LePage sweeps Pro finals at Rock Maple Racing snocross finale
Todd, Woskob split Semi-Pro finals
FINDLEY LAKE, N.Y. (Mar. 29, 2010) – Veteran snowmobile racer Bobby LePage had only one option heading into last weekend’s season finale. Trailing his weekly rival Mathieu Morin by just one point in Pro Open and two in Pro Stock, his goal was to win both finals.
With determination in his eyes and well-prepared sleds in his grasp, LePage went out and swept the Pro finals as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) completed the ninth and final round on the 2009-10 snocross series Sunday afternoon at the beautiful Peek’n Peak Resort & Spa. Unofficially, LePage locked up the 2010 RMR Pro championships.
In Saturday’s grueling 20-lap Pro Open final, LePage (Hulten Speed Sports/Polaris), of Hermantown, MN, grabbed the holeshot and led all the way. Poirier slotted into second at the start and stayed there until Morin (Ingles Performance/Ski-doo) powered by at the end of lap five. Morin, of Val D’Or, QC, tried to reel in LePage but settled for second (by an 18-second margin), while Poirier filled out the podium. The final point tally and class champions within all five divisions will be official later this week.
LePage grabbed the holeshot again in Sunday’s Pro Stock final (15 laps) and never looked back. Morin challenged LePage on the outside at one point, and the two sleds made contact. Morin’s sled lost a side panel, which led to a disqualification after 10 laps. Danny Poirier took over the second position and hung there to the end. Multi-time champion Jason Boron (D&Z Racing/Ski-doo) capped another solid season with a strong third place finish.
Defending Pro Vet champion Joe Lemieux made it back-to-back titles as he claimed Sunday’s final. Fellow Vermonter Rene Desrochers chased Lemieux across the line in second, while Hubbard, Ohio-based rider Jason Riffle was third on an Arctic Cat. Desrochers bounced back to claim Sunday’s Plus 35 Masters final, while Riffle (second) and Scott Clauson (third) filled out the podium.
Morganne Sterl made the long haul from southern New Hampshire worthwhile Sunday, as she won the Pro Women final. New York native Paige Calderwood powered her way to second place at the finish, while Steffanie Lemieux completed the top three.
In Semi-Pro action at Findley Lake, Corin Todd and Ash Woskob both earned final round wins. Todd, of Otego, NY, led a stellar field across the line to win Saturday’s 12-lap Open final. Woskob settled for second, while Sport division standout Jake Scott made an impressive debut in Semi-Pro with a head-turning third place finish. Point leader Lincoln Lemieux took nasty tumble on the first lap, causing injury to his thumb and wrist. Yet by winning his qualifying heats earlier in the day, he still managed to clinch the title.
Woskob, of Tyrone, PA, made it a clean sweep for D&Z Racing on Sunday as he held off Todd and points contender Michael George to claim top honors in Semi-Pro Stock. Scott just missed another podium in fourth, while New York veteran Cody Flach rounded out the top five.
Once again, a young man from New Jersey stole the spotlight in Sport division action. Jesse James Bonaduce held off ‘Mongoose’ Mike Billow and Chris Ingles to win Saturday’s Super Stock final. On Sunday, Vermont-based veteran Leo Patenaude outgunned Edward Bandel (no easy task) and Chris Coleman for top honors in Super Stock, while Bonaduce claimed the Stock 600 final. With Jake ‘The Snake’ out of the picture, these young racers were anxious to showcase their talents.
Hunter Nelson was as hot as a blowtorch in Junior division action at Peek’n Peak. The gifted young athlete from Hamlin, NY, tallied an impressive five final rounds victories over two days. On Saturday, Nelson claimed three wins in 380cc and 600cc classes, then added two more on Sunday in Stock 600 classes. Connor Roscoe was impressive over the weekend, as well. The young racer from Cheshire, CT, earned a third in Saturday’s Jr. 14-15 Stock 600 final, then capped a successful outing with a solid second place run in Sunday’s battle. Roscoe started out on 120cc sleds in 2002 and is working his way up the racing ladder with determination.
Other final round winners over the weekend at Peek’n Peak include Josh Gessinger (Plus 25 Stock); Will Fletcher (Sport 500); Montana Jess (Jr. 10-13 Stock 380 & 600); David Camara III (Jr. 8-10 300 Freestyle Saturday) Bradley Tatro (Jr. 8-10 300 Freestyle Sunday); Chris Froio (Trail 600 Saturday); and Brandon Bell (Trail 600 Sunday).
Rock Maple Racing would like to thank the entire staff at the Peek’n Peak Resort & Spa for hosting the 2010 season finale. Running a race at such a first class facility is indeed a pleasure.
RMR would also like to thank each and every race team that filed an entry for any race during the last eight seasons. Without all of you grassroots racers, this sport would be doomed. There is also a long list of current and former sponsors who made it all possible, and we truly thank all of them for their support.
A special thanks must also go out to the manufacturers who provide sleds and technical assistance to several teams. Their support is vital to the sport’s future.
For complete results in all classes from Findley Lake, go to www.rockmaple.com. With last Saturday’s announcement that Connecticut businessman Robert Roscoe has taken over the helm at RMR, a new era is set to begin on the northeastern snocross scene.
The 2010-2011 race schedule will be posted online when it is completed by mid-to-late summer. Until then, we wish you all a safe and enjoyable off-season