Tilford, Mohnike on the Money at Lake Elsinore CMC MX

MTA West Presents the Honda Oils & Generators CMC Spring Classic MX Series
Round 3: Lake Elsinore Extreme Motorsports Complex

Story and Photos by Rodney Rutherford
LAKE ELSINORE, CA, MAY 27, 2012

Round three of the four-round Continental Motosports Club’s 26th annual Spring Classic MX Series came into Lake Elsinore, marking the fifth time that the CMC has raced at the track since its opening in the fall of 2011.

Hailing from the Central Coast city of Templeton, Thousand Oaks Motorsports/ FMF/ Fly Racing-sponsored 250F Intermediate rider Jake Mohnike gave fits to 51 Fifty Energy Drink’s Preston Tilford. Racing against 250F Pro rider Tilford in an inter-class melee, Mohnike kept pace with Tilford and upped the ante late in moto one, pressuring Tilford until a pass by Mohnike looked imminent. The savvy Tilford turned on the afterburners near the finish of the seven-lap race to secure the moto-one win, with Mohnike five bikelengths back in second.

In moto two, Mohnike locked up in the gate as Tilford stepped on the gas and dashed away. Hesitating for a second after getting past the gate, Mohnike put the hammer down, and here he came! Dodging and diving through the pack, Mohnike made his way into second, but Tilford had learned his lesson from moto one and kept a safety buffer between himself and the scrappy Mohnike for the moto-two win, with Mohnike second. Tilford took the 250F Pro win, while Mohnike scored the 250F Intermediate overall victory.

Having raced for 10 years, the 17-year-old Mohnike has been a regular participant in local Southern California series, winning several titles over the years as well as a 2010 250F Junior title at Mammoth Mountain. Racing Arenacross, he finished fourth in the 2009 85cc (12-15) West, and in the 2010 West Arenacross Series he placed first in the Arenacross Novice class, second in the Arenacross Lites, and third in the Schoolboy division. In 2011 Arenacross West action, Mohnike had his best year, sitting atop the points box at season’s end with first place in the Schoolboy, Arenacross Intermediate Lites and Arenacross Intermediate classes.

Unfortunately, Mohnike broke a femur in the 2011-12 Arenacross season, but he has gained valuable experience, as well as results that may bode well for him as he proceeds on to Supercross in or near 2014. For now, he is healthy and back on the bike, qualifying in four classes in AMA Amateur National Area Qualifier, in the 250cc and 450cc B Stock and Modified and Collegeboy divisions. Depending on how his performances tally up at the Regionals, he will pick the two classes in which he feels he’ll have the best shot at a Championship at the Loretta Lynn Ranch.

Wesley Parker put on a rousing display of speed and moto acumen, placing second in the 250F Intermediate class and first in the 250F Open contest.

Cash Swank put up a 1-3 tally for a second overall in 250F Junior competition.

Elijah Saenz, contesting the 85cc Beginner class, and 85cc (7-11) rider Zach Walker had a spirited battle in an inter-class race. Saenz went 1-1 for the 85cc Beginner overall, while Walker pinned down the 85cc (7-11) victory, placing on top of the class in both motos and second overall in the 85cc Open portion, going 2-2.

Former factory Suzuki support rider Gary Bowman has a long motocross résumé, peaking with an illustrious run in the 1984 AMA 125cc Nationals that most racers just dream of. He raced to a third at Saddleback and placed fifth at Hangtown the following weekend. He also raced to a fifth at Washougal and two top-10 finishes resulting with a ninth overall in the 1984 Nationals. Owner of a successful business, Bowman Asphalt, in Bakersfield, California, Bowman races occasionally and will be on the 2012 Mammoth roster.

Racing on this day in the Over 40 Intermediate class, Bowman battled with Over 40 Masters rider Tim Hickerson in moto one but prevailed with his textbook form for the first-moto win. He topped moto two decisively for the race and the Over 40 Intermediate overall with a 1-1 tally.

Please go to cmcmotocross.com/ or call 949/367-1141 for more information on the 2012 CMC Trans-Cal Series.

Lake Elsinore Extreme Motorsports Complex
Lake Elsinore, California
Results: May 27, 2012 (Round 3 of 4)

50 BEG: 1. Nathan Torres (2-1); 2. Seth Nemec (1-2).

50 (4-6): 1. Colton Wolff (1-1); 2. Cassius Cox (2-2).

50 (7-8): 1. Cody Simpson (1-2); 2. Talon Hawkins (3-1); 3. Joseph O’Connor (2-3).

50 OPEN: 1. Talon Hawkins (1-1); 2. Cody Simpson (2-2); 3. Joseph O’Connor (3-3).

65 BEG: 1. Dusty Garcia (1-1).

85 BEG: 1. Elijah Saenz (1-1); 2. Jacob Mladenik (3-2); 3. Noah Sandowski (2-4).

85 (7-11): 1. Zach Walker (1-1); 2. Giovanni Hernandez (2-2); 3. Kyle Turner (3-3).

85 (12-13): 1. Sonny Sanchez (1-1); 2. Kyle Van Tienen (2-2).

85 (14-16): 1. Gordon Keller Jr. (1-1).

85 OPEN: 1. Lauren Woods (1-1); 2. Zach Walker (2-2); 3. Giovanni Hernandez (4-3).

SUPERMINI: 1. Gordon Keller Jr. (1-1).

125 2-STROKE: 1. Jared Carraher (1-1).

250 2-STROKE: 1. James McDaniels (1-1); 2. Brad Benesch (2-2).

250F BEG: 1. Will Lytle (1-1); 2. Shane McDaniels (2-2); 3. Chase Hallahan (4-3).

250F JR: 1. Tino Cervantes (2-2); 2. Cash Swank (1-3); 3. Kyle Smith (8-1); 4. Corey Miller (6-4); 5. Travis Barsdorf (5-5).

250F INT: 1. Jake Mohnike (1-1); 2. Wesley Parker (2-2).

250F PRO: 1. Preston Tilford (1-1).

250F OPEN: 1. Wesley Parker (1-1); 2. Kyle Smith (2-2).

450F BEG: 1. Chris Ingram (1-1).

450F INT: 1. James McDaniels (1-1).

WOMEN: 1. Lauren Woods (1-1); 2. Ashley Dennis (2-2).

40+ AM: 1. Todd Blackman (1-1).

40+ INT: 1. Gary Bowman (1-1); 2. Caleb Hawkins (2-2).

40+ MASTERS: 1. Tim Hickerson (1-1); 2. Greg Pierce (2-2).