ATV Motocross

ITP Race Report From Briarcliff ATV MX National

Wednesday, June 18, 2014 | 10:35 AM

ITP-backed ATV motocross racers earned four class wins and 10 podiums at round five of the 2014 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship series held in Nashport, Ohio. JB Racing / Can-Am / ITP racer Jeffrey Rastrelli took second overall in the Pro-Am class, while fellow ITP-backed Pro Ronnie Higgerson was third. Higgerson earned the top finish for Team ITP in the Pro class, matching a career-best with sixth.

"The inaugural Briarcliff ATV MX National proved to be tougher than expected, but our racers earned four class wins and numerous podiums," said Pat McGuire, Public Relations / Race Support. "We still have three racers, Josh Creamer, Jeffrey Rastrelli and Ronnie Higgerson, in the top 10 of the Pro class, and Higgerson is also leading the Pro-Am class so we're close to where we want to be after five rounds of racing."

JB Racing / Cheerwine / Can-Am / ITP racer Jeffrey Rastrelli finished second overall in the Pro-Am class with a 3-1 moto scorecard at round five of the ATVMX Nationals in Ohio
JB Racing / Cheerwine / Can-Am / ITP racer Jeffrey Rastrelli finished second overall in the Pro-Am class with a 3-1 moto scorecard at round five of the ATVMX Nationals in Ohio Photo: Courtesy of ITP

The Built Ford Tough Briarcliff ATV National was held at Briarcliff MX, a private motocross track outside of Nashport, Ohio, known for its rolling hills, loamy soil and many jumps. Racers had ideal weather for the weekend. Eighteen Pros and more then 20 Pro-Am racers battled it out for the top spot on each podium this past Saturday and Sunday. 

Ronnie Higgerson captured sixth in the Pro class, matching a career-best finish and also was third in the Pro-Am ranks at round five in Ohio
Ronnie Higgerson captured sixth in the Pro class, matching a career-best finish and also was third in the Pro-Am ranks at round five in Ohio Photo: Courtesy of ITP

Ronnie Higgerson (BCS Performance / Can-Am / ITP) earned the highest finish for ITP, taking sixth overall with a 5-7-moto scorecard. Higgerson, who led a portion of moto one, had two great starts, matched a career-best finish and climbed to eighth overall in the Pro class point standings. Two other ITP racers had a couple of issues in Pro class at Briarcliff. Josh Creamer started a few laps down in moto one after making a last-minute mechanical repair. He paired the uncharacteristic 16th-place finish in moto one with a more solid sixth-place finish in moto two to earn 10th overall. JB Racing / Cheerwine / Can-Am rider Jeffrey Rastrelli crashed in moto one and had to settle for 18th overall. 

After a night of rest, Rastrelli rebounded from his Pro class misfortunes to take second overall in the Pro-Am ranks on Sunday. He added a hard-fought, third-place podium finish with a moto-two victory to claim second place in front of fellow Can-Am / ITP pilot, Higgerson. The BCS Performance-backed Higgerson, posted a 4-3 moto scorecard on ITP tires to not only take his fourth straight podium finish, but also maintain a 20-point lead over the field in the race for the Pro-Am championship.

Sam Rowe leads Dalton Hicks through a sweeper turn at round five of the 2014 Mtn. Dew ATVMX National Championship Series held at Briarcliff MX in Ohio. Rowe won the class and Hicks ended up second, giving Root River Racing / ITP a 1-2 finish
Sam Rowe leads Dalton Hicks through a sweeper turn at round five of the 2014 Mtn. Dew ATVMX National Championship Series held at Briarcliff MX in Ohio. Rowe won the class and Hicks ended up second, giving Root River Racing / ITP a 1-2 finish Photo: Courtesy of ITP

Team ITP racers also scored four amateur class wins at Briarcliff. "Factory" Sam Rowe (Root River Racing / Pepsi / Rage ATV / Motowoz / ITP) did a double with wins in both the 450A and Open A classes on his Honda dressed in ITP tires. He now has six podium finishes and five wins on the season and is the point’s leader in both classes. Dalton Hicks took second to Rowe in the Open A division. Antoher class point’s leader, Dylan Tremellen, took the overall victory in the Production A class. The Root River Racing / Rage ATV / FTR Powersports / ITP racer, who is currently second in the 450A class, has seven podium finishes and five wins in two classes this year. William Cottage, on a RRR-backed Honda, notched a victory for Team ITP in the Junior 25+ class.

RRR / Motowoz / ITP racer Sean Taylor took fifth in the Pro-Am class at round five using ITP Quadcross MX2 fronts and Quadcross MX rear tires
RRR / Motowoz / ITP racer Sean Taylor took fifth in the Pro-Am class at round five using ITP Quadcross MX2 fronts and Quadcross MX rear tires Photo: Courtesy of ITP

TEAM ITP - Briarcliff MX Podium Finishers

  • Pro-Am: Jeffrey Rastrelli (2nd), Ronnie Higgerson (3rd), 
  • 450A: Sam Rowe (WIN) 
  • Open A: Rowe (WIN), Dalton Hicks (2nd)
  • Production A: Tremellen (WIN)
  • Junior 25+: William Cottage (WIN)
  • Schoolboy Jr. (13-15): Noah Mickelson (2nd), Westley Wolfe (3rd)
  • Girls Jr. (6-11) Teagan Liebe (3rd)
William Cottage won the Junior 25+ class on ITP tires at round five of the ATVMX National series in Nashport, Ohio
William Cottage won the Junior 25+ class on ITP tires at round five of the ATVMX National series in Nashport, Ohio Photo: Courtesy of ITP

The 2014 Mtn. Dew ATV Motocross National Championship Series continues, June 28-29, at the Mtn. Dew Spring Creek ATV National in Millville, Minn.