Jethro Halbert

Sad news broke overnight when it was announced Jethro Halbert had passed away having not recovered from a crash at Calistoga last September.

I met Jethro for the first time in January 2010, when I was out at the Las Vegas indoor short track. I was there to write a story on his brother, Sammy, who I didn't know much about at the time, but I was told he was a good subject for a story.

Jethro was there, with Sammy and Willy, their dad (pictured with me on that night below), all travelling in a converted school bus, renamed the Cool Bus. Jethro won the dash for cash and the main that weekend. He was so much quieter than Sammy or his dad, and didn't grab headlines but he was a hell of a racer and, in my limited dealings at least, a very nice guy.

Jethro had recently become a father.

It's a sad day. G

Sammy Halbert coming to UK and Europe

Slammin' Sammy Halbert, the baby-faced assassin, the baddest bad ass in a race series full of bad asses, is coming to Europe in October to be the guest instructor at the 2014 International Dirt Track Festival, at Motorland Aragon, Spain (there are still a few places for novices and experts, but only a few).

This is a rare opportunity for mortals, numpties even, to ride and race with a proper star.

The Multiple GNC race winner will also be appearing - talk show style - at a DTRA x Sideburn night on Saturday 18th October in the English midlands. Details to be confirmed, keep watching the blog.

It'll be something like the Chris Carr Night and the David Aldana Night we've done in the past. Open to anyone who buys a ticket, not just DTRA members. G

Daytona Short Track: Day 2

Kenny Coolbeth Jr wins day 2 at the Daytona GNC season opener. He had led the previous night before a red flag, but didn't restart as well. At one stage in night two he had a 2.5s lead.

Dash for Cash (for the six quickest Expert qualifiers). #5 Johnson; #80 Bonsey; #44 Robinson; #69 J Halbert; #7 S Halbert; #13 Constantine. 

It finished Johnson; Constantine; S Halbert.

Pro Singles class action. 67M Davis Fisher.

Veteran rider (born in 1964!) Dan Ingram made the main, coming 13th. Love everything about this photo: body language; leathers and full face lid. They have so much more character than generic MX pyjamas.

Stevie Bonsey had another good night. He's won on twins and this 3rd on a single shows he has the all-round ability to challenge for the title.

 2011 champ Jake Johnson came in second.

 Sammy Halbert and Kenny Coolbeth.

 Ingram and JR Schnabel.

1. Coolbeth. 2. Johnson. 3. Bonsey
Sammy Halbert came in 4th giving him a clear points lead going to the next round, the Springfield Mile in May AND SIDEBURN IS GOING TO BE THERE!

All photos courtesy of AMA Pro Racing.

Daytona Short Track 1 Photos

When MX pyjamas attack. Reigning champ Jared Mees in practice wearing the new Troy Lee crossing lady outfit. It didn't slow him down, he still came in third in the first night's action. His traditional adversaries, Jake Johnson and Sammy Halbert, were 7th and injured, respectively.

Mikey Rush, in qualifying, he won the first night's race.

Briar Bauman hanging it out. He made the main, but had difficulties and came in last.

Sam Lowe (not the World Supersport one), on the Chip Chism Honda, didn't progress through from the semis.

Jake Johnson - MX gear, MX lid, goggles, front mudguard...

John Wood: Leathers, Freddie Spencer rep full-face, no front mudguard (and just missed out on the main)

Jethro Halbert, tenth in the main. His brother Sammy was there, hoping to race after an off-season cruciate ligament operation, but it seems he wasn't fit enough.

Bryan Smith, always more of a threat on the twins, came 17th in the first evening's main.

Ion Stear, styling, but didn't make the main in this cutthroat field (thanks Stu).

The track looked perfect.

 44, Brandon Robinson, would get past #5 Johnson, for fifth place.
#17 Henry Wiles, (still on a Kawasaki, not a Honda as the results say - see comments), fourth in the final.

Brad Baker, #12, would lead most of the evening, but Mikey Rush mugged him for the win. Look at Rush in attack mode; crossed-up, front wheel off the deck.

1. Rush, 2. Baker, 3. Mees.

All photos courtesy of AMA Pro Racing.

Coolbeth and Vanderkuur win at Pomona

After missing a chunk of the season with a broken leg, Coolbeth squeezed out another win before the end of the season. 

Brad Baker (12) and Brandon Robinson (44). Brandon came in 9th on the Werner Springsteen Kawasaki. He'll be a threat next year, if he sticks with the team.

 Pomona race winner and Pro Singles 2012 champ, Stephen Vanderkuur.

The four men to watch all year have been Smith, Mees, Halbert and Johnson.

 Dave Zanotti and a quartet of killer XRs. Read about every last detail of Zanotti's championship-winning bikes in Sideburn 11.

Sammy was confident going into the final round, but it didn't work out, despite being fast enough to come second to Baker in the Dash for Cash.

Sammy couldn't capitalise on Jared Mees' uncharacteristic 8th place. Sammy came in 13th, behind his brother, Jethro (#69) who was 10th. Brad Baker (#12) got a great second and won the Dash for Cash.
Jethro has hardly raced in the GNC this year, but still made the Dash for Cash. He's some talent, too.

The Wood Rotax twin (Rotax-built BMW-badged motor) made a rare GNC outing with Scott Baker on board and made the Main.

Pro Singles first corner body language master class.

Bryan Smith's third place secured him the twins championship for Kawasaki! Mees had already sewn up the singles title and was confirmed the combined GNC champ. Good work.

All photos: AMA Pro Racing

Sammy is King at Castle Rock

Another solid finish from the first (full) year Expert, Briar Baumann - 10th in the Main. He was on one of the two Kawasakis to make the main. There were three Yamahas (including the winners) and the remaining 11 Expert finalists rode Honda CRF450s.

 Joe Kopp made a comeback, came 7th in the main.

Sammy and Brad Baker (who came 9th in the Main). One's running a low-pipe, the other high.

The front view of that battle. I really like Baker's Troy Lee kit (and the fact he's not running a mudguard).

JD Beach, a great fifth in the main.

Sammy's TT set-up, Pyjamas and petal discs.

Pro Singles winner, Jacob Lehmann.

Sammy led from beginning to end. This is the Halberts home race, they're from Graham, Washington. Sammy won the Dash for Cash, Jethro (#69) was second, and Sammy led the most laps. Clean sweep. He won here last year too.

Sammy wins, Jake Johnson second and Jared Mees third. These three are a class above this season. Jake even remembered to smile. He doesn't normally when he isn't in the middle. 

But what are the trophy girls looking and smiling at? Has Sammy dropped his pants? G