Klamfoth, Robertson Trade Wins at Action Sports GP
D Jameson | May 23, 2012 | Comments 0
Action Sports Grand Prix Series
Round 2: Action Sports Moto Park
Story and Photos by David L. Patton Jr.
ATHENS, OH, MAY 12, 2012
Zach Klamfoth has been nearly unbeatable at the Action Sports Moto Park since the start of the 2011 season. At round two of the 2012 Action Sports Grand Prix Series, presented by Hatfield-McCoy Trails and Ohio Motorcycle, Klamfoth dominated the Lightweight A class in the morning, but Christopher Robertson, who grew up just five minutes away from the Moto Park, was on the gas in the Open A contest and held off Klamfoth by a bikelength after an hour-long battle. Meanwhile, in the Over 50 class, Jeff Miller and Denny Swartz renewed their rivalry, and once again Miller – one of Ohio’s top riders in the ’80s –edged ’70s Pro legend Swartz by five seconds.
Zach Klamfoth 32A styles over a tabletop en route to the Lightweight A-class victory at the second round of the Action Sports Grand Prix Series.
All eyes were on Zach Klamfoth, on the Jay Downhour-FCR Suspension/ Wheelsports KTM, as the Lightweight A class hit the course.
“I got the holeshot and led the first lap,” Klamfoth later reported. “On the second lap, over in the woods, the rear end came out of the rut and I slid out.”
Christopher Robertson returned to Action Sports this year, taking a break from his pre-med studies, and he was quick to take advantage of Klamfoth’s fall.
“I was second off of the start and rode behind Zach for a lap,” Robertson said. “Then he slid out and went down.”
Klamfoth quickly recovered and carved through the field, and two laps later he was stalking Robertson.
“I was just following Robertson for a while, and I thought I could go faster, and I was able to pass him going down the hill before the big uphill,” said Klamfoth, who was then able to pull away despite slippery conditions. “My bike was sliding everywhere. Hopefully the four-stroke works better in [the] Open A [class]. I like low tire pressures, and it wasn’t biting; it was like riding on 100 pounds of air. The course was slick. It was loose on top; then it got a groove in it, but underneath it is real hard and moist – it’s really slippery.”
Klamfoth took the checkered flag with a good lead over Robertson, and Cary Eberts rounded out the podium.
Hometown boy Christopher Robertson (pictured) topped the Open A contest in a close one with Klamfoth.
Before the Open A class, Robertson’s father, Dennis, took the Robertson Motor Freight/ Cometic/ Twin Air-backed Yamaha home to wash the bike and clean the carburetor.
“It was missing a bit – probably dirt in the carb; it didn’t hinder me much,” Christopher said on the line before the start.
Isaac Walton had a tough time in the Lightweight A class, but he and Cary Eberts led the field on the first lap. Robertson followed the duo and used his motocross skills to take over the lead after a lap.
“I was able to gap Zach early in the race,” Robertson said. “Then I fell on the fourth lap. I hit a root and fell; it was slippery.”
Robertson was fortunate that his bike kept running, and he held on to the lead. Meanwhile, Klamfoth was having a tough race.
“I got a last-place start, and worked my way up to second,” Klamfoth said. “It was rough and slippery, and I just couldn’t trust it in the corners; I couldn’t commit and drop it hard into a turn.”
Klamfoth pushed the Western Powersports/ Fly Racing/ Mark Burkhart-backed 450 as hard as he could, and on the last lap he caught Robertson.
“I followed Robertson, right on his rear wheel,” Klamfoth said, “but I couldn’t get by.”
“I put in a few good laps at the end and was able to hold Zach off – it feels great to get a win!” said Robertson after his hard-fought victory.
Eberts rode to a solid third-place finish.
Jeff Miller (667) rode his YZ250 two-stroke to the Over 50 victory.
The next event at Actions Sports will be a Grand Prix on June 16, followed by the 2012 AHRMA Vintage and Post-Vintage National Motocross and Cross Country on June 23 and 24. Call 740/594-MOTO (6686) or go to actionsportsracing.com for more information.
Action Sports Moto Park
Athens, Ohio
Results Saturday, May 12 , 2012 (Round 2)
50 (4-6): 1. Braxton Brown (Yam); 2. Carter Fouts (KTM); 3. Owen Thompson (KTM); 4. Kenton Brown (KTM).
50 (7-8): 1. Wyatt Morris (KTM); 2. Blaceton Moore (KTM).
65 (7-11): 1. Timmy Harris (KTM); 2. Hayden Hunt (KTM); 3. Logan Riley (KTM); 4. Chase Ingalls (Kaw); 5. Morgan Abell (Kaw).
WOMEN 65-150: 1. Whitney Martin (KTM); 2. Kari Halizak (Hon).
MINI JR 85 (7-11): 1. Tyler Martin (Kaw).
