Gateway Supermoto brings supermoto racing back to Springfield

Motorcycle racers of all backgrounds, with bikes of all makes and sizes, converged at the Mid State Kart Club track in Springfield, IL on Sunday, August 1st, to attend the largest supermoto event ever held in Illinois. A collection of Saint Louis area amateur racers calling themselves Gateway Supermoto" put on the event with operational support from Donelson Cycles http://www.donelsoncycles.com, and showered victorious riders with prize packs donated by Speedzilla Motorsports Gear http://www.speedzilla.com.

Springfield IL (PRWEB) August 4, 2004 -- Mid-day temperatures in the nineties taxed the riders in all classes, but the Mid State Kart Clubs excellent facility and its newly installed dirt section brought out some blazing inter-discipline performances.

Veteran AMA Supermoto competitor Matt Burton slugged it out with rising GNC flat track star Dan Stanley to trade wins in the premier S1 class and the spectacular Open Money event. Stanley was the king of smooth on the fast flat track-like section, but Burton was dialed in on the motocross style jump. Burton, riding his RJ Performance Maxxis Yamaha YZ450F, hole shotted the S1 final, and led to the finish. Stanley, riding a Aupperle Racing/Eakin Racing prepped Honda CRF450, attacked Burtons lead on lap two, but washed out in the dirt. After remounting, Stanley chased Burton down, and looked to have Matts number. Stanley made another grab for the lead going into the dirt, only to crash a second time, losing a place to Husqvarna 570 mounted David Kilkenny, a very fast amateur out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Stanley had his comeuppance in the Open Money event, leading Burton from flag to flag, and lapping up to fourth place. David Kilkenny rounded out the top three in the Open Money race. Kilkenny was the only Open Money podium finisher to have raced in two previous classes, a feat of great endurance in the punishing hot weather.

The Schaumberg Honda/Wiseco Piston backed father and son team of Mike Harlow Jr. and Mike Harlow Sr. dominated the remainder of the big bike classes. Mike Junior, a regular at the Wisconsin based Superbikers 2 regional series, won the S2 main event with consistency and determination, fending off the challenges of Clayton Shambaugh and storied pro rider Perry Prichard. Shambaugh, a motorcycle technician at World of Powersports in Decatur, Illinois, put together his silver performance coming off of a one year break from racing. Shambaugh showed his grit and considerable skill on a lightly modified, borrowed Honda CRF450. Prichard, a WERA Nationals winner, and past recipient of the CCS On the Gas" award, struggled with blown fork seals; the consequence of a morning practice incident. Prichard, who will campaign the AMA supermoto series this year with Ultimate Edge Racing, soldiered on with his wounded bike to a close third place.

Mike Harlow Seniors moment in the limelight came in the very next event, the Sport Moto final. Riding a Schaumberg Honda/Wiseco Piston CRF450, Mike Senior took the checkers after capitalizing on Dan Johnsons last turn crash. Johnson, riding a Suzuki DRZ400, low sided at speed exiting the sweeping left hander, but remounted to claim second place. Honda CRF mounted Chicagoan Charles Spreitzer completed the podium.

Event organizers, Chris Caplinger and Bill Jones, were thrilled with the large turnout and high levels of competition and camaraderie amongst the racers.

We put this race on mostly out of our own pockets…" explained Jones. …and we only decided to do it four weeks ago. Were stunned by this turnout. Clearly, these guys like the track and the race format. We have to do this again."

Gateway Supermoto staff are currently reviewing the schedules of the Mid State Kart Club, and those of other established motorcycle racing series to determine a date for the next event. Detailed news, results, and event photographs can be found at their web site, http://www.gatewaysupermoto.com

Complete Results

Open Money
1. 10   Dan Stanley   Honda
2. 39   Matt Burton   Yamaha
3. 53   David Kilkenney   Husqvarna
4. 39k   Dan Stookesberry   Yamaha
5. 393   Terry Meyer   KTM
6. 27   Dan Andersohn   Honda
7. 91   Charles Spreitzer   Honda
8. 909   Clayton Shambaugh   Honda
9. 90   Perry Prichard   Honda
10. 000   Chris Caplinger   KTM

S1
1. 39   Matt Burton   Yamaha
2. 53   David Kilkenny   Husqvarna
3. 10   Dan Stanley   Honda
4. 393   Terry Meyer   KTM
5. 909   Clayton Shambaugh   Honda

S2
1. 3    Mike Harlow, Jr.   Honda
2. 909    Clayton Shambaugh   Honda
3. 90    Perry Prichard   Honda
4. 24    Danny Stookesberry   Yamaha
5. 27    Dan Andersohn   Honda
6. 54    Brian Hepper   Honda
7. 31    Ron Stanley   Yamaha
8. 38    Walter Bass   KTM
9. 717    Jim Pursley   KTM
10. 404    Bill Jones   Yamaha

S3
1. 53   David Kilkenny   KTM
2. 47    Mike Johnson   Kawasaki
3. 34    Kevin Walter   KTM
4. 54    Andrew Johnson   Honda
5. 19    Chad Stockov   Honda
6. 13   Mike Heiden   Yamaha
7. 45   Tony Graham   Suzuki
8. 19b   James Condimitti   Yamaha

S4/Mini
1. 47   Mike Johnson   Kawasaki
2. 34   Kevin Walter   KTM
3. 54   Andrew Johnson   Honda
4. 1   Jonathan Heiden   Yamaha
5. 19   James Condomitti   Honda
6. 5    Kole King   KTM

Sport Moto
1. 9   Mike Harlow Sr.   Honda
2. 82   Dan Johnson   Suzuki
3. 91   Charles Spreitzer   Honda
4. 47   Mike Johnson   Kawasaki
5. 84   Fred Thomas   Honda

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