Bell, Thompson sweep top classes at Young Farms for Rock Maple Racing
Point chasers add to win totals in snowy Vermont
WEST GLOVER, Vermont (Mar. 2, 2020) — Veteran cross country racers Heath Bell and Dylan Thompson swept the top classes on Saturday, as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) completed Round 4 on the six-race 2020 schedule at the beautiful Young Farms.
Bell (Bell Racing/Ski-doo), of New Gloucester, Maine, won the Pro Open and Pro Stock finals to bring his win total to five for the 2020 season. Remington Lessard (Grip ‘N Rip Racing/Ski-doo), of Monmouth, Maine, followed Bell across the stripe in both finals to claim second.
Luke Vaadi (Ingles Performance/Polaris), of Mannsville, NY, broke up the Ski-doo party in Pro Open with a solid third-place run, while in Pro Stock it was Portland, Maine’s TJ Leach (Crossfit Beacon/Arctic Cat) who filled out the podium with a strong effort.
For the second time this season, rising star Dylan Thompson (Grip ‘N Rip/Ski-doo) swept the Semi Pro classes. As he did in Rangeley for Round 2, the young athlete from Lincoln, Maine, powered his way to victory in the Stock final over local favorite Brock Young and recent winner Matt Cameron.
In Semi Pro Improved, Cameron stepped it up to the runner-up position while Quebec’s Bruno Poirier (Poirier Racing/Ski-doo) filled out the podium in third. Young bounced back to claim the SOO class final, with Eric Gleich and Vermont veteran Travis Brisbin taking second and third, respectively.
Another rising star from the Pine Tree State had a successful outing in Vermont on Saturday. Pownal’s Bailey Slocum (Ski-doo) powered his way to top honors in the Sport Stock 600 final, with Mike Young (Arctic Cat) and Jake Barrows (Arctic Cat) filling out the podium with solid efforts.
Young found redemption with his own victory in Sport Open, while Belfast, ME, athlete Cameron Young crossed the stripe in second. Connecticut-based racer Elliot Phelps finished third to make his trip to northern Vermont pay dividends.
When the series visited West Glover for Round 3, the locals came out on top in the Trail classes. This past Saturday, however, it was the out-of-staters who claimed top honors. Hooksett, N.H.’s Erick Bourdeau won the Trail 600 final, while Connecticut racer Nick Gervais claimed the Trail 800 class.
Krysti Leach kept her strong season rolling with a second consecutive victory in the Women’s final. Maine’s Ursula Soobitsky finished second, with weekly contender Mandy Cole right there in third. Leach, of Beverly, Mass., always has her Northeast Millwork Arctic Cat on point on race day.
Other winners in Round 4 at the Young Farms include Rene Desrochers (Choko Designs Masters); Martin Coutu (Lucas Oil Plus 40); Bruno Poirier (Curve Industries Plus 30); Chip Vaadi (Pro Am Plus 40); Brennan Comeau (200cc Stock, 120 Improved); Cameron Bell (Jr. 10-13); and Evan Folsom (120 Stock, 120 Champ). Congratulations to all of our winners during Round 4 in Vermont.
Rock Maple Racing officials would like to than the Young family and staff at the Young Farms for hosting another round of racing just two weeks after Round 3 was completed. Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom lived up to its reputation with snow squalls and cold air, yet conditions eased after lunch.
Up next on the 2020 RMR XC schedule is a trip to Grieg, New York, this coming Saturday, March 7, for Round 5 at High Voltage MX.
Rock Maple Racing would like to thank its many valued marketing partners, including Owens Corning; Ingles Performance, of Phoenix, NY; Woody’s Traction Products; Caliber Products, Inc.; Choko Design; Nitro Trailers; Ski-doo/BRP Snowmobiles; Certainteed; Grip-N-Rip Racing Products; Precision Marine & Motorsports; KTM Exteriors & Recycling; New England Racing Fuel; Voss Signs; Philbrick Motorsports; Lucas Oil, Curve Industries; PowerMadd and SledFreak.com. Without your continued support, this venture would not be possible.