Smith Stops Howell’s Win Streak

MTA Louisiana Cross-Country Series
Round 3: The Angola Bike Rodeo

By Lucas Comeaux/AcadianaRacing.com
Photos by Chris Shows, Bob Hatcher, Buck Langston, Terrie Shaw, and the LACC Staff
ANGOLA, LA, MAY 20, 2012

Round three of the 2012 LACC Series took place under warm, sunny skies and in a very unique venue – the Louisiana State Penitentiary! LSP (also known as Angola) opened its main gates to allow more than 500 off-road racers and spectators into the 18,000-acre property to camp in a beautiful pasture and race in the Tunica Hills.

Chris Van Way speaks with Warden Burl Cain during the first-ever LACC visit to the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Photo by Chris Shows

Angola was once known as one of the bloodiest prisons in America, but now, under Warden Burl Cain, things are much different, primarily due to his emphasis on moral rehabilitation and faith-based programs. Warden Cain and LACC supporter Chris Van Way went the extra mile to make sure the event was fun for all and that the course was possible for the less-experienced riders. Even after many days of ’dozer work, the 200-plus-foot elevation changes and single-track sections were still very challenging for some.

Forrest Smith (46) absconds with the holeshot and stayed in front to take the overall victory at round three of the Louisiana Cross-Country Series. Photo by Bob Hatcher

All eyes were on the overall winner of rounds one and two, KTM rider Martin Howell, but to the surprise of many, it was Fly/ WPS/ Bayou Suspension-backed Yamaha rider Forrest Smith who grabbed the holeshot and never looked back! Smith earned $350 cash for his first overall LACC victory and for the Transmissions Inc. Fast Lap award. Smith has run up front several times in the past but always seemed to have bad luck with mechanical problems… but not at “The Farm” (another nickname for Angola).

Despite getting caught in a traffic jam early on, Martin Howell (31) still managed to finish second overall. Photo by Buck Langston

SMS KTM/ JM Suspension/ Answer/ Motorex/ FMF-backed Howell got caught in some chaos in the second turn but still managed to work his way up to second, only six seconds behind Smith. Pivot Works/ Vertex Pistons/ DP Brakes/ SMS/ Graham KTM-sponsored KTM pilot Bryan Vaughan stayed consistent and once again finished on the podium in third. Performance Cycles/ Chuck’s Appliance-backed KTM rider Ryan Breaux and Mike’s Outdoors/ Woods Tank-sponsored KTM rider Hutton Woods rounded out the top five overall and the top five in the XC1 class with some solid rides through the hilly terrain.

Bryan Vaughn (30) garnered another podium finish at the Angola Bike Rodeo. Photo by Terrie Shaw

Winner Forrest Smith (center), runner-up Martin Howell (left) and third-placed Bryan Vaughan (right) took the podium at the Angola round. Photo by the LACC staff

In the XC2 Lites class, Mike’s Outdoors/ Woods Tank-backed KTM rider Clint Woods came up through the pack after a bad start and took the class win. Woods was followed by two more KTM riders, WPS/ Fly-backed Corey Altazin in second and Bayou Suspension/ Fly’s Jacob Wheat in third. As usual, a ton of links to pictures and videos from this event can be found on www.AcadianaRacing.com.

Despite a bad start, Clint Woods (14) scored the XC2 Lites-class victory. Photo by Terrie Shaw

The Louisiana Cross-Country Series is a 10-round championship series promoted by AcadianaRacing.com. Venues test each rider’s overall ability by offering motocross sections, hills, roots, occasional rocks, woods trails, grass-tracks, extreme obstacles, etc. In addition to pure speed, riders must have the endurance to push hard for more than an hour and a half. The series is brought to you by title sponsor MTA, Filter Solution.com, Gas Gas Offroad U.S., Honda of Lafayette, Performance Cycles, Enduro Engineering, Spectro, Transmissions Inc., Southern Trophy, Chiropractic Spine & Sports, Team 3/4, Evangeline Specialties, API Control System Solutions, Moose Racing, RidePG.com, Deb’s Prints, KTM, OutOfBoundFilms, Dirt Wise Schools and Instructional DVDs, SideLineFilms, Bayou Fabrication, Honda, Bayou Suspension.com, MXPrints.com, and Husqvarna.

