The 80cc-105cc class was really exciting to watch. Moto one was led by Dian Klinger of Akron, IN. Dian finished 21st overall at Loretta Lynn's in 2002 so she was expected to be a top favorite at this regional event. But such as in any sport you'll hear the expression going around, "anything can happen"! Well it's true! Dian pulled the holeshot and battled Kandise Lindley of Cedar Lake, IN. for almost a whole lap. Dian showed her strength when it came to a couple of sections proving why she is ranked so well in the National standings. But Kandise was not giving up. She was looking smooth while pushing herself awfully hard to keep Dian in sight. Dian is known for helping other girl racers who are aiming to improve their skills. And is the girl racer to shoot for in this region. Meanwhile
Jennifer Bender of Indianapolis, IN. and riding outta Dreyer Motorsports had Allison Vrba of Albion, IN. pounding on her backdoor. Allison slipped around Jennifer after one complete lap on a large double to take over 3rd place. Jennifer got a lil' loose and decided not to risk the double and let Allison slip ahead. Only one lap later Jennifer railed it and sailed it. She was prolly kicking herself for lettin' herself slip the lap earlier. Brianna Mahon holding down the 5th place ride was trying to shake Meghan Jordan of Kentland, IN.. Meghan was taking some risks and pushing hard, but Brianna was clocked in as if she was at work and held on to 5th. Dian Klinger crossed in 1st, Kandise Lindley 2nd, Allison Vrba 3rd, Jennifer Bender 4th, and Brianna Mahon in 5th.

The 50cc and 65cc race were run together. The race had Brianna Mahon of Sullivan, IL. taking the holeshot with Sandy Klinger of Akron, IN. in tow. Both were the only 65cc racers to show for the event. Sandy put in a good ride and finished about 15 seconds in back of Brianna. Brianna did a good job of staying smooth and didn't take any unnecessary chances cruising to the checkers and while saving her strength for 80cc - 105cc moto. Sandy rode her heart out and looked as though she was having a blast. She was actually smiling ear to ear all around the track. You could see it in her eyes and her grin right thru the helmet.

Alix Taber if Osceola, IN. took the 50cc holeshot with Alexys Reynolds of Union City, IN hot on her tail. At the gate drop Breanne Smith of Fort Wayne, IN. who is also a 50cc Harescramble racer was left at the gate with a dead machine. Victoria Brown of Dayton, OH. shot out to third being closely followed by Lindsay Mason of New Carlisle, IN.. Breanne Smith caught the pack at the first turn and poured on the gas. She got around both Lindsay and Victoria in the straight before turn two and took the inside away from Alexys to pull into 2nd place in turn two. She was a girl racer on a mission. At the end of lap one Breanne had found her way around Alix and put her head down, while not slowing at all. She was going faster and faster every lap. Lindsay Mason decided it was time to put twist the pipe also and made the pass on Alix and then rode to a solid 2nd place after a slow start. Alix held down the third place ride and stayed there until the checkers. Alexys Reynolds continued to run a fast pace but couldn't hold back Victoria Brown. Victoria worked and worked to catch Alexys and it finally paid off. Alexys showed great courage attempting to pull up and pop the jumps. She is as lil' as a doll, and it's a wonder she can even reach the handlebars, but she rides like shes been on the seat since birth. I imagine you'll be hearing more from Alexys in the future. Breanne Smith rode to a 1st place finish with Lindsay Mason in 2nd, and Alix taking
3rd in this one moto race. In the Womens 105cc - 125cc & Up class we were all treated so some great racing. Finally, Dian Klinger of Akron, IN. and Chelsi Dunklebarger of Danville, IN. in the same moto. Chelsi was on a borrowed machine which wasn't exactly suited for her. But she was willing to run the event anyhow. It's just in her blood. I might also mention Chelsi was riding with an injury,
and is due for surgury soon. Dian Klinger pulled the holeshot with Chelsi inspecting her tread design. Jennifer Squire of Monrovia, IN. grabbed the 3rd place slot and was right with girls followed closely by Val Hinds of Grand Park, IL.. Vicki Craig of Indianapolis, IN. slipped ahead of Samantha Reed of Effingham IL. to take away the 5th place postion and put Samantha back to 6th. Dian Klinger stretched her lead to 3 seconds at the end of lap one. Chelsi was hangin' in there but she was also being closely followed by Jennifer Squire. Jennifer riding outta Squire racing is no stranger to motocross. Finishing 29th in the Nation just a couple years ago. Dian kept on the gas and rounded the track with another 3 second lead on the field at the end of lap two. On lap three, Jennifer had moved to within 4 seconds of Chelsi and it looked like we were gonna be in for another close battle. Val Hinds was supplying the pressure to push Jennifer. At the end of lap two Val had moved to within a few seconds of Jennifer and it was actually making Jennifer ride faster. Vicki was still feeling the heat from Samantha. Both girls really wanted that position, and were riding closely and waiting for the other to make a mistake. They rode within a few bike lengths of each other for nearly two whole laps. Dian continued to pull out and leave the pack. Chelsi kept her 2nd place position but was still working to keep Jennifer Squire from making it a race. Jennifer was only 3 or 4 seconds behind Chelsi at the flag. Val Hinds pulled off a 4th place. Vicki Craig had to work hard to keep Samantha from taking it away from her after holding her back for 5 laps. She managed to hold her 5th place with Samantha finishing up 6th only a couple seconds behind.

