Sunday, July 2nd, is the 7th and final race in the 2006 CCCX Mtn Bike Series. Division titles are up for grabs, a fun and fast race course will be set, and series prizes will be awarded following each race. Most divisions have a solid leader, and it could take major issues to upend the current #1 seed. Yet some divisions will not be settled until the final race. This will lead to great final race action and good competition taking place 2 weeks before the National Mtn Bike Championships held at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. There will also be a fund raising effort for expert female racer Janel Lodge(Black Market Racing), with a raffle taking place in her benefit. The raffle will take place at 2 pm during the expert competition.

Top 5 racers in each division will receive awards, with smaller groups receiving awards to top 3. 2006 Fox Racing Shox will be awarded to Pro-Semi Pro men, Expert Female, Sport Female and Beg. Female division champions. This is a effort by the CCCX series and Fox Racing Shox to promote female racing and award their achievements and athletic accomplishments.

Here is a quick look at each division:

Pro/Semi Pro Men- Larry Hibbard(Family Cycling Center) and Jason Rahlwes(Fox Racing Shox) have been the two dominate individuals in this group. Hibbard has been the strongest and looks to take first place for the series if he has just a decent ride. Hibbard opened up the season winning the first four races. Mark Howland(Black Market Racing) started slowly, but seems to be riding very strong heading toward the final race of the year.

Expert Men Under 34- Nick Kintz(Joselyn's) appears to have this division signed, sealed, and delivered. The high school talent has had some great rides during the seven race series. Mark Faulkner(Joselyn's) has found some late season form taking 1st place in the past two CCCX races and is poised for a fine series finish. Brent Carkeet(Scotts Valley Cycle Sport) has also raced very well this season and sits 3rd in series points. Greg Heinz(Bay Bikes) is AWOL and has not taken part in the last two races but still has points to make the top 5. Mike Orenich(Sycip) skipped the first few events but has placed well the final 3 races to make a move for an awards position in the rankings.

Expert Men 35-44- Brock Dickie(Sycip) missed race #1, but has never finished out of the top two places in five attempts and has won the past three races. Dickie holds a solid series lead. Tim Johnston(Father of 2) sits a strong second in points and has two very nice wins during the series. Miles Wadsworth(Family Cycling Center) holds third in series points only two points ahead of Bay Bikes-Calabazas Cycles-Ritchey sponsored racer Keith DeFiebre. Mike Holk(VT) and Mike Morgan(Sycip) are next in series points in this competitive division.

Expert Men 45-54- Brad Williamson(Family Cycling Center) and William Hal (LGBRC/Specialized/Easton) will take this division to the final race. If Hall claims a first place finish in the final he could take top honors for the year. Brett Lambert(Scotts Valley Cycle Sport) missed too many races to battle for the overall but he did win 3 times this season in the series. Scott Martin(Bike Trip) has made a late charge for series points and looks set to finish in the top 5 overall.

Expert Men 55+- Gary Anghinetti(PennVelo/Kenda) has been the workhorse in this division and looks set to take home the hardware for his effort. Larry Broberg(Bike Trip) and Richard Wadsworth(Family Cycling Center) have also posted some stellar racing during the 2006 CCCX events.

Expert Single Speed- Micah Mozel(Joselyn's) is one of only two CCCX racers to post 5 wins in the first 6 races. Mozel has a solid lock on the series title. Eric Ebberoth(Bay Bikes) has raced very well all year long and looks to claim the #2 position in the rankings. Jeremy Loader(Joselyn's) has raced very consistent and should round out the top 3 in this very aggressive group of riders. Scott Vogelmann(Joselyn's) and Pat Schott(Black Market Racing) are poised to make up the rest of the top 5 placing in this single minded division.

Expert Female- Kathleen Bortolussi(Velo Bella), Beverly Chaney(Roaring Mouse Cycles), and Janel Lodge(Black Market Racing) have been the outstanding racers in this group. One of these incredibly talented racers will walk home with the series grand prize of a Fox Racing Shox for their effort. Janel Lodge is fighting a different battle and she will be honored by the CCCX racers with a fund raiser and raffle in honor of her fighting spirit. Paula Bock(Garmin Motionbased) has also raced well in this strong group of female racers.

Sport Men Under 34- Riding out of Martinez, Danny McNaughton has been the best so far in this group. McNaughton has been very consistent in all of his races entered. Chris Saleen of Belmont and Darren Chamberlin(Mako/Galaxy Granola) have also been forces in this group that features talented and dedicated riders. Scott Otvos of Pleasanton, Vincent Brown(Hwy 68 Hillbillies) and Matt Leonard(Team Wrong Way) are also in running for top 5 series finish.

Sport Men 35-44- This is the largest group in the CCCX series and Chris Marsiguerro(Joselyn's) looks set to claim the #1 ranking. Marsiguerro trains like a professional and his results speak for them self. Peter Gilberd of San Francisco, Alexander Rouch(Joselyn's), Bill Tuer of Boulder Creek, Troy Doolittle(Top Dog Illustration) and Bryan Arp(Beyond Limits) have all proven themselves to be great riders in this tuff group of mature riders.

Sport men 45-54- Berge Lokmagozian of Monterey has been dominate in this group for years. He should be racing expert after winning this group year after year. Peter Sherrill(Mt Whitney Wheelworks), Dan Nelson(NTP Racing),Tom Jakaby of Los Gatos, Dwight Goss(Redwood Riders), David Beasly of Belmont, and Joselyn's racer Robert Estrella all are battling for the coveted top 5 series finish. All of these racers have had great rides during the 2006 series.

