ODESSA — Port Angeles’ Clayton Ernst earned the holeshot in the 50-mile race and went on to win the 53rd annual Desert 100 motorcycle race with a time of 2 hours, two minutes 58.76 seconds last Sunday.

Ernst, riding his KMT motorcycle in the 15-and-younger division, posted the best overall 50-mile time, beating out 62 riders in his age class and a total of 385 competitors for the top spot on the podium.

Started in 1969 as Mattawa, The Desert 100 is the largest motorcycle race in the Pacific Northwest, gathering upwards of 1,000 racers for a weekend of off-road action through Eastern Washington’s landscape of sage brush, basalt rock and makeshift bridges across Crab Creek and Irby Road.

Competed in 100- and 50-mile distances, the racing is grueling, with generally just more than half of racers competing the routes.

The event is hosted by Stumpjumpers Motorcycle Club.

Olympic Peninsula moto racers, including Port Angeles’ Jake Anstett, will compete in the Washington Nitro Nationals Hill Climb May 16-18 in Sunnyside.

Peninsula racers 50-mile race Overall

120. Chace Miller, Port Angeles, 15 & Under 02:48:56.648.

114. Bruce Barth, Sequim, 60 – 69 years old 02:47:22.357.

315. Stef Anderson, Sequim, Women 1 lap 45 03:52:13.760.

320. Lee Forderer, Sequim, 50 – 59 years old 03:54:24.246.

324. Damon Titus, Sequim, 60 – 69 years old 03:58:52.380.

373. Jesse Sweers, Sequim, 15 & Under 63 05:18:00.301.

100-mile race Overall

43. Ole Bekkevar, Port Angeles, 30 – 39 years old 04:11:57.103.

70. Kenny Muma, Sequim, 30 – 39 years old 04:29:18.536.

78. Ryan Shaw, Port Angeles, 30 – 39 years old 04:32:03.336.

309. Mike Cox, Port Angeles, Open 05:47:40.472.

313. Nelson Bekkevar, Sequim 30 – 39 years old, 05:48:12.78.

407. Jr Vanproyen, Sequim, 40 – 49 years old, 06:23:48.407.

428. Sam Trocano, Port Hadlock, 30 – 39 years old, 06:46:04.359.

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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@ peninsuladailynews.com.