for the final podium spot.
Top Five Results:
1. Doug Eichner
2. William Yokley
3. Jeremy Schell
4. Jeff Anderson
5. Wayne Matlock
