RRR’s Tyler Mack Shines at Sunset Ridge ATV MX
Root River Racing’s Amateur ATV MX Race Report

La Crosse, WI (6/23/2016) - Root River Racing competed in the seventh round of the 2016 AMA ATV Motocross National Championship at Sunset Ridge MX in Walnut IL. The sandy track was challenging and rough, but it was no match for the Root River Racing Honda’s setup and the talented riders aboard them.

Tyler Mack put in the best weekend he has had all season with third in 450 A, and fourth in Production A. In the heat race of Production A, Mack put down the fastest lap time of the class by two seconds and ran away with the win. He then backed it up with a fourth in the second moto for fourth overall.

In 450 A, Mack went 6-2 for third overall and felt great on the track. “I have been working hard all year. I have not been fully comfortable on the bike, but last round and especially this round, we finally got everything figured out, and I feel a lot better. This whole weekend was really good,” said Mack.

Noah Mickelson had yet another stellar weekend. Mickelson took first overall in 450 B and second overall in Open B. Consistency has been key to Mickelson’s season, he has not finished worse than second all season long and therefore has a comfortable points lead for first in both classes.

Perhaps the busiest rider on the team is Brandon O Neill. O Neill competes in three classes: Youth All Star, Schoolboy Sr., and Super Mini. O Neill’s best finish came from Super Mini, where he clinched second overall. “ First moto my Root River Racing Honda came third out of the holeshot, and I stayed there the whole race. Second moto I was third out of the start again, made a pass to second, and stayed there. The season is going better than expected, I just have to keep strong and finish out strong,” stated O Neill.

Taking another podium finish in Pro Am was Root River Racing’s Dylan Tremellen. This was Tremellen’s second straight podium finish and boosted him in points; he is tied for third. In Pro Sport, Tremellen clinched fifth overall. “These classes are going to be very close by the end of it. I just have to stay consistent and hopefully get on the box a few more times. I hope to stay in the top five, that was my goal, but I would be even happier with top three,” said Tremellen.

In the C classes, Logan Tremellen rode hard for one of his best weekends since the opening round. Tremellen took second in all of the four motos he competed in during 450 C and Produciton C, for second overall in both classes.

“The first two motos I had to work for it, I got dead last in both holeshots and worked my way up. Second motos I had a lot better holeshots and just held my lines and had a good race. Ryan Smittle and I have been battling all year for the 450 C championship, hopefully I can do better at Spring Creek and close the points gap,” stated Tremellen.

Haedyn Mickelson competed in two of the top amateur classes. Mickelson took seventh in Pro Am and fourth in Pro Sport. “In Pro Sport I had a bad holeshot. Cole Sepesi had a nasty wreck right in front of me, which caused me to stop and fall back. I worked my way back up and finished fifth. Second moto I ended up getting fifth again. Seventh overall in Pro Am was not what I wanted, but hopefully with a couple changes we are going to make this week I will be able to ride longer.”

Mickelson has been making strides in the Pro Sport class, improving every weekend. He is seventh in points, but only a mere 11 points out of the top four. Things look good for Mickelson to gain more points, as the next round is his hometown track, just 20 miles away.

JoHannah Vossman took fifth in WMX and third in Schoolgirl, but was expecting more from herself. “It was not my best weekend. I definitely want to use it as one my drops. Sunday’s motos turned out really well but bad motos on Saturday just did not let it work out. We are looking to get first in Schoolgirl and top three in WMX next round.”

Until the gates drop at the next race, Vossman is hard at work ready to redeem herself. “We are at Sam Rowe’s house right now training hard, riding, working out, and getting ready for Millville,” said Vossman.

Tommy Vossman had a solid weekend with consistent finishes in both 450 B and Production B, taking fourth and seventh overall.

“We salvaged the weekend. In practice, I felt really good. On Saturda,y I got hit in the holeshot and wrecked, I think that drained me. Sunday I just wasn’t ready, but I gave it all I had. We are going to train really hard, build upon our mistakes, and come out swinging. I am sitting third and fourth in my classes. We are right there I just have to finish out the season strong and keep my head straight,” explained Vossman.

Alex Gillette captured his season best finish in College 16-24. Gillette went 4-4 for fifth overall and is closing in on the top ten points position even after missing a few rounds.

Root River Racing will return to the AMA ATV Motocross Nationals at Spring Creek MX in Millville, MN July 2-3. This is the team’s hometown track, so they will be looking to build up many podium finishes and overall wins.