In moto two of the Women's 80cc - 105cc class, Allison Vrba grabbed the holeshot with Kandise Lindley challenging. It would have taken a camera to determine the actual holeshot winner, luckily I grabbed it on video. Dian Klinger was in third at the second turn watching and deciding whether to take the inside line or outside to make a run on the big double which is the first jump on the track. As they rounded turn two Allison took the outside line and made a run at it, and Kandise chose the middle leaving a wide space for Dian to sail the double on the inside and keep the inside after the double and slip ahead of Allison. Kandise took the lead at that point with Dian on her heels in 2nd closely challenged by Allison in 3rd. Jennifer Bender grabbed the 4th place spot and Meghan Jordan of Kentland, IN captured 5th. Dian didn't wait long to take the lead. As they approached the rocker section Dian didn't even set herself up, she just flew into them while leaning outta the the turn that leads into them. She straightened up and passed Kandise in the second set outta four sets and then pulled out a five or six bike length advantage. Dian rode to a 3 second lead on lap one, Kandise was really pushing Dian to stay on the pipe though. On Dian's second lap she sailed the double and gave a lil' whip and managed to land smoothly. Then right after the double is a bowl turn which leads to a small tabletop. Dian didn't even have a chance to jump that. She just pulled off. She thru a chain in the bowl turn, and not in mid air thankfully. She turned around and looked at me and shrugged her shoulders and took it like a champion. She pushed her bike off the track and ended up with a DNF causing her a 10th overall. Meanshile Kandise was thinking about her 2nd place finish in moto 1 and with a win she'd surely become the first Champion of the event, winning a new race outfit from Dreyer's to boot. Allison also had a chance to grab the new outfit with a 1st place too, if she could only get around Kandise the new outfit would be hers. Kandise and Allison seperated themselves from the rest of the field by nearly 8 seconds. Jennifer Bender was holding down a solid third and Meghan Jordan in the 4th place ride. Meanwhile Brianna Mahon of Sullivan, IL had made the pass on Emily Payonk of Fort Wayne to grab 5th. Kandise was really having her troubles with Allison. Allison was giving it all she had and closing in on every turn. As they rounded the back of track leading to the finish, Allsion poured on the gas and put on a charge that made the finish very exciting. This being the 1st Annual event, no one could have predicted such a close race. At the checkers, both girls were probably in 3rd gear nailed crossing the stripe, but it was Kandise beating Allison by two feet. Now that is what I call close. Thank you girls for giving us a great race to enjoy and one for the record books. Jennifer worked to keep her 3rd place finish, Meghan was close but she finished a very respectable 4th and Brianna Mahon 5th.

