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February
28, 2008
Rookie sensation Darrin Mees and Quebec veteran Danny Poirier split the Pro
division finals Sunday afternoon, as Rock Maple Racing (RMR) completed
another weekend of Central and East series snocross racing in Ossipee, N.H.,
on Jan. 23-24.
This is RMR’s second annual appearance at the Mount Whittier track, and the
RMR staff considers it the series “home track.” Thousands of fans, many of
whom arrived via snowmobile, attended the event on a sunny day.
Alaska native Robert Graeber, who hadn’t raced with RMR since Jan. 20 in
Verona, N.Y., made a triumphant return as he claimed the rich ‘Dash For Cash’
non-points race, along with the Semi-Pro Open final.
Mees (XP-S/Harrison Motorsports Ski-Doo), of Setauket, N.Y., powered his way
past teammate and early leader C.W. Sirjane in the rhythm section and cruised
home to victory in Pro Stock, while Poirier (Cycle Worx/Polaris) passed early
leader Kenny Murphy and went on to post his first Pro Open victory of the
season. Murphy (Ingles Performance Ski-Doo) hung on for third behind current
points leader Sirjane, who helped his title run with another runner-up
finish.
"This was a big win for us today," Poirier said. "Our stock
sled has been going well all season, but we've had a few engine issues with
the mod sled. Last year was our first season with this brand, and we're still
in the learning curve. It's been a huge transition for us all."
Sunday's race program was capped by a special non-points 'Dash For Cash'
race, open to all Pro riders and Semi-Pro racers who were 5th or higher in
points prior to the event. As the sun slowly faded behind the mountain,
Graeber (Woody’s/Team Southside Polaris) turned up the heat in a big way.
After Sirjane grabbed the holeshot, Graeber picked up the pace and took
command for good within the first full lap. Sirjane hung on for second while
Poirier fought his way up to third at the finish.
"It feels like I hadn't raced with these guys for months," Graeber
said. "We were running strong when I left for Aspen, and the sleds have
been great here this weekend. Team Southside has been excellent all season. I
work on the sleds, too, so I know what's been done and how thoroughly the
mid-week maintenance was performed. Bruce [Gaspardi, team owner] and the guys
give me fast sleds for every race, I just do my best to keep them up front."
Shaun St. Onge provided the Harrison Motorsports squad with another victory
as he claimed the Semi-Pro Stock 600 final. Brennan Berardo nailed the
holeshot, but it was St. Onge who led the first circuit. By lap three,
Graeber had gotten out of traffic and took command only to crash while
leading. The sled suffered a broken front suspension and was sidelined. St.
Onge rode by in disbelief but continued on to victory, with Derek Graham
second and Jason Stone third.
Joe Lemieux earned another victory in Pro Vet action Sunday, holding off
Jason Carter and Mark Chase for top honors. K.C. Anderson prevailed in a
hard-fought Pro Women final, with Paige Calderwood and Melanie Acker second
and third respectively.
Lucas Brunelle continued his 2008 hot streak in Sport division action in
Ossipee. The young athlete from Boucherville, Quebec, held off Corin Todd and
Kyle Conover to claim the Stock 600 final, then out-gunned Cody Flach and
Conover to win Sport Super Stock. Conover prevailed in Saturday’s Super Stock
final, with Todd and Brunelle second and third respectively.
Brunelle capped a stellar weekend in the Granite State with a victory in the
Sport Stock 500 final. Chris Ackerman claimed the runner-up position while
Flach was third. Scott Edwards (600 Performance) and Scott Smith (Stock 600
Fan) round out our list of Sport division winners at Mount Whittier.
In Junior division action, Lincoln Lemieux picked up where he left off in
Essex Junction. The second-generation racer from St. Johnsbury, Vt., claimed
three wins in Ossipee, competing against riders his own age and some three
years older. Jake Scott also posted multiple wins as he held off weekly
rivals Montana Jess and Matt Cameron for top honors. Jess found redemption
Sunday as he claimed the Jr. 8-10 300 Freestyle final.
Other Central series winners over the weekend in Ossipee include Stephen
Chase (Non-Traction); Rene Desrochers (Plus 35 Masters); Edwards (Plus 25
Stock); Sarah Acker (Jr. Girls 10-13 Stock 600 Fan); Anderson (Women Stock
500 & 600); Michelle Lemieux (Women Stock 600 Saturday); Janell Smith
(Women Stock Novice); AJ Perer (Jr. 8-10 300 Freestyle Saturday); Aaron Adams
(Trail 600 Saturday); and Kevin Bedard (Trail 600 Sunday).
East Series Action
In East Series action Sunday, Trevor Bouchard (Outdoor Performance/D&Z
Racing Ski-Doo) notched a win in Semi-Pro Open. Danny Graves edged Joe
Lemieux at the line for second in an exciting late-race battle. Jake DaSilva
led an all-New Hampshire podium in Sport 600, with Brent Williams second and
Derek Pelletier third. Anderson capped a strong outing with a victory in the
Women’s 600 final, while Joey Stock, Lincoln Lemieux, Matt Cameron and Jake
Scott fill out our list of East series winners.
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