The final round of the AMA National Grand Prix Championship made its way to Lake Havasu City, AZ for the Vikings GP and as it has been all year, the racing in the Pro classes was nothing short of exciting. Some of the big storylines included now 3x champion Dante Oliveira riding a KTM 300SX at the finale while younger brother and newly crowned Pro 2 champion Mateo would move up to the 450 class for his first forray with the big dogs. The usual cast of characters were all on the line eager to earn their first win of the season, though they’d have to go through the notoriously tough Oliveira brothers on what might be there best track of the season. Enjoy.
Prior to the race, Johnny Campbell announced Tarah Gieger’s professional retirement while at the Pro rider’s meeting. Quite an emotional moment for the both of them, it was a pleasant send-off for the accomplished racer.The fastest team manager in the pits? That’d be Robby Bell of the Precision Concepts Kawasaki team.Dante has grown to be a crowd favorite amongst the youth.The talk of the town was Dante’s factory 300SX.Parker Ross is the latest moto kid to try his hand at off-road with success on the SLR Honda team.Very few things in life resemble the feelings felt while sitting on the start line.Zach Osborne’s 450MX championship winning mechanic Dave Feeney is now spinning wrenches off-road for Austin Walton.The terrain in Havasu is painfully rocky. Trevor Stewart tosses a rock out of his line off the start.Paitently waiting.The Pro class rockets down the short start straight into the first turn.Dante powered out of turn one first on his might 300SX. Out of the turn, Dante did a front fender tap over the first tabletop as he led the pack.Walton was right in tow.Now a full timer in the GNCC Series, RPM KTM’s Gus Riordan found himself back on the wes coast to race Havasu, nabbing the Pro 2 holeshot.Dante led the opening lap on the two-stroke, pleasing the crowd in the process.Justin Hoeft took over the lead early and led the way for a few laps.30 minutes into the 90+ minute race, Dante briefly took over the lead.Austin Walton led Mateo by this much for much of the race.Dante had a small crash after the 30 minute mark, handing over the lead and a few positions in the process.Mateo hung tough all race long, running 2nd just a few seconds shy of the lead at one point.The fastest woman in off-road, Brandy Richards, stepped down to a 2023 125SX for this weekend.She won handily.In the Pro 2 class, Gus Riordan checked out from the start and won easily.Behind Riordan, a battle raged for the Pro 2 podium spots. Teammates Jack Simpson (17) and Parker Ross (12) touch plastic here.Kai Aiello held down a pdoium position for past the halfway point.Cole Zeller has burst onto the Pro 2 scene in a big way, showing he has what it takes to podium and even win.Nearing the 1 hour mark, Austin and Mateo were this close while holding down 1-2.After going undefeated in the Pro 2 class this year, Mateo’s first 450 ride schould scare the competition.Dante put his twos-troke at the front of the pack again at the hour mark, and never relinqueshed the lead again, despite having to pit for a second time.On the hunt.Tallon LaFountaine charged up in the latter half of the race.Trevor Stewart suffered an awful start, but put in the fastest laps of the entire race early.
Colton Aeck had a steady race to finish 7th Pro 2.Beta’s Dare Demartile has made a successful transition from moto to off-road showing podium speed as of late.Kaitlyn Jacobs capped off an injury-filled year with a Pro Women’s podium.Ryan Surratt is JCR Honda’s newest recruit. Anyone else see some JC style right here?More JC style?Tyler Lynn was another who suffered from a poor start, but moved up to 6th Pro at the checkers.Low rider.Havasu is a unique venue as you race right down onto (and sometimes through) the water.
Dante powered to the win, marking the first time a two-stroke has overalled an NGPC since Trevor Stewart did so in 2015 on a YZ250.Austin held off the younger Oliveira brother to finish 2nd on the day and 2nd in the championship.Mateo is the real deal and showed his potential with a close 3rd Overall in Havasu.Behind Riordan, Parker Ross proved to be the best of the rest today in the Pro 2 class.DBT’s own Tyler Belknap.Cole Zeller landed his first NGPC Pro 2 podium in Havasu and was more than happy to do so.This is what it’s all about.Mateo was pumped on his ride, as he should be.Dante and mechanic Bobby D celebrate seven wins and a third championship in a row.AMA’s Director of Racing showed up to crown some national champions.Mateo was greeted with his AMA National #1 plate.What a year this kid has had. Pretty much undefeated in both NGPC and WORCS.The young Aussie has shown impressive riding from east to west this year.A proud team right here.The queen of off-road.The super mom is ready for the next chapter in her life.Johnny and the team were there to celebrate Tarah’s final race – a well-deserved 2nd place.The final checkered flag of her professional career. Congrats, Tarah.
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