Shunsucke Tatsuni, who lives in a suburb of Tokyo, Japan, certainly came the furthest away in order to compete in the Escalante Days/Dolores Mountain Bike Race, which was part of the Four Corners Cup Series.

He won the Expert/Pro Class, Senior Division (ages 19-34) quite easily with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 28 seconds over the 36-mile course under nearly perfect riding conditions on Aug. 12.

"I didn’t really come here just to ride in this race," he said right after crossing the finish line. "I have been staying the past two months in Durango. I really enjoy mountain biking. I have been competing in several of the races in this series."

Placing second was Robin Rasmussen with a time of 2:16:25 followed by Mitch Morenan in 2:17:37.

Daryl Crites won the Masters Division (45-plus) in 2:35:48 for 36 miles.

John Siebert came in first in the Veterans Division (35-44) in 2:16:28, Rick Calles took second in 2:19:05 and Aaron Countryman grabbed third in 2:30:43.

Several riders competed in the Junior Division (18-under) under the Expert/Pro banner. Boo Bruner came in first in 2:29:13 and Jan Hank won for the women as she clocked 2:29:42. Drew Blain finished in 2:43:43 and Brandt Landers in 2:49:90.

The majority of the 72 riders competed in the Sport Class. They rode for 27 miles.

Sheldon Sandoval won the Juniors in 2:01:41 and Allen Tewell finished second in 2:12:32. Doty Megan won for the girls in 2:29:14.

The top finishers in the Senior Division were Douglas Eckert 1:48:16, Chris Latshaw 1:48:19, Keith Lawyer 1:49:26, Scott Brand 1:50:32, and Gordon Rhodes 1:54:35.

Clint Campbell had the top time for the Veterans. He ran the course in 1:49:22. Mike Clinton was timed in 1:19:50, Christopher Caldwell 1:55:28, Peter Emery 1:57:28, and Thomas Joyner 1:57:54.

Bill Connelly took first place in the Masters Division (45-plus) with a time of 1:57:27 also for 30 miles. Dan Dunn crossed the finish in 2:01:42. Chris Burnett clocked 2:03:59, Keith Barbeau 2:06:19, and Sam Dayzie 2:10:35.

A good contingent of riders were in the Beginner Class. They rode 16 miles.

Ian Burnett was the winner in the Junior Division in 1:22:30. Aaron Kezele was clocked in 1:23:18, Tanner Duff 1:31:05, Teddy Guillen 1:32:28, and Pierre Garling 1:47:49.

Brandon Bontrager took the Seniors Division with a time of 1:16:27. Coming in right behind him were Rob Anderson in 1:19:08, Nelson Blanco 1:23:48, and Ryan Fox in 1:27:02.

For the Veterans it was Scott Russell finishing in 1:11:10 while Thomas Estrada finished second in 1:15:19 and James Hanosh 1:21:04. Steve Maxwell was the top Masters Division finisher in 1:22:08.

The course starts in the middle of town and climbs 1,000 feet in elevation to Boggy Draw where the trail turns to a single track through Ponderosa Pine. Most of the riders enjoyed the ride. A few of the riders took a wrong turn before getting back on the right trail.

Race no. 9 will be held in Durango on Aug. 27 in the Horse Gulch area. This is the same trail used for the Iron Horse Race during Memorial Day Weekend. Fee for this race is $20 for preregistered riders and $30 for race entrants. For more information about this race, phone Rick Callies at Durango Parks and Recreation at 385-2950.

The first Echo Basin "Pedal in the Pines" mountain bike race was held June 18, was successful with 75 riders participating. The course started and ended at the Echo Basin Dude Ranch.

The Four Corners Cup is a mountain bike point series held in conjunction with 10 races held throughout the Four Corners area. Points are awarded for each race finished, but racers need to enter the series in order to accumulate points. Races have been held in Farmington; Bayfield; Purgatory Resort near Durango; Echo Basin near Mancos; Cove, Ariz.; and Pagosa Springs earlier this spring and summer. The final race of the year will be held Sept. 24 in Pagosa Springs. This is the second year of the Four Corners Cup Series. It was started last year and has grown in both the number of race events and race entrants per race.

Beginner, youth, first time racers and non-NORBA (National Off Road Biking Association) racers are welcome to enter.

For more information about the summer series, phone Doug Call (970) 264-4151. All local bike shops have race and series entry forms along with lists for municipal recreation offices around the area.

In other biking news, the sixth annual Chuska Challenge Mountain Bike Tour will be held Oct. 7-8 in the Navajo Nation’s Chuska Mountains.

The tour, a fully-supported event, includes two days of biking in some of the reservation’s finest high country. Views on the ride extend across the Four Corners region as bikers travel through mountain meadows and scenic valleys of the Chuska Range, located along the New Mexico, Arizona border.

The ride begins and ends at on the campus of Dine College in Tsalie, Ariz. Meals and lodging is available on Oct. 6. Riders will be treated to full break stations and day guides along the route. Hearty meals will be provided throughout the weekend. There are good camp sites and native entertainment.