Modjewski and Simonton Take Two at Megacross

Megacross Shootout Series

Round 3
Mendota, IL – May 14, 2005

By Nikki Duranczyk

nother exciting night of racing at the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Mendota as 240 entries came out for Round 3 of the Megacross Shootout Series.  Promoter Gerhard Ward runs a great event, as everyone enjoys the safe track and fun stadium-style racing under the lights.  The expert classes were packed with talented riders, making for some of the best racing action in the Midwest.

Brad Modjewski, who runs national number 94, topped the stacked 125A and 250A classes, but not without a challenge. The 125A main was the most exciting race of the night. In the heat race, Kody Molitor led wire-to-wire followed by Derek Whitney and Kevin Markwardt. Modjewski had a mid-pack start and finished fifth. The crowd lined the fences and filled the grandstands to see how the seven lap main event would unfold.

Markwardt rocketed to the 125A main holeshot with Molitor and Modjewski in pursuit. While leading, Markwardt went down in a bowl turn on lap one, and Modjewski moved into first. But Molitor had different plans, and passed Modjewski on lap two. The crowd went nuts with each lead change. Molitor was still out front at the white flag, despite heavy pressure from Modjewski who was trying everything to close the door. Tad Tyrrell and Whitney ran the pace with the leaders, but Tyrrell went down right before the white flag moving Whitney into third. On the last lap, Modjewski opted to double up the big triple and cut inside to attack in the table-table-step-up rhythm section. It paid off as Modjewski was first to the big bowl turn and made the pass stick on Molitor, who hit neutral. Whitney followed Modjewski to move into second and at the finish, it was an all Suzuki podium with Modjewski, Whitney, and Molitor. “I had the early lead until I bobbled, which made the race interesting,” said Modjewski. “I would like to thank GPSracing.com, SoCal DeCal, Scott, and my Mom and Dad.”

“It was slick out there” said Modjewski after picking up the win in 250A. Suzuki-mounted Modjewski rounded the first turn out front, followed by a sea of yellow bikes with Markwardt, Molitor, Whitney, and Adam Marten. Modjewski lead wire-to-wire in the seven lap main, while Molitor and Whitney moved into second and third after Markwardt went off the track. Whitney pushed to catch Molitor in the last few laps but came up short. Second place Molitor said “The track isn’t super technical, but it takes some skill to ride the hard packed. I would like to thank 4-Play Racing, Pro Source Motosports, SoCal DeCal, and my friends and family.”

Cody Simonton, aboard his Great Escape SoCal DeCal Kawasakis, collected a pair of wins in 125B and 250B. In 125B, Simonton topped the 17-rider field, followed by Justin Baker and Ty Tyrrell. In 250B, Simonton started with a holeshot followed by Charles Harpe. The battle for third was between Chris Cox, Jeremiah Johnson, and Dan Coriatti. Mid-moto, Cox went off the track rode through a water puddle but kept his position. Then Johnson tried to cut inside to make a pass and ended up going down, opening the door for Cox. “The track is a little slick, but everybody has to ride the same track,” said third place Cox on the podium.

 “I would like to thank Pro Source and Justin Kelly and his family,” said 250C winner Steve Perkins, who led the main from start to finish. Joey Zimmerman worked his way past No Limit Racing’s Jake Miller early in the race to move into second. Zimmerman tried to catch up to Perkins, but it was too late. Perkins, Zimmerman, and Miller rounded out the 250C podium. Perkins was an iron man on the night, as he also topped +30B and finished second in +25B.

Mad Maxx Malatia took home victories in the 65 Senior and 85 Junior classes. In 65 Junior, KTM-mounted Malatia dominated by leading both the heat and main from start to finish. Robert Wehn and Michael Cingrani completed the 65 Senior podium. In 85 Junior, Malatia piloted his Honda to the win followed by Alex Rozboril and Brandon Pagni. Malatia thanked DGY and his Mom and Dad on the podium.

Team Megacross rider Keir Sexton captured the win in the competitive +25B class. In the heat race, Mark Crain took the win followed by Zachary Plym and Scott Dixon. In the main, Sexton got a good start in the +25A/B gate drop followed by Dixon, who stalled mid-moto opening the door for Steve Perkins and Brian Goodin to round out the top three. Heat race winner Crain moved up to finish fourth after a bad start in the main event. In +30B, Perkins, Sexton, and Crain finished top three.

Chase Sexton and Gaige Wallace finished one-two in the 50 Junior heat race and both wanted the victory in the main. They were close for the first few laps, until Sexton kicked it up a notch to get some breathing room. Sexton thanked his Mom and Dad on the podium, and Wallace and Jacob Wehn rounded out the top three.

In +25A, Burton Lavens picked up the heat race win followed by Adam Marten, Eron Ezerins, and Jason Kloptowsky. In the main, Marten moved into the lead with Lavens, Kloptowsky, Wesley Parker, and Ezerins in chase. Kloptowsky moved past Lavens and into second, while Ezerins passed Parker. Kloptowsky stayed with Marten but couldn’t find room to pass. Lavens went down on the last lap advancing Ezerins, making the finish order Martens, Kloptowsky, and Ezerins. In his podium interview, +25A and +30A winner Marten said “I’m from Michigan but come to Megacross for the payouts. Michigan races don’t pay like here. I would like to thank Marshall’s, Wonder Warthog Racing, VP Fuels, O’Neal, and Yoshimura.”

Quad B was a battle between Honda riders Brandon Bracken and Jacob Conroy. In the heat race, Conroy picked up the win with Bracken right behind. But in the main, Team Megacross rider Bracken put his Honda out front and never looked back while taking the win, followed by Conroy and Jason Shearer.

Zachary Loehr captured the 65 Junior victory. In the heat race, Mason Flatness had the holeshot followed by Colton Beard and Bryce Ivey. Loehr was on the move after a bad start and moved past Flatness for the lead on lap three. Loehr, Flatness, and Ivey would have the first three gate picks in the main. Loehr had the start dialed in the main and lead from start to finish. Dillon Schacht and Logan Skaggs battled for second with Schacht getting the edge.

After a fourth place finish in the heat race, Cody Ciszewski put his Suzuki out front in the main and never looked back, collecting the win. Joe Geekie put in a solid ride for second place and said “I would like to thank my Dad, Brother, Mom, and DGY.” Third place was up for grabs between Lee Sobie, Logan Schmidt, Ty Sitter, and Zach Ciszewski. Sitter and Zach Ciszewski took advantage of Sobie and Schmidt, who ran into problems early in the race, to move into third and fourth. The two 125 2-stroke mounted riders then battled it out for third, with Zach Ciszewski out front at the checkered flag.

In +40, Ted Hofmeister started out front in the heat race trailed by David Hayes and Roy Bittner. Hofmeister and Hayes fought for the lead, with Hayes getting the edge and picking up the heat race win over Hofmeister and Bittner. In the main event, Hofmeister had another holeshot with Bittner and Hayes in tow. Hayes worked his way past Bittner on lap one and set his sights on the win. Hofmeister had troubles and lost several positions, while Hayes, Bittner, and James Schmidt finished top three.

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