BITD: Adelanto Grand Prix race report

Two legends in off-road Motorcycle racing joined forces on February 23 - 24, to bring what is already known as the biggest and best Motorcycle Grand Prix of all time, the "Adelanto Grand Prix" to new heights! Best In The Desert Racing Association and Desert Vipers Motorcycle Club were ecstatic about the turn out for the 2002 "Adelanto Grand Prix!" "It reached all of our expectations," says Casey Folks, Director of Best In The Desert, "the Desert Vipers MC put on a great event, we were all very impressed with the logistics and the organization of such a huge event." The Adelanto Grand Prix reached an all-time participant record of over 2,000 racers and spectators were estimated at over 35,000! That is an incredible event!"

This was the 22nd running of the Adelanto Grand Prix, one of the last great Grand Prix's in this country. The Adelanto Grand Prix was a 12-mile course, which ran through the streets of Adelanto, each race had a one-hour time limit to it with the Pro Race was timed at one and a-half hours. The criteria for a true "Grand Prix" must include a course run on pavement and natural terrain and must include water crossings and man-made jumps. The Adelanto Grand Prix met all of these criteria and so much more! The Adelanto Grand Prix event offered everything you could possibly expect at any event. They had a carnival for the kids, there were Motorcycle and Quad vendors for the shopping enthusiast, there were food and beverage vendors, grandstands to view the triple jumps and water jumps, and there were free concerts to enjoy Saturday and Sunday!

Larry Roeseler, a past King of Adelanto, was a great Grand Marshall of the event, and not only raced both days but was also on hand for autographs! Another unexpected celebrity attended the event, Franco Acerbis, of Acerbis Italia, the leading plastic manufacture for motorcycle plastics, flew in from Italy for the event, and as he put it, loved the "hugeness and excitement" of the event. He waved the flag for the start of the Pro Race and when he was introduced every motorcycle racer stood up and saluted him, it was a great moment!

This was the first year that the Best In The Desert Racing Association sanctioned the event and they proved again that they continue to live up to their name, BEST IN THE DESERT!

For results, please log on to the Desert Vipers MC web site at www.desertvipersmc.com

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