The Angola Bike Rodeo
Angola, Louisiana
Results: May 20th, 2012 (Round 3)

OVERALL: 1. Forrest Smith (Yam); 2. Martin Howell (KTM); 3. Bryan Vaughan (KTM); 4. Ryan Breaux (KTM); 5. Hutton Woods (KTM); 6. Clint Woods (KTM); 7. Corey Altazin (KTM); 8. Wesley Burks (KTM); 9. Jason Reine (KTM); 10. Jonathan Plunkett (KTM); 11. Corey Mouton (KTM); 12. Manny Garza (KTM); 13. Kelly Crenshaw (KTM); 14. Al Cravens (KTM); 15. Brian Griffith (Kaw); 16. Brandon Tynes (Hon); 17. Jacob Wheat (KTM); 18. Brad Warren (KTM); 19. Dakotah Smith (KTM); 20. Blake Plonsky (KTM).

XC1: 1. Forrest Smith (Yam); 2. Martin Howell (KTM); 3. Bryan Vaughan (KTM); 4. Ryan Breaux (KTM); 5. Hutton Woods (KTM).

XC2: 1. Clint Woods (KTM); 2. Corey Altazin (KTM); 3. Jacob Wheat (KTM); 4. John Beauchamp (Suz); 5. Lance Ford (Kaw).

SR A: 1. Manny Garza (KTM); 2. Kelly Crenshaw (KTM); 3. Al Cravens (KTM); 4. Edmund Herrington (KTM); 5. Robbie Wallis (KTM).

INT: 1. Corey Mouton (KTM); 2. Brandon Tynes (Hon); 3. Brad Warren (KTM); 4. Andy Chance (KTM); 5. Christopher Roberts (KTM).

NOV: 1. Brian Griffith (Kaw); 2. Ethan Bryant (Hon); 3. James Winn (Suz); 4. Jean Chustz (Hon); 5. Bryan Soileau (KTM).

NOV LITE: 1. Blake Plonsky (KTM); 2. Dustin Hamilton (Yam); 3. Clint Plauche (Kaw); 4. Chad Roy (Kaw); 5. Scott Altazin (KTM).

JR: 1. Daltyn Kennedy (Kaw); 2. Trey Frandria (Kaw); 3. Johnny Demoura (KTM); 4. Quintin Van Way (KTM); 5. S. Foto (Yam).

SR B: 1. George Bofinger (KTM); 2. Timothy Higgins (Kaw); 3. Joey Frandria (KTM); 4. Doug Kennedy (Hon); 5. Thomas Tyler (KTM).

SR 50: 1. Terry Owen (Yam); 2. Ronnie Coste (Hon); 3. Chris Shows (KTM); 4. Donny Graham (KTM); 5. Gary McCrary (KTM).

BEG: 1. Cody Carrico (KTM); 2. Matthew Jones (KTM); 3. Richie Howard (Hon); 4. Kamron Mayeux (Hon); 5. Brian Thomas (KTM).

BEG LITE: 1. Cole Nealy (Kaw); 2. Kyle Nealy (Hon); 3. Jesse Whittington (KTM); 4. Matt Alexander (KTM); 5. Gregg Bourne (Hon).

BEG 4-STROKE: 1. Tristan Bryant (Hon); 2. Trey Forman (KTM); 3. Corey Newcomb (Yam); 4. Tim Brasseaux (Suz); 5. Paul Steele (Kaw).

BEG 40+: 1. Jeff Ray; 2. Gregg Kirk (KTM); 3. Randy Marcil (Hon); 4. J. Daniel Pipkin Jr. (KTM); 5. Ricky Hinton (KTM).

KIDS VET: 1. Shane Foto (Yam); 2. Philip Demoura (Hon); 3. Haven Alford (Suz); 4. Austin Faugot; 5. Noah Shaw (Kaw).

WOMEN: 1. Courtney Gerald (KTM); 2. Susan Reine (KTM); 3. Madeline Pipkin (KTM); 4. Teri Beauchamp (Hon); 5. Jenna Ford (Hon).

KIDS INT: 1. Thomas Bofinger (KTM); 2. Trey Pipkin III (KTM); 3. Walker Shows (KTM); 4. Jacob Freeman (Yam); 5. Aaron Hayden (KTM).

GIRLS: 1. Jessica Delee (Suz); 2. Kristen Gautreau (KTM); 3. Ellen Herrington (Yam); 4. Gracie Barrett (Kaw); 5. Jessie Hayden (KTM).

PEE WEE: 1. Austin Bradford (KTM); 2. Zorion McClarty (KTM); 3. Ryan Reine (KTM); 4. Coty Woods (KTM); 5. David Weaver (KTM).

BEG PEE WEE: 1. Daniel Reine (KTM); 2. Pete Comeaux (KTM); 3. C.J. Altazin (KTM); 4. Trenton Brashier (Yam); 5. Lincoln Woods (KTM).