2015 Baja Brawl Photo Report

Photos and captions by Billy Rainford

I’ve been meaning to get to my all-time favourite track to ride to check out the Baja Brawl at Baja Acres in Millington, Michigan, for a few years now, but the stars just haven’t lined up until this season’s event. My hope was to swoop in on the final day of the 3-day event and grab coverage of the Canadians who made the trip down. I half-expected that to be a simple task…

I was pleasantly surprised at how many Canadians were there! When I headed to the results board, I was shocked to see that every moto had at least 2 riders in it — some had 4 or 5! So much for my slack day at the races.

Even now, going over the results, I see that there are a bunch of riders I missed snagging photos of. I apologize for that, but here is a look at the final day of a great event at Baja Acres.

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I’m just going to start here because I think this stuff is hilarious. #noragrets (Google it, Bowker!) I guess no one had the heart to tell him?

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The place was overrun with Canadians! That’s (from left to right) apparent mystery rider, Austin Watling, and Tanner Ward waiting for their next moto.

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It was a little early to make this call.

However, it would be difficult to bet against #214 Austin Forkner for that honour.

However, it would be difficult to bet against #214 Austin Forkner for that honour.

He was underpowered in the Open Pro Sport class but put on one heck of a show chasing down #881 Jerry Lorenz and #28 Mashall Weltin.

He was under-powered in the Open Pro Sport class but put on one heck of a show chasing down #881 Jerry Lorenz and #28 Mashall Weltin.

While these two were scrapping it out up front, Forkner was quickly making up time behind them.

While these two were scrapping it out up front, Forkner was quickly making up time behind them.

They both got around Lorenz and were this close at the flag. Forkner''s 3 moto scores gave him the Open Pro SPort title.

They both got around Lorenz and were this close at the flag. Forkner”s 3 moto scores gave him the Open Pro Sport title.

The Supermini hotshot was #99 Lance Kobush.

The Supermini hotshot was #99 Lance Kobusch.

I like how casual this younger rider is as he goes for the high five.

I like how casual this younger rider is as he goes for the high five.

He was walking around with this young rider who must have thought everyone was saying "Hey..." when he walked past.

He was walking around with this young rider who must have thought everyone was saying “Hey…” when he walked past.

Kobush went undefeated in his classes at the Brawl.

Kobusch went undefeated in his Supermini 1 and 2 at the Brawl.

Jesse Flock was second in Supermini 1.

Jesse Flock was second in Supermini 1.

#43 Carter Biese was the one to beat in 85 (9-13).

#43 Carter Biese was the one to beat in 85 (9-13).

Now let’s have a look at how the Canadians did:

#16 Brad Williams: 4th in 125 B/C, 4th in Schoolboy 1, and 10th in 250C.

#16 Brad Williams: 4th in 125 B/C, 4th in Schoolboy 1, and 10th in 250C.

 
#692 Nathan Oatman
125 B/C   #692  KAW   34th   34th   30th   30th
250 C Limited   #692  KAW   29th   26th   25th   26th
#317 Cooper Larche looked very fast on Sunday.

#317 Cooper Larche looked very fast on Sunday.

He was up against some fast riders in his classes: 250B 7th, 450B 3rd, College 25th.

He was up against some fast riders in his classes: 250B 7th, 450B 3rd, College 25th.

#17 Damon Luksys finished 31st in 250B and 22nd in College.

#17 Damon Luksys finished 31st in 250B and 22nd in College.

#312 Cale Barnes took 5th in 250B and 14th in College.

#312 Cale Barnes took 5th in 250B and 14th in College.

#424 Austin Watling is shaping into a solid rider.

#424 Austin Watling is shaping into a solid rider.

He took the 250C title, finished 18th in 450C, and 9th in Schoolboy 2.

He took the 250C title, finished 18th in 450C, and 9th in Schoolboy 2.

#114 Dylan Rouse: 4th 250C, 16th 250C Ltd., 5th 450C Ltd.

#114 Dylan Rouse: 4th 250C, 16th 250C Ltd., 5th 450C Ltd.

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#111 Austin Manz: 14th 250C, 5th 450C.

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#112 Baden Brunning: 33rd 250C, 29th Schoolboy 2.

#7 Calvin Kelders:

Shown as a DNF in 250C.

 

#14 David Eist:

250 C   #14/  YAM   3rd   21st   DNS   34th
250 C Limited   #14/  YAM   6th   9th   23rd   11th
#456 Carter Trembley: 250C 12th, 450C Ltd. 6th.