In moto two of the Womens 105 - 125 & Up class, Chelsi Dunklebarger of Danville, IN. came out of the gate with boosters on and drag raced Dian Klinger of Akron, IN. to the first turn. This was sure to be an Indiana barn burner. Chelsi held her line perfectly, and did exactly what she was supposed to do and shut the door on Dian. Dian pulled up a lil' bit and they went into the second turn like it was only them on the track. Chelsi tried railing the berm but it was a bit wet and it busted. Dian saw this and dove the front tire into the soil hoping to cut off the turn and get inside Chelsi. She found a good rut, railed it, and stole the inside back from Chelsi without even a brush. They sprinted up the face of the double and Dian again went right as she did in her previous moto and even put a whip on it as to say, "Bring it on"! Chelsi had put a whip on it also, but landed in wetter soil and got a bit outta shape on the landing. She did a foot plant to catch herself. And on her injured foot to boot. She didn't let it get to her, she shook it off and went head on into the rockers only one second behind Dian. Val Hinds of Grand Park, IL. grabbed third away from Jennifer Squire of Monrovia, IN. in moto two. They gave us a great race to watch the entire moto. Val had chased Jennifer for 5 laps in moto one and now it was Jennifers turn to chase her. What a race! And another battle was heating up in the same fashion just ten seconds behind them. Vicki Craig of Iindianapolis, IN. who had battled to hold off Samantha Reed in moto one was battling to catch her in moto two. Samantha rode smooth while not wanting to make any mistakes. And Vicki was pushing but getting loose in the wet turns. Vicki eventually got exhausted from the battle and it was showing. The Dian and Chelsi show was heating up again too and Chelsi was not giving up. Dian and Chelsi battled the entire moto. At some sections Dian could pull out about 30 feet on her, but that 30 feet become one foot at other sections with Chelsi catching her under braking. Dian was using her head and thinking about lap times though, and how fast she had to go to win. She won the race by making a very slick pass after the holeshot on the double. That and concentrated lap times is what Dian said she used to win. Chelsi finished 2 seconds behind Dian at the checkers. Jennifer Squire was trying to steal 3rd from Val Hinds, and she almost did. Jennifer pulled right up on Val's rear tire with only 2 turns and 3 jumps to go. Jennifer took a chance to make the pass early and lost traction as she was attempting to get around her. I think if Jennifer had waited just a few more seconds he could have done it. She went for it just a bit to early. If she woulda waited and just coasted the corner I think she might have been able to muscle around Val and put her on the outside on the jumps leading to the finish and possibly taken it away. Instead the slip cost her and she finished only one second behind Val at the finish. Vicki ended up running outta steam and Samantha moved to a 8 second lead at the finish giving her 5th and Vicki 6th. Congratulations to all the riders and thanks for making it so exciting and fun to watch.

50cc
1.Breanne Smith 2.Lindsay Mason 3.Alix Taber 4.Victoria Brown 5.Alexys Reynolds

65cc
1. Brianna Mahon 2. Sandy Klinger

80 - 105cc
1.Kandise Lindley 2.Allison Vrba 3.Jenny Bender 4.Meghan Jordan 5.Brianna Mahon 6.Emily Payonk 7.Susan McLemore 8.Dian Klinger
9.Darla O' Mara 10. Lauren Lock 11.Kelli Devine 12.Rose Suges 13.Nicole Huss 14.Alysha Znika 15.Holly Witkowski 16.Lori Zeiler
17.Alaynah Weisand

105-125 & Up
1. Dian Klinger 2. Chelsi Dunklebarger 3. Val Hinds 4. Jennifer Squire 5. Samantha Reed 6. Vicki Craig