The men’s championship round at the Jeep 48STRAIGHT mountain bike series in San Luis Obispo featured two of the most powerful racers in mountain biking history, E.CVbCrLf Eric Carter from Temecula, and Brian Lopes from Laguna Beach. Lopes has been battling Carter for almost a quarter of a century. Their BMX racing days were before they switched to mountain biking.
Lopes won the individual event title with four World Championships as well as nine National Championships. But Carter took the Jeep overall championship with 13 National Championships, a World Championship and more than 30 career wins. This race was based on Lopes’ previous stops in New Jersey, Utah, and New Jersey.
Carter would need all of his experience from his career in order to navigate through a bracket full of top-ranked riders. Carter, who has been a Jeep racer for six years, knew that it would take hard runs, good breaks, and the ability not to get hurt to win the prize that had been elusive for so long.
It was funny, because I didn’t feel very good on the course and never felt like I had my rhythm. But, I think I was riding faster than I thought, because I had some good runs, knocked out some great competitors, VbCrLf Carter. It was quite a feat to accomplish this and I am blown away by how well I managed to do it. VbCrLf
He defeated Logan Binggeli, an Open Qualifier from St. George, Utah and Mike Haderer, a surprising Open Qualifier from Concord, Calif. In the second round, he beat Mike Hadererer, who was a National Champion and won the first Jeep race in New Jersey. Carter will have to face Greg Minnaar, a three-time World Cup Champion from South Africa who won the second Jeep race of the season in Utah. Carter won the second heat but lost to Minnaar. He then stormed back to win the third heat and secure a place in the finals. The Lopes day was just as impressive, with wins over Open Qualifier Joey Backus from Mesa, Ariz. and National Champion Rich Houseman (Temecula) and four-time Australian National Champion Jared Rando. Carter was able to secure the season championship, but he suffered an injury that prevented him from capturing the win. Minnaar defeated Rando in the consolation heat to take the final spot on top.
I felt strong in practice on Friday, and was first in the qualifier. This gave me a lot of confidence going into today’s race. I had high expectations of myself and was disappointed in my performance in the first race. I was determined to win and come out today against such high-level athletes.
Arizona’s Melissa Buhl, a woman from Chandler, placed second in the women’s competition. She also won first place in Utah and three U.S. National Championships, including the dual slalom, mountaincross and downhill. She was crowned the season champion after finishing second in San Luis Obispo. This further established her status as one of the best racers in the sport. Buhl won victories over Leslie Slagle from El Cajon, California and Lisa Myklak from Boulder, Colorado before she reached the Championship Heat against Fionns Griffiths of Great Britain. Griffiths, a three time World Cup winner and who has never missed any Jeep races in the event’s six-year history, was dominant throughout, starting with a win over Folsom Californias Joanna Peterson, and ending with a stunning victory over National Champion Kathy Pruitt, Santa Cruz, California. To reach the finals. To win the individual event title, Griffiths won over Buhl. Pruitt won the consolation heat over Myklak to take third place.
Today I felt confident because the course layout and speed were exactly what I was looking for, VbCrLf Buhl. The entire season has been incredible for me and it is the best I have ever ridden. I’m having a blast and know I will have a target and have to work harder to maintain this level.
Each finisher up to 16th placed received cash earnings from San Luis Obispo’s championship winner. Paul Mitchell provided additional sponsorship bonuses and keys to the new Jeep Grand Cherokee for the season champion. The prize pool for Jeep 48STRAIGHT was the largest in the sport, making it the most lucrative.
CHAMPIONS OVERALL
Mens Champion Eric Carter Temecula, California.
Womens Champion Melissa Buhl Chandler, Arizona.
Mens San Luis Obispo Results
1. Brian Lopes Laguna Beach, Calif.
2. Eric Carter Temecula (Calif.)
3. Greg Minnaar South Africa
4. Jared Rando Australia
5. Kyle Strait Costa Mesa, Calif.
6. Rich Houseman Temecula, Calif.
7. J.D. Swanguen San Diego, Calif.
8. Mike Haderer Concord, Calif.
9. Cody Warren Alpine, Calif.
10. Petr Hanak Winter Park in Colorado
11. Mitch Ropelato Ogden in Utah
12. Logan Binggeli St. George, Utah
13. Neko Mulally Reading (Pa.
14. Amiel Cavalier Auburn, Calif.
15. Brad Oien Fountain Valley, Calif.
16. Joey Backus Mesa, Ariz.
Womens San Luis Obispo Results
1. Fionn Griffiths Great Britain
2. Melissa Buhl Chandler, Ariz.
3. Kathy Pruitt Santa Cruz, Calif.
4. Lisa Myklak Boulder (Colo.)
5. Michelle Rivera La Puente, Calif.
6. Stephanie Nychka Gresham, Ore.
7. Joanna Peterson Folsom (Calif.
8. Leslie Slagle El Cajon, Calif.
CBS Sports will broadcast the Jeep 48STRAIGHT event in San Luis Obispo on November 1 on CBS Sports.
