Arena Cross riders go big at fair

Jason Shueh

Valley Press

The mutters and sputters of roaring engines hailed the advent of this years 2008 Sanders County Fair Arena Cross races last Thursday as riders began a night of pure fat-tire fist-a-cuffs.

While the event boasted a variety of races that ranged from the small 50cc dirt bike races for kids to the higher horsepower races for the adults, by far, the most polarizing battle of the night was the pro 250cc moto. Rider Jermiah Solt, from Missoula, was in hot pursuit of leader Jesse Karr, from Kalispell, for most of the race until a quick sneak attack was able to earn Solt the lead and a close win.

Yet from the gate everything was all but certain as Karr took the whole shot with Taylor Mann, from Kalispell, following closely behind him in second and Solt trailing in third. Undeterred by his third place start Solt didn't allow himself to be shaken and gradually began making his way to the front passing Mann and closing the large gap left by Karr with each lap.

About half a bike length behind Karr, Solt made a flurry of attempts to gain the inside line from Karr but was repeatedly blocked with his quick reactions. Two of his attempts consisted of Solt almost flying over Karr on a quad set of jumps and being forced into one of the hay bails near last corner by the finish line.

“I knew I had to catch up to him because he's not a slow rider,” Solt said about the chase.

Against the pressure, the blocking only intensified Solt’s determination to pass and in the second to last lap Solt began swinging his bike like a noose around the neck of each corner until he saw his window of opportunity and threw himself past Karr's bike.

“I just kept trying all types of strategies until one finally worked,” Solt said. Finishing the race, Karr launched attacks of his own for the final lap and crossed the finish line only a few inches from Solt's rear wheel.

Solt was awarded $260 for his victory, Karr was given $190 for second place and Mann was handed $125 for taking third. Adam Bryer, from Kalispell, placed fourth receiving $60 and Chris Caston completed the field of riders in fifth receiving $40.

“It was just a really good race,” Ron Warren, the event organizer said about the night and added that the battles for first and second in many of the intermediate and beginner classes added to the excitement as well.

Yet, there was a serious injury in the 125 Jr. Moto. Kieran Ursua, a 15-year old from Arlee, broke his pelvis after he landed short on a jump and was thrown into the second row of a set of empty bleachers. Jill Ursua, Kieran's mother said that he told her that he had hit his head on his handlebars coming off of the jump which caused his goggles to blind him when they were knocked around his head. She added that the lack of vision caused Ursua to drive into the arena wall where he was thrown from his bike into the bleachers.

Jill said she was thankful to all of the community members around plains who visited him in the emergency room at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital and to all of the professional medical personnel who insured her son's quick treatment. Jill said that doctors expect her son to take 8 to 12 weeks for his complete recovery.

When Ursua recovers from his injuries she said that he'll be back on his bike again and looking to continue competing on the race track. “The first thing he asked me when I saw him was if his bike was all right and if I was going to stop him from racing,” Jill said and explained that she plans to make her son take some time off to recover but will allow him to continue racing.

Warren said that while zero ambulance runs is their goal he was thankful that there was only one ambulance run that night.

Complete Arena Cross will be published in a later issue.