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Friday, March 17, 2006
Three locals head the class in motocross competition for kids
Morgan Tomberlin, left, Gavin Tomberlin and Hayden von Almon took home an array of prizes for finishing at the top of the winner`s podium at the 2006 Golden State Motocross Nationals.
By MARK FOYER--Half Moon Bay Review
It didn`t look good for 9-year-old Morgan Tomberlin of El Granada.
Her quest to win the 50 Big Bike Beginner Series took a serious detour after the first of four races.
The engine on her motocross bike quit. She couldn`t finish that race and was not certain of making it to the second race.
When all seemed lost, a family from Reno, Nev., loaned her another bike to ride.
She went on to win the next race and the 2006 Continental Motosport Club Golden State Motocross Nationals, held Feb. 25-26 at the Glen Helen Raceway Park in San Bernardino.
Her younger brother Gavin, 6, came away with the 50cc title for ages 4 to 6. His pal Hayden von Almon, also 6, was second in that division.
Morgan Tomberlin was confident entering the competition. She had proven herself during the season. The confidence turned after the first race.
"Something happened to the clutch," she said.
While her dad Len worked on the bike, she got a loaner bike. She won that race and waited for the next race, the next day.
Len Tomberlin ended up getting a new engine for the bike. By Sunday, she had her old bike, with a new engine.
She succeeded in the third race, putting her in contention to win the title. All that stood in the way was a racer from Marysville. The two developed a nice friendship along the way.
"Before the race, we were friends," Tomberlin said. "But once the helmet went on, we were all business."
She won that race to take the title.
"I felt bad for (my friend)," Tomberlin said. "But I was happy for myself."
She made a point of searching out the people from Reno who had lent her a bike.
"I said thank you to them 50 times," she said.
It was Gavin Tomberlin`s first time competing there. He was confident going into the race.
He wanted to win, but if he was going to lose it would be to only one person, von Almon.
"Hayden is my best friend," he said.
For his part, von Almon, a Miramar resident, was never nervous or scared - even approaching one jump that was so steep riders couldn`t see the bottom at first.
"I knew there was a bottom there," von Almon said.
In the end, his effort was good enough to finish second.
"I was very happy for Gavin," von Almon said. "He did a good job."
Another series starts up shortly. A top-12 finish there qualifies riders to participate in the nationals, to be held from July 31 through Aug. 5 in Tennessee.
Copyright © 2006Half Moon Bay Review and Pescadero Pebble.
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