Lange clinches one title in Guthrie, OK…
2003/2004 US National Arenacross champion Darcy Lange
clinched the 2004/2005 US National Arenacross Dash for Cash championship this
past weekend in Guthrie, Oklahoma. After putting in his most impressive season
to date, Lange holds a Commanding points lead in the overall standings in both
overall standings.
Friday’s action:
Friday marked a rough way to start the weekend for the
champ as he struggled with crashes and bad starts. In 125 action, Lange would
crash more than once making his life a lot harder than it needed to be.
Fortunately, Lange and his Ian Woods prepped KX250F worked there way back into
eighth position by the races end.
In the 250 class, Lange would again struggle with starts and
crashes. After 20 hard laps, Lange would cross the finish line in twelfth
place, not where he wanted to be. Not one to dwell on a bad night of racing,
Lange was motivated for night two’s action and wanted to come out swinging.
National number six; Jeff Northrop had an impressive night
of racing Friday in Guthrie. After a mid-pack start in 125 action, Jeff and his
No Fear/Sobe KX250F crossed the checkers in fifth place. In 250 action, Jeff
got off to a great start and began pulling out a lead. “Norcal” put in 20
perfect laps to score his fourth win of the season, which also helped him gain
points in the national standings.
Newcomer to the series, Teddy Maier, showed he’s learning
each and every weekend. After putting in fifteen solid laps, Maier and his Pro
Circuit KX250F managed a sixth place finish. Teddy and his Kawasaki 250 set it
in cruise control for the 250 main and rode consistent for 20 laps giving him
ninth overall in the main event.
Number 108, Evan Laughridge was looking for top ten rides
this weekend and Friday night he got his wish. Racing the best Arenacross
riders in the world each and every weekend is a tough job and Evan was up to
the task. After some tough luck in the 125 main, Evan put in his best ride of
the night taking sixth in the 250 class. A ninth in the 125 class gave
Laughridge his wish of two top ten finishes but like every racer, it left him
looking for more in night two’s action.
Saturday:
After a so-so night of racing Friday night, Darcy Lange came
out swinging Saturday. After winning both of his qualifiers, Lange ran away
with both main event wins, the Dash for Cash win and he gained back some lost
points from Friday’s action. By dominating Saturday’s action, Lange could wrap
up the title one round early at the next round in Denver, Colorado.
Night two also marked another Richmond Racing sweep of the
podium as Lange, Northrop and Laughridge swept Saturday’s racing in the 125
class. Teddy Maier also put in another strong ride for the rookie as he came
home in seventh position in the 125 main event.
After great rides in the 125 class, Lange and Northrop
stormed through the 250 main taking one-two finishes in the main event. Teddy
Maier and Evan Laughridge both suffered mishaps in the main giving Evan
thirteenth overall and Maier eleventh. Both riders are ok and are looking
forward to next weekend’s action in Denver, CO.
As for Lange and Northrop, both riders gained points on the
rest of the field and Lange now holds a 118-point lead headed into next
weekends action. Jeff “Norcal” Northrop sits second in points with a 49-point
lead over Branden Jesseman.
Evan Laughridge sits tied for seventh in points with
Washington’s Brad Hagseth. Both riders will surpass an injured Josh Demuth when
the series wraps up. Rookie Teddy Maier sits twelfth in the overall points
standings but Teddy is looking just wants to keep learning and getting better
each and every weekend.
Richmond Racing would like to wish Josh Demuth a speedy
recovery. After breaking both wrists, Jeff came back out to the track to watch
Saturday’s action. Get well soon Josh!!!
Also, special thanks to all of the sponsors who help make
racing possible each and every weekend, Kawasaki Team Green, Pro Circuit,
Richmond Racing, No Fear, Silkolene, Spy, Pro Taper, Pirelli, Gaerne, Acerbis,
Wiseco, Fast 50, Motion Pro, EBC, Sunstar, Etnies, Ogio, Uni, Works Connection,
ARC, Athena, NStyle, Hinson, DC SnapOn, VP Fuels, Tsubaki
