Red Bud MX, Buchanon, MI 2005

GNC MX Round 7
Red Bud Track & Trail
Buchanon, MI
May 15, 2005

The ITP Grand National Championships headed north this weekend for round seven of the twelve round motocross series. You know the series starts extremely early in the year when everyone is still wearing sweatshirts and jackets after the halfway point. Nonetheless. this time the Red-Bud-Rain ended just in time for a weekend of spectacular racing. Amy Richey and the Red Bud Track and Trail crew put together an outstanding event. Riders and spectators alike ignored wet weather forecasts to attend. Rider entries nearly broke the Macon, GA turnout at just over 750. And an impressive amount of curious spectators flocked the beautiful South Western Michigan hillsides with anticipation of Sunday’s professional ATV motos.

In the pits many were saddened to hear that GNC sponsor coordinator, Moto Tees/Gear Design manager and all around ATV good guy, Ray Christy was asked to step down from his job for unknown reasons. Ray worked behind and in the scenes at nearly every single GNC ATV event in the last seven and half years. Ray was responsible for many GNC improvements and consistencies along the way. Ray told us he’s already missing the people at the races, which he referred to as his extended family. He said he’s down but not out. He expects to be involved with ATV racing in some way for the rest of his life. On behalf of everyone in the ATV scene and beyond, we thank him for his unselfish commitment to this sport, but more importantly – love him for his sincere friendship. Thanks Ray!

More pre pro moto bad news to report on. Jorge Cuartas, Media Allstars amateur race team coordinator and publisher of the GNC and more recent GNCC event programs – broke the femur bone in his leg. Unfortunately, since a few wild pit bulls attacked him when he was young, Jorge is a one leg amputee. Doctors performed an immediate surgery on his leg and replaced the metal plate that was already in it. He’s expected to be hospitalized for a few more weeks and wont be able to put weight on his leg for a god six weeks. Jorge tells us he expects a full recovery in the next few months, but plans to hang up his personal racing career. You can e mail Jorge Cuartas and/or Ray Christy from these links if you like.

One last bad piece of news. Travis Spader did not sign up in the allotted time and was not allowed to enter the race. He practiced Friday and planned on signing up early Saturday morning, but his wife’s flight was delayed. When he arrived late and tried to sign up, no leniency was given since a similar situation happened last year to Ohio’s Jason Luburgh. Travis was having an incredible comeback year, and steadily gaining ground from his top five in points position. “It was entirely my fault. This sport has really taken off. It’s a lot more organized and professional from when I last hit all the nationals. A few years ago you could get away with things like signing up after you practice if you got there a little late. I feel badly about what happened and my intentions were certainly not to get disqualified. I apologize to my sponsors and fans. I sure won’t do that again. They really mean business now days”, commented “T-Doc” Spader from the pits.

Dana Creech of danacreechracing.com made his return to racing East of the Mississippi a good one by winning the pro qualifier after Michigan’s Harold Goodman (Sparks/Walsh/JPMX/Suzuki) pulled to a stop with a broken engine case. Goodman later won the last chance qualifier. K&K ATV’s Pat Brown DNFed the qualifier with a faulty ground wire. If it weren’t for Spader’s empty spot on the line, Brown would have been a Sunday-spectator. With new mechanic, Tony Kellner watching from behind the pit board, he took full advantage of the opportunity and finished top five overall instead. Avid ATV fans will recognize the Tony Kellner name. Tony helped Barry Hawk win most of his seven GNCC titles and did the same with Bill Ballance. Be sure to check out our “Trackside with Amy Tripp” video interview for more on how the GNC series ended up with one of the most respected and knowledgeable persons in cross country racing.

Moto One

With John Natalie’s recent controversial bump passes on Suzuki’s Gust and Jones at Budds Creek, a Honda versus Suzuki war has appeared to surface. With it, plenty of excitement for moto one at Red Bud. “I just had to see this one. Gust is going to kick Natalie’s butt today”, said an excited ATV racing fan on his way to his choice spot on the infield grass. Another fellow we interviewed said thanks to Natalie and his hard charging aggressive riding style, ATV racing is just as exciting to watch as Carmichael is at a Supercross.

“Ironman” Natalie was given a verbal warning for rough riding at Budds Creek. A few days later, the ATVA decided a warning was not enough and suspended him from competing at Red Bud. John immediately appealed, which allowed him to race Red Bud while the ATVA gathered his appeal committee members (compiled mostly from ATV district delegates) to hear his case. What’s all this mean? John may or may not get to keep the 30 points he earned by winning Red Bud.

