Three local motocross racers had their second straight impressive effort at a national event this past week.
Carson City's Aron Harvey, Robert Perez and Tyler Nielsen all fared well at the GNC International Final in Oak Hill, Texas. The event is the second national race of the season as all three riders were coming off solid efforts at the American Motorcycle Association Parts Unlimited Spring Classic held in Lake Whitney, Texas.
Harvey, a 2005 Carson High graduate who turned pro last summer, had an up and down performance at Oak Hill, but continued to move up the professional ranks. At Lake Whitney, Harvey took sixth in the 250cc A-Pro class and eighth in the 125 A-Pro division.
At Oak Hill, Harvey took fifth in the 250 Pro class. He had trouble in the 125 pro division, finishing 31st in the first moto, but came back to take third in the second moto to rally for a 16th place overall finish.
He was also 23rd in 125 A Modified. He finished fifth in his first moto in 250 A Modified, but struggled to 27th in his second moto and settled for a 14th place finish. At Lake Whitney, Harvey won his second national title, winning the 250 Open class.
Perez, a senior at Carson's Silver State High, also had his share of adversity over the past two weeks. The motor in the pickup used to transport the equipment for Perez blew on the way to Texas, causing more than $12,000 in damage.
Perez's father, Mike, brought a 18-foot van to Southern California through a snow storm, which had to be used to store everything that was being hauled in a 38-foot trailer. Perez was able to pick up another sponsor in Total Framing of Banning, Calif., which helped considerably with the travel expenses.
Other sponsors for Perez included Michaels Cycle Works, R&D Racing, Answer Racing, Dubach Racing Development, Dunlop Tires, Enzo Racing Suspension and Sidi Boots.
Despite the difficulties, Perez was able to post a top 10 performance each of the last two weeks. At Oak Hill, he took eighth in 250 Novice Modified and 17th in 125 Novice Stock. Perez has risen quickly up the national ranks after riding a motorcycle for just 2 1/2 years and racing for two years.
This weekend, Perez will be racing in an area qualifier in Arizona for the AMA Nationals held at Loretta Lynn's complex in Tennessee and will race in another Loretta Lynn's area qualifier in Hesperia, Calif. Perez will also be racing in Washington and Honey Lake, Calif.
Perez also credited the opportunity to make the trips to the national events to the support he's received from the Silver High staff.
Nielsen, another Carson City teenager, finished 26th in 125 Novice, 12th in 250 Modified Novice and 16th in 250 Novice Stroke.