Cherry Creek Sugarloafers AMA National - May 16, 2009

The Cherry Creek/Jericho area of Utah is home to many desert races each year. With a great variety of terrain, it can offer up some of the most amazing desert races on the entire AMA National Series. However, with dry conditions, it can result in dust-bowl like conditions that make it very challenging.

The FAST Racing team was up to the challenge on May 16, and had many members of the team racing. Conditions were dry and VERY dusty, but the team had a lot of success.

There were 10 Minis racing: Josh Knight, Kobee Knight, Benji Knight, Karson Bailey, Johnathan Morrell, Trevor Smith, Dylan Pincock, Quinn Pincock, Tyler Ekins, Colby Ekins, and Elle Ekins.

Some highlights included having Josh take 1st place overall Mini. Kobee took 1st place Schoolboy, and Benji and Karson finished 3rd overall in the 65 and 85 Novice class respectively. All others racers finished and were great competitiors in a very tough and dusty race.

Having this many mini racers coming through the pits made for a fun and exciting day. This allowed the "pit crew" to stay plenty of busy wiping goggles, gassing up, providing drinks, and shouting words of encouragement.

Here Benji Holeshots the 65 class and ended up for a third overall for the day in the 65's:


Several members of the Team wait for the mini start (Josh, John, Benji, Kobee, Trevor, and Karson).


Nothing like coming into the pits and having 10 arms coming at you, swapping goggles, gas, drinks, and whatever else is needed:



Some of the Fathers of FAST Racing enjoy Friday evening in the pits before the next day's chaos and fun.


For the Big Bike race, both Mike and Cory were racing in the Expert class. They lined up right next to one another for what was to be the dustiest start of the year so far. After the banner dropped, Mike and Cory wouldn't see each other again for the rest of the day.

Cory's day went well, and he pulled off a 16th overall finish for the day in a National. Way to go Cory!!! He was also Top 5 USRA for the day, his second top 5 USRA finish for the year.

Here's Cory finishing out almost 100 miles of National level tough course, on his way through Cherry Creek to the finish.


Mike's day didn't go nearly as well. After a top 20-30 start, he settled into the Conga Line of dust and was riding hard when he suffered a flat rear tire at about the Mile 10 marker. He limped back to the pits and swapped wheels and sprockets and tried to salvage the day starting dead last behind the last ATV rider.

After passing about 50 riders and heading out on the second loop, Mike continued picking off riders until the dust and heat got the best of him and he did his best "Pukey the Clown" impression and got sick. After multiple stops on the trail, he finally settled for giving a broken down rider a ride back to the pits and suffered his first DNF of the year. Better luck next time.

Thanks Sugarloafers for an incredibly challenging and fun course despite the dust.