MINI SR 85 (12-15): 1. Nick Story (KTM); 2. Christian Walter (KTM); 3. John Regan (Suz).
85 NOV (7-15): 1. Derek Schmach (Kaw); 2. Samuel Welch (Kaw).
SUPERMINI (12-16): 1. Clayton Nelson (Kaw); 2. Kyle Hellyer (Hon); 3. Noah Dannold (Hon).
4-STROKE LIGHTWEIGHT B/C: 1. Nick Dickens (Yam); 2. Nate Saxton (KTM); 3. Cole Shifflet (Yam); 4. Wade Ward (Hon).
LIGHTWEIGHT NOV C: 1. Devan Byer (KTM); 2. Cody Hudnall (KTM); 3. Isaiah Andrews (Yam); 4. Brandon Skeens (Hon); 5. Harry Cyrus (Hsq).
LIGHTWEIGHT A: 1. Zach Klamfoth (KTM); 2. Christopher Robertson (Yam); 3. Cary Eberts (KTM); 4. Mike Ross (KTM); 5. Drew Hill (KTM).
125/200 B: 1. Seth James (Yam); 2. Justin Sipos (KTM); 3. Taylor Russell (KTM).
250 B: 1. Josh Eagle (Hon); 2. Jeremiah Downhour (Suz); 3. Micah D. Long (Yam); 4. Austin Schriner (Hon); 5. Nick Dickens (Yam).
HEAVYWEIGHT B: 1. Micah D. Long (Yam); 2. Shade Huntley (Yam); 3. Josh Verity (Yam); 4. Chad Heimberger (Yam); 5. Cory Obenour (Hon).
HEAVYWEIGHT N OV C: 1. J.R. Brown (Kaw); 2. Tyler Gwinn (Yam); 3. A.J. White (KTM); 4. Seth Hite (Yam); 5. Ralph Withem (Hsq).
4-STROKE HEAVYWEIGHT B: 1. Kody Kinnison (KTM); 2. Cory Atwood (Yam); 3. Corey Obenour (Hon); 4. Keith Vermillion (Hon).
OPEN A: 1. Christopher Robertson (Yam); 2. Zach Klamfoth (KTM); 3. Cary Eberts (KTM); 4. Jason Ross (KTM); 5. Isaac Walton (Kaw).
OPEN: 1. Jay Downhour (Suz); 2. Keith Gwinn (Yam); 3. Jeff Miller (Yam); 4. Buddy Stover (KTM); 5. Jarred Mills (Yam).
SCHOOLBOY (12-16) B/W: 1. Devan Byer (KTM); 2. Nick Story (KTM); 3. Tanner Nelson (Kaw); 4. Nick Dinunzio (Hon); 5. Noah Dannold (Hon).
SCHOOLBOY 2 (12-16) 250 4-STROKE: 1. Ryan McManus (KTM); 2. Wade Ward (Hon); 3. Spencer Faber (Suz); 4. Jarrad Reese (Hon); 5. Nate Sexton (KTM).
14-24: 1. Micah Long (Suz); 2. Justin Sipos (KTM); 3. Nick Flowers (Kaw); 4. Taylor Russell (KTM); 5. Zach Ellingsworth (Hon).
25+: 1. Nick Dickens (Yam); 2. Shade Huntley (Yam); 3. Chad Heimberger (Yam); 4. Brandon Skeens (Hon); 5. Zach Walton (KTM).
30+: 1. Mike Crane (Kaw); 2. Josh D. Eagle (Hon); 3. Matthew Hatten (Yam); 4. Justin Story (Yam); 5. Trent Thompson (KTM).
40+: 1. Keith Gwinn (Yam); 2. Robert Sparks (Yam); 3. Tom Morrison (KTM); 4. Mark Cales (Hon); 5. John Kreps (Suz).
50+: 1. Jeff Miller (Yam); 2. Denny Swartz (Yam); 3. Scott Klamfoth (KTM); 4. Gerry Bennett (Yam); 5. Aaron Flowers (Yam).
DECADE: 1. Cory Atwood (Hon); 2. Michael Hildreth (Hon); 3. Jason Andrews (Hon).
VINTAGE PRE-1975: 1. Ralph Withem (Hsq).
ATV Division
ATV A: 1. Hunter Dalrymple (Hon).
ATV B: 1. Adam McGomery (Yam).
ATV C: 1. Lane Riggs (Hon); 2. Derrick Cremeans (Kaw); 3. Josh Osborne (Hon); 4. Tyler Miller (Yam); 5. Roger Norman (Hon).
ATV WOMEN (16+): 1. Aletha Roach (Hon).
ATV VET (30+): 1. Tom Bell (ATK); 2. Jeff Swisher (Yam); 3. Brian Bell (Suz).
ATV VET 40+: 1. Rick Baker (Hon); 2. Lee Griffith (Yam); 3. Craig Page (Hon); 4. Wayne Ward (Hon).
