Low times and big finishes at Night Before the Mile

Sam Halbert of Graham, Wash., left his mark on the Lodi Cycle Bowl in Friday’s Night Before the Mile race, hosted by the Lodi Motorcycle Club.

Halbert started the night by setting a course record of 14.95 seconds, and at the end of the night walked away the champion of the Open pro feature race.

“These guys came for the money and put on a show,” race director John Martin said in a release.

Halbert trailed Modesto’s Michael Inderbitzin with about four laps to go when Inderbitzin had a malfunction with his hot shoe, the device worn to help a rider’s foot slide along the flat track on turns. Halbert took the opportunity for the lead and held it until the finish.

Chad Cose (Fremont) and Jeffery Carver (Alton, Ill.) took second and third, respectively.

Outside of the Open Pro race, several other events featured local riders, with Lodi’s Dominic Dias winning the 250cc Open class ahead of Lockeford’s Tyler Raggio. Justin Anselmi, another Lodi racer, was third, followed by Stockton’s Charlie Nichols.

Others in the race from the local area included Lodi’s Kameron Broyles (sixth) and Elk Grove’s Jennifer Jensen (12th).

In the Open Am race, Lodi’s Christian Spurgeon out of Manteca’s Hunter Brooks, with Bakersfield’s Clayton Williams bringing up third.

This race included Elk Grove’s Jared Jensen (seventh) and Turlock’s Austin Hamilton (12th).

In the 85cc race, Elk Grove’s Dominic Demario took first in both motos to win the overall, followed by Lodi’s Chad Spurgeon in the second and Kody Kopp of Mica, Wash. in third. Others from nearby included Jeffrey Wells of Fairfield (ninth) and Kenny Holland of Stockton (10th).