Cherry tops field in Big Sky hillclimb
By FELICIA FRANK
For The Gazette
Speed and precision riding were what sent 21-year-old Eric Cherry over the top as the 2008 Big Sky Challenge Hillclimb champion.
The Laurel rider turned in a time of 8.645 seconds in the 701-Up class Sunday to capture the overall title in the two-day event at Billings Motorcycle Club.
C.R. Eisenzimer of Cascade finished a close second with a run of 8.786 seconds.
"When I went to the line I thought I'd throw out something like a nine-second run," said Cherry, "but I went for it and almost landed on the timers at the top. I guess I didn't let off on the throttle."
In fact, not letting go of the throttle is part of Cherry's motto. "You have to hold on and not let go. You have to pin it to win it."
Even with his first- and sixth-place finishes in Saturday's classes, Cherry was still humble going into Sunday's event.
"I knew I had a chance going into it just because my dad always has my bikes so perfect," he explained. "But everything came together and I posted the fast time."
Cherry's father, Dan, is his head mechanic and pitman.
"He'd rather me focus on the hill than focus on everything else," Cherry said. "It definitely works."
As for the significance of this win, Cherry says any championship is a big deal.
"This gives me a huge boost of confidence for the season," Cherry said while standing next to the six-foot tall trophy he received last year as the Overall Points Champion in the Western States Professional Hillclimb Series. He also holds the crown in Canada as the winner of last year's Rattlesnake Ridge Hillclimb held in Alberta.
Next up for Cherry in the three-part Western States Hillclimb Series is the Widowmaker event June 19-21 in Croydon, Utah. He will then focus on the third event in the series, the Great American Hillclimb at the Billings Motorcycle Club in July.
"I've been in the run-off to win the Great American for the last three or four years," he said, "but this year I really want it. I'm off to a good start.
"The competition every year gets tougher as the young guys get more experience. These guys are definitely hard competition."
One of those young guys is Eisenzimer. The Cascade biker has been within a tenth of a second of winning the Big Sky Challenge championship each of the past two years, finishing just behind Petey Krunich of Hayward, Calif., last year and Cherry this year.
Eisenzimer also competes in some of the North American Hillclimb Association events, but is primarily focused on the Western States Series.
"There's awesome competition with these guys because they make you step up and do some stupid stuff - like Eric Cherry did today when he jumped the top of the line to get that fast time," said Eisenzimer. "But usually that stuff works."
The 701-Open hill had the timers positioned at the top in a way which made it difficult for riders to see the finish line. Both Cherry and Eisenzimer jumped the ledge at the top of the hill, and both also came dangerously close to jumping the timers as well.
"This is one of the most fun hills in general," said Eisenzimer. "I'm really looking forward to the Great American. It's probably the most prestigious and difficult hill in the nation.
"Since I was a young kid I used to sit on the supercross track and watch those crazy guys on that hill. Now I get to be one of them."
NOTES: This year's Great American Hillclimb is scheduled for July 25-27. To see the complete Billings Motorcycle Club season schedule, go to billingsmotorcycleclub.us on the Internet.
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The Speed Channels Lucas Oil On The Edge is airing the 2007 Suzuki, Racer X, N.A.H.A. Pro National Hillclimb Series Race from Tracy, CA on January, 26th at 12:00PM. C.R. "What's His Name" Eisenzimer is one of the featured riders on the show. Check it out if you get a chance.
They will also be airing the Sturgis Motorcycle Hillclimb on Feb 3rd at 1:30PM. I am not sure if it is the pro national hillclimb from the Buffalo Chip, or the amature hillclimb from the Jackpine Gypsies.
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MESQUITE, NV
It was another beautiful day at the Mesquite Motocross Park for the 700cc and Open pro main events in the Halter Motorsports Desert Heat Hillclimb.
The pro hill was more demanding than the qualifier hill – a 270-foot-long, three-stage hill with the starting-line section a nearly vertical wall. Once over the first wall, the riders encountered a very steep, low-traction section, followed by a nearly vertical final section they had to jump on to if they wanted to be fast. Once over that final section, they still had to land their machines and ride another 40 feet to the finish line.
Eric Sorenssen was the “lucky” rider who drew the number one in the riding order in the 700cc class, and he charged a narrow, washed-out spot on the first breaker on the first ride of the day. He made it through the tight gap, but without any momentum, he ground to a halt at 88 feet. Jake Berry was the second rider to attempt the slot, and he actually got through with some momentum and ground his way over the top in 12.894 seconds to be the first rider over the top. More and more riders widened the gap at the bottom, and by the end of the first round, 36 riders of the 52 in the class had successfully found the top of the hill. Travis Whitlock, the previous day’s qualifier winner, was sitting in first place with a 7.965-second run.
In second-round action, the notch developed by the 700s in their first round was closed off, so they took advantage of a new line developed by the Open-class bikes – and to great success. Some 41 riders made it to the top, some of them very quickly. Pete Loomis was the quickest, with an outstanding 6.765-second run for the win, with Brandon Whitlock claiming second with a good 6.842-second effort.
In Open-class action, Dave Johnston was the first rider, and he had to choose a new line over the rough starting-line breaker. He successfully squeezed through a very small gap and topped the hill in 8.745 seconds, but that line wore out quickly, so new ones were tried. A new route was developed, and the bikes started turning much faster times, with C.R. Eisenzimer holding down the lead with a 6.538-second run for a long time. Eisenzimer’s bubble was finally burst when Brandon Whitlock, the second-to-last rider, flew through the lower gap and blasted over the second-stage jump and flew high over the top in a breathtaking 6.384 seconds to take a very convincing win. Loomis, Travis Whitlock and Jon Smith also delivered sub-seven-second runs to fill out the top five.
This was yet another high-quality hillclimb event put on by John and Mindy Halter, which will be repeated next year. Jim Provencher, owner of the Mesquite Motocross Park, also deserves a high-five for the outstanding condition of his facility and all the support he provided the Halters.
Results
700 MAIN: 1. Pete Loomis; 2. Brandon Whitlock; 3. Jon Smith; 4. Lonnie Sparks; 5. Dustin Quast; 6. Corey Erhardt; 7. Scott Lomas; 8. Tad Chenoweth; 9. Aaron Bingham; 10. Greg Webster.
OPEN MAIN EVENT: 1. Brandon Whitlock; 2. C.R. Eisenzimer; 3. Pete Loomis; 4. Travis Whitlock; 5. Jon Smith; 6. Nick Last; 7. Rick Stauffer; 8. Chuck Dubell III; 9. Aaron Bingham; 10. Todd Stuart.
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