Motorcycle racing roars in Yerington

Dennis Belingheri won the main event in last Sunday's Motorcycle Racing Association of Northern Nevada (MRANN) series race in Yerington, an event that featured riders wearing their Halloween costumes during the race.

The race was the seventh of the MRANN series, and it was hosted by the Yerington Dirt Squirts Motorcycle Club.

The organization is an offshoot of MRAN, which is based in southern Nevada. With a purpose of bringing desert racing to Northern Nevada, the non-profit group is made up of off-road motorcycle riding enthusiasts and competitors. Races within the organization are coordinated by member clubs offering events ranging from Pee Wee and Mini to Big Bikes.

Priding itself on these family-oriented events, MRANN brings entrants from all levels, and the whole family pitches in to pit for one another and show their support.

The 400-member organization currently runs eight races per year, with nine races scheduled for next season. Race locations are all around the Reno area, with one race in Tonopah to challenge the southern MRAN riders.

There are also three levels of competition in the Big Bike and Mini classes: novice, amateur and expert.

In the Pee Wee division, Trevor DeRuise won the 50cc class. Tyler York won the 60cc amateur class, Zack Fields won the expert class and Chris Walton won the novice class.

Bobby Garrison won the 80cc expert class, Erik Hatch won for amateurs and David Hamel triumphed in the novice class.

Travis Sluder won the 125cc expert class, Sean Berryman won the amateur class and Justin Phillipson won the novice class.

Belingheri, the MRANN president, won the 250cc expert main class, while Dana Losey won the amateur class and David Mayer won the novice class.

Dave Hamel triumphed in the expert class in the Open division, while Adam Thissen won the amateur class and Alan Cameron won the novice class.

Bill Diaz was the top expert class rider in the Over-30 division, while Jeff Puliti won for amateurs and Dan Charles triumphed in the novice class.

In Over-38, Mark Dowers won the expert class, John Morros won the amateur class and Mark Brazil won the novice class.

Emit Taylor won the expert class for the Four Stroke Division, while Russell Whitney triumphed in the amateur race and Larry Ogden won it for novices.

In the Over-50 division, Rodger Mercer won the expert class and Tom Gardner won the amateur class.

In the women's class, Michelle Danson was first and Susan Brown was second.

The next race, held on Nov. 14, will have an non-trophy "fun" class for those who wish to try out desert racing themselves. Regular riders in these events are sponsored by Big Valley Honda of Reno, Husaberg, Husqavarna, Team Clarita and Yamaha.

Spectators are welcome at all events, and there are no admission charges. Yearly membership in MRANN is $20, with one-day cards available for $5, and there are no district fees. Individual race fees vary according to the sponsor club.

For information, contact RMS at (775) 322-1499.