Sport Men 55+- Bob Nanninga(Team Singletrax) owns this division with some outstanding results during the 2006 season. Ronald Riley of Team Santa Cruz also has proven himself as one of the most technical savvy riders in the bunch with some great rides during the year.

Clydesdale- Russell Carmick(Bike Route) is the best of the big men and his fitness and form have lead to a first place ranking so far for 2006. Chris Baker of Soquel also has made a name for himself on the circuit and looks set to claim a series award. Scott valley Cycle Sports Mike Colombani has been one of the most steady racers in the group and his consistency places him in the top 3 in rankings. Colombani has a slight points lead over fast riding Daymon Prewitt of Marina who has home field advantage on the trails of Ft Ord which are technically in Prewitt's back yard.

Sport Single Speed- Max Hinckley(Bobcat Bicycles) has been the most outstanding rider in this hard fought group. Hinckley has three wins out of the first six races for 2006. Allan Sherlock(Team Wrong Way), Eric Thunstrom(Team Santa Cruz/SCCCC), Michael Mann(Team Performance), Gordan Martin(Newman's Own/ Winning Wheels Racing), Chip Lomas of San Jose, Alf Ebberoth(Team Performance), Scott Calley(Newman's Own/Winning Wheels Racing) and Steve Kelley of Salinas have all scored fine results in this group.

Sport Women- Birgit Johnston(Mother Of 2) is the other rider in the series besides single speed riding Mozel to post 5 wins in the first 6 races. Johnston is super talented and she looks set to walk home with a 2006 Fox Racing Shox for her effort in racing mtn bikes during the 2006 CCCX series. Jesse May Campbell of Monterey, Henrietta Stern(Hot Flash Chicks), Julie Starling(Velo Bella), Daphne Hodgson(Velo Bella), and Stacey Palermini(Top Dog Illustraion) are the other fast women in this high riding group of fine females.

Beg. Men 19-34- Marina Cycle and Skate has the top two riders in this division with Gerardo Ceda and Nathan Wood being the best after 6 races. Mark Engen of Monterey, Brian Griffin of Del Rey Oaks, Josh Sorci of Marina, and Jason Desper of Salinas all have a shot at taking one of the top 5 places at series end.

Beg Men 35-44- Mark Molchan(Treys True Wheels) has been the top rider for this division in 2006. Molchan has 5 finishes in either 1st or 2nd place during the year. John Gamble of Seaside is next in points after some fine riding during the competitions. Thomas Hogye(Scotts Valley Cycle Sport) is next in points and Hogye looks ready to post a big result in the final race after words of advise from team captain Colombani. Jeff McGrath(The Western Stage), Roger Monroe of Salinas, Peter Catalano of Felton, Mike Barajas of Scotts Valley, and John Kieser of Monterey have all shown incredible riding ability during the 2006 races.

Beg Men 45+- Modesto's own Curtis Colaw(TROGS) has put his stamp on this division and sits on top of the point standings. Kent Littlehale of Saratoga, Daniel Cholett(Captain Kana), J L De Jong of Cupertino, Bob Horne(MBTR-ADA), Michael Rosa of Milpitas, and John Paul Vierra McEldowney(Cool Cycling) have all made a push for top 5 rankings at series end.

Junior Boys 14-18- Joselyn's racer Jeremy Blalock has a slim points lead going into the final. Menso De Jong riding out of Cupertino is trying to apply pressure to the talented Monterey racer Blalock. This division will be decided on the final race. Taylor Shamshoian(Scotts Valley Cycle Sport) sits a comfortable third in series points. Dylan MacDonald(Kirby High School), Jack Fogelquist(Scotts Valley Cycle Sport), and Tristan Littlehale(Santa Cruz Syndicate Jrs.) all look set to make the final push for a top 5 in the series points and series prizes.

Beg Women- Salinas racer Michelle Monroe posted a solid win at race #6 and looks set to claim the final Fox Racing Shox for her series championship. Ayshe Tuncer of Aptos is next in points and has raced well all series long. Kristen Roberts(Monthly Cycle) looked strong winning the first four races, but she has maternity leave scheduled. Fast riding and good looking Lorri Lee Lown(Velo Girls/Tri Flow) holds down 4th position in points. While Pamela Kaull of Alameda and Gina Cole(Cal Giant Mom) are next in order on the point count.

Junior Boys 13 & Under- Strong riding and clever Maximiliam Burkhardt(GBK) sits a top the point total in this little guy division. Eli Riedl(Knuckle Heads), Derik Thunstrom(Team Bicycle Trip/SCCCC), Carl Dawson(Kirby High School), Jimmy Winne of Roseville, and Ben Sukys of Orinda have all proven themselves to be great riders in this group.

Junior Girls- Jesse Blalock of Monterey, Tania Lokmagozian of Monterey, Katy Kintz(Calvary Chapel High School), and Erin Rakoczy(Calvary Chapel High School) have all showed class and ability during the 2006 season. This group of young ladies is polite and always is happy to just be out racing their bikes. This shows the great future they all have as cyclists, and it also teaches the boys and adults to take this perspective on racing as well.

The CCCX series would like to thank everyone who raced during the 2006 season and all of the sponsors who happily get involved to keep bike racing active on the Central Coast.

Report from

Dusty Downs
Cycle Sport International