Among the 250 racers at the New Mexico Desert Racing Club’s Corralitos 100 this weekend was NMSU student Lisa Berry of Alamogordo. Berry finished and 3rd overall in the NMDRC 200cc novice class- an impressive accomplishment for the only girl in the open novice division.
Berry, who is a freshman studying hotel and restaurant management, competed in the women’s novice division previously for two years, and was overall class champ both years. This year she competed in the 40 mile open novice division finishing 16th with a time of 1 hour 28 minutes 48 seconds at the Corralitos 100.
The other racers literally ate her dust at the Corralitos 100. This course, which traversed roughly 25 miles of BLM desert land, posed a challenge to the riders with its narrow track of power robbing sand, random placed jumps and rocky hillsides. Riders made anywhere from one to four laps, depending on their class.
“I’ve never been in so much dust in my life,” Berry said. Dust clouds tossed up by the riders could be seen for miles.
Berry has been a motorcycle racer since age 12 and competes in motorcross in addition to endurance racing. Motorcross is her primary event and she will compete in Alamogordo this coming weekend. Berry’s father and several friends also competed in the endurance race.
“My dad and I race together and mom does the pit¾ it’s a family thing,” Berry said. Indeed, every time Berry came through the pit her mom was on the spot with water, a towel and fresh goggles as other pit crew members refueled her motorcycle.
Matt Preslar of Cloudcroft shared a pit with Berry and came in third with a time of 2 hours 16 minutes 49 seconds in the expert class at the Corralitos 100 and was the 2005 NMDRC overall champ. Preslar competed in all seven races of the 2005 Circuit and now holds first position in his class.
The race, sponsored by DENCO Racing, was the final race in the 2005 circuit and the first NMDRC race to be held in Las Cruces. Divisions ranged from mini/peewee riders who competed on a one-mile course, to motorcycle experts who covered over 80 miles in four laps.
The South Valley Volunteer Fire Department was on stand by for this weekend’s event, and fortunately did not have to transport or treat any injuries at the race.
Races were also held in Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Espanola, Carlsbad, Socorro, and Cuba, NM. The courses range from 20 to 36 miles in length and pose a variety of technical difficulties.
Photo: Megan Gordon
Photo: Megan Gordon