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AMA: First AMA National champs of 2000 named at ice racing championships

13 February 2000

Posted by Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The first national champions of the new millennium were named at the Jan. 29-30 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Amateur National Ice Racing Championships at Eagle River Derby Track in Eagle River, Wis.

The competition in cold northern Wisconsin grew hot with many amateur and professional dirt-track racers -- including J.R. Schnabel, Bret Beyer, Stephanie Welch and youngsters Bryan Smith and Logan Myers -- filling the racing grids. But experience proved key as all national championships went to ice-racing veterans.

In all, 21 national titles were up for grabs, but only the venerable and talented Jeff Fredette, of Beecher, Ill., was able to take two titles. Fredette is a veteran motorcycle racer, having competed in the famed International Six Days Enduro for nearly 20 years. The versatile racer took top honors in the 200cc and 500cc Studded Tire classes aboard Kawasakis.

Saturday's opening day of competition included 13 classes, ranging from one for 51cc machines ridden by youngsters aged 4-6 to one for competitors racing 2- and 4-stroke ATVs. In addition to five solo classes, including the popular exhibition-only Kold-Kutter Pro Shootout, Sunday's action featured two classes for three-wheeled sidecars.

Following are the top three finishers in each class:

2000 AMA AMATEUR NATIONAL ICE RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS
January 29-30 - Eagle River Derby Track, Eagle River, WI

Saturday, January 29 SOLO CLASSES: 51cc Jr., ages 4-6, rubber tires -- 1. Nick Berg, Superior, WI, Cobra. 51cc Sr., ages 7-8, rubber tires -- 1. Michael Ross, Midland, MI, Cobra; 2. Nicholas Pase, Grand Blanc, MI, ATK. 85cc, ages 7-11 -- 1. Ed Beson, Menosha, WI, Kawasaki; 2. Nick Smith, Beaver Dam, WI, Honda; 3. Michael Ross, Midland, MI, Kawasaki. 85cc, ages 12-15 -- 1. Orville Short III, South Branch, MI. 86-200cc, studded tires -- 1. Jeff Fredette, Beecher, IL, Kawasaki; 2. Kyle Meiers, Escanaba, MI, Suzuki; 3. Nicholas Mark, Mount Morris, MI, Honda. 250cc, rubber tires -- 1. Robert Bennett, Shamong, NJ, Honda; 2. Stanley Greer, Gladwin, MI, Honda; 3. Delner Dood, Almont, MI, Yamaha. 251cc-Open rubber tires - 1. Buster Short Jr., Lupton, MI, Yamaha; 2. Leo Anthony Jr., Port Huron, MI, Yamaha; 3. Stanley Greer, Gladwin, MI, Suzuki. 200-250cc B studded tires -- 1. David Bougie, Escanaba, MI, Suzuki; 2. John Omstead, Stanton, MI, Honda; 3. Bradley Routheaux, Newhill, WI, Honda.

SIDECARS (rubber tires): 360cc -- 1. Ronald Betzold, Linwood, MI, and Barth Betzold, Bay City, MI, Honda; 2. Jeff Kocher and Steve Wilson, Hale, MI, Yamaha; 3. Jeffrey Defauw, Casco, MI, and Eugene Jaboda III, Richmond, MI, Honda. 361-500cc -- 1. Robert Scott Jr., Troy, MI, and Kevin Kelley, New Hudson, MI, Honda; 2. Troy Maclean, Port Huron, MI, and Darrin Ferguson, Macomb, MI, BSA; 3. Robert Scott, Gladwin, MI, and Chris Liesen, Beaverton, MI, Yamaha.

QUADS: 250cc 2- & 4-stroke ATV Modified -- 1. Mike Haas, Dexter, MI, Honda; 2. Thomas Aherne, Kendallville, IN, Yamaha; 3. Joel Janssen, Kaukauna, WI, Honda. 251cc-Open 2- & 4-stroke ATV Modified -- 1. Andy Netzel, Plover, WI, Kawasaki; 2. Todd Wierzba, Muskego, WI, Yamaha; 3. Jeremy Flees, Plover, WI, Yamaha. Open four-stroke, rubber tires -- 1.Jason Miller, Waupaea, WI, Honda; 2. Duane Spurling, Valders, WI, Honda.

Sunday, January 30

SOLO CLASSES (studded tires): 201-250cc A -- 1. Cory McDermitt, Flint, MI, Rotax; 2. Henry Wiles, Blanchard, MI, Honda; 3. Jeff Fredette, Beecher, IL, Kawasaki. 251-400cc -- 1. Paul Bean, Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Yamaha; 2. W. Couvelis, Benton Harbor, MI, Yamaha; 3. G. Schonschack, Tawas City, MI, Yamaha. 401-500cc A -- 1. Jeff Fredette, Beecher, IL, Kawasaki; 2. Jeff Berg, Superior, WI, Kawasaki; 3. Luke Wiitala, Duluth, MN, Kawasaki. 401-500cc B -- 1. G. Lindvall, Saginaw, MN, Kawasaki; 2. J. South, Lapeer, MI, Honda; 3. J. McKittrick, Flint, MI, Honda. 501-Open, single -- 1. Craig Pickett, Linden, MI, Rotax; 2. Cory McDermitt, Flint, MI, Rotax; 3. B. Smith, Flint, MI, ATK. Senior, 40+ A & B-- 1. L. Lipka, Prudenville, MI, Honda; 2. T. Brettrager, Chesaning, MI, Honda; 3. M. Beckwith, Lansing, MI, Kawasaki. Kold-Kutter Pro Shootout (exhibition only) -- 1. Luke Wiitala, Duluth, MN, Kawasaki; 2. Bret Beyer, Oshkosh, WI, Rotax; 3. Craig Pickett, Linden, MI, Rotax.

SIDECARS: 360cc, studded tires -- 1. S. Wilson, Hale, MI, Yamaha; 2. J. Kocher, Hale, MI, Yamaha; 3. L. Cohee, Burt, MI, Yamaha. 501cc-Open, rubber tires -- 1. Leo Anthony Jr., Port Huron, MI, Harley-Davidson; 2. J. Gonzales, Port Huron, MI, Harley-Davidson; 3. T.. Hammar, Smiths Creek, MI, Triumph.

Text provided by: AMA

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