ITP Racers Post Five Wins at Spring Creek ATV MX National
OutdoorHub 07.03.14
ITP-backed ATV motocross racers won five classes and had a season-high 21 total podium finishes at round six of the 2014 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship series held in Millville, Minn. ITP-supported Pros Josh Creamer and Jeffrey Rastrelli finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Pro class on Saturday at Spring Creek Motocross in Minnesota. On Sunday, ITP racer Sean Taylor won the Pro-Am class for the first time this year and was joined on the podium by class points leader Ronnie Higgerson.
“Our ITP-backed racers had a good showing at Spring Creek MX in Minnesota. We had the fastest qualifier, with Jeffrey Rastrelli, in the Pro ranks and two in the top five. We also saw Sean Taylor post his first win of the season in the competitive Pro-Am class, which ITP-backed racer Ronnie Higgerson currently leads in points,” said Pat McGuire, Public Relations / Race Support. “Earning a season-high 21 podiums on such a rough, technical track with its unique mix of sand and dirt speaks to the versatility of our tires and our racers’ skills.”
The Mtn. Dew Spring Creek ATV National was under the threat of heavy rain and potentially severe weather all weekend, but was thankfully held in nearly perfect conditions (sans the gusty wind). Only 14 Pro riders made the trek north to Minnesota, but many of the amateur classes entries were filled with riders from Minnesota and surrounding states like Iowa and Wisconsin. The three-day racing weekend also hosted ATV freestyle, pit-bike racing, full opening ceremony, fireworks and more.
ITP-supported Pros Josh Creamer, Ronnie Higgerson (both of BCS Performance / Can-Am / ITP), Jeffrey Rastrelli (JB Racing / Cheerwine / Can-Am / ITP) and Sean Taylor (RRR / Motowoz / ITP) battled with 10 other Pros for the top stair of Pro class podium. The day started off well for Rastrelli as he earned the ATVRiders.com Fastest Qualifier award, giving him first gate pick. At the start of the first moto, Creamer was tucked in second and pushing closer to the leader. However, he ended up dropping to third a few laps later. He held that spot all the way to the checkers. After a mid-pack start in Moto two, Creamer picked off three racers, but could come no closer and took fourth. He ended up fourth overall, matching his season’s best finish. Rastrelli, who led a portion of moto two, finished one spot behind Creamer in the overall standings, and also matched his top run of the year. He ended up with a 4-5 moto scorecard for fifth overall. Higgerson ended up 10th overall. All three riders currently rank sixth, seventh and eighth in the Pro class standings with three rounds remaining.
The Pro-Am class went much better for Team ITP, as Taylor won the overall with an impressive 2-4 scorecard. The Iowa racer came from seventh place to finish second in moto one and then led the first two laps of moto two. It was his first podium and overall win of the year. Rastrelli, who had a disappointing first moto, won the second moto to climb into the top five overall at round six and second overall in the season’s points. The top spot in the Pro-Am points still belongs to Higgerson, who put together solid 5-3 finishes for third overall at Spring Creek. He currently leads the class by 31 points with three to go. William “Duck” Lloyd (JB Racing / Cheerwine / Can-Am / ITP) took fourth in the Pro-Am class, giving ITP four riders in the top five spots.
Team ITP racers registered four additional class wins – three of which came via a 1-1 moto sweep – at Spring Creek MX. “Factory” Sam Rowe (Root River Racing / Pepsi / Rage ATV / Motowoz / ITP) won the 450 A class and took second overall in the Open A class on his Honda outfitted with ITP tires. He maintained his points lead in both classes. Megan Manshack won the Women’s class with another 1-1 sweep and also finished a season-best fourth overall in the 450 B class, which was won by Alex Gillette (RRR / Motowoz / ITP). Gillette, who now has two overalls this year, has climbed to within 11 points of the class points leader. Noah Mickelson posted a 1-1 moto sweep in the Schoolboy Jr. Open (13-15) class for his second victory of the season and fourth podium finish. He also grabbed second place in the Super Mini (12-15) ranks in Minnesota.
TEAM ITP – Spring Creek ATV MX Podium Finishers
- Pro-Am: Sean Taylor (WIN, 4-1), Ronnie Higgerson (3rd),
- 450 A: Sam Rowe (WIN, 1-1), Peter Wewerka (2nd)
- Open A: Rowe (2nd), William Lloyd (3rd)
- Production A: Tremellen (3rd)
- Junior 25+: Mike Barnhardt (3rd)
- Vet 30+: Barnhardt (3rd)
- Women: Megan Manshack (WIN, 1-1)
- 450 B: Alex Gillette (WIN, 5-1)
- Open B: Haedyn Mickelson (2nd)
- Schoolboy Sr. (14-17): Blake Sarver (3rd)
- Schoolboy Jr. Open (13-15): Noah Mickelson (WIN, 1-1), Sarver (3rd)
- Schoolboy Jr. (13-15): Grayson Eller (3rd)
- Schoolgirl (13-17): Johannah Vossman (3rd)
- Super Mini (12-15): Noah Mickelson (2nd)
- 70 Open (6-11): Taron Liebe (2nd)
- 90 Open Jr. (8-11): Taron Liebe (3rd)
- 70 Shifter (6-11): Traxton Liebe (3rd)
The 2014 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship Series resumes, July 12-13, with the NYCM Insurance Northeastern ATV National at Unadilla Raceway in Unadilla, N.Y.
