BLAZING NATIONAL TRAILS: LOCAL MOTOCROSSERS COMPETE IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

With all the rolling hills and open fields of Missouri, it would seem the state would be full of young motocross cyclists

But Max and Vince Friese, sons of Doug and Lisa Friese of Cape Girardeau, were the only two Missouri competitors in their age groups at the 1997 National Motocross Championships held Aug. 4-9 at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

Both Max, 10, and Vince, 6, -- competing in their first ever national competitions -- placed in the top half of their age divisions out of 42 riders. Both young cyclists have raced for only two years.

"For their first time down there, it wasn't too bad," said Doug Friese of his sons' accomplishments. "I think both of them kind of had the first-time jitters."

Vince, racing in the 4-6 age group, took 19th place after three races. He raced consistently in his three motos, placing 17th twice and 22nd in the final race to finish 19th overall.

Older brother Max, competing in the 7-9 division, took 21st place after his three races. He placed 17th, 28th and 21st during the week. A late fall in his second moto hurt his positioning, as he fell several spots to 28th.

The competition at nationals was a lot different than what the two boys were used to. Besides racing against all 42 riders at once and the races being longer, the condition of the track is what affected them the most.

"The track got a lot rougher than they were used to because there are just so many bikes that raced on the track throughout the week," Doug Friese said. "At times they both were 12th and 13th, but by the end of their module they were getting tired."

The national races lasted 20 minutes plus an extra two laps, which came out to about 25 minutes per race. Normally the two boys race only 12 minutes.

"They practiced by riding 20 minutes at a time," Friese said. "But when you're tight, you get tired easier and they weren't used to riding on such a rough track."

But Friese said his two boys learned a lot in their first ever national competition.

"A lot of the kids that beat them had been there before and that makes a lot of difference," Friese said. "Now they know what to expect when they show up next time and a lot of the first-time jitters will be gone."

The two boys qualified for the national event by finishing in the Top 6 at regional competitions. Vince, riding a 50cc Cobra automatic, qualified at two different regionals.

First, he barely qualified with a sixth-place finish in London, Ky. He later qualified first at the track the two normally race at in Lowes, Ky. Max, riding a Kawasaki 60cc, also qualified at Lowes with a third-place finish.

When the two young cyclists aren't racing at their regular track about an hour away in Lowes, the two have a field they practice on daily.

"We have a little motocross track set up about quarter of the size of a regular one," Friese said. "We try to put the same obstacles they have on a regular course."

In October, Vince and Max will be competing at the USA Motocross Championships in Branson, Mo.

* Josh Glueck, another cyclist from Cape, made his first trip to nationals also. Glueck, 20, placed 29th in B Class racing his 250 cc Honda. Glueck qualified for nationals at a regional in Lake Hills, Wis.