#459 Carter Tremblay: 250C 12th, 450C Ltd. 6th.

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#204 Justin Roney: 250 Pro/Am 11th, College 7th.

#196 Kyle McManus: 250 Pro/Am 17th, 450 Pro/Am 19th.

#196 Kyle McManus: 250 Pro/Am 17th, 450 Pro/Am 19th.

#719 Yanick Boucher:

450 A   #719  KAW   17th   12th   7th   8th
College 14-24   #719  KAW   20th   17th   14th   12th
#781 Zach Zagar was having a rough day. 450A 16th, 450 Pro/Am 24th, College 16th.

#781 Zach Zagar was having a rough day. 450A 16th, 450 Pro/Am 24th, College 16th.

I didn't speak with him but most of his motos Sunday ended early like this one.

I didn’t speak with him but most of his motos Sunday ended early like this one.

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#295 Josh Mann doesn’t seem to be on the score sheet anywhere.

#781 Jared Thornton: 450B 8th, 2-Stroke B/C 4th.

#781 Jared Thornton: 450B 8th, 2-Stroke B/C 4th.

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#385 Dallas Ruff-Robertson: 450B 9th, College 11th.

#71 Carter Hutcherson:

Shown as DNS for all of his motos.

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#113 Jakob Greig: 250C Ltd. 19th, 450C Ltd. 13th.

#130 Duncan McCleod: 450B Ltd. 3rd, College 9th.

#130 Duncan McCleod: 450B Ltd. 3rd, College 9th.

#66 Codey St. Martin:

450 C   #66  KAW   13th   14th   DNS   22nd
450 C Limited   #66  KAW   8th   9th   DNS   11th
#51 Matt Lepage:
450 C   #51/  YAM   DNS   11th   DNS   28th
450 C Limited   #51  YAM   7th   8th   DNS   9th
#274 Dan Twizell:
450 C   #274  YAM   16th   DNS   DNS   29th
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#65 Trevor Somerville: 450C Ltd. 14th, 25+ 7th.

#54 Mikey Walker:
450 C Limited   #54  YAM   15th   14th   DNS   15th
Vet 30+   #54  YAM   13th   7th   7th   9th

#294 Daniel Sprague:

450 C Limited   #294  KAW   17th   17th   DNS 17th
#883 Aaron Popp:
450 C Limited   #883  YAM   19th   19th   DNS   18th
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#22 Preston Masciangelo:

51cc (4-8) Open Limited   #22  COB   2nd   2nd   2nd   2nd
51cc (7-8) Limited   #22  COB   3rd   2nd   4th   3rd
65 (7-9)   #22  COB   4th   5th   4th   4th
65 (7-9) Limited   #22  COB   5th   4th   5th   5th
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#667 Thomas Munro:

51cc (4-8) Open Limited   #667  COB   9th   6th   14th   9th
51cc (7-8) Limited   #667  COB   12th   10th   10th   10th
65 (7-9) Limited   #667  COB   17th   18th   19th   19th
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#23 Ryder Reinhart:

51cc (4-8) Open Limited   #23  KTM   15th   15th   10th   12th
51cc (7-8) Limited   #23  KTM   15th   12th   9th   11th
65 (7-9) Limited   #23  KTM   16th   16th   15th   15th
#34 Hunter Perhoven:
51cc (4-8) Open Limited   #34  KTM   25th   23rd   21st   21st
51cc (7-8) Limited   #34  KTM   DNS   24th   22nd   27th
#852 Riley Clapp:
51cc (4-8) Open Limited   #852  KTM   27th   DNF   DNS   25th
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#24 Kayden Keller:

65 (7-9)   #24  KTM   11th   10th   10th   10th
65 (7-9) Limited   #24  KTM   9th   13th   13th   12th
#65 Logan Burns:
65 (7-9) Limited   #65  KAW   19th   22nd   25th   21st
#52 Luke Tricco:

#52 Luke Tricco:

85 (9-11)   #52  YAM   9th   6th   11th   6th
85 (9-11) Limited   #52  YAM   11th   8th   10th   7th
#214 Little:

#214 Bryce Little:

85 (9-13)   #214  KAW   22nd   20th   19th   20th
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#813 Cayden Wise:

85 (9-13)   #813  YAM   19th   19th   18th   17th
Mini SR 1 (12-13)   #813  YAM   23rd   22nd   19th   20th
#31 Zeb Dennis:

#31 Zeb Dennis:

Junior 25+   #31  YAM   3rd   3rd   3rd   3rd
#294 Tremblay:

#294 Austin Tremblay:

Mini SR 2 (12-15)   #294  YAM   11th   11th   11th   11th
Supermini 1 (12-15)   #294  YAM   20th   17th   16th   17th
#46 Marco Cannella continues to put up the great results!

