Stateline Supermoto Challenge 2005
- Updated: April 3, 2005
Stateline Supermoto Challenge
At Buffalo Bills Casino and Resort
Primm, Nevada
April 3, 2005
Story and photos by Lance Farwick
Nehemiah Curtean airs it out over the biggest table top which was 40ft long
Witnessing a birth is one of the most exhilerating moments in life. Witnessing the birth of Quad Supermoto is just as intense. It’s started and established – now its time to watch it grow. Mark our words, it will grow bigger than you might think. Marche Karger, promoter of the event, decided that he wanted to run quads in his race at Buffalo Bills Casino and Resort in Las Vegas. We’re thrilled with his decision and highly recomend that other promoters do the same in the future. August Goebel summed it up best when he said “Quad Supermoto is like go-kart racing on steroids times ten.”
The amatuer class was packed with 22 riders
Nic Granlund showed up from a long break from racing after his injuries over a year ago
Many questions come to mind about setup for Supermoto. What tires? What about suspension? Do I need a sway-bar? As for the tire selection, we saw many different choices being made. Some had regular knobbies, but what seemed to work the best was a good old TT or street tire such as, Hoosiers, American Racing or King Tires. As for the sway bar question; some where using them but most weren’t. Heck, Dana Creech won the race without a sway bar. Through time and testing an optimal setup will be found, but for now lets get to racing.
Here’s how it went down…
Dana Creech eventually went on to win Americas first ever Quad Supermoto Race
Pro Heat Race
Due to the GNC National and the ITP Quadcross going on the same very weekend not every talented rider could make it, but nonetheless two hand fulls of worthy riders did indeed show up for the pro race.
The flag went up and the race was on. Sparks Racing’s Freddy Easman jumped out with a wheel and around the first turn were Easman and August Goebel leading the pack down the first straight away. Goebel came out with the lead after the first turn with some serious talented mx racers lingering behind him. Nic Granlund kept it quiet on the first lap and then started passing riders. Half way through the second lap Granlund was in the lead and pouring on the gas as he extended his lead by a wealthy margin. The main battle was between Goebel and Dana Creech. Creech would show Goebel a wheel in almost every turn trying to pass him. Finally on the last lap and just a couple turns to go Creech got his window and got by Goebel. Creech and Goebel had the crowd on there toes yelling as the last few turns were remaining, but Creech would eventually hold him off.
1. Nic Granlund
2. Dana Creech
3. August Goebel
4. Jason Anderson
5. Garrick Lastra
Triumph Motorsports was on hand to help with Atv setup
Amatuer heat race
The amateur class was packed with 22 riders to battle with. As the green flag flew the pilot of number 7, Mike Ulrich took to an early lead and started to put space between him and the pack. Due to a spin out Wes Miller of H Bomb Films took over his position for the lead. Ulrich would eventually move up through the pack in the four lap race to pass Miller for the lead and to take the win.
Pro Main
sponsored by Hbomb films/Division 4
Nic Granlund had the top spot for the start and he took full advantage of it by taking the holeshot with Creech, Garrick Lastra and Goebel trailing. Unfortunately only a few short turns later during the transition to dirt Granlund spun out and had to allow the rest of the field to pass.
Back to the front of the pack, Creech was enjoying the clean air out front and was progressively increasing his lead. It didn’t look like anyone was going to challenge his lead. Soon Granlund would break through the pack and turned on the steam. The main battle was for fourth between Goebel and Lastra while Creech, Granlund and Jason Anderson held the top three spots. Goebel was trying everything he could do to get by Lastra. Lastra was playing a hard and smart race by protecting his line. Up front Granlund looked like he was in a Lamborghini as he was making up lots of time in the dirt and pavement sections, but there weren’t enough laps to make a challenge for Creech’s first position.
1. Dana Creech
2. Nick Granlund
3. Jason Anderson
4. Garrick Lastra
5. August Goebel
6. Nehemiah Curtean
7. Freddie Easman
Garrick Langstra battled most of the main event with August Goebel. Langstra grabbed 4th place.
Amatuer Main
sponsored by Laker Custom and X-Factor Video
Mike Ulrich took advantage of his inside front row position and jumped into the lead. With a 22 rider field quads were bunched up around the first turn. David Argo and Terry Henke got the worst of it as they came together and both quads stuck like glue. It took a whole lap to separate them.
Meanwhile Ulrich spun out and left the lead to Wes Miller with fellow Bomb Squad member Pablo Arciniega following. Wes and Pablo kept a close battle but Pablo was never able to make a challenge for the lead. Ulrich was making a move after he spun out and almost got to the front again until he spun out again. Tire selection might have portraid a factor for Ulrich’s misfortune. At the end of the race it was Wes Miller winning the amateur race.
1. Wes Miller
2. Pablo Arciniega
3. Mike Ulrich
4. Robert Kramer
5. Brandon Garcia
6. Tim Newcoms
7. Justin Leclercq
8. Scott Cahill
9. Scott Hoffman
10. Erick Whiteford
11. Brian Sullivan
12. BC Baught
13. Trever Hake
14. Terry Henke
15. Jeremiah Staggs
16. Jeff Dages
17. Don Tussing
18. Brad Shelley
19. David Argo
20. Keith Hensley
21. Ray Aycox
22. Rick Shalay
