SPY Optic took over the Del Mar Arena to host their first annual Del Moto Derby, an invite only race that brought Southern California’s finest racers to the San Diego County Fair. 15 riders in five classes, which included 65 Open, 85 Open, Junior 14-18, Intermediate Open, and Pro Open, hit the Arenacross style track which was constructed out of the world famous soil.
The day began with the 65 Open class, which was ruled from the start by Carson Mumford. The Team Green Kawasaki rider lapped all but one racer in the first 10-lap moto, then climbed from fifth to first place after an early race tip over in the second going. Chris Nunes and Tyler Nicholson rounded out the podium.
Justin Hoeft swept the 85 Open ranks, as he launched ahead of the competition by tripling the rhythm section in the inside lane. Luke Purther and Trevor Stewart took second and third, respectively.
The Junior 14-18 Open class was the first glimpse of how full size bikes would fare on the tight course, as Talon Lafountaine piloted his 250F to both moto wins with ease. As the bikes and skill level escalated, the aggressive tactics did as well. Racers bumped and banged in every straightaway and turn for position, and more than a few riders were forced to pick their bikes off the ground every being slammed by the competition. Nathan Cernicky and Michael Del Fante outlasted their rivals to finish off the podium.
After a break, which allowed the track workers to smooth the turns and jump faces, the main attractions of the night began with the Intermediate and Pro divisons. The layout, which had racers exiting the stadium, rounding a sweeper, and coming back into the building via a polished concrete pad before literally dropping into the start straight, now included a wooden ramp rather than the simple drop-off. Within laps, the 30 racers that made up the two classes had the course dialed and set the stage for the final races of the night.
Mark Worth shocked the Intermediate class with his starts aboard his Kawasaki Supermini, and the mini racer led the opening moments before Blake Green made the pass and sped away. But Green’s time at the front end after Chris Alldredge pursed the Kawasaki rider and took the spot. The three riders to lead the moto would take the top three spots in the first moto.
Ryan Surratt stole the second moto holeshot aboard his 125 and led the field in a hurry sprint during the opening laps by pinning the two stroke around the outside berms with Alldredge in tow. Alldredge would make his way around Surratt near the halfway point of the race and rode away with the overall win, and Surratt’s 4-2 scores earned him second place overall. Worth would finish third overall with his consistent finishes and Blake Green’s collision filled second moto.
After notching the fastest lap time in practice over Christian Criag, Nick Paluzzi, Tommy Weeck, and Grant Langston, it was clear that Austin Politelli was the favorite for the Pro class win. Politelli grabbed the holeshot in the first moto and rode away to an uncontested win over Grant Langston and Nick Paluzzi. Politelli prowess in the confines of the track came from his time spent on the German Supercross tour, and he sliced through traffic as Langston and Paluzzi struggled with the slower racers.
Christian Craig was forced to withdraw from the first moto when a crash seemed to injury his knee, but the Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda racer rebounded in the second going. He claimed the early lead and motored away to the win,which boosted his scores from the first moto and into fifth overall. With the overall victory and $2500 payday in reach, Politelli settled into place behind Craig and finished the 12-lap dash in second place. Paluzzi’s 3-3 finishes gave him the edge over Langston in the final standings, as he would take second place overall and Langston would finish third.
RESULTS
65 Open
1. Carson Mumford
2. Chris Nunes
3. Tyler Nicholson
4. Manual Moreno
5. Andrew Hertzler
85 Open
1. Justin Hoeft
2. Luke Purther
3. Trevor Stewart
4. Jake Martineau
5. Ian Smith
Junior 14-18 Open
1. Talon Lafountaine
2. Nathan Cernicky
3. Michael Del Fante
4. Matt Cerami
5. Luke Galindo
Intermediate Open
1. Chris Alldredge
2. Ryan Surratt
3. Mark Worth
4. Blake Green
5. Star Savage
Pro Open
1. Austin Politelli
2. Nick Paluzzi
3. Grant Langston
4. Mike Sleeter
5. Christian Craig
TAGS: austin politelli, blake green, chris alldredge, christian craig, del moto derby, grant langston, jeremy mcgrath, mark surratt, mark worth, Mike Sleeter, Nick Paluzzi, racing, san diego fair, Spy Optic