#46 Marco Cannella continues to put up the great results!

Here he is in a classic, "Aw, mom, don't!" moment.

Here he is in a classic, “Aw, mom, don’t!” moment.

But he'd better get used to the attention if he keeps going as fast as he is.

But he’d better get used to the attention if he keeps going as fast as he is.

Schoolboy 1 (12-16) B/C   #46  YAM   1st   3rd   1st   1st
Schoolboy 2 (12-16) B/C   #46  YAM   DNF   DNF   DNS   DNF
#184 Tanner Ward:

#184 Tanner Ward finished one spot behind him in Schoolboy 1:

Schoolboy 1 (12-16) B/C   #184  KTM   6th   2nd   4th   2nd
Schoolboy 2 (12-16) B/C   #184  KTM   10th   13th   DNF   21st
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#691 Blair Oatman:

Senior 40+   #691  KAW   8th   10th   9th   9th
Vet 30+   #691  KAW   10th   9th   10th   10th
#441 Tim Metcalfe:

#441 Tim Metcalfe:

Senior 40+   #441  YAM   9th   11th   DNS   12th
Masters 50+   #441  YAM   2nd   3rd   3rd   2nd
#939 Iain Hayden swept the +30 class:

#939 Iain Hayden swept the +30 class.

And that meant another Canadian on stage!

And that meant another Canadian on stage!

Vet 30+   #939  YAM   1st   1st   1st   1st
#64 Theodore Zervos:
Vet 30+   #64  YAM   7th   10th   6th   7th
#806 Ronald Clapp:
Vet Unlimited 30+   #806  KAW   4th     11th   4th
The Women's class was as fast as I've ever seen! Shelby Rolen is fast and took the Women's 12+ title.

The Women’s class was as fast as I’ve ever seen! Shelby Rolen is fast and took the Women’s 12+ title.

#196 Chloe Metcalfe:

#196 Chloe Metcalfe:

Women (12 & Up)   #196  YAM   14th   16th   14th   14th
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#467 Rob Thornton:

Masters 50+   #467  SUZ   7th   7th   5th   6th
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#527 Jake Tricco:

Mini SR 1 (12-13)   #527  YAM   5th   7th   6th   6th
Supermini 1 (12-15)   #527  YAM   5th   5th   5th   5th
Dan Tricco is recovering well from his big Walton TransCan crash. Check out the cool artwork the guys at Illusion did on his cast.

Dan Tricco is recovering well from his big Walton TransCan crash. Check out the cool artwork the guys at Illusion did on his cast.

Probably not the greatest name for a motocross racer.

Probably not the greatest name for a motocross racer.

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Sorry, Luke. I interrupted your pre-race moto moment.

Does this warrant a few jars?

Does this warrant a few jars?

That's young Matthew Leblanc taking a title.

That’s young Matthew Leblanc taking a title.

Catching up on some social media before the next checkered flag.

Catching up on some social media before the next checkered flag.

Our old friend #165 James Roberts took the 450A title.

Our old friend #165 James Roberts took the 450A title.

Joey Crown checking the mineral content of this award.

Joey Crown checking the mineral content of this award.

I couldn't think of anything original for this one.

I couldn’t think of anything original for this one.

Some Canadian gear on American rider Eddie Morris who won the College title.

Some Canadian gear on American rider Eddie Morris who won the College title.

Iain grabbing a holeshot.

Iain grabbing a holeshot.

#27 Jesse Pierce.

#27 Jesse Pierce.

Austin Watling getting out to a big early lead.

Austin Watling getting out to a big early lead.

Travis was here.

Travis was here.

That should really be a sharp fork in that bullseye. Someone wasn't thinking creatively enough.

That should really be a sharp fork in that bullseye. Someone wasn’t thinking creatively enough.

This will probably smoulder for a few more days. I missed all the craziness of the weekend. I hope everyone had a great time at Baja Acres. See you next year!

This will probably smoulder for a few more days. I missed all the craziness of the weekend. I hope everyone had a great time at Baja Acres. See you next year!