| November 1, 2022
It was a perfect day for motorcycle racing in Fenton, Illinois, over the October 29-30 weekend for the 47th running of the classic off-road event now simply known as The Race, aka Illinois Cross Country Championship.
Sixteen-year-old Jhak Walker took the overall win at “The Race” in Fenton, Illinois.
Story and Photos by John Gasso
Approximately 250 riders competed over the two days of racing for the race that used to be billed as “America’s Tuffest Race.” The main race on Sunday was a 35-mile loop throughout the area fields, woods, creeks and logs surrounding The Bike Barn, in Fenton. Since the loop was a bit shorter than previous years, it was decided that the pro group should do three laps instead of the traditional two circuits of this challenging compilation of some of the most difficult trails that Bill Gusse could string together. It just wouldn’t be right if the race was not over 100 miles in length.
A shotgun blast just after 10:00 a.m. sent the first row out on their adventure. After flying across a giant expanse of freshly-harvested corn fields, the racers dropped into the woods for a challenging combination of everything from tight single track, creek crossings and fields to an obstacle affectionately referred to simply as “the log.” This log has been a hang-up for many seasoned veteran racers, and the Pro group would cross it three times. Just after 3:00 p.m., the GasGas 350 ridden by Jhak Walker wrapped up the final loop through the motocross track to collect the overall victory.
Walker, from the Springfield, Illinois area, rode his brother’s GasGas and beat many seasoned off-road racers. “It was definitely a nice one to win,” the 16-year-old said. “I am super pumped to get it done. It was really good. I just kept it going pretty well. I rode my best and came with it to win.
“I got a really good start,” he added. “I was probably top three into the woods. Then me, Tanner [Whipple], Colt [Zuidema], Easton [Morgan] and TJ [Nees] were all together the first lap. The second lap it was me and Tanner. And then I was leading it, I flipped, and Tanner got by me. I followed him, and we rode most of the second lap together. About a quarter way through the third lap, he lost his header [pipe]. Then I brought it home for the win.
Walker said he was happy to follow Tanner Whipple for much of the race. “I think it was way better following him,” said Walker, “because he has way better with line choices. I liked following him, and he is so smooth.”
“I had a great day going,” said Whipple. “I had fun all day. I put myself in a good position. I had 30 to 45 seconds on Jhak. Then it was time to go on the last lap. Then we got going and that happened. My pipe came off. I made the mistake of thinking that my race was over. I didn’t think I could get back across Rock Creek without destroying the bike. I also turned around and tried to grab [the pipe], and I realized it was pretty hot. Then I went back and got my phone out, called [my dad] to see if I could go across Rock Creek. He told me to go.”
Tanner Whipple made it a race but came up a little short at the end and had to settle for second overall.
Losing precious time and admittedly a bit of confidence, Whipple soldiered on with his wounded Kawasaki. “I’m just pretty disappointed,” he said. “I should have just kept going instead of thinking my day was done. All in all, it was a good day. Jhak rode absolutely amazing. Even if I had a header, he still could have got me.”
Rounding out the podium was Local racer Easton Morgan aboard his family-supported Fly Racing G2 KTM. Morgan had a bit of a tough start and an odd mid-race event, but overall was happy with third place.
“It was pretty rough,” Morgan said. “I kind of screwed myself off the start. I didn’t put myself in a very good spot leaving the barn, and I just tried to play catch-up that first lap. About three quarters of the way through I caught Walker and Whipple.”
After catching the lead pair, Morgan thought his bike had blown up when it coasted to a stop in a field. “I don’t know how it happened,” he said. “Near the barn my gas shut off. So, going through the field it just died. I thought I locked it up. I was looking around and saw the gas got shut off. I turned that on, but by the time I figured that out, I was pretty far behind. I never really saw them again.”
Morgan also made a point of thanking a local racer’s dad who helped him out of a tough situation near the end of the race. “I’d like to thank Kris Nees for getting me out of the last creek crossing at the turkey farm,” Morgan said. “I buried it pretty bad, so thanks to Kris.”
Easton Morgan filled out the podium.
OVERALL
- Jhak Walker (GG)
- Tanner Whipple (Kaw)
- Easton Morgan (KTM)
- Colton Zuidema (KTM)
- TJ Nees (KTM)
- Tommy Fortune Jr. (KTM)
- Tyson Emery (Yam)
- Bryan Johnson (Kaw)
- Jarrett Ruchotzke (KTM)
- Adam Bonneur (Yam)
