Perris Raceway
Perris, California
2009 Joker Machine Season Opener
March 8, 2009 - Perris Raceway
By: Ryan Evans
“Nasty” Nate Perkins and Tyson Burmeister both scored impressive main event victories at the 2009 Joker Machine Season Opener at Perris Raceway.
Former Youth National Champion Jason Ramirez entered the Scratch Main as the top scorer which earned him the right to first choice of starting position. Ramirez chose gate two and Perkins quickly picked gate one. Northern California’s Bryce Starks selected gate four which left Burmeister with gate three.
Perkins got the best start, led the field into turn one and down the back straight with his three younger contemporaries in tow. Perkins led at the end of lap one, but Ramirez separated himself from Starks and Burmeister and challenged the leader on the inside entering turn one. Perkins drifted off the inside exiting turn two and Ramirez tried the same inside move going into turn three. The veteran closed the door on the youngster and still led at the midway point of the four-lap race. Ramirez showed Perkins his wheel twice more but was unable to force a mistake. Perkins was first to the checkered flag, Ramirez settled for second, Starks finished third, and Burmeister was fourth.
Three rounds of scratch heats began with Gary Hicks scorching the field for the opening victory. Each round featured one wild card rider who would compete in just one heat. The wild card rider for round one was Austin Novratil and he blitzed the field to take the win.
Hicks began round two by pulling away to a commanding lead before suffering bike problems on the final lap that cost him the victory and ultimately ended his day. Ramirez benefitted from Hicks’s misfortune and scored the win. Perkins held off Starks to end round two with his first win of the day.
Starks started the final round by winning a hotly contested four-lap battle with John Marquez. The final heat began with Ramirez and Burmeister battling side-by-side for two laps before Burmeister found more grip on the outside cushion and pulled away for a very impressive heat victory.
Burmeister, Starks, and Mike “Spiderman” Bloom lined up on the 20 yard line for the Handicap Main Event with Ramirez behind them. Burmeister used the wide line to secure the lead while Starks gave chase on the inside. Starks felt pressure from Ramirez, and his preoccupation with him allowed Burmeister to lengthen his lead. Burmeister scored the victory, Starks held on for second, Ramirez was third, and Bloom finished fourth.
Novratil won his heat, his semi, and capped his perfect day with a dominant victory in the Second Division Main Event. Rudy Laurer was second, Brad Pappalardo finished third, Bobby Campbell was fourth, Mark Baldwin finished fifth, and Kyle Hicks was sixth.
Drew Coates put together four smooth laps to win the Third Division Main Event. Bubba Vazzana was second, Tom Bostic finished third, Billy J. Vaughn was fourth, Tim McGrath finished fifth, and Josh Abbott was sixth.
Rocco Scopellite matched his success at the New Years Classic with another victory in the Youth Main Event. Samuel Ramirez finished second, Maxwell Ruml was third, Ryan Vaughn finished fourth, and Hayley Perrault was fifth.
Kylie Ayers earned her first trophy with a win in the Pee Wee Main Event. Gino Scopellite finished a very close second, Keelan Venegas was third, and Abby Bostic finished fourth.
RESULTS
Pee Wee Main Event
17 – Kylie Ayers
7 – Gino Scopellite
43 – Keelan Venegas
15 – Abby Bostic
Youth Main Event
9 – Rocco Scopellite
22 – Jason Ramirez
356 – Maxwell Ruml
127 – Ryan Vaughn
0 – Hayley Perreault
Third Division Consolation
292 – Mike Schultz
217 – Justin Acselrod
157 – Tony DeAlmeida
226 – Rick Huspek
266 – Jonni Jade
Third Division Main Event (restarted)
195 – Drew Coates
274 – Bubba Vazzana
222 – Tom Bostic
181n – Billy J. Vaughn (penalty line)
186 – Tim McGrath
141 – Josh Abbott (penalty line)
Second Division Consolation
171 – Kenny Hansen
389 – Ryan Tovatt
326 – Mark Lane
240n – Rick Fehrman
153 – Brad Moreau
Second Division Main Event
8j – Austin Novratil
182 – Rudy Laurer
145 – Brad Pappalardo
228 – Bobby Campbell
115 – Mark Baldwin
103 – Kyle Hicks (retired)
Handicap Main Event (restarted)
184 – Tyson Burmeister 20
245n – Bryce Starks 20
66 – Jason Ramirez 30
22 – Mike Bloom 20
3 – Gary Hicks 40 (non starter)
182 – Rudy Laurer 10 (non starter)
Scratch Heat Scoring 1 2 3 T
3 – Gary Hicks 3 E N 3
8j – Austin Novratil* 3 - - 3
13 – Nate Perkins 2 3 1 6
22 – Mike Bloom 0 2 0 2
41 – John Marquez 0 1 2 3
66 – Jason Ramirez 2 3 2 7
115 – Mark Baldwin* 1 - - 1
145 – Brad Pappalardo* 0 - - 0
184 – Tyson Burmeister 1 1 3 5
245n – Bryce Starks 1 2 3 6
*= Wild Card
Race Results
11: Hicks, Perkins, Starks, Bloom
12: Novratil, Ramirez, Burmeister, Marquez
15: Ramirez, Bloom, Marquez, Hicks (engine failure)
16: Perkins, Starks, Burmeister, Pappalardo
23: Starks, Marquez, Baldwin, Hicks (non starter)
24: Burmeister, Ramirez, Perkins, Bloom
Scratch Main Event
13 – Nate Perkins
66 – Jason Ramirez
245 – Bryce Starks
184 – Tyson Burmeister
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