I'm pretty sure the "Jordan Smith" in the 50cc classes below is the same one that is now on Team Geico Honda. Pretty wild.
Stroupe, Renner Converge at Ohio LL Qualifier
Crow Canyon Loretta Lynn Area Qualifier
AES Promotions, AMA District 12
Uhrichsville, Ohio
May 28-29, 2005
By: John Kreps, PitRacer.com
Northeast Ohio was a-buzz with motocross activity for this late May weekend as Crow Canyon Raceway in AMA District 12 held the eighth and final MXSports LL Area Qualifier for the Mid-East region. Over one-thousand racers put their knobbies to the dirt over the two day event, and the top eight finishers in each of the qualifying classes earned a spot at the upcoming Regional Qualifier races to finalize their attempt of racing the National Championships in August at Loretta Lynn's ranch in Tennessee.
Competitors came from far and wide for their final chance to move on to the next round; nineteen states and also Ontario, Canada were represented at this event. The AES Promotions crew worked overtime crowding the vehicles into the pits and preparing the course on a hot and sunny Ohio weekend. Although most classes ran on both weekend days for District points, Saturday is the qualifying day for peewees, women, and stock bike classes. Sunday is the qualifier for minis, modified bike, and vet classes.
Two young teenagers were standouts during the weekend of racing, and the two were never far apart on the course either. Austin Stroupe of Lincolntown, NC and Ricky Renner of Mulberry, FL put the pedal to the metal all weekend and hashed it out in the Schoolboy and 125B qualifier classes each day. When the dust settled, Stroupe has bested Renner for each overall but it was by no means easy for the Kawasaki racer. Renner and his #53 Yamaha chased Stroupe hard each moto, and also took a moto victory over Stroupe in Sunday's 125B Modified moto one. Both Stroupe and Renner will be considered favorites at the upcoming Regional qualifiers.
Saturday's peewee races were also a sight to see, as packed gates of 4-8 year olds took to the big track. The speeds of these youngsters was phenomenal, with many of them clearing some of the doubles just like the big bikes. Mansfield, Ohio local Bryce Miller was able to take the point in the Peewee Shaft Drive division, and was also the only Cobra motorcycle in a class dominated by Yamaha PW50's. Bryce nabbed the overall with a 1-2 score, besting Grover, NC's Austin McKeee and Frederick, MD's Jackson Grove. The 50cc 7-8 Stock class roared off the gate with over 40 entrants; qualifiers were required to narrow the field to a full gate. In the end, Jared Jennings of Port Jervis, NY swept the overall on his Cobra with a 1-1 tally over Beaver, PA's Shane Smallwood. Smallwood came home second in both his qualifier and the second moto. Jordan Smith was the first KTM, taking third and making his trek from Belmont, NC a happy one.
The mini classes on Sunday were also full-gate affairs, and Ohio native James Justice managed to reel off four moto victories on the day. Justice served up wins in the 85cc 12-13 and Supermini classes on his KTM mini. Caleb Gaines from Ringwold, GA took second in the Supermini class, but rebounded victoriously in the 85cc 12-15 division.
Stock - Saturday Results: