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Highland motocross riders do well
BY GEOFF COX • STAFF WRITER
 | | Representing Highland County in motocross last Tuesday at the Augusta County Fair in Fishersville were, in front (l-r) Jessup Nelson, Cullen Bendel, Noah Arnott, and Shane Pitsenbarger. In back (lr) Michael Humpries, Billy Lambert, Travis Hiner, Steven Beverage, and Lauren Siron. Sitting in front is "pit assistant" Kirsten Wood. (Photo courtesy Gail Arnott) |
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HARRISONBURG - Motocross riders representing Highland County took part in events at neighboring fairs recently and brought home a slew of top-five finishes, including wins by Billy Lambert and Noah Arnott.
Monday at the Rockingham County Fair, fans packing the grandstands for a dusty evening saw Arnott best his two sixth-place finishes from a week earlier at the Augusta County Fair, with a pair of firsts.
Riding in the 50cc, 7 to 8-year-old class, Arnott raced his Polini neck and neck with Honda rider Justin Cardin of Shenandoah. In the fourth and final lap, Cardin went down while leading, and was passed by Arnott, who held on for the win.
In his second race, the 50cc open-age class, Arnott, riding a Cobra Fast 50, traded the lead with Dakota Thomas of Stanley, on a KTM 50SX. On the final lap, Thomas stalled in a turn and Arnott took the win.
 | | Billy Shane Pitsenbarger, at bottom, reacts after being clipped and wrecked during the last jump at the fairgrounds in Harrisonburg. |
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Monday's racing also included a rematch between Lambert, on his Honda, and Travis Hiner on his YZ 250 Yamaha, riding head-to-head in the 250c class.
Last Tuesday in Augusta, Lambert finished first with Hiner hot on his heels in second. This time Hiner took the lead of the 10-rider group by lap two, but stalled in a corner and was passed. He fought his way back to the front and finished third, with Lambert following close behind in fourth.
Lambert also raced the 125c class and finished in the top three at both racetracks. He bested his third-place finish at Fishersville with a second in Harrisonburg.
"One more lap and I'd have had him," Lambert said. "I ride conservative and it paid off."
In the 50cc, 4 to 6-year-old class, Cullen Bendel rode his Honda to a solid fourth-place finish in a group of 12, and a fifth-place finish in the 50cc open age class. He also finished fourth at Augusta in his first-ever motocross.
 | | winner in the 50cc, 7-8 yearold division in his first race at the Rockingham County Fair. Arnott took home first place in the two races he competed in Monday night. |
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In the 65cc class, Shane Pitsenbarger attempted to follow up his third-place finish at Augusta. Near the front for the beginning of the race, Pitsenbarger slipped twice in turns. The second slip, near the end of the race, put him out of contention.
Riders Jessup Nelson and Michael Humphries missed the Rockingham event but raced in Fishersville.
Nelson competed in the 50cc, 7 to 8-year-old and open age classes finishing seventh and ninth while Humphries finished an impressive third in the 85cc, 12 to 15 age group.
More than 80 riders from around the Shenandoah Valley raced in Harrisonburg. In its sixth year, the third in the grandstand area, the motocross race is growing in popularity, said event assistant Brenda Muterspaugh of Valley Kawasaki and Suzuki.
 | | Billy Lambert spots his landing and turns his bike in mid-air to get there. Lambert finished second in the 125c class and fourth in the 250c class at Harrisonburg. (Recorder photos by Geoff Cox) |
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Other sponsors involved with the show and track were Burner Well Drilling, Reed Excavating, Early's Cycle, and Liberty Tax Service, Scott Wood, and Linville Hobby Shop.
 | | Billy Lambert, right, and Travis Hiner pose with their motorcross trophys from the race in Rockingham. |
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 | | Cullen Bendel, right, and Noah Arnott relax on their bikes with their hardware from the evening. |
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