John is one of the most personable and approachable pro riders our sport has ever had. He often communicates with ATV enthusiast via message boards on the Internet, including ATV Scene’s forum section. With this, he’s become a favorite of many race fans. This was more than apparent when “Banger” the GNC announcer asked where his John Natalie fans were during pre race hype and again when John approached the podium after winning moto two and the overall. What’s this have to do with what went down in moto one you ask? Everything. “Iroman” gets fired up by his fans. This emotion triggers performance on the track for Natalie. In moto one, after Gust pulled the holeshot and Jones followed with the one-two Yoshimura Suzuki punch, Honda’s Natalie slipped into the three spot. The table was set just how fans wanted it.

Within a few laps Natalie slipped past Jones while Alba Yamaha’s Kory Ellis did the same to Lost Creek’s Jason Dunkelberger. As laps progressed New Jersey’s Pat Brown (K&K ATV) passed LSR Yamaha’s Keith Little and Dunk to finish up in the top five respectively. Coming from the rear of the pack was Ohio’s Tim Farr (American Honda/Baldwin/PEP) Farr charged from 15th to 9th place. Up front “Digger” Doug Gust held his ground and took the checkers with John Natalie a few seconds behind. The race for third was intense. On the last lap Ellis pulled along side of Jones and almost made the pass. Jones slammed the door shut and it ended up forcing Ellis off the track. Ellis just barely got his Yamaha started and off the berm in time to regain his fourth place position.

Moto Two

Doug Gust pulled the all important holeshot in moto two. Kory Ellis, Natalie, Little and Farr followed. Early in the race Jones high sided and went from 6th to 11th. Ellis had a mishap and went off the track but regained quickly and slipped in front of Farr for fourth. “I was trying to set up Doug in the turn but hit a big kicker bump a little harder than I should have. It sent me sideways and I almost crashed. After that I tried to play it safe the last half of the race. I just wanted to get on the podium. All year I’ve had one good moto and one bad one. I really needed to put two motos together like I did today”.

Back up front Gust and Natalie picked it up right where they left off in moto one. The Suzuki / Honda battle for the lead and the overall was on. The two veteran ATV racers traded the lead spot back and forth. Moto two offered everything but drafting in the straights! As all are probably curious, very little bumping and grinding was present this time out. “We proved this weekend we can all race side by side and not have any problems”, said Natalie after the moto.

As the moto went on, Ellis found room to pass Little as did Farr. The perfectly groomed fast Red Bud track was busting at the seems with factory backed ATV racing excitement! On the second to last lap of the moto, amazingly, Doug Gust, the guy that most would predict to slow at later laps of the race because of his older age – logged the fastest lap of the second moto. The track gets rougher as laps progress and riders typically slow with fatigue, but apparently, if you’re legendary “Digger” Doug Gust you go faster when other’s slow up.

Despite Gust’s late moto advances, Natalie rode a picture perfect moto and finished with enough time to ride to the finish line jump with his left arm high in the air with the number one sign proudly pointed high from his left hand. The crowd ate it up and frantically cheered as he coasted past and took the checkers for the win.

 

Gust finished with a 1-2 runner up score and Ellis finally put his Alba Action.com Yamaha on the podium with a 4-3 score. As riders toweled off and gathered for the podium celebration John Natalie slipped out of site. Moments later, in one of the most heroic GNC podiums ever, he re appeared holding an injured four year old boy. It was Kyle Bartolini, who accidentally shot himself after playing with a loaded gun at a friend of a friend’s house two years ago. John took a liking to his little friend Kyle when he met him at the Gainesville GNC. When it was John’s turn to talk he explained, “I met Kyle Bartolini in Florida, where I told him to never give up. Today I was on the starting gate when Kyle came by and told me to never give up on this. He came up here to Michigan and showed me he was going to start walking and ride a four wheeler someday soon. He really inspired me. Because of him, I never gave up out there. I owe a lot of this race to him. This trophy is dedicated to him and so is this win”. After John’s interview at the podium he shook hands with Ellis and Gust and walked away smiling with little Kyle still under over his arm. Regardless of whether you think John Natalie is a dirty rider or just an aggressive competitor, he’s undoubtedly one of our sport’s most outgoing, personable, helpful and nicest pro riders off the track.

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