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Monday, May 19, 2008
2008 Big Sky Challenge
Cherry tops field in Big Sky hillclimb By FELICIA FRANK
For The Gazette
Speed and precision riding were what sent 21-year-old Eric Cherry over the top as the 2008 Big Sky Challenge Hillclimb champion.
The Laurel rider turned in a time of 8.645 seconds in the 701-Up class Sunday to capture the overall title in the two-day event at Billings Motorcycle Club.
C.R. Eisenzimer of Cascade finished a close second with a run of 8.786 seconds.
"When I went to the line I thought I'd throw out something like a nine-second run," said Cherry, "but I went for it and almost landed on the timers at the top. I guess I didn't let off on the throttle."
In fact, not letting go of the throttle is part of Cherry's motto. "You have to hold on and not let go. You have to pin it to win it."
Even with his first- and sixth-place finishes in Saturday's classes, Cherry was still humble going into Sunday's event.
"I knew I had a chance going into it just because my dad always has my bikes so perfect," he explained. "But everything came together and I posted the fast time."
Cherry's father, Dan, is his head mechanic and pitman.
"He'd rather me focus on the hill than focus on everything else," Cherry said. "It definitely works."
As for the significance of this win, Cherry says any championship is a big deal.
"This gives me a huge boost of confidence for the season," Cherry said while standing next to the six-foot tall trophy he received last year as the Overall Points Champion in the Western States Professional Hillclimb Series. He also holds the crown in Canada as the winner of last year's Rattlesnake Ridge Hillclimb held in Alberta.
Next up for Cherry in the three-part Western States Hillclimb Series is the Widowmaker event June 19-21 in Croydon, Utah. He will then focus on the third event in the series, the Great American Hillclimb at the Billings Motorcycle Club in July.
"I've been in the run-off to win the Great American for the last three or four years," he said, "but this year I really want it. I'm off to a good start.
"The competition every year gets tougher as the young guys get more experience. These guys are definitely hard competition."
One of those young guys is Eisenzimer. The Cascade biker has been within a tenth of a second of winning the Big Sky Challenge championship each of the past two years, finishing just behind Petey Krunich of Hayward, Calif., last year and Cherry this year.
Eisenzimer also competes in some of the North American Hillclimb Association events, but is primarily focused on the Western States Series.
"There's awesome competition with these guys because they make you step up and do some stupid stuff - like Eric Cherry did today when he jumped the top of the line to get that fast time," said Eisenzimer. "But usually that stuff works."
The 701-Open hill had the timers positioned at the top in a way which made it difficult for riders to see the finish line. Both Cherry and Eisenzimer jumped the ledge at the top of the hill, and both also came dangerously close to jumping the timers as well.
"This is one of the most fun hills in general," said Eisenzimer. "I'm really looking forward to the Great American. It's probably the most prestigious and difficult hill in the nation.
"Since I was a young kid I used to sit on the supercross track and watch those crazy guys on that hill. Now I get to be one of them."
NOTES: This year's Great American Hillclimb is scheduled for July 25-27. To see the complete Billings Motorcycle Club season schedule, go to billingsmotorcycleclub.us on the Internet.
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