AMA: 15 national champs named at Amateur National Hillclimb Championships
23 August 2000
15 national champs named at AMA Amateur National Hillclimb Championships PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The 2000 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Amateur, Youth & ATV National Hillclimb Championships determined 15 national champions Aug. 12-13 in Beaverdale, Pa. Greg Thompson of Danville, W.Va., not only won the national championship in the 600cc class, but also earned bragging rights as the fastest racer up the hill. Thompson blasted up the steep, 198-foot hill aboard his Kawasaki in a time of 4.8998 seconds. "I just got everything going right," the 34-year-old Thompson said. The day before, he only posted a time of 6.2106 seconds. Thompson edged out Ernie Beckwith of Plattsmouth, Neb., for the best time honors and the 600cc national title. Beckwith's best time was a 5.0908 aboard a Honda. The national championships also saw three generations of the Farnsworth family of New Hampshire compete: Henry, 46, his sons Shawn, 25, and Michael, 27, and Michael's sons, 5-year-old Nicholas and 7-year-old Dean. Henry and Shawn tied for family bragging rights, with Henry finishing fifth in the Senior class and Shawn placing fifth in the Open class. They both used the same bike: a 1600cc Harley-Davidson. Dean captured sixth place in an exhibition class featuring 4-to-8 year olds on 51cc machines. Among the ATVs, Mike Wilson of Logan, W.Va., posted the top time with a 6.0361 in the 251-650cc two-stroke class aboard a Suzuki. Almost 400 entries were posted for the 2000 Amateur, Youth & ATV National Hillclimb Championships. The nationals pitted riders of all ages and skill levels against each other in a wide variety of classes on machines ranging from 50cc and 85cc minicycles to thundering 1000cc-plus Open-class bikes and four-wheeled ATVs. Each rider was allowed two attempts to conquer the hill, with their quickest time counted. Results were based on times up the hill or, for riders failing to reach the summit, on the furthest distance traveled before losing forward momentum. Following are the top finishers in each class: 2000 AMA Amateur Hillclimb Championships results Beaverdale, Pa., August 12-13, 2000 YOUTH: 51cc, ages 4-8 (exhibition only): 1. Robert Moore, Jr., Middleburg, PA, Cobra; 2. Donald Robbins, Jr., Danville, IL, Cobra; 3. Corissa Fosberg, Bay City, WI, KTM. 85cc, ages 6-11: 1. Dan Baird, Lowell, MI, Suzuki; 2. Justin Newton, Syracuse, NY, Yamaha; 3. Brennan Darr, Johnstown, PA, Kawasaki. 85cc, ages 12-15: 1. Ryan Thibault, Tiverton, RI, Kawasaki; 2. John Byassee, Hamburg, PA, Honda; 3. Cody Cunningham, Struthers, OH, Kawasaki. AMATEUR: 86-125cc: 1. Ryan Peterson, Ellsworth, WI, Honda; 2. Ryan Thibault, Tiverton, RI, Honda; 3. John Bunner, Ripley, WV, TM. 126-200cc: 1. Jason Northrup, Tempe, AZ; 2. Dan Prebe, Old Frontenac, MN, KTM; 3. Mel Piontek, Green Bay, WI, KTM. 201-250cc: 1. Eric Wheelwright, Hanover, IL, Yamaha; 2. Marc Shamm, Forreston, IL, Yamaha; 3. Mike Wood, Bay City, WI, Honda. 251-400cc: 1. Brent Stewart, Galva, IL, KTM; 2. Greg Thompson, Danville, WV, Honda; 3. Kevin Cox, Huntingtown MD, Yamaha. 401-600cc: 1. Greg Thompson, Danville, WV, Kawasaki; 2. Ernie Beckwith, Plattsmouth, NE, Honda; 3. Eric Wheelwright, Hanover, IL, Honda. 601-750cc: 1. Jason Northup, Tempe, AZ, Kawasaki; 2. Todd Cipala, Ellsworth, WI, Kawasaki; 3. Kaleb Northrup, Woodbury, MN, Kawasaki. 751cc-Open: 1. Mike Bronk, Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Yamaha; 2. Jim Smay, Johnstown, PA, Kawasaki; 3. Don Naugle, South Fork, PA, Kawasaki. Senior, 40-over: 1. Ken Bonnema, Girard, OH, Yamaha; 2. Tim Adkins, Sod, WV, Kawasaki; 3. Greg Nowak, Manlius, NY, Honda. 86-400cc stock: 1. Gary Bauer, Pittsburgh, PA, Yamaha; 2. Randy Frye, Palermo, WV, Yamaha; 3. Lloyd Haas, Elizabeth, IL, TM. Open 401cc-up: 1. Stephen Deleys, Syracuse, NY, KTM; 2. Ken Sabo, Boswell, PA, Kawasaki; 3. Lee Regal, Johnstown, PA, Kawasaki. ATV: 91-250cc Modified two-stroke: 1. Bruce Browning, Holden, WV, Honda; 2. Jeffery Campbell, Sissonville, WV, Honda; 3. Mark O'Brien, Lower Salem, OH, Honda. 251-650cc Modified two-stroke: 1. Mike Wilson, Logan, WV, Suzuki; 2. Mark O'Brien Sr., Lower Salem, OH, Yamaha; 3. Rick Shilling, Wipple, OH, Yamaha. 91-650cc Modified four-stroke: 1. Donald Paisley, Marretta, OH, Honda; 2. Beau Griffin, Whipple, OH, Honda; 3. Matthew Novak, Nanty Glo, PA, Honda.