FIM GP legend Kurt Nicoll and American Ryan Morais score big in a dramatic 31st Annual Dubya World Vet Motocross Championship at Glen Helen Raceway.
Story and Photos by Jean Turner
During Saturday’s 40+ Pro feature, the duo of 50+ riders dominated the field of over 20 riders, effectively stealing the spotlight from the quadragenarians. In each the 20 minute-plus-two-lap motos, Dubach and Nicoll did battle, along with Gordon Ward, who was making his return to racing after suffering a back injury earlier this year. The first moto victory went to Dubach with Nicoll only 1 second behind, but Nicoll came back and won the second moto, which garnered him the title.
“I had two holeshots today, which really helped,” Nicoll said. “I was a little disappointed not to win the first race because I led for over half the race, and then Doug got me and I finished up right behind him. But I was feeling really good for the second race and [got the] holeshot again, and then Gordon got by me, but I wasn’t too worried about Gordon because he told me after the first race that he was tired, and Doug was pretty well back. I think I rode pretty flawless, so I was pumped.”
Dubach suffered a setback in the second moto after mishap on the first lap left him buried in the pack. “Dr. D” had a lot of ground to make up before he could fight for a podium position, but he charged his way up through the pack at an impressive pace. Ward was running out front in the opening laps with Nicoll breathing down his neck, but even Ward knew his lead was short-lived.
“I just held my inside lines and held him back,” Ward said. “I knew he had more stamina, but I was just road-blocking him. I was still charging, but it took the wind out of me. I’m just trying to get back into shape. At the beginning of the year I fractured my vertebrae, and I was out for six months. I’m just getting back into it, so I’m pretty happy with my fitness today.”
Ward faded late in the moto, but managed to hang on for a pair of third-place finishes for third overall.
“I was glad with the results; it was fun,” Ward said. “Next year. I’ll be going for it next year. I’ll be in shape.”
Sunday’s 30+ Pro Feature also starred a full roster of talent with riders such as Mike Sleeter, Ryan Morais and Arik Swan. But some dramatic twists in the second moto produced another first-time winner. KTM’s Mike Sleeter was poised to take the overall after having taken the first moto victory. After getting out to a good start in the second race, Sleeter’s day took a turn for the worse with a mechanical failure. He pulled off the track and out of the race, but after his mechanic realized it was merely a disconnected fuel line, Sleeter rejoined the race. But having lost too much time, he could only muster a 19th place finish for 10th overall.
Sleeter’s misfortune allowed fellow KTM rider Ryan Morais to run away with the lead. Tonni Anderson of Denmark ran second, followed by Dirt Rider magazine’s Kris Keefer. Arik Swan blasted his way past both Anderson and Keefer to take over the runner-up position, only to crash and slip back to fourth. Anderson went on to collect second in the moto, giving him a combined score of 5-2 for second on the day, while Keefer rounded out the podium with his 4-3 score.
Morais remained steady on the increasingly rough course to claim the big win with his 2-1 tally, and he took home the lion’s share of the $4000 payout. Morais was thrilled to celebrate the victory, and he used the opportunity to educate his young son on how to spray champagne on the podium.
Second-place finisher Anderson, who made the trek all the way from Denmark to contest the World Vet MX for the third year in a row, was excited to finally land a podium finish. Although he is not a World Motocross competitor, the KTM rider showed remarkable speed, having diced with the top riders in both motos.
“I liked the track,” Anderson said of the beat-up Glen Helen course. “But I’d like it more bumpy. Because in Denmark, the tracks are much more bumpy!”
Sunday’s racing once again starred a Nicoll/Dubach battle, this time in much shorter five-lap races in the 50+ Expert class. Although Saturday’s race was the main event, the battles were just as fierce on Sunday.
After a race-long battle for the lead in the opening 50+ race, Dubach took the win with Nicoll right on his heels. In the second moto, the gloves came off as the two once again duked it out for all five laps, this time with the overall win at stake. In the end, Dubach edged out Nicoll for the win, and the 50+ Expert title.
“I mean talk about two guys that are pretty evenly matched,” Dubach said. “We were having a great time. I think that was the most exciting race of the whole weekend. Both motos!
“Each year the monkey just gets heavier on your back,” Dubach continued. “I come here, and I’ve double classed a few times, but I have never not walked away without a title, in 22 years! So that’s a pretty serious record. So I was facing losing that record right there in that five laps, so you saw some fierce venom. I’m just so happy that I was able to win. I haven’t had very many [races] that exciting, but boy do I love it when they’re like that.”
Although he already had the bigger win in his pocket, Nicoll wasn’t too happy about walking away with a second-place trophy, especially after the way the last two turns played out. The duo came in to a split-lane section of the course just before the finish, and while Dubach was heading to the inside line and Nicoll to the outside, Dubach made a last-minute decision to switch lanes when he saw lappers in his line, and it was a maneuver Nicoll did not agree with.
“It was out of order, it seriously was,” Nicoll said. “It was dangerous. To jump across without even looking where the guy beside you is is genuinely stupid.”
Nicoll ended up off the track as a result of Dubach’s last-ditch effort, but he crossed the finish second in the moto for second overall. Kevin Foley followed in third, rounding out the overall podium with a pair of threes.
Sun Dubya Vet World MX Championship
Glen Helen Raceway
San Bernardino, California
Results: November 7-8, 2015
Saturday
40+ Pro
1. Kurt Nicoll-KTM/2-1
2. Doug Dubach-Yam/1-2
3. Gordon Ward-Yam/3-3
4. Mike Reefman-Yam/4-5
5. Danny Tollet-KTM/5-6
Sunday
50+ Expert
1. Doug Dubach-Yam/1-1
2. Kurt Nicholl-KTM/2-2
3. Kevin Foley-Hon/3-3
4. Ed Foedish-Kaw/4-4
5. Pete Murray-Yam/6-5
30+Pro
1. Ryan Morais-KTM/2-1
2. Tonni Anderson-KTM/5-2
3. Kris Keefer-Yam/4-3
4. Arik Swan-Kaw/3-4
5. Billy Jurevich-Kaw/8-5
Women Pro
1. Steffi Laier-KTM/1-1
2. Sheena Foster-Yam/2-2
3. CJ Lukacs-KTM/3-3
For more results, visit http://www.glenhelen.